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.”
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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0% Yes
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0% No
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0% Other - I'll share below
Canterbury’s Woodend Bypass route confirmed
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
The route of the proposed Woodend Bypass in Canterbury has been confirmed - and it might look familiar to locals.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says it has decided the stick with the route which was first designated nine years ago.
Engineers reviewed the route after the Government gave them the green light in July to push ahead with plans.
The 9km stretch of road will provide an extension to the Christchurch northern corridor, otherwise known as the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway.
Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey has advocated for the project for several years and said he is thrilled at the latest announcements.
‘‘Many residents across the Waimakariri and further afield will be in no doubt about my passion for this project.
‘‘For far too long now, elderly residents of Woodend have missed medical appointments as they refuse to cross the main road due to safety concerns, and school children have run the gauntlet of getting to and from school.
‘‘Business owners have also suffered because customers refuse to stop on the main road due to traffic.’’
Waimakariri deputy mayor Neville Atkinson said it will be welcome news for local residents.
‘‘It has been a long time coming and the council has always been supportive of this project, so we are delighted that it is moving forward at the pace it is.’’
Last week, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced plans to build an overpass to replace the Pegasus roundabout and provide better access for Pegasus, Ravenswood and Woodend residents.
He said NZTA will release a request for tender for detailed design and construction supervision this week.
The first stage of early works will likely begin in early 2026 with preparation for road widening to four lanes between Lineside Rd and Cam River, while the main physical works are expected to begin later in 2026.
An NZTA spokesperson said it is too soon for concept drawings to show what the Pegasus interchange will look like.
‘‘We’ll be able to share these as the designs progress during this next phase.’’
Details of how environmental challenges, such as two shingle pit lakes which have been created over the last decade, will be overcome have yet to be released.
Final costs have yet to be determined, but it is believed it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Woodend Bypass is one of the Government's first five roads of national significance.
The Government is considering roads of national significance to be partially funded by a toll.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.
When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?
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82.1% Yes
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15.1% No
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2.7% Other - I'll share below
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