Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central supports the call from BusinessNZ - that it’s now time for the
recovery blueprint to kick in.
"We’re concerned that the impact of the current rules is leading to the perception that our economic centers are still
closed for business," says John Milford, Chief Executive, Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Business Central.
"With a COVID-19 infection rate practically at zero and Cabinet to decide about the Alert Levels this coming Monday, we
urge the Government to reduce the severity of the current restrictions.
"Absolutely we must keep the sensible elements of Level 2’s ‘new normal’, like social distancing and contact tracing but
the current restrictions are encouraging perverse outcomes.
"New Zealanders need to be given the confidence to return. If we’re going to "phase-in" further activity at Alert Level
2, as was announced today, this needs to be communicated clearly.
"Businesses need the operating environment to have certainty and backed by health data the Government is in a position
now to give us the blueprint going forward. We need to be encouraging commercial activity, we need customers and
commuters to be returning to Wellington’s CBD and other economic centres. Otherwise, we’re at risk of further business
failures and job losses.
"Officials and Ministers must move on this quickly, including detail the criteria for moving to level 1 and on what
level 1 will mean. Further, we need to understand the Government's plan in the long-term when it comes to border
management.
"We now know we’ve saved the lives, now we need to save livelihoods."