Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall says rates relief is unlikely for Sealord as it prepares to lay off up to 180 workers.
The seafood company says its Nelson plant is not currently viable and plans to end the night shift in the city in April.
The Service & Food Workers Union met Mr Marshall on Tuesday and asked him to consider a company rates holiday to help future-proof the Nelson plant.
But Mr Marshall says that is not on the cards and it is not within his power to have Sealord postpone redundancies.
