Talley's
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 23 October 2026 · 8 sources
Family-owned New Zealand fishing, mussel and frozen food company.
We couldn't confirm where it makes the rest, and most fish and seafood are processed in countries such as Thailand and China, where the legal minimum is below a living wage.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It doesn't show that workers are paid a living wage, and isn't certified as working towards one. On Track needs at least one of these.
- It isn't Harm on record: the most serious problem on its record (unsafe conditions, last recorded in 2017) is more than 5 years old.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsA confirmed problem counts against it: unsafe conditions, last recorded in 2017
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Not met: Traces its catch to the boat or farm and has crews' or farm workers' conditions checked independently
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: A confirmed problem with pay, rights or safety not shown to be put right
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
From Talley's own disclosure: it makes its products in its own factories. Its list covers only part of its range. The rest is shown as where fish and seafood are usually processed.
| Country | Share | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 70% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | 8% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | 6% | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | 5% | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | 3% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| AustraliaUsual for the industry | 3% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| EcuadorUsual for the industry | 1% | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| NorwayUsual for the industry | 1% | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: fishing fleets and processing plants have some of the worst documented forced labour, including trafficked crews held at sea for years.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Traces most of its fish and seafood to named fishing boats or farms
- It traces some of its catch or holds environmental labels such as MSC, ASC or BAP, but doesn't show both that its catch is traced to the boat or farm and that crews' or farm workers' conditions are checked independently.
Research notes Talley's catches fish with its own Amaltal deep-sea fleet and inshore boats from Motueka, Nelson, Westport and Timaru, and grows its mussels in Tasman Bay and the Marlborough Sounds, processing at its own plants in Motueka, Blenheim, Havelock and Timaru. It does not publish a vessel list, supplier list, crew checks or modern slavery statement. Its skipjack tuna fishery is MSC certified. Its seafood pages give no location for its frozen vegetable processing. Grounds: NZ waters.
Confirmed issues 1
Only confirmed problems are listed, and old ones drop off after 10 to 15 years. A problem the company has fully put right no longer counts against it, and nor does one it finds and is fixing itself. How problems are counted
| Last recorded | What happened | Made amends? |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Talley's Group was convicted and fined $169,400 in 2020 after a worker's arm was trapped in an unguarded conveyor at its Motueka mussel processing plant in June 2017 (WorkSafe New Zealand). Source · search the archive | Not knownNo source describes what Talley's did for the injured worker. |
Sources and actions
Sources 8
Show all 8 sources
- Talley's Group Limited (Motueka Plant) court summary (WorkSafe NZ) · search the archive · Worker's arm trapped in conveyor nip point at Motueka mussel plant, June 2017; convicted and fined $169,400 in December 2020
- Union rep 'wouldn't let' his children work at Talley's amid safety concerns (1News, Jul 2021) · WorkSafe began a top-to-bottom review of Talley's in July 2021; union alleges lost fingers, lockouts, and higher pay for non-union workers
- New Zealand skipjack tuna purse seine fishery certified as sustainable (MSC, 2017) · search the archive · Talley's NZ skipjack tuna purse seine fishery MSC certified
- Talley's Chilled Mussels Marinated Plain 375g (Woolworths Australia) · search the archive · Talley's mussels sold by Woolworths in Australia; Produce of New Zealand
Published by Talley's or its owner
- About Us (Talley's) · search the archive · Family-run since 1936; inshore boats and processing at Motueka, Nelson, Westport and Timaru; deep-sea fleet from Port Nelson
- Locations (Talley's careers) · search the archive · Sites at Blenheim (mussels), Motueka (fish, shellfish, ice cream), Nelson, Westport and Timaru, all in New Zealand
- Seafood capabilities (Talley's) · search the archive · Amaltal deep-sea fleet freezes at sea; inshore fleet supplies shore plants; mussels grown, harvested and processed by Talley's
- Mussels (Talley's) · search the archive · Mussels farmed in Tasman Bay and the Marlborough Sounds and processed at its Blenheim, Motueka and Havelock plants
Company details
- Headquarters
- New Zealand
- Last researched
- 23 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Talley's ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/talleys, last researched 23 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Talley's.