Hospitality businesses in the top of the South Island are struggling to attract workers to fill summer vacancies.
Some say they've not had a single application from a usually abundant visitor workforce and are blaming confusion over work visa changes being introduced over the next 18 months.
Others say fewer young people are now visiting New Zealand.
Nelson cafe owner Gary Warner agrees the new rules are going to be complicated for employers, and workers.
He told RNZ reporter Tracy Neal he's placed ads on websites TradeMe and Seek as well as putting flyers at local backpacker hostels, and it's not working.
