A call centre company that planned to bring up to 2000 jobs to New Zealand has shut its doors, leaving 240 people without jobs on both sides of the Tasman.
Call Active, an Australian-owned company, went into liquidation on Friday.
The business employed about 60 staff in Wellington and another 180 in Australia.
When the Wellington office was opened in 2013, Call Active said it hoped to eventually employ 2000 New Zealand staff.
The company's owner and chief executive Rick Allan said global pressures and a tough market had forced the family business to fold after 40 years.
Mr Allan said he was also considering laying a complaint with the police after Wellington staff allegedly took couches, laptops and other property with them when they left on Friday.
He said New Zealand staff were paid on Thursday and he was hoping they could also be paid for their final two days of work.