Woolworths to shift over 100 New Zealand customer-service jobs to Sydney
Woolworths will relocate its New Zealand customer care operation to Sydney, putting roughly 130 staff at risk of redundancy.
Woolworths announced that its New Zealand customer care function will be merged into its Sydney support network, a decision reached after a structured consultation with staff and the Workers First union. The transition is expected to affect roughly 130 positions, prompting the retailer to promise one-on-one discussions with each employee to explore redeployment across its broader business, including vacant roles. Mark Wolfenden, Woolworths NZ director of digital & eCommerce, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but said the core elements of the plan will proceed.
The union’s deputy secretary, Rudd Hughes, described the move as greedy and short-sighted, accusing the company of sacrificing workers after earning $163 million in profit from Kiwi shoppers. Woolworths framed the relocation as part of a broader effort to streamline operations, eliminate duplicated overheads, and secure long-term sustainability.
