The Government is expected to update its guidance for businesses, as employers navigate new territory under new rules
On Wednesday morning Richard Beddie of Exercise Association NZ will be speaking to 500 gym owners and personal trainers on a Zoom call to explain the Government’s new opening strategy.
After the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday introducing a new three-step system, reviewed every week indefinitely for Auckland to ease restrictions, Beddie was fielding calls from business owners seeking clarity.
"I actually phoned the business helpline to get when gyms can open in writing because we heard in the news it was step two but the website just says pools, libraries and zoos can open in step two. And they can. There was a huge amount of confusion following the announcement, and the least amount of clarity among the people phoning us asking what is going on," Beddie said.
“The only suggestion I would make to the Government is that presuming they know what is going to be announced in advance, they should prepare the website so it’s accessible the moment Jacinda starts speaking,” Beddie said.
But this lag in the official guidance appearing on the website made it difficult for businesses to plan.
Parnell Business Association general manager Cheryl Adamson called the announcement, which mentioned the word "business" only once, "really unhelpful".
"It creates more uncertainty and businesses need certainty."
Not only was there little practical help for businesses trying to plan a reopening strategy, but there was no indication of what milestones might need to be met to move to different levels.
"[Jacinda Ardern] gave us a roadmap with no timelines. It makes it really hard to plan - for staff in hospitality, for example. People are hanging on to staff, not wanting to let them go, but they can't do that forever."
The Government was expected to release further guidance on operating requirements for business on Wednesday as Auckland entered step one under Level 3.
A spokesman at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) said he wasn’t aware what time the information would be live, but further clarity for businesses would be available on its business.govt.nz website and the United Against Covid-19 website.
Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett said the initial announcement left businesses out.
“The Government’s approach to the road map has been to identify what could be done in people’s pastime rather than how we can get back to business to generate revenue to survive and provide for our families and communities,” Barnett said.
“When can we expect the comprehensive list of ways in which the [Government] will be supporting business?”
"Weekly reviews leave so much uncertainty, and there are many sleepless nights ahead for hospitality and accommodation operators. – Julie White, Hospitality NZ
Meanwhile, Restaurant NZ chief executive Marisa Bidois questioned how the Government’s new three steps in Auckland was different to the old alert level system still in place for the rest of New Zealand.
“How is step 3.3 different from Level 2.5?
Bidois said the association had sent a number of questions to MBIE for clarity.
Hospitality NZ chief executive Julie White said many businesses in the industry were "dying a slow death" because of uncertainty.
"It seems hospitality will see no significant changes for three or four weeks - or longer - and many will not survive that long without help," White said.
"Weekly reviews leave so much uncertainty, and there are many sleepless nights ahead for hospitality and accommodation operators."
The Prime Minister has confirmed the wage subsidy and resurgence payments will be available during all three steps that Auckland remains in Level 3.
Which are:
Step 1
People can connect outdoors with no more than two households at a time, up to a maximum of 10 people. Early childhood education will return for all and people can move around Auckland for recreation such as beach visits and hunting. Regarding exercise, a personal trainer could train a household of up to 10 people outdoors.
Step 2
Retail can open their doors to customers, with the usual measures of wearing face masks and keeping up physical distancing.
Public facilities such as pools, gyms and zoos will open and the number of people who can meet outdoors will increase to 25.
Step 3
Hospitality can open – seated, separated and with a limit of 50 customers. Close contact businesses like hairdressers will also open with mask use and physical distancing; and gatherings will also then extend to 50.
