Wanaka hospitality businesses are hoping the country will move to alert level one next week, as they feel the impacts of alert level two restrictions.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday (Monday September 14) that while Auckland will remain at alert level 2.5 until at least next Wednesday, the rest of the country could move to alert level one from 11:59pm next Monday as long as COVID-19 cases keep tracking as they have done.

Ignite Wanaka executive officer Naomi Lindsay told the Wanaka App the chamber of commerce is hopeful for the change to alert level one.

"The level two restrictions have hit the hospitality industry hard as they have to cap their numbers to meet health rules and guidelines which limits the number of people they can have,” she said.

Naomi said the impact has been felt on bars especially, as people have to be seated. Having a smaller capacity has forced some bars to cancel large events which would generate good revenue for them, she said.

Naomi Lindsay of Ignite says businesses need to be able to maximise business opportunities.

“While the health of our community comes first, giving our businesses the ability to maximise business opportunities in front of them is key. Currently they are being limited in what revenue they can generate under level two guidelines.”

Water Bar owner Toby May said the restrictions have been hard to manage, and challenging for staff. 

Toby said not being able to go up to the bar to order a drink, and a new system of paying for drinks, has made it labour intensive for staff. While the bar would usually be able to host as many as 250 people, managing 100 people is the limit with the restrictions, he said. 

“It’s been a big challenge and there’s been a definite financial consequence. But, it could have been worse,” he said.

“There have been plenty of people around. Given what I thought we would be [like], it’s been quite good,” he said, adding that the bar is nonetheless “hanging out” for level one.

Ritual Cafe owner Chris Hadfield said his cafe’s turnover had been down anywhere from 20 to 40 per cent.

Ritual Cafe owner Chris Hadfield said his cafe income has suffered under level two.

“But the flip side of that is about 30 to 40 per cent of our take today [Monday] was from Aucklanders,” he said.

Chris said there were few Aucklanders around Wanaka when the city moved to alert level 2.5, but there were more Auckland visitors in town by the end of last week.

“They’re being quite defensive about being from Auckland,” he said.

Chris is also looking forward to alert level one, and returning to the cafe’s usual seating arrangement. 

He hopes that will stop the cafe “losing people out the door” once they know they have to wait for a table, he said.

The country’s alert level will be decided by cabinet on Monday (September 21).

PHOTOS: Supplied