Towns that tourism forgot: The uneven impact of the covid recession

Main Street, Patea, South Taranaki

Tue, 05 Jan 2021

This article has been republished. It was first published in August 2020.If the numbers are any guide, an international tourist on the streets of Hawera, Patea or Opunake is indeed a rare sight.In fact, spending by international tourists in the South Taranaki District is equivalent to less than half of one percent of the district's GDP, lower than any other part of New Zealand. In the midst of a recession driven by the disappearance of NZ's largest export earner, places like South Taranaki are feeling less of the fallout. Thro...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Markets Market Close

RBNZ rate cut lifts sharemarket, high‑yield stocks climb

The S&P/NZX 50 Index closed up 0.27% or 37.19 points.

Tom Raynel 08 Oct 2025

Law & Regulation

Calibre Partners seeks buyer for Futureverse

The insolvency came just over two years after 50T Funds led a $54m funding round.

Gregor Thompson 08 Oct 2025

Calibre Partners seeks buyer for Futureverse

Economy

RBNZ cuts to 2.5% with more on the table

The committee remains open to further reductions, it said.

Rebecca Howard 08 Oct 2025

RBNZ cuts to 2.5% with more on the table

Sponsored

Why New Zealand organisations need to rethink their cloud strategy

New Zealand organisations have embraced cloud computing over the past decade, but many are now confronting a sobering reality: adoption alone isn’t enough. According to Datacom’s 2025 Cloud & Infrastructure Report, only half of New Zealand businesses say they’ve realised the benefits they expected from cloud – despite significant investment.

Datacom

Sponsored

In a complex world, Kiwi investors can take comfort in mega forces

Enduring international forces bring clarity to uncertain times.

Blackrock

More Economy

Economy

ANZ first bank to react to OCR cut

ANZ is the first bank to react after the Reserve Bank’s 50-basis-point official cash rate cut on Wednesday.“Lower interest rates are helping, and more and more customers are seeing the benefit of rate cuts,” Grant Knuckey, a managing director at ANZ, said.“We’ve ... [seen] people...

Staff reporters 08 Oct 2025