McCain had already put the Hastings site up for sale before two Hawke’s Bay mayors asked it to wait. Workers were pulling out some of the plant’s equipment as well. The company told RNZ it would not pause the closure.
The mayors, Hastings District’s Wendy Schollum and Central Hawke’s Bay’s Will Foley, had written to McCain the week before. They wanted an eight-week hold on any major changes to the processing plant so growers could look into an independent feasibility study of the sector. McCain’s answer, relayed by a spokesperson, was that it was “unable to commit to their request.”
A site already on the market
“Prior to receiving the councils’ request, McCain had listed the site for commercial sale and a process is currently underway for the site’s sale,” the spokesperson said. “Our Hastings team has already commenced decommissioning certain plant equipment.”
The company said several parties have contacted it about the site since the closure was announced, growers among them. McCain described its dealings with them as genuine and constructive, but said the talks went no further.
More than 100 growers are affected by the closure of the frozen vegetable factory. McCain has said it reviewed operations and was “unable to identify a sustainable pathway under the current model.”
It added that it understands this is a hard time for vegetable processing in the Hastings region, and that it remains committed to New Zealand and to its Hastings team members. Its potato operations and other Australia and New Zealand facilities, the Timaru plant included, are not affected, the company said, and it will keep investing in ways that strengthen its long-term presence in the region.
Mayors turn to the government
Schollum told RNZ the reply was not what the mayors wanted. “Obviously we were hoping for a different response … because the stakes are so high for our community here,” she said.
She said they accept it all the same. “McCain has now given us a clear answer and we respect that. The focus now has to be what options remain for growers, workers and the whole food processing sector.”
Growers have not given up. A group of them, Schollum said, is seriously considering a conditional offer for the plant. The mayors plan to keep pressing the government for support that would give growers the confidence to invest in the local economy this way.
Sources
- McCain Foods declines Hawke's Bay mayors' request to pause factory closure
- McCain refuses mayors’ plea to pause plant shutdown
