Hospitality remains on hold

The glimmer of hope for retailers as Auckland moves to Level 3.2 has not been shared by the hospitality sector which remains closed until Level 3.3.

“Auckland hospitality businesses are experiencing year on year revenue declines of 74 per cent on average so every day and every week counts,” says Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association of New Zealand.

“We have requested an opening of hospitality for outdoor dining at level 3.2 but we are yet to receive a response to this suggestion.

“The short-term nature of the current planning provides no certainty around when our businesses can plan to reopen so we would now like to see a specific date given for reopening,” said Bidois

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said that November 29 is a date when Cabinet fully expects vaccination levels to enable the next phase of the transition.

“The city is on track to reach 90 per cent of its population double vaccinated by the end of this month, and the new traffic light system will come into place for Auckland right then, regardless of vaccination rates in other DHBs across the country.‌”

Ardern said Cabinet would be very pragmatic about the decision to move Auckland to the new framework, recognising the toll lockdown had taken on the city which she plans to visit on Wednesday November 10.

She says there is a “strong expectation” Auckland will move into the new framework on November 29.

During this afternoon’s press conference about alert level changes for Auckland, the Prime Minister emphasised that Aucklanders will be able to leave Auckland at Christmas regardless of what is happening around the country.

On whether testing will be required for Aucklanders to leave the city, Ardern said it is one of the issues being worked through, as well as vaccination certificates. Advice is currently being sought from transport, legal and health advisers.