A Wellington hospitality venue owner doesn't expect an immediate influx of visitors after New Zealand's borders fully reopen tonight but hopes the arrival of foreign workers will ease pressure on local staff.
Jeremy Smith, who owns the Trinity Group and is a Hospitality New Zealand board member, said restrictions on people from some countries getting working visas could keep potential workers away but he expected foreign workers to arrive in strong numbers as summer approached.
"I don't anticipate that we're going to get a massive influx of visitors until probably in the new year, when summer's in full swing," he said.
"It's good that it's happened, it's been long overdue."
Smith said many businesses had reduced their hours to reduce pressure on their existing staff members.
"We do need staff, it's still a massive crisis in terms of trying to find staff to man the businesses."
He said despite the staffing shortages hospitality venues had been busy this winter.
RNZ
