Coromandel businesses concerned about staff shortages through summer

October 23, 2020

With New Zealand’s upcoming Labour Weekend marking the traditional start of the country’s peak tourism season, tourism and hospitality businesses in the Coromandel have expressed concern about finding experienced staff for this busy time.

As reported by Thames-Coromandel District Council’s Our Coromandel magazine, Alanna Kline, Chief Executive at thermal resort The Lost Spring, says she's in urgent need of qualified staff to fill roles immediately at the thermal resort in Whitianga, and will need more staff as the Christmas/New Year season approaches.

Having advertised extensively for staff, Kline says the staffing gaps are a significant hurdle to the resort extending its opening hours beyond the current four days it's offered post-COVID.

She advised “it’s incredible that at this time we have a township so short of hospitality staff, and services as well.”

Telling Our Coromandel that finding a local gas fitter to fix an oven in the commercial kitchen has proven almost impossible, and she's been looking further afield as far as Tairua because she can’t get anyone locally in Whitianga in time, Kline noted "if our kitchen doesn’t fire up, my restaurant can’t open.”

Kline is aware of other local businesses on-the-hunt for qualified chefs and experienced front-of-house staff too. Feedback from recruitment agencies confirms the problem of staff shortages is widespread across the Waikato region.

Kline notes "I’m concerned for our region and my own business over the months ahead. Post-COVID has been very busy, but how we service this new demand over summer is becoming a concern.

"As providers of hospitality and other services, we as a community have been working hard on our businesses and it’s distressing to now be in this situation.

"Out-of-towners arrive with high expectations of our businesses, and we can’t say we don’t have enough staff as an excuse for not operating at full capacity."

Kline feels that the pinch time for the business will be the next few months before university students break for summer and enter the job market, she says.

In the meantime, she says she is very appreciative of the hard work put in by the thermal resort’s team of 31 full and part-time staff.

Kline feels that the lack of long-term rental accommodation options in the Coromandel is a major issue that prevents people applying for jobs, adding “it’s a catch-22 situation with the housing. We say come to the Coromandel to live and work, but where do people live?

"The Coromandel is in a great position with a great product and I'm excited for the season ahead. We are within a three-hour drive from 50% of New Zealand’s population and this should be a bumper season for us all.

"We just need to solve the staffing and housing problems."

To find out about opportunities for experienced staff at The Lost Spring email: [email protected]

Images: The Lost Spring (top and below) and Alanna Kline, the resort's Chief Executive (middle). Courtesy of The Lost Spring/Facebook.

19th October 2020 - New Government’s first 100 days critical to New Zealand tourism

12th October 2020 - New survey shows New Zealand tourism could play vital role in post-COVID economic recovery

7th October 2020 - Analysis shows New Zealand tourism industry reeling from COVID-19 crisis

4th September 2020 - New Zealand tourism industry event to focus on revival and revitalisation

27th August 2020 - New Zealand tourism industry redoubles sustainability efforts

28th July 2020 - New Zealand tourism industry bodies unite to highlight need for ongoing Government assistance

22nd May 2020 - Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools to reopen next week

27th March 2020 - Go with Tourism to provide free support service for New Zealand tourism workers and businesses

24th October 2019 - Study suggests future strategy for geothermal hot springs and bathing tourism in Victoria

21st June 2019 - Global Wellness Institute names top five international hot springs trends

25th October 2018 - Operator shut out of Auckland’s Waiwera Thermal Resort

8th December 2017 - Work begins on Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa

17th July 2017 - Skills shortage reaching crisis levels in New Zealand’s service industry

20th February 2017 - Call for insurers to recognise hot springs bathing as complementary therapy

9th March 2016 - New Maruia Hot Springs resort owners look to expand in international wellness market

5th November 2015 - Staff and skills shortage impacts tourism businesses

29th June 2015 - Taupo holiday park’s geothermal water initiatives win national awards

1st April 2014 - Spa and geothermal opportunities on agenda during Rotorua mayor’s trip to Japan

17th January 2014 - Waikato District Council serves notice on Waingaro Hot Springs operators

6th August 2013 - Report indicates leisure industry skills shortage

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.