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The exit of big industrial employers is being labelled the de-industrialisation of New Zealand
Australian company BlueScope has flagged it may stop steel making at its Auckland mill, while Southland's Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is winding up operations next year.
Former finance minister Steven Joyce told Mike Hosking government policy is being fingered for big industries closing down.
"The Government isn't being seen to try, and I think that's causing more difficulties form the owners perspective.  And once these big employers go, we will never get them back."
Joyce says Taranaki's gas sector is being run down too because of talk of no offshore exploration policy.
Joyce says the cause of BlueScope scaling back and Southland's Tiwai Point smelter closing is something bigger than Covid.
"The common theme is energy and carbon prices and all of them have fingered the impact of government policy on their businesses."
Joyce says these are the biggest private sector employers in the regions and it's effectively the de-industrialisation of New Zealand.
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