Richard Hislop, general manager of BJ Ball Papers New Zealand, told ProPrint there had been “no significant damage” at his company’s 2,000sqm Middleton facility, five kilometres from city centre.
“We had just installed new racking from the previous earthquake, which was totally destroyed [then],” he says.
“As a precaution to some of the aftershocks that are still being experienced, we are only loading the racks halfway. [But] we are 100% operational.”
Spicers Paper New Zealand lost about one-third of its stockholdings in last year’s event. This time around, merchanting manager Darrin Kennedy reported “minimal” damage to his company’s 3,720sqm distribution centre at Sockburn, seven kilometres from city centre.
“We’ve literally lost about three pallets of paper – it’s been amazing,” he said.
“We still need structural engineers to give us a report, but to the naked eye our building and logistics infrastructure looks good.
“Last time, we lost about two-thirds of our racking, but the racking has held up this time. In December we had the new racking put in and actually made the decision to put seismic-bracing in this time.”
Spicers’ contingency arrangements have seen customer calls automatically divert to its Wellington office, with orders duly processed from either there or in Auckland.
Kennedy said about half of the company’s 15 local staff had been affected. Spicers ordered all Christchurch employees home following the earthquake. Local operations are expected to recommence on Tuesday this week, when local freight distributors are also due to return to “semi-normal” capacity.
B&F Papers South Island regional manager Kevin Turner reported that its building (pictured) appeared to be safe and repairable, although some damage was inflicted on the 1,395sqm Sydenham facility, which borders the CBD.
He said all five staff were “safe and well” and emphatically stated that the 80-year-old business – which was due to celebrate its anniversary this year – will “survive” and “rebuild”.
“B&F Papers is a nationwide operation. Our head office and warehouses are based in Auckland and we have branches in Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North and Christchurch,” he said.
“We have a good number of loyal customers who will receive the full support of the branches to supply any requirements they need, subject to the transport system getting back to full capacity. Our inter-branch freight supplier has also been in touch offering their full support.
“The supply chain will be as normal as it can be and the North Island branches have sufficient stocks to cover us in the interim.”
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