Wellington mayor hails move to level 3
Slight easing of restrictions outside Auckland lift for businesses
Wellington Mayor Andy Foster has welcomed the move to alert level 3, saying it is good to see the Government clearly signalling it was considering the rest of the country as separate to Auckland.
“Level 3 is still very restrictive but it does mean some of our businesses can reopen on a contactless basis.”
Cabinet yesterday decided New Zealand will stay in lockdown until
11.59pm on Tuesday, and Auckland will likely remain at level 4 for a fortnight after that. All of the country — except Auckland and Northland — would drop to level 3 on Tuesday.
Wellington’s move to alert level 3 comes despitethe capital being the one location outside of Auckland where cases of Covid-19 have been found in the community.
No new cases were reported in Wellington yesterday, keeping the total number of cases in the capital at
14.
Foster said the change in alert levels would also allow construction to restart on major civic and private projects like the earthquake strengthening of the Town Hall and St James Theatre and work on the new Ta¯kina convention centre.
“It will be great to see orange jackets and hard hats on site.”
But Hoff Hospitality Group owner Matt McLaughlin warned that alert level 3 wasn’t much of a change for the industry.
After last year’s lockdown, businesses were excited to offer takeaways at alert level 3, but everyone just wanted KFC or McDonald’s, he said.
“It really wasn’t worth opening, it’s still pretty tough going at level 3.
“So we’re just going to have to sit and wait until we’re looking likely to drop to level 2 before we make any inroads.”
McLaughlin said he was only intending to open one of his three businesses — the Iron Horse in Miramar — because there were fewer takeaway options in the suburbs.
“It’s also more about getting rid of stock that I already have than actually making any money.”
Despite Northland being lumped with Auckland at level 4, community leaders expect the region to drop down an alert level next week. Northland would remain at level 4, partly because of a positive case in Warkworth, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Kaipara mayor and chairman of Northland Mayoral Forum Jason Smith said it was disappointing the region was being treated differently to the rest of the country, given it did not have any positive Covid cases to date.
“I am hopeful that Northland will be able to have its own alert level if there are no positive cases up here," he said.
NorthChamber chief executive Stephen Smith wanted a modified version of level 3 for Northland to allow businesses to trade.
“At the moment, there's not much difference between level 3 and 4 as far as businesses are concerned. We need to go from level 4 to a level where a majority of businesses can operate.”
“If level 4 continues then recurring revenue is lost and it all adds up.”
Nga¯ti Kuri Trust Board chairman Harry Burkhardt also wanted Northland’s level to change.
“Once the cluster in Auckland is contained and we haven't had any north of Warkworth for a week or so, alert levels may change for Northland,” he said.
As of Thursday, 113,663 Covid-19 doses had been administered in Northland of which 69,964 people have received their first dose and 43,699 people both doses.
Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the news of the upcoming alert level change but said it was important that people remain vigilant and followed the rules.
“We are fortunate that we have not had any community cases of the Delta variant in the South Island so far, but this is not the time for us to get complacent,” she said.
“We need to continue to follow the Government advice and stick to the alert level rules so that we lessen the risk of the virus taking hold in our communities.”
Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive Leeann Watson said the extension of level 4 was “disappointing”, although it was positive to know the country south of Auckland would be moving to level 3.
Watson said 90 per cent of businesses could operate safety at level 3.