The National Party’s tourism spokesperson Todd McLay was in Wānaka on Friday (March 4) to address a gathering of local tourism businesses where he called on the government to give certainty to the industry by setting a border reopening date.

“I call upon the government to give you the date of when they’re going to have international visitors back,” Todd said.

“What is the difference and the risk for you from them [Australians] coming here compared to a New Zealand family?”

Todd said international visitors would have to prove they are fully vaccinated and have tests on departure and arrival so any risk is mitigated.

“If Kiwis can come back from anywhere in the world plus visa holders for work purposes who are double vaccinated and tested on both sides and there is no risk then actually so can others,” Todd said.

“Now if there is a reason it can’t happen today and the prime minister says we’ve got to get over the peak of numbers of Omicron, if that is what their advice says, fine, but actually give us a date.

“The reason you so clearly need a date is so everybody has certainty and can start planning.” 

One local tourism operator (who the Wānaka App won’t name to maintain anonymity) said the uncertainty is putting a real strain on their business. 

“Why would you apply for a position in a tourism business when you’ve got no confidence that they’re actually going to survive,” they said.

“It is putting a lot of pressure on us, our cash flows aren’t there, we can’t afford to have the people working for us, then we need skilled staff [when the border opens].

“That is the pressure that is getting put on us, and it's not great, like I’m honestly looking at my staff … which staff member do I get rid of first? That’s what it’s like.”

Lake Wānaka Tourism (LWT) general manager Tim Barke acknowledged the challenging operating environment.

“The environment we find ourselves in at the moment has been a massive struggle for our community, and many of our people and businesses are on the ground gasping for air,” Tim said.

“There is a little bit of light proposed, seemingly at the end of the tunnel, which is hopefully not another train.”

The government has announced a progressive reopening of the border from February 28. Under that plan Australian travellers who meet vaccination and testing criteria can travel to New Zealand no later than July 2022, but a specific date has not been set.

The border will be open to all travellers meeting the specified criteria from October 2022.

See the government's plan here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App