The proposed closure of the Eve’s Valley Sawmill in Tasman is devastating news for the local community.

“These are hardworking people who are at risk of losing their jobs here,” Labour list MP for West Coast-Tasman Damien O’Connor said.

“This will be a major blow to the community if it goes ahead. The Government’s halt on major construction projects is likely to factor in this decision, as demand for processed timber declines, resulting in thousands of job losses and Kiwis having to head overseas for better opportunities.

“This is just the latest in a series of job losses, with 18,000 jobs gone in construction and over 11,000 in manufacturing since December 2023.

“It is quite clear that things are getting worse under National,” Damien O’Connor said.

“The mill closure will hit the local area and flow on to the wider economy. National is making life harder for our regions,” Nelson MP Rachel Boyack said. 

“We need more onshore wood processing to build homes and other infrastructure, not less,” Rachel Boyack said.