Nelson's Mayor estimates more than 500 hundred jobs have been lost by back to back business closures

Griffin's Snacks is proposing to close its Proper Crisps factory in Nelson, with the loss of 65 staff.

The company plans to consolidate all savoury snack manufacturing at its Wiri site in South Auckland.

It's another blow to the region, with the Eves Valley sawmill closing, leaving 142 people jobless.

Nick Smith says it's sent shockwaves through Nelson, who feel "punch drunk" from bad news after bad news.

He says it raises tough questions for regional leaders about how to get the economy out of this hole, and stop continued employment loss.