Nelson Ranger lays off 30 workers

Thirty people at Picton's biggest employer are to lose their jobs just days before Christmas.

Nelson Ranger Fishing Company staff learned yesterday that all mussel processing at its Picton factory will stop from December 16.

Managing director Simon Acton-Adams said the economic climate was deteriorating for his industry because of the strong New Zealand dollar, energy surcharges and rocketing domestic costs in doing business in the country.

He blamed basic government policies and regulations and in the medium term he did not see any improvement in the "anti-business environment".

He said the decision to stop mussel processing was made relatively recently, when the dollar reached new unprecedented highs against most trading partners.

The kiwi dollar this week bumped over the US70c mark and is buying nearly A95c.

Mr Acton-Adams said it was a very difficult situation for the company and under the current "regime" he did not see it picking up in the near future.

He said all other processes were continuing at the factory with product going to Europe, the United States and Asia, but mussel processing was at least 50 per cent of the plant's turnover.

The company would consider other opportunities for the now unused parts of the facility but he would not say what those were likely to be.

Nelson Ranger Fishing is the largest employer in Picton with a staff of 70 to 80 including fish cutters, shellfish openers, cooks and packers. More than 50 per cent of them are women.

The announcement comes just as the entire operation has shifted to a new $5 million factory the company has had built.

The mussel industry has been experiencing tough times for 18 months due to the high dollar and, more recently, increasing fuel costs.

Big player Sanford recently reported a 43 per cent drop in net profit to $30.4 million for the year to September.

That was despite sales revenues which had increased more than four per cent to $365.8 million.

- nzpa