Unilever is moving to cut 58 jobs and shut a washing powder factory in Petone north of Wellington. The plant opened in 1919.
Photo: RNZ
The company is aiming to shift production to Sydney and wants to make a decision on closing Petone before the new year.
Factory manager Neil Robertson told Checkpoint that consumers shifting to liquid detergent had led to a drop in the demand for laundry powder and the business is no longer viable.
He said the company will continue to employ about 150 non-manufacturing staff in its Auckland sales office.
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The Engineering, Printing & Manufacturing Union says the closure in Petone has been in the works for a while.
It says long time employees will find it hard to get new jobs. Spokesperson Louisa Jones said many of the employees have been there for decades.