It’s a sad day for Timaru, with hundreds of meatwork jobs potentially on the line. 

Alliance Group has called everyone at its Smithfield meatworks to an all-staff meeting at 11am. 

Locals fear the plant will be mothballed this season, with production being moved to Invercargill, and up to 1200 people left out of work. 

Nathan Guy from the Meat Industry Association told Mike Hosking any job losses will be most unfortunate. 

But he says meat companies are very agile and make changes as they see fit, and today is about making the right decision for the company's future. 

LISTEN ABOVE