Waihī's largest employer OceanaGold believe they will be able to "come back even stronger" following a production gap that has cost 17 staff their jobs.

OceanaGold Waihī Operation general manager Bernie O'Leary told Stuff that due to its process plant being put on care and maintenance, 17 staff will lose their jobs out of the 44 staff employed in this part of the mine.

"Our Correnso mine will finish very shortly, with the exception of some narrow vein mining," says Bernie.

"Project Martha does not begin production until next year. This means that our Process Plant is being put on care and maintenance until we resume full production."

Most staff will work their last day on March 10.

There are around 350 staff and full time contractors working for OceanaGold in the mine, and Bernie says the company has encouraged staff to apply for a number of internal vacancies.

They are also holding CV writing workshops and liaising with the Ministry of Social Development to explain to staff about Job Seeker entitlements, Working for Families allowances and the Accommodation Supplement.

"As the largest employer in Waihī, we are very aware these job losses will have an effect on staff and their families.

"But we also know that once Project Martha is in production, we will have work for at least the next decade, and we have other projects which we are currently looking at that could see us remain in Waihī for even longer.

"This is an unfortunate situation due to the production gap, but we are doing everything we can to support all of our staff, and we believe that we will get through this and come back even stronger."

Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams says any job loss within the district is "disheartening".

"I really feel for those employees who have lost their jobs, and for their families, and I wish them all the very best in finding future employment opportunities, hopefully within the district.

"I'm also very aware of the potential flow-on effect to other businesses and hope they're able to weather these changes and find other opportunities to replace those that may have been lost."

Toby says Waihī is a very close-knit community and he had no doubt the job losses would be felt widely.

"One of the great things about small towns like Waihī is the way people rally together in adversity, so I'm confident we'll see local businesses, organisations and individuals offering any support they can to those who've been affected by this."