Wellington Café Owners Urge Government for Residency Pathways

A popular café in Wellington is advocating for increased pathways to residency for hospitality workers, highlighting a trend of staff leaving for more stable job opportunities. The owners of the Chocolate Fish Café, John and Penny Pennington, have addressed their concerns in an open letter to Louise Upston, New Zealand’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality.

In their letter, the Penningtons express their frustration with the current residency requirements, which they argue are too stringent for hospitality workers. According to John Pennington, gaining permanent residency often necessitates either high qualifications or salaries that many in the industry cannot afford. As a result, some of their employees are opting for positions in sectors that offer quicker paths to residency, such as government roles.

The café has relied heavily on foreign workers due to a lack of local applicants for their positions. John Pennington noted that most New Zealanders seeking employment in hospitality tend to be in it for a limited time, often while pursuing university degrees. This reliance on foreign staff has created challenges, particularly as many of these workers come with limited experience. “We would rather have permanence,” he stated, emphasizing the need for stability in staffing.

The café owners believe that while the government has successfully revitalized the tourism and events sector, the hospitality industry still requires significant support. John Pennington pointed out that although the government promotes attracting tourists and wealthy visitors to New Zealand, there is a pressing need for sufficient personnel to serve this influx.

Earlier this year, the government announced an investment of an additional $35 million aimed at boosting international visitor numbers, enhancing tourism infrastructure, and fostering economic growth through its new Tourism Growth Roadmap. Louise Upston responded to the Penningtons by indicating that hospitality is a key component of this roadmap and that the government is eager to see more New Zealanders entering the tourism and hospitality workforce.

She highlighted that the current unemployment rate in New Zealand stands at 5.2%, with approximately 19,000 individuals on Jobseeker support in Wellington alone, including 6,000 young people aged between 18-24. “I encourage cafés across Wellington, and New Zealand, to hire those currently looking for work,” she said.

As Minister for Social Development and Employment, Upston reiterated her commitment to helping individuals find jobs. She confirmed receipt of the Penningtons’ letter and promised to provide a timely response to their concerns.

The ongoing dialogue between the café owners and government officials underscores the critical need for a collaborative approach to address the staffing shortages in the hospitality sector, as well as the broader implications for New Zealand’s tourism economy.