‘Sad and tough time’: Meatworks situation not lost on stunned community

Wednesday, 2 October 2024

The community is rallying to support those affected by the proposed closure of Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant in Timaru, with the impact expected to be felt widely.

The proposal was announced on Friday at an all-staff meeting. If it goes ahead, it will affect more than 600 workers at the plant, owned by Alliance since 1989.

A multi-agency meeting will be held in Timaru later this week to discuss a coordinated approach to support workers to find new employment and to understand the capacity of industry to take on workers.

The South Canterbury Rugby Union was also going to talk about what support could be provided to its players at a committee meeting on Tuesday evening.

The region’s Pasifika community, which has a large contingent working at Alliance Smithfield, has also offered support to those impacted, while the wife of a worker has also set up a collection to help families out.

Timaru District Council group manager corporate and communications Stephen Doran said there were no indications of any plans for the 32ha site, which is also owned by Alliance.

He said the focus was on helping coordinate across the business and economic development sectors to see what support could be provided to affected workers, “with the hope that they can obtain alternative employment in the district”.

He said Thursday’s meeting would include Rangitata MP James Meager and representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, Multicultural Aoraki, the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Venture Timaru and the council.

The proposed closure would see a loss of about $1.8 million in council revenue, he said.

“The majority of this is in water supply and trade waste [which is industrial wastewater],” he said.

“Businesses are charged this based on usage, which is consistent across industrial clients in the district and in line with many districts of our size.”

The council had sought and received assurances over the remediation of the land the plant sits on and would continue to work with the company, he said.

South Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive Tim Hyde-Smith said he understood several players from numerous clubs throughout the region worked at Smithfield.

“At our open grade committee meeting [on Tuesday night] we will in conjunction with our clubs have a discussion to see what we can collectively do to assist those affected,’’ he said.

“It is a very sad and tough time for all concerned, not only for those workers who play rugby and their families.’’

The rugby union was thinking of everyone connected to the plant “at this very tough and challenging time”, he said.

Multicultural Aoraki general manager Nils Macfarlane said meetings were under way with agencies to work out the best way forward and to ensure there was a collaborative approach.

“Multicultural Aoraki will try to support in any way we can and will team up with other agencies to run sessions on budgeting, CV workshops, and other support services,” he said.

The organisation would continue to run free family fun days over the school holidays and would host activities to allow people to connect and feel supported by the community.

“It is a hard time, and we are here for the community and will do everything in our power to support and be there for our people.”

This support was for everyone in the community, he said.

Tongan Society South Canterbury general manager Sina Latu said while she was unsure of the exact number of Pasifika community members employed at Smithfield, she knew there were many.

“Most of our Tongans are working there,” she said.

“But we are also thinking of all the other island groups working there.”

She said it was now up to the region’s Pasifika community to come together and support one another.

“It is a huge shock to the community. It is an uneasy time — it’s horrible.”

She said following Thursday’s meeting, the society would hold its own meeting with families to see what was needed.

“It’s about what can we do to prepare ourselves, and with our people it’s really hard for them to ask for help. They don’t ask.”

The society opened a new space last week that had a games area, and she hoped people affected by the announcement would visit so they could connect with others.

“It will be a space for our men who used to wake up in the morning and go to work to come to and not stay home dwelling.’’

She said many of the society’s members had come to South Canterbury to play rugby with a job lined up at Alliance Smithfield.

“Most of our rugby players work there and some with a visa, and some with residency here.”

Many were also the main income earner in the household.

She said the society’s fale was open to anyone who needed support.

Meager said at the moment it was about figuring out the best response. “I don’t think we’ve ever had to do something of this scale of response before.”

He did not want anyone from Alliance Smithfield to feel left out of discussions or support given, and said it was going to have a massive impact on the region.

“That could be looking at whether or not there needs to be a wider public meeting about what people can do.”

Meanwhile, Timaru woman Jo Richards had received an overwhelming response to a collection she started to support those affected.

Her husband worked at Alliance Smithfield for almost 11 years and Friday’s news was a “huge shock”.

Richards said with three young children, the family relied on her husband’s income.

“Once upon a time I would have sat at home stressing about what we are going to do.

“But I decided to be proactive and thought, ‘There will be other families in a worse situation than us.’

“I thought, ‘If we can get together and help one another, it may take the load off us all.’”

She is seeking donations, clothes, food, toys and care packages.