Wellington, August 26, 2020
The Restaurant Association wants the country to adopt a scheme similar to the UK, which would see the government subsidise meals at eateries.
The Association has delivered a 4000 signature petition to Parliament on August 25, 2020, for MPs to consider adopting the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme being practiced in the United Kingdom.
Under the Scheme, the government foots half of the bill for a meal eaten at a cafe, restaurant or pub from Monday to Wednesday until the end of August, with a limit of £10 or NZ$ 20.
Wider benefits
Restaurant Association President Mike Egan said that the Scheme has wider benefits than just the hospitality sector.
“If we are buying food for our customers, then we are buying off farmers and producers, then we are paying our wages and our laundry bills, so the money goes a long way, whereas if they just gave us a grant we would probably just pay our rent just to get through,” he said.
He said that the Wage Subsidy was not providing enough support.
“The wage subsidy is fantastic, but it is all the rest of the costs we have to work out to get through this period,” Mr Egan said.
Restaurant Association CEO Marisa Bidois said that to date, there has been no targeted support for the industry through the pandemic, despite being one of the worst affected.
“Our Dine out to Help out initiative will put much needed cash back into the pockets of hospitality businesses that are really struggling whilst also helping Kiwis to get a freshly prepared meal at a discounted price,” she said.
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi and National’s Economic Development Spokesperson Todd McClay received the Petition in Wellington, with a contactless lunch delivery of curry and rice.
Heavy price
Mr McClay said that New Zealand’s hospitality sector was paying a heavy price for the government’s “bungling of the border.”
“Today’s petition is a plea for help from a sector on its knees. Hospitality, tourism and travel agents have been hit the hardest by the government’s border failure and they need more targeted assistance from the government to save businesses, jobs and livelihoods,” he said.
Mr Faafoi said that the initiative was an interesting idea, but the government was not making a commitment to adopt it, as it was more focused on the wage subsidy.
“That is not to say that we will not keep the dialogue open with the likes of the Hospitality Association and the Restaurant Association. They are very important sectors to New Zealanders,” he said.
The above Report and Picture have been published under a Special Arrangement with www.rnz.co.nz
