Job losses on the West Coast have been foreshadowed ahead of meeting between Solid Energy managers and workers at the Stockton Mine tomorrow.
Labour MP for West Coast and Tasman Damien O'Connor told TV3 job losses could be the outcome of the meeting.
"Every job that can be saved up there is valuable for Westport in particular and the whole of the Buller region," he said.
The region will feel the hit if more jobs are lost in another restructure, Mr O'Connor said, but he had encouraged all employers in the region to look at taking on one or two extra staff.
"There'll be a downturn, the retailers are going to find it really hard... but we'll come up with new ideas."
In June last year 185 jobs were lost in a restructure that saw mine production reduced by 25 per cent.
Mr O'Connor said the meeting tomorrow would put an end to 12 months of speculation.
"A lot of young families there... they haven't known where they're going to be in another 12 months."
He said he would encourage anyone who loses a job to stay in the region, where there will be opportunities for them/
"We don't want to see the families move but that will be the reality for a number."
