FIRST says the job losses won't be the last if the Government doesn't step in to control a high New Zealand dollar.

The union says the redundancies are reflective of the difficulty manufacturers are facing across the country.

Textiles secretary Paul Watson says the industry can't stabilise while the New Zealand dollar is so high and Government action is needed.

''As long as the Government sits on its hands ... this will continue to happen,'' he said.

Read the full story from Radio NZ here.  Listen to the story below - second item in Rural news (at 0 mins 56 seconds).