New temporary work visa rules proving a headache for employers

Hospitality business owners in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough are struggling to fill summer job vacancies, with some reporting not a single application from the typically abundant visitor workforce. They say the government's planned changes to temporary worker laws are partly to blame. The current six visa categories are being replaced with one temporary work visa from 2021. But the head of Tourism Industry Aotearoa, Chris Roberts, says the lack of workers reflects a general drop in the number of young people coming to New Zealand on a working holiday . Alexandra Unterberger of the Alpine Lodge in the Nelson Lakes National Park is blaming confusion over the changes being brought in. She told our reporter Tracy Neal the downturn has happened almost overnight, and it's a big worry.