More than 100 jobs are on the line in Tokoroa as Carter Holt Harvey plans to shut down its local plywood manufacturing site.
E tū delegate Andrew Dobbs, who had worked at CHH in Tokoroa for 24 years, said members were devastated.
"It’s just really sad. We knew things were tough, but I didn’t expect them to stop manufacturing altogether. You’d say people are feeling sad and depressed – it’s not quite a closure, but there will be so few people left there, making nothing, just reprocessing imports to send to market.
"Basically, imported product is just too cheap for us to compete with, that’s the guts of it. Personally I don’t want to move out of town, but that might be the only choice we’ve got."
E tū national secretary Rachel Mackintosh said the people of Tokoroa deserved better and that closures were "devastating" for workers, whānau and the community.
"It doesn’t have to be this way. With proper investment and planning, the skills of these workers could be used to build secure, sustainable industries that provide decent jobs for decades to come. From renewable energy to advanced wood processing, there are opportunities to create a future for Tokoroa instead of stripping it away."
Today's announcement is the latest in a wave of closures for the manufacturing and timber processing sector, with hundreds of jobs lost across multiple regions.
Carter Holt Harvey confirmed the closure of its Eves Valley sawmill near Nelson next month, ending operations that began in the 1980s. The decision would leave 142 workers jobless.
In February, Oji Fibre Solutions confirmed it would halt paper production at its Kinleith site.
Last September, Oji confirmed its paper recycling mill in Auckland's Penrose would close, leaving 75 people jobless.
That announcement came after Winstone Pulp confirmed its plans to shutter both the Tangiwai Sawmill and Karioi Pulpmill in Ruapehu, resulting in the loss of 230 jobs.
Carter Holt Harvey is yet to respond to requests for comment.
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