Sealord has confirmed 48 job losses as the company makes parts of its Nelson operations seasonal.
Sealord last month announced it was closing its coated fish factory, resulting in the loss of 79 jobs.
The company originally proposed cutting a further 59 jobs under plans to operate its wetfish and by-products factories and fresh fish trawler during the hoki season from May to September, instead of year-round.
On Friday, Sealord confirmed the final number of job losses was 48, saying staff were told in mid-October.
The wetfish factory will close in December and reopen in May.
In September chief executive Doug Paulin said the move to seasonal operations meant the company could retain most of its Nelson-based operations, including cold and dry store and office-based support roles, instead of closing the site completely.
“In total, we would retain 81 permanent jobs and 400 seasonal roles and save over 90% of the economic benefits to the region,” he said.
Paulin said export products produced at the Nelson wetfish factory were loss-making every month, except in hoki season.
The loss had been exacerbated with recent price drops at the same time as sharp rises in costs and falling volumes of fish for harvesting and processing outside of hoki season.
The region has been rocked by job cuts in recent months, with Carter Holt Harvey telling staff in August it would shut its Eves Valley Sawmill, resulting in the loss of 142 jobs.
In September Griffin’s Snacks told staff it planned to close the Nelson factory that produces Proper Crisps, with operations moving to Auckland from late 2027, affecting 47 staff and Māori food and beverage company Kono announced it would wind down brewing operations at Motueka-based craft brewery Hop Federation from October with the loss of five jobs.
rnz.co.nz
