Tourism waiting on a recruitment solution
likely to continue, which is why the proposed tightening of work visas is such a concern.
Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois, who has also been lobbying hard on the issue, says it appears the changes, which resulted in 170 submissions to MBIE, are a done deal.
‘‘They’re going through a process but we’ve been told that the decision has been made.’’
TIA’s submission says many tourism jobs pay below the proposed salary threshold of $49,000 for migrants on essential skills visas.
Migrants in these jobs will have to leave after three years, and face a standdown period before they can return.
‘‘All it really does is force employers to replace one foreign worker with another foreign worker who will have to be trained up again … it’s a constant revolving door of people,’’ Roberts says.
Added to that, unless the partners of lower-skilled visaholders got visas in their own right, they would no longer be able to work here, which had the potential to cut out a large number of hotel staff.
Te Waonui Forest Retreat general manager Richard Bungeroth worries the new salary thresholds will make it difficult for him to hire waiters, room attendants and house keepers.
The Franz Josef hotel owned by the Scenic Hotel Group closes for four months in winter, and in summer most of the 65 staff are migrants.
‘‘What Kiwi in their right mind is going to leave a job to come to the West Coast and be told in May they have to go?’’ says Bungeroth.
Having a ‘‘United Nations’’ workforce fluent in languages such as French, Russian, and Spanish is also a major plus.
‘‘That’s why the whole backpacker thing is the best fit.’’
Providing staff accommodation helps hugely with recruitment and last year the Scenic Hotel Group spent $11 million on a new staff village in Franz Josef to replace worker housing washed away in a major flood.
Staff pay between $140 and $160 a week for a room, heat, power, and free Wi-Fi and Bungeroth says some leave with a very nice savings nest egg.
Scenic Hotel Group human resources manager Craig Binney says Queenstown is a whole different ball game.
Having staff quit because they can’t afford or find accommodation in the resort is ‘‘almost a daily occurrence’’ and Scenic Hotels recently leased a large Queenstown property to house 12 employees.
The first private accommodation development for Queenstown’s tourism workforce is due to break ground soon, and mayor Jim Boult says if others proceed as planned, they could result in up to 1000 worker beds.
So does it really matter who looks after our international visitors? Owner of guiding company Adrift Tongariro Stewart Barclay tries to hire Kiwis because they are committed to building a career.
‘‘A person working on an overseas holiday visa is here for a short time and a good time. They’ll work very hard for the season or two, they get to see New Zealand and then go home.’’
Barclay says visitors like to deal with Kiwis to learn about our lifestyle and culture and not feel they are just ‘‘part of a conveyor’’ being processed.
‘‘One of my mate’s daughters is from a farm. She talks about their farm, and other walks while imparting information on tourism as well, so they come away from that trip with a really nice immersion in New Zealand.’’
Roberts agrees tourism should ideally employ New Zealanders, but says enthusiastic overseas workers with good people skills can do a great job.
‘‘Wherever you go [globally] there’s a good chance you will be served by someone who’s not a local,’’ he says.
Keenan says her trainees are down to earth characters who engage well with guests.
‘‘People travel all over the world for our Kiwi hospitality and who better to deliver that than authentic Kiwis?’’
Tourism Minister Paula Bennett sees no harm in young travellers working in tourism during their time here.
She says efforts to iron out seasonal peaks and troughs will make the industry more attractive to Kiwis if it means they can work year-round.
‘‘But [employers] do need to be paying fairly and making sure those profits get through to staff.’’