Proposal to Close Wairoa Mutton And Mossburn Venison Processing Sites
Tuesday 18 October: Silver Fern Farms is consulting with staff at its North Island Wairoa mutton processing plant and
its South Island Mossburn venison plant on options for closing the two small sites.
Silver Fern Farms Chief Executive Dean Hamilton says: “with changing livestock flows, there is the opportunity for the
company to become more efficient and offer our farmer suppliers improved service by operating fewer plants for longer
during a season. Both plants operate in regions where we have other plants which can manage the combined levels of
livestock processing in the region.”
Employees at Mossburn are being given options to work at the company’s Waitane, Kennington or Finegand sites. Frasertown
employees will have the option of transferring to Takapau or Pacific in the Central Hawke’s Bay. Frasertown employs 67
staff, while Mossburn employs 43 staff.
Mr Hamilton says “We have a great group of people at both sites, a number of whom are already working at these
alternative locations and we will be discussing these options with the Union and the consultation committee.”
ENDS