Latest news with #VivBeck
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland business leader begs government for economic plan
Viv Beck. Photo: Supplied / HOTC Auckland CBD's business association is asking the government to collaborate on a plan to revive the city's economy. On Morning Report, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon shut down Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown's renewed calls to charge visitors a bed-night levy . "We just don't think a bed tax is the right way forward at this time and we're not looking at it this term." The levy would fund destination marketing and events to attract people to the city. Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said central city businesses suffering after Covid-19 and from ongoing construction due to the delayed City Rail Link needed a lifeline. "If the government doesn't want to do [a bed levy] what we need is a discussion about what the alternatives are. "If the prime minister had said, 'Look, we are not supporting a bed tax, but we are keen to talk to groups in Auckland concerned about the economic turnaround there,' that would be helpful so we could actually end up with a plan of attack. "We need a solution, and we're not going to get one if it keeps staying at a public stalemate." Beck said the government returning the GST it charged on rates would also help Auckland's economy. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
12-08-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Diners Toast 15 Years Of Restaurant Month With Strong Sales
Press Release – Auckland Heart of the City Diners have shown their appetite for unique dining experiences is as strong as ever, with Heart of the City Auckland Restaurant Month 2025 off to a great start. 84% of all available tickets have been snapped up by foodies, a tally that has already eclipsed the total sold across last year's entire programme. With capacity doubled from 2024, this year's line-up features more than 15 unique events across August – from masa-making classes and truffle lunches to speakeasy soirées and progressive dining adventures. Several events sold out quickly. Participating restaurants indicate steady bookings for their special menus, with a mix of first-time diners, loyal regulars, and workplace groups taking part. This winter boost comes at a vital time for the hospitality sector, traditionally a quieter period for the industry. Heart of the City's digital campaign has been fuelling the momentum, clocking more than 12.6 million impressions across social media platforms so far. ' Restaurant Month continues to be a wonderful celebration of city centre hospitality, says Viv Beck, Chief Executive of Heart of the City. ' The results show strong demand for dining here and reinforce the programme's role in driving activity during winter.' With more events and special menus running throughout August, organisers are encouraging diners to book in before the last seats are gone. Diners have shown their appetite for unique dining experiences is as strong as ever, with Heart of the City Auckland Restaurant Month 2025 off to a great start. 84% of all available tickets have been snapped up by foodies, a tally that has already eclipsed the total sold across last year's entire programme. With capacity doubled from 2024, this year's line-up features more than 15 unique events across August – from masa-making classes and truffle lunches to speakeasy soirées and progressive dining adventures. Several events sold out quickly. Participating restaurants indicate steady bookings for their special menus, with a mix of first-time diners, loyal regulars, and workplace groups taking part. This winter boost comes at a vital time for the hospitality sector, traditionally a quieter period for the industry. Heart of the City's digital campaign has been fuelling the momentum, clocking more than 12.6 million impressions across social media platforms so far. ' Restaurant Month continues to be a wonderful celebration of city centre hospitality, says Viv Beck, Chief Executive of Heart of the City. ' The results show strong demand for dining here and reinforce the programme's role in driving activity during winter.' With more events and special menus running throughout August, organisers are encouraging diners to book in before the last seats are gone. Explore what's still on offer : Restaurant Month | Heart of the City
RNZ News
01-08-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Restaurant Month in Tamaki Makaurau
Restaurant Month has kicked off in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland and this year marks the 15th anniversary. Running for the month of August, it's a chance to celebrate chefs, cultures and culinary treats. Over 100 restaurants are taking part with more than 20 events and local and international collaborations. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck talks to Perlina about some of the highlights on offer. Photo: Unsplash
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Covid-19 Inquiry: Business leaders detail struggle with vaccine mandates and finances
Auckland CBD during the level 4 lockdown. Photo: RNZ / Robert Smith Business leaders from Auckland and Northland have spoken about the profound impacts on small to medium businesses coping with public health restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. They spoke at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the government's response to Covid-19, with one leader saying they didn't think vaccine mandates would work in the future. The legal challenges for businesses to implement the mandates, and the enduring financial repercussions that are still felt today were among some of the issues raised. These are the first public hearings of the inquiry's second phase, which was called for by the coalition government last year. The hearings concentrate on the impact of the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland in 2021, vaccine mandates and safety, and the effects of the public health measures on social division, isolation, health, education, and business activity. Auckland was in lockdown for 17 weeks, and Northland and parts of Waikato for 12 weeks, after community transmission of the Delta strain in August 2021. Auckland's Heart of the City's CEO Viv Beck said the pandemic was the "perfect storm" for CBD businesses, with the loss of tourists, international students, large events, and leaving many working from home. She said this left businesses dealing with the "eye of the storm" - particularly for the 1300 consumer facing businesses facing a 95 percent drop in sales during the level four lockdowns. Beck cited data from banks which also showed a 38 percent drop in spending at CBD businesses during alert level two, and a 19 percent drop under alert level 1 restrictions. She said many are still trading below pre-Covid levels as of today. Beck said wage subsidies at the time had helped, but didn't cover businesses' operating costs and rent. Meanwhile, the Employers and Manufacturers Association's (EMA) employment relations and safety manager Paul Jarvie told the inquiry that vaccine mandates had created legal challenges for businesses. "You've got conditions of employment, running in parallel to that you got the Bill of Rights, so people to have the right to say yes or no to treatment, and treatment includes injections. Those businesses that were mandated to have vaccines, that immediately creates employment law issues, if someone doesn't get mandated [sic] what do you do with them?" he said. When asked by the chairperson of the inquiry, Grant Illingworth KC, whether employment legislation during the Pandemic was adequate, Jarvie said it was "fit for purpose" at the time, but added that it would be helpful if there was a caveat under the employment law which allowed for certain public health measures under exceptional circumstances. Both Jarvie and Beck told the commissioners that if there was another similar event, they hope businesses can be involved from the very beginning. Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic response chair Grant Illingworth KC. Photo: Screengrab / Covid 19 Inquiry Beck said while she'd liaised with central government agencies from February 2020, she pointed out that being given information was different from being able to participate in decision making. "We got to a point where we were actually getting asked about a decision about to be made, often at the last minute, but that's the point, if it happens from the start, businesses have to be a trusted voice in decision making," she said. A manager from the National Field Days Society also in her evidence spoke of feeling of the events industry not being listened to by decision makers during the pandemic. Its head of customer and strategic engagement Taryn Storey said they'd spoken to government agencies multiple times about how they could host field days safely, but felt ignored. She said they were willing to integrate vaccine passports into its ticketing system, and thought their venue was well equipped to support the pandemic response. However, Storey said multiple visits by decision makers to their venue - including by district health officials - had led nowhere. Storey said while they felt they had weathered the pandemic, the impacts were "exceptionally profound" and they're still financially trying to claw their way back. Representatives from Northland's Chamber of Commerce said in their evidence on Monday that a community based approach would've worked better than the hard handed vaccine mandates, in persuading people to get vaccinated. Its president ,Tim Robinson, said rather than the "authoritarian" mandate path, he felt it would've been more effective to engage with Whānau Ora providers to talk to Northland communities and businesses about the vaccine. "Anybody that I dealt with or worked with during that whole period, said look, I got a much better chance of convincing somebody that the vaccination's a good idea, if there's no threat attached to it," he said. A worker on the frontline of Auckland's Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility being vaccinated against Covid-19 on 20 February 2021. Photo: Supplied / Ministry of Health Robinson said the mandates made businesses feel that they were not trusted. When asked by commissioner Anthony Hill whether vaccine mandates would ever be a valid tool in future events from a business perspective, Robinson said no. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
As it happened: First public hearings into New Zealand's Covid-19 response begin
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck, right, and employment relations and safety manager Paul Jarvie. Photo: The first public hearings into New Zealand's Covid response get under way on Monday - with a focus on lockdowns and vaccines. The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Covid-19 is looking into the government's response to the pandemic and its effects. It is the first time submissions will be heard publicly, with the sessions livestreamed. You can follow updates from today in our live blog above. This week's hearings particularly concentrate on the impact of the extended lockdown in Auckland and Northland in 2021 and on vaccine mandates and safety. In a minute issued on the Inquiry's website chair Grant Illingworth KC said that would include the effect on "social division and isolation, health and education, and business activity. Covid 19 response Inquiry chair Grant Illingworth KC. Photo: Screengrab / Covid 19 Inquiry "We will also hear from experts about the key decisions and their consequences, and lessons to be learned from what happened." The hearings would be in secure hearing rooms, with commissioners, witnesses, lawyers and media present. There was no provision for public attendance beyond those submitting but the live streams would run and be available as recordings as well, the minute said. Witnesses would be questioned by lawyers helping the inquiry, and commissioners could ask questions. A second public hearing was due next month in Wellington. That was to hear from key decisions makers who "led and informed" the government's response to the pandemic. This Royal Commission was set up under the previous Labour government, but its brief was expanded under the current government, with Illingworth taking the chairing role. A report from the first phase was delivered last year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
