Pak’nSave Lotto lady back at work after community outrage at her redundancy

Saturday, 13 June 2026

Pak’nSave Lotto lady Katie Tippler has been seen back at work, a month after her redundancy prompted upset from locals.

Katie Tippler worked at Pak’nSave Palmerston North for nearly 30 years before she was made redundant in May.

However, Tippler has been seen back behind the Lotto counter this week.

She had received an outpouring of support from the community after she was made redundant.

A Palmerston North supermarket’s Lotto cashier whose redundancy sparked community outrage has been given her job back.

Katie Tippler worked at Pak’nSave for nearly 30 years before she was made redundant in May with just two weeks' notice and no compensation.

Tippler was let go due to a redevelopment of the store’s entrance, with the stand-alone Lotto counter to be disestablished as a result.

Tippler had worked behind the Lotto counter for 15 years, but had been at the supermarket for a total of almost 30 years.

On May 4, Tippler was called in on her day off to receive two weeks’ notice, which was all her employment contract required, and was told not to return.

“I want my customers to know, I have not left. I wanted to stay but I was told to go,” she told the Manawatū Standard at the time.

“My job’s really important to me, and it’s important for my mental health. I love the job and the connection.”

The 56-year-old has a disability and has a prosthetic leg, which enables her to walk and stand for short periods.

Pak'nSave Palmerston North owner Steve Duffield reached out to Tippler following “concerns and disappointment” raised by locals.

Tippler’s situation prompted an outpouring of support, with the supermarket criticised for its handling of her case.

Workers First Union organiser Dion Martin got involved and challenged the store to redeploy her into another position.

At the time, Martin said he would continue fighting to get a better deal for Tippler, claiming she had been discriminated against because of her disability.

Foodstuffs North Island said Tippler’s departure had been a “very difficult and upsetting situation”, but that employment decisions were made by each individual store owner.

Following community outcry at her redundancy, Pak’nSave Palmerston North owner Steve Duffield acknowledged the “concerns and disappointment from people in our community”.

“I understand why people feel strongly about it. Katie has been a valued member of our team for nearly 30 years, and we genuinely didn’t want things to end this way.

“In this case, we wanted to find a good outcome for someone who has been part of our store for so long, and I’m disappointed we didn’t get there.

“I have reached out to Katie and let her know that I’m happy to sit down again, and to see if we can come to a better outcome for her.”

Tippler has since been seen working at the Ferguson Street store. Stuff understands she started back on Wednesday, with members of a local Facebook group reporting they had seen her back behind the Lotto counter.

“Nice to see Katie is back on the Lotto counter at Pak'nSave. She looked happy to be there, and I was happy to see her,” one person said.

“Katie's back at Pak'nSave and she's got a smile on her face, huge congratulations,” said another.

One person wrote that Tippler was back working two days a week. She was previously in a full-time role.

Stuff approached Foodstuffs North Island about Tippler’s job, but a spokesperson declined to comment, stating they had “nothing further to add”.