On February 2, the Restaurant Association and other members of the business community met with the new Prime Minister to discuss the impact of the floods on North Island hospitality businesses.
"The continued rain throughout January, which culminated with the floods, has come at the very worst time for hospitality businesses - many of whom are still trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic," said Marisa Bidois, the Restaurant Association CEO.
"We've been taking calls all week for members looking for support and targeted communication to help them work through the situation and get back up running again."
The meeting lasted approximately one hour. Described as "constructive and positive" by Bidois, the discussion was encouraging and productive. The organisation feels that the Prime Minister was aware of many of the challenges faced by the business community.
Four immediate priorities were raised with the Prime Minister.
The first was business communication, ensuring that communication regarding road closures and the length of time for repair were discussed to support businesses getting back up and running again.
The second was reviewing planned policy. Restaurant Association said that regulatory changes, such as parking the minimum wage increases and delaying Fair Pay Agreements processes, would be welcomed by businesses who are facing enormous financial pressure.
The third was international communication, which was raised to ensure that international communities understand that New Zealand is open for business.
"We are currently facing a severe skills shortage and competing with other markets for workers. We need more messaging calling for workers showing how great it is to work here."
Fourthly, immigration policy was also discussed, with the organisation requesting easier access to overseas labour to increase stability within the hospitality industry.
Other issues mentioned included interruptions to the supply chain, insurance contracts that do not cover financial downturns or damage caused by natural disasters, along with significant price increases.
"I'm pleased to report that the prime minister was extremely open and receptive to our suggestions. I'm looking forward to working with him and his senior ministers on the important issues facing our industry," concluded Bidois.
