Seventeen roles over several departments are to go at Inkwise in Rolleston, according to a member of staff.

The privately owned and operated business is New Zealand’s only print company that offers coldset, heatset, sheetfed and digital under one roof.

According to a series of “private and confidential” documents from Inkwise chief executive Steve Gallop, which have been viewed by Chris Lynch Media, staff were informed of a “compulsory” meeting on 24 August for the next day.

Each member of staff was put through a seven-step selection criteria, to see whether they were the “best fit” to stay with the business, with a point rating from “needs improvement” through to “excellent”.

The criteria included whether or not the staff member was flexible and versatile, demonstrated a positive work attitude, and whether they were leadership material.

The Inkwise staff member, who Chris Lynch Media agreed not to name, said, “The point system was wrong. One guy got zero points for training but trained up two people that kept their jobs… It’s so wrong.”

Staff were told this week that the team of 60 was being cut by about a third, including the roles of eight printers, six members in the bindery team, and one each in prepress, customer services and administration.

The staff member said, “Staff were not allowed to talk to each other or other managers at the plant. People were very upset and left work when they were told their jobs were redundant.”

They said they enjoyed working there, with Gallop giving staff a 5 percent pay rise last year and a day off on their birthdays.

The printing business which relies on staff running presses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, has been in operation as Inkwise since 2014, and was born out of Ashburton Guardian Print Works before that.

To add more fuel to the fire for those made redundant, a glowing article was published by New Zealand Printer on the same day staff were being told of the redundancies, saying “Local trade printing receives a boost with Inkwise’s complete offering.”

The article said, “Inkwise supports over 60 families in the local community, as well as support for local sports clubs and charities.”

Inkwise general manager Brent Goldsmid said in the article, “When you buy local from a locally owned and shareholder operated business, you are dealing with real people who have skin in the game. We care; our team cares; and we stand by our work.”

Goldsmid had not returned any requests by Chris Lynch Media to be part of this article or have right of reply by the time of publishing.