About 40 workers have lost their jobs after A.H. Beard Limited was placed into liquidation yesterday, as the Australian-owned mattress manufacturer collapsed on both sides of the Tasman.
The New Zealand company was put into liquidation on 28 April 2026, the same day its Australian parent entered voluntary administration after 126 years in business. Workers received letters informing them their employment was terminated immediately, with no notice period required. The collapse has been attributed to falling consumer spending, rising manufacturing costs, and a shift toward cheaper imported mattresses.
An E tū member who asked to remain anonymous says the news blindsided the workforce.
“When we heard the news, we felt shocked and heartbroken. We never thought anything like this would happen.
“Our union members all feel that same sadness. Many of them cried, out of love for their families and their children.
“We will need help. There is so much uncertainty about the financial side of things, paying the bills, the power, the water, and just keeping the house going.”
E tū Director Mat Danaher says the sudden nature of the closure has left workers in a deeply difficult position.
“These workers turned up to their jobs yesterday and were told it was over. There was no warning, no time to prepare. That kind of shock takes a real toll, and the financial uncertainty on top of it makes it worse.
“Workers are now waiting to find out what they’ll receive in unpaid wages and holiday pay, and many of them can’t afford to wait long. We’ll be doing everything we can to make sure they get what they’re owed and that they have support through this.”
Mat says the closure is another sign of the pressure ordinary workers are under.
“This is happening against a backdrop of high unemployment and a cost of living that is still grinding people down. Losing your job suddenly, in that environment, is genuinely frightening. These workers deserve real support, and they deserve it quickly. Similar is happening up and down the country, and we need an active government plan to support workers and retain decent jobs in New Zealand.”