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Expert warns more closures to come after Heinz Wattie's shutters facilities

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Mar 2026, 6:02pm

Expert warns more closures to come after Heinz Wattie's shutters facilities

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 11 Mar 2026, 6:02pm

There's predictions Heinz Wattie's won't be the last to shutter operations this year.

It's proposing closing three manufacturing facilities in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin, and packing operations in Hastings - with 350 jobs at risk.

It also plans to phase out sales of products including frozen vegetables, impacting growers.

The Employers and Manufacturers Association's Alan McDonald says others will go.

"We keep hearing rumblings of others getting ready to exit, significant-sized manufacturers as well as smaller ones. De-industrialisation's been happening, prompted by some very high electricity prices." 

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