Taranaki leaders support move

Level 2

Taranaki leaders are welcoming the country’s staggered move to level 2 with open arms.

New Plymouth mayor Neil Holdom said yesterday the move was common sense. ‘‘It will be a huge relief to pretty much everyone in Taranaki.’’

He said it was now time to start rebuilding, and the job was to work together and make sure the bleak economic forecast for the region did not come true.

Last month an Infometrics report commissioned by economic development body Venture Taranaki and New Plymouth District Council predicted the loss of 5500 jobs in the next 12 months and an 8.5 per cent contraction in regional GDP in the year to March 2021.

‘‘Our job is to make sure that it’s wrong, to out-perform it,’’ Holdom said.

Stratford mayor’

‘‘For those people who aren’t financially impacted, now’s the time to get out over the next few weeks and few months and spend a bit of money on our locally owned and operated businesses.

‘‘I’m confident that we can outperform the economic forecast if we work as a community.’’

Stratford mayor Neil Volzke said he was ‘‘very pleased and relieved’’.

‘‘The restrictions we have experienced on level 3 and 4 are really hurting some people and any movement towards normality is really welcome.’’

Volzke said it was worth noting Taranaki had no active Covid-19 cases and no new reports of infection since April 27. Prior to cases announced on April 26 and 27, there had been a three-week gap. ‘‘I think Taranaki’s

done extremely well in that respect.’’

South Taranaki mayor Phil Nixon also put out a plea to support local businesses. ‘‘Shop safely but shop local. That’s really important. That’s the sort of thing that will get our district cranking.’’

He said council was also trying to get projects under way to support local contractors and people.

‘‘I think it’s also really good that we’re seeing a bit of domestic travel allowed now.’’ Schools are open on Monday next week and a big catch-up was needed there by the children, he said.

Taranaki Chamber of Commerce chief executive Arun Chaudhari said level 2 will start to get the economy moving. ‘‘It’s going to create that buzz because it starts to open up an entire supply chain.’’

But those in hospitality had been led to believe bars would be opening immediately at level 2, and he said he had received disappointed feedback.

‘‘I think really they should have opened bars [this Thursday] as well.

‘‘That’s a bit harsh. It will lead people to have different interpretations.’’

New Plymouth MP Jonathan Young said in an email that he was pleased the decision had been made to get more businesses operating.

‘‘The growing anticipation of communities around the country would’ve made it difficult to maintain level 3 much longer with the current reductions in active cases in the country.’’

In a statement, Venture Taranaki said shoppers had to consider where their money was going and whether it was benefiting the local economy and community.

‘‘The restrictions we have experienced on level 3 and 4 are really hurting some people and any movement towards normality is really welcome.’’

Neil Volzke