Managers pulling pints and washing dishes to keep doors open in Hanmer Springs
From reporter Liz McDonald:
School holiday visitors and staff sicknesses are putting further stress on Hanmer Springs businesses already struggling to find workers.
The North Canterbury township has had to manage without the backpackers it traditionally depends on as a temporary workforce, leaving accommodation and tourism business owners run off their feet.
At the Rustic cafe and tapas bar on the main street, owners Stacey and Zane Inglis are putting in 12 or 13 hour days, seven days a week.
Stacey Inglis said they had “shipped the kids off to their nana” while they cover long shifts starting at 5am for the duration of the school holidays.
“It’s been very busy, we are trying to keep it together. Staffing is a huge issue in Hanmer and everyone is short at the moment.
“Normally we rely on backpackers to take on jobs.”
Zane Inglis said he was working as “part chef, part dishwasher”, as well as filling other roles, to keep the doors open and customers happy.
The cafe has five staff, down from the normal seven or eight, and some of those have been off sick.
Some businesses in the town have shut up shop because of staff illness, while others are carrying signs asking customers to be patient.
Businesses with the doors closed because of staff sickness when the Northern Outlook visited on Monday included A-Maze-N-Golf mini-golf and maze, and Mumbles Cafe.
Hanmer Hospitality Ltd owns five bars and restaurants in the town, but sometimes has to close at least one to keep the others sufficiently staffed.
Hanmer Hospitality director Alan McNabb said they were already stretched with roles not filled, and now winter illnesses and Covid were hitting the staff they had. Some former staff were even coming in to help out, he said.
“We start every day thinking things are fine, and then we’ve got three staff down stick. On Saturday, we were three chefs short, in the middle weekend of the school holidays.
“The managers all just have to roll their sleeves up, we either have our hands in the sink or we’re pulling pints.”
Losing the backpacker employment market because of the pandemic had affected the whole town, he said.
“They’d come here travelling from somewhere like England, want to work as much as they could for a few months, then move on.
“Young Kiwis don’t want to live in a small town, or work weekends. That’s when we’re busy.”
The company is now paying staff double time after 10pm on Saturdays to get enough people for late shifts. They also have accommodation available to try and attract staff.
McNabb said that from a resident population of about 1000, the town swells to between 4000 and 5000 during holiday periods, and 6000 when the town is at its fullest.
“Every day is a challenge.”
Hanmer Springs thermal pools and spa manager Graeme Abbot said they were “managing to scramble through”, despite being short of workers.
On some days 10% to 15% of employees at the complex had been absent due to illness, he said.
“It’s harder to get some people in, especially staff that need to be qualified like lifeguards and staff therapists.
“In Hanmer, if we are being stretched, so is everyone else in town.”
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Buses can be a relaxing way to get home if you have a seat and enough space. However, it can be off-putting when someone is taking a phone call next to you.
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Paddy Gower seeks ‘bloody great Cantab’
The Kiwi journalist drilling deep into the country’s biggest issues is on a mission to find the local greats.
Paddy Gower is looking for the Good Kiwi in every region to feature in his show, The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour.
To nominate a Good Kiwi, email reporters@press.co.nz with the name and a description of why your nominee should win. You an also share the local issues you think Paddy needs to tackle in the comments below.
It could be the woman whose knitting circle has made 3800 items for victims of domestic violence, the guy running the length of Aotearoa for mental health, or the woman with terminal cancer who spends her time campaigning to raise awareness and save lives.
“Basically I am looking for ... a bloody great Cantab who just gets on and gets things done. The criteria is somebody who has a positive attitude and makes the community a better place," Gower said.
“I will give this person the 'Big Ups' they deserve, and the community can celebrate them with me.”
A Good Kiwi will feature in each of Gower’s live shows in 14 centres through November and December. He will name the Cantabrian Good Kiwi at his Christchurch show on the evening of Friday, November 22, at St Margaret’s College.
The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour is a sort of book tour, sort of stand-up comedy, some journalistic yarns and memoir, and some motivational speaking - with a fair bit of local in each show.
Gower also wants to know about topics of interest in the region.
“I’m ... going to be taking on a big issue facing Canterbury and offering up solutions.”
A stinky suburb, a neighbourhood needing a round-about or a cathedral in disrepair - “I will make your views count”, he said.
“I'm touring the nation to spread positivity, optimism and good vibes.”
*For tickets to the The F@#$ing News - Paddy Gower Live on Tour visit paddygower.co.nz
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