Iwi once considered buying Frasertown meatworks

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated has decided against buying Silver Fern's Frasertown meatworks near Wairoa.

Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) considered buying Silver Fern's Frasertown meatworks near Wairoa "but it would have been better to build something from scratch", NKII chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said.

He voiced interest in the works in 2014 as part of the iwi's export strategy of capturing the whole value chain.

In October this year Silver Fern announced the closure of the plant, with the loss of 67 jobs.

Silver Fern chief executive Dean Hamilton said Frasertown closed because the company would be more efficient and offer farmers better service by operating fewer plants.

Wairoa mayor Craig Little said the plant was isolated and unlikely to have the scale necessary to absorb increasing compliance costs.

Mr Tomoana said after an inspection it was found the Frasertown plant's resource consent was expiring, it lacked freezer space and an export licence.

"Initially we thought we might be able to keep it going it, but when we looked at everything it was too hard," he said.

He said work was offered by NKKI, through its corporate arms, to the Frasertown workers but the jobs were in Hastings area and they would have to move.

Silver Fern also offered workers jobs in its Hastings and Takapau plants.

In 2013 NKII purchased the 3680ha Tautane Station in Herbertville as part of an iwi diversification from fisheries to farming.