Extending the wage subsidy is top of the wish list for Queenstown Lakes District mayor Jim Boult.

The mayor is due to hold talks with deputy prime minister and finance minister Grant Robertson this week and he said he will make the case for more financial support for businesses in Queenstown Lakes.

Speaking to more than 120 Queenstown businesspeople, on a Queenstown Chamber of Commerce zoom webinar on Monday (August 30), Jim said the best thing the government could do is to continue the wage subsidy beyond alert level two. 

Continuing resurgence payments, supporting small businesses, and more clarity around safe travel and border openings are also on the wish list, he said.

"Understandably they are reluctant to commit themselves, because who knows what happens, but at least let's get some criteria around that," Jim said.

Jim said he doesn't expect Aucklanders will be able to travel to Queenstown in the next school holidays, which begin October 1.

"Crystal ball, purely a guess, no I don't. That's depressing but I think it's reality."

He hoped, however, that the ski fields could be back operating under alert level two sometime next week, although for a limited market.

"Our thoughts at the present time are about assisting business to stay in business until Christmas time, when we hopefully will see a significant increase in domestic tourism," he said.

"The reality of it is that's about our major card at the present time."

Some upcoming events designed to draw visitors into the region should help, Jim said.

The council is in talks with NZ Cricket, Super Rugby and A League Soccer about hosting games later this year and early next year, and Destination Queenstown is dishing out $8M to support events in Queenstown Lakes and the region, through the Major Events Fund.

"Currently on my list of things to do is to go back to government and look for a continuation of that fund after the existing funds are exhausted," Jim said.

Council now has $30M in its bank account from central government for the Kick Start fund to support businesses to scale up for the return of Australian visitors, and $1.4M to administer that support, but that's currently on hold.

Jim said reopening the border would have a huge impact on tourism businesses, and it will require a mass uptake of vaccinations.

"So can I ask, plead with you, get yourself vaccinated and encourage your staff to do so… it is our best hope to get international visitors here again."