Tests at the plant in the in the Waikato town of Putaruru have not revealed what is causing the unpleasant odours.

Brian Ashton, Fairfax operations manager, says he cannot be certain of when the plant will be operational again, but that in the meantime all jobs were being redirected to the Waikato Times’ plant in Hamilton and an Auckland-based printing press.

Ashton says, “We’ve had regular consultation with OSH (Occupational Safety and Health), who have been trying to identify the cause of the problem, and extensive testing by other consultants, but it remains a mystery. Our main concern is for the health and safety of the workers there.”

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