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from Issue 750
News Round Up
A summary of major local news stories by Paul Taylor
Lockdown Level 2- what it means for Queenstown
Domestic tourism can begin again as New Zealand moves down to coronavirus alert level two.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed yesterday (Monday) the alert level will be downgraded, allowing businesses and ski fields to reopen under certain conditions and also allowing inter-regional travel.
Last week, Air New Zealand announced flights will resume between Queenstown and Auckland, and Queenstown and Christchurch. Flights will also resume at other regional airports.
“We’ve been keen to start domestic air services as soon as practicably possible to support New Zealand’s economic recovery and connect family, friends and businesses,” says Air NZ chief executive Greg Foran.
“But the ramp up to higher frequencies will be a slow journey and even when we come out of Alert Level 1, all of our domestic destinations will see fewer flights and reduced frequencies. This is the harsh reality of closed international borders and a depressed domestic economy, with more Kiwis in unemployment and people watching what they spend.”
The reopening of domestic tourism, and an eventual trans-Tasman bubble, has been welcomed by Queenstown’s residents, politicians and business owners as the resort begins the long road of recovery from the impact of Covid-19 restrictions.
Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult said it would be a huge relief to businesses.
“What’s reassuring for this district is that a recent survey showed that Queenstown and Wanaka were top planned destinations for Kiwis to visit when they could travel again – first and fifth place respectively,” Boult says.
“This should bring some relief and hope to the many local business owners and their employees that have been struggling to survive.”
Hundreds of redundancies were confirmed last week by some of the resort’s major tourism operators, including Skyline and Ngai Tahu Tourism, which owns Shotover Jet.
Between March 20 and April 20, the number of people applying for unemployment benefit in Queenstown increased from 151 to 554, according to stats released by Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker.
And that doesn’t include migrant workers. They are not allowed to access benefits. Queenstown Lakes District Council has had more than 11,000 requests for emergency support, with 76% of requests coming from migrants.
Walker’s calling for more support from Government: “We need to see an industry specific support package and plan in place, to support our tourism sector as they try to get back on their feet.”
It is now more than three weeks since the last new case in Queenstown Lakes District, and in the Southern District as a whole. There are fewer than 9 active cases in Southern district.
Queenstown’s Community Based Assessment Centre - the Covid-19 testing facility at Memorial Hall - closed its doors last night (Monday).
There’s been a steady decline in the demand for swabbing over the past two weeks, only between one and five a day. Any testing will now be conducted at medical centres.
Since March 24, 1,363 people were swabbed at the centre. Queenstown Lakes District had 87 confirmed cases. Some 353 asymptomatic people were also tested at Pak’nSave, while 247 people were tested at six Queenstown backpacker hostels.
Real Journeys donates $15,000 of snacks to the Sallies
A Queenstown-based tourism giant has donated $15,000 of snacks to the Salvation Army - including 14,000 Crafty Weka Bars, 50 cases of gluten free Molly Biscuits, 12 kilos of pesto, 175 kilos of apples and 84 kilos of oranges.
The snacks were destined for Real Journeys international and domestic visitors in Milford Sound.
But they’re are now helping fill much-needed food parcels at the Queenstown Salvation Army food bank.
Salvation Army Queenstown lieutenant Andrew Wilson says the charity has seen a 600% increase in requests for help since the lockdown began, and it’s getting harder to fill the food parcels.
“Initially it was largely foreign nationals needing help what we’re seeing now is more New Zealand residents,” Wilson says.
“We’re putting together 20 to 30 food parcels every day (Monday to Saturday) as well as additional emergency food packs and we’re now needing to ensure that our food parcels go to the highest needs first.
“It’s so good to receive healthy things like nutritious muesli bars and fruit we can use. Fruit is really hard for us because we have to ensure it’s been stored correctly and this has been stored under a commercial food control programme which is perfect.”
Real Journeys area manager Jason Steele drove the snacks up by truck the 290km from Milford Sound yesterday afternoon. The stock was due to expire in a few months.
“Where better to bring it than Queenstown which has been so hard hit by what’s happening in tourism,” says Steele.
Wayfare acting chief executive Ian Jackson says with no visitors, all Wayfare companies are carefully evaluating what stock they need as part of their preparations for tourism in Alert Level 2.
“This is the kind of community initiative Real Journeys is renowned for and our teams will be pleased to know these supplies have gone to a good home. Many of our visitors to Milford Sound arrive via Queenstown so it’s very fitting.”
