If TelstraClear shifts call centre work in the Philippines, a trend set by Telecom and Yellow Pages may be lost up to 170 jobs in Paraparaumu and Christchurch. The decision will be possible by March.

Chris Mirams, Spokesman, said that the firm was holding a feasibility study into outsourcing the answering of inbound "customer care" calls from residential customers, as it looked to improve customer service and maintain its competitiveness. According to Kapiti mayor Jenny Rowan, TelstraClear would be among the "top 4 or 5 major employers in the district". The council will monitor the study. "If they can see a manner through to staying in this country, that would of course be something we would encourage them to do", she added.  TelstraClear will judge the resourcing and financial propositions of shifting work to the Philippines and whether customer needs could be met. The kind of calls that may be outsourced will ranged from mobile and HomePlan services to billing inquiries and changes of address.

In 2006, TelstraClear launched a national call centre in Paraparaumu. The company invested millions of dollars in the building which can house 150 staff. [via stuff.co.nz]