End of wage subsidy will show true impact on Queenstown-Lakes

End of wage subsidy will show true impact on Queenstown-Lakes
Brent Melville
A dusting of snow on the hills in the Queenstown Lakes District serves as a chilling reminder of the impact that government-enforced covid-19 response has had on the tourism-obsessed economy. Ironically, the start of the ski season in late June or early July will coincide with the likely loss of hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs in the community – as the wage subsidy comes to an end.With covid-19 effectively cutting off the tap to a 3.2 million strong tourist supply, the casualties are mounting. Ngai Tahu Tourism, the owner of...

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