How many jobs are affected by the Heinz Wattie’s closure?

More than 350 roles are expected to be disestablished as part of the factory closures.

Why is Heinz Wattie’s closing factories?

The closures are part of broader restructuring decisions by the company, amid wider challenges in the manufacturing sector.

What does this mean for New Zealand workers?

The closures contribute to rising job insecurity and reflect ongoing decline in manufacturing employment across the country.

What support is available for affected workers?

Redundancy payments and union support are being provided, though concerns remain about finding new employment opportunities.

350 Jobs Lost as Wattie’s Confirms Factory Closures

ByThe Daily Blog 29 March 202631 March 2026

The closure of Heinz Wattie’s factories marks another blow to New Zealand’s manufacturing sector, with hundreds of workers now facing an uncertain future in an already fragile job market.

Hundreds of Jobs Lost in Factory Closures

Hundreds of workers will lose their jobs after Heinz Wattie’s confirmed today it will proceed with its proposal to close factories in New Zealand. E tū understands more than 350 roles will be disestablished.

Part of a Wider Manufacturing Decline

The closures come amid a string of manufacturing shutdowns that have swept through the sector in recent months, with workers across the country bearing the cost of decisions made in corporate boardrooms in New Zealand and offshore.

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Workers Speak Out

E tū delegate, Kathy Perrin has worked at Wattie’s for over 45 years. She says the announcement hit hard.

“It is disappointing. We had a thread of hope. Our members have mortgages, high rents, and live paycheck to paycheck. There will be many who are heartbroken. We have over 65’s renting, families with babies, and members with health issues. It is devastating.”

Redundancy Offers Provide Limited Relief

Kathy says workers have taken some comfort from the company’s decision to offer seasonal workers redundancy payments above its contractual obligations.

“It is a relief, and it will provide some peace of mind,” she says. But she warns that many members will struggle to find other work in the current job market.

Union Warns of More Closures Ahead

E tū Director Finn O’Dwyer-Cunliffe says the closures are part of a wider pattern, and more are likely on the way.

“Multinational companies are making a choice to walk away from New Zealand workers, and a Government with no industrial strategy is letting them do it. E tū has fought hard through this process to protect members’ entitlements, including redundancy compensation. Workers need a union just to get what they’re owed, and that’s exactly why joining one matters.”