The closure of McCain’s Hastings vegetable processing factory is another blow for workers and further proof the Government is failing on jobs and the economy.

“The Government has added another massive failure to its record. The closure will hit workers, their families, and the Hawke’s Bay community hard,” Labour jobs and income spokesperson Ginny Andersen said.

“Sadly, this is not a one-off event at one company, this is part of a broader pattern of closures affecting thousands of jobs across the manufacturing sector under Christopher Luxon’s watch.

“We’ve now seen major closures at Wattie’s, Kinleith Mill, Winstone Pulp, Sealord, and many other companies reducing their workforces.

“Christopher Luxon promised he would fix the economy, instead he’s making it much worse.

“Unemployment has soared. There are 32,000 fewer jobs since National took office. Business liquidations are at a 15-year high.

“Each one of those jobs lost is a family struggling to pay the bills or a loved one moving to Australia.

“New Zealand can’t afford another three years of National’s failures. Labour’s priority is a more affordable New Zealand with well-paid jobs and a future made right here in New Zealand,” Ginny Andersen said.

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