Wellington Cafe Urges Government to Simplify Residency for Workers

A popular cafe in Wellington is advocating for the government to create more accessible pathways to residency for hospitality workers. Owners John and Penny Pennington of Chocolate Fish Cafe have highlighted the challenges their business faces as it loses staff to sectors that offer faster routes to permanent residency. They expressed their concerns in an open letter to Louise Upston, the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality.

In their correspondence, the Penningtons emphasized that currently, hospitality workers must possess high qualifications or receive compensation that is often beyond what the industry can sustain to achieve permanent residency. As a result, many of their employees are leaving for roles in government or other fields that facilitate quicker residency processes. “We would rather have permanence,” said John Pennington, reflecting the cafe’s reliance on a stable workforce.

The couple noted that they often depend on foreign workers to fill positions, as few New Zealanders apply for jobs in hospitality. Pennington explained, “Most of them are in it for the short time in between university courses.” This reliance on foreign talent means the cafe frequently faces turnover and a lack of experienced staff.

Despite the government’s recent efforts to revitalize the tourism and events sectors, John Pennington believes hospitality needs additional attention. “They’ve got all these great ideas of bringing in tourists and mega-wealthy people to spend money in New Zealand, but we don’t have anybody to service that hospitality industry,” he stated.

Earlier this year, the New Zealand government announced it would invest an additional $35 million aimed at increasing international visitor numbers, enhancing tourism infrastructure, and promoting economic growth through the new *Tourism Growth Roadmap*. According to Louise Upston, this initiative includes provisions for the hospitality sector, with a focus on encouraging more New Zealanders to enter tourism and hospitality jobs.

Upston highlighted the available workforce, stating, “Our unemployment rate sits at 5.2% and in Wellington, there are 19,000 people on Jobseeker support, including 6,000 aged between 18 and 24.” She urged cafes across Wellington and New Zealand to consider hiring those currently seeking work.

As Minister for Social Development and Employment, Upston confirmed her commitment to getting people into jobs and acknowledged the Penningtons’ letter, promising a response in the near future. The ongoing dialogue between the cafe owners and government officials underscores the pressing need for a more streamlined approach to residency for essential hospitality workers, which could significantly benefit the industry as it strives to recover and thrive.