{"id":350034,"date":"2026-03-27T05:15:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T05:15:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/350034\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T05:15:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T05:15:08","slug":"heinz-watties-confirms-closure-of-christchurch-dunedin-and-auckland-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/350034\/","title":{"rendered":"Heinz Wattie\u2019s confirms closure of Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland plants"},"content":{"rendered":"
The announcement means the loss of about 300 roles across the impacted sites, including some commercial roles.<\/p>\n
Donegan said the majority of those affected are long-term experienced and skilled employees, describing them as \u201csought-after candidates\u201d for many employers.<\/p>\n
He said the company\u2019s focus would be on supporting those affected with redundancy packages, employee counselling, career transition services and redeployment where possible.<\/p>\n
Almost 50 people from the frozen packing lines in Hastings will be redeployed, with some of those being retrained and kept within the business.<\/p>\n
Alongside the people impact, Wattie\u2019s will exit multiple categories including frozen vegetables, Gregg\u2019s coffee and dips and p\u00e2t\u00e9.<\/p>\n
The site closures are expected to be phased over the course of the year, with timing of the closures likely to be announced at the end of April.<\/p>\n
Union responds<\/p>\n
E t\u016b delegate Kathy Perrin, who has worked at Wattie\u2019s for over 45 years, said the announcement hit hard.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is disappointing. We had a thread of hope. Our members have mortgages, high rents, and live pay cheque to pay cheque. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere will be a lot that will be heartbroken. We have over 65s renting, families with babies, and members with health issues. It is devastating,\u201d Perrin said.<\/p>\n
Perrin said workers have taken some comfort from the company\u2019s decision to offer seasonal workers redundancy payments above its contractual obligations.<\/p>\n
E t\u016b director Finn O\u2019Dwyer-Cunliffe said the closures are part of a wider pattern, and more are likely.<\/p>\n
\u201cMultinational companies are making a choice to walk away from New Zealand workers, and a Government with no industrial strategy is letting them do it,\u201d O\u2019Dwyer-Cunliffe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cE t\u016b has fought hard through this process to protect members\u2019 entitlements, including redundancy compensation. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese workers gave decades to this company. We are hopeful that we can continue to work with Heinz Wattie\u2019s to make sure they\u2019re not left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.<\/p>\n