In the grips of a staffing crisis, hospitality business owners across the country, led by the Restaurant Association have come together to launch collective action in response to the Government’s immigration reset announcement. The situation is now beyond critical. We have businesses across the country reducing hours, changing decades-long operating schedules, and closing whole services, Read on
The government has announced changes to onshore visas, extending Working Holiday visas and Supplementary Seasonal Employment (SSE) work visas due to expire between 21 June 2021 and 31 December 2021 for another six months. The Association considers this a small win and has been extensively campaigning to government for visa extensions. This is also included Read on
The first quarter of 2021 has proven to be a mixed bag for the hospitality industry, as some regions benefitted from domestic holiday makers, while other regions suffered for this same reason. The Restaurant Association’s 1st quarter 2021 – quarterly Hospitality Report provides top-line quarterly sales statistics on the state of the hospitality industry. The Read on
The Government has delivered a blow to small business owners, fulfilling its commitment to increase the minimum sick leave entitlement to 10 days each year by passing the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill. The Restaurant Association has advocated for a more measured approach than the blanket increase from 5 to 10 days, instead proposing Read on
21 May 2021Hon Kris FaafoiMinister of Immigration Tēnā koe Minister Immigration settings must be based on more than ideology I am writing to place my concerns regarding the direction the Government is taking immigration on record, following the delivery of the Immigration Reset speech on 17 May. I would also like to seek a time Read on
Finance Minister, Grant Robertson has delivered Budget 2021, The Wellbeing Budget. While the government is forecasting a jump in economic growth, a shrinking deficit and lower than expected levels of debt, the effects of Covid-19 are still evident. The government are not expecting to return to a surplus until 2027. Robertson stressed that this is Read on
Shortly before the 2021 Budget was announced, we had the opportunity to remind Parliament not to overlook the embattled hospitality industry in our presentation to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. Grassroots hospitality is just coming to grips with the real cost 2020 had on their businesses. CEO, Marisa Bidois, flanked by some of Read on
This article was in the March Edition of Savour, contributed by Clearhead.org. We know that eating well and keeping hydrated is good for us, but it is often so hard to find the time when working in hospitality. You have a coffee, snack on some left-over fries, maybe your workplace does staff meals. You might Read on
RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION RESPONDS TO IMMIGRATION POLICY SPEECH The proposed immigration policy reform is going to make it even more challenging for the hospitality industry to access the workers it needs. Around 15 per cent of our work force is currently made up of those on temporary work visas and the reality is that many of these Read on
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, David Clark, has today announced the Government’s next steps to reduce merchant service fees, that banks charge businesses when customers use a credit or debit card to pay. The proposed changes are estimated to save New Zealand businesses approximately $74 million each year. “Pre COVID, EFTPOS has been the main Read on
The 2021 Lewisham Awards finalists have been announced. Now is your chance to make your vote count. Click here to go straight to the voting page. Winners to be announced at the awards night Sunday, 6th June. Be sure to purchase your tickets to celebrate with the hospitality stars you voted for. 2021 Lewisham Awards Read on
The Government is introducing a new temporary work visa this year, called the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) and Immigration New Zealand have announced timings around the introduction of the new visa. The Accredited Employer Work Visa will be introduced on 1 November 2021 and will replace 6 of the existing temporary work visa categories. Read on