Why is the McCain closure significant?

Labour says the McCain closure is part of a broader pattern of manufacturing job losses across New Zealand, signalling a growing economic and employment crisis.

What other companies have seen closures or job losses?

Labour points to closures and workforce reductions at companies including Wattie’s, Kinleith Mill, Winstone Pulp, and Sealord.

What is happening to employment in New Zealand?

Labour says unemployment is rising, with thousands fewer jobs and increasing business liquidations contributing to economic pressure on households.

McCain closure latest sign of job losses crisis

ByThe Daily Blog 25 March 202612 April 2026

Labour says the closure of McCain’s Hastings plant is the latest sign of a growing jobs crisis in New Zealand, with manufacturing layoffs and rising unemployment hitting communities hard.

The closure of McCain’s Hastings processing factory is another blow for workers and further proof the Government is failing on jobs and the economy.

McCain closure highlights growing jobs crisis

“The Government has added another massive failure to its record. The closure will hit workers, their families, and the Hawke’s Bay community hard,” Labour jobs and income spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.

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“Sadly, this is not a one-off event at one company. This is part of a broader pattern of closures affecting thousands of jobs across the manufacturing sector under Christopher Luxon’s watch.

Wave of manufacturing closures across New Zealand

“We’ve now seen major closures at Wattie’s, Kinleith Mill, Winstone Pulp, Sealord, and many other companies reducing their workforces.

“Christopher Luxon promised he would fix the economy, instead he’s making it much worse.

Rising unemployment and economic pressure

“Unemployment has soared. There are 32,000 fewer jobs since National took office. Business liquidations are at a 15-year high.

“Each one of those jobs lost is a family struggling to pay the bills or a loved one moving to Australia.

“New Zealand can’t afford another three years of National’s failures. Labour’s priority is a more affordable New Zealand with well-paid jobs and a future made right here in New Zealand,” Ginny Andersen said.

For communities like Hawke’s Bay, these closures aren’t abstract economic signals — they are livelihoods disappearing in real time, and a warning that the broader economic strategy is failing working New Zealanders.