Holcim fails on social responsibility in New Zealand

The Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and has con­demned glob­al cement giant Holcim after the com­pany issued form­al notice of ter­min­a­tion for the entire New Zea­l­and crew of the cement car­ri­er MV Buf­falo, effect­ive on 28 Decem­ber 2025.

The Uni­on is renew­ing its call for Asso­ci­ate Trans­port Min­is­ter James Mea­ger to imme­di­ately reject the applic­a­tion for a for­eign replace­ment ves­sel.

Up to 32 skilled New Zea­l­and sea­farers face los­ing their jobs just before Christ­mas as Holcim final­ises its plan to replace the New Zea­l­and-flagged MV Buf­falo with the Panamani­an-flagged NACC Vega, crewed by over­seas labour on inferi­or terms and con­di­tions.

Mari­time Uni­on of New Zea­l­and Nation­al Sec­ret­ary Carl Find­lay says Holcim’s decision is a cal­cu­lated act to under­mine New Zealand’s sup­ply chain resi­li­ence.

“This is a blatant attempt to replace skilled Kiwi work­ers in the trans­port sec­tor.”

Holcim’s part­ners, Nova Algoma Cement Car­ri­ers (NACC), are seek­ing a Min­is­teri­al author­isa­tion under Sec­tion 198 of the Mari­time Trans­port Act that would allow the Panamani­an-flagged NACC Vega to oper­ate in New Zeal­and’s domest­ic coastal trade for up to three years.

“Min­is­ter Mea­ger holds the power to stop these jobs being axed, and he must use it,” Mr Find­lay says.

“New Zea­l­and sea­farers are will­ing and able to do this work.”

Mr Find­lay says an exemp­tion will under­mine New Zealand’s mari­time cap­ab­il­ity by repla­cing an exper­i­enced domest­ic crew with a tran­si­ent for­eign work­force.

“A decision to allow this would go against recent gov­ern­ment rhet­or­ic regard­ing employ­er accred­it­a­tion and the require­ment to pri­or­it­ize New Zea­l­and work­ers.”