Cuts to jobs and hours proposed.

Cuts to jobs and hours are being proposed at the Matamata Country Lodge, part of the Ran Main Group. Care giving, administration, kitchen and laundry staff are affected by the proposed cuts. The lodge provides three levels of residential care: assisted living, rest-home and hospital Its assisted living facilities consist of 19 apartments with 21 residents; it has 39 rest-home beds; and 21 hospital beds.

NZNO has expressed serious concern about patient and staff safety if the proposed cuts go ahead. "This employer has chosen to create its own benchmark for staffing, ignoring the Standards New Zealand and Ministry of Health staffing guidelines, refuting the need for staff to have breaks on night shift and ignoring the potential impact of the cuts on patient safety," NZNO co-ordinating organiser Jo Wrigley said.

NZNO has called on the employer to increase direct patient care hours. Human resources manager for the group, Angela Rencher, said the employer was "increasing business efficiency through a reduction in hours".