There are mixed feelings in Wānaka’s business community following the announcement that Aucklanders will be able to travel from Wednesday December 15.

By that date, Aucklanders will have lived with border restrictions for over 100 days, and many are expected to take advantage of their new freedom.

The whole country will move from the alert level system to the traffic light system next Friday (December 3). The red setting means hospitality businesses will be able to open, but vaccine certificates will be required as will gathering limits, physical distancing, and masks.

“Some businesses are pleased with the announcement and eager to welcome back our Auckland visitors, much needed for some businesses, while others worry that opening the Auckland borders in time for the busy Christmas and New Year holidays could make Wānaka vulnerable to the delta outbreak,” Ignite general manager Naomi Lindsay said.

Naomi said many businesses are already struggling to find staff for frontline roles. Chefs are also in shortage, meaning business owners are left in a difficult position should any staff member be away sick due to Covid-19. 

There has been an increase in bookings at Edgewater Hotel.

“Add to that the increased pressure on business owners to manage customers' and staffs’ vaccine passports if they wish to operate to full capacity, means there is a lot of stress and uncertainty this week.”

A quick phone-around to accommodation providers by the Wānaka App revealed that some providers have experienced an increase in bookings from Auckland, and Aucklanders have also been confirming bookings or moving existing bookings later.

However one motel owner said South Islanders do not want to travel at the same time as Aucklanders.

“I’ve had people tell me they want to travel before the Aucklanders ‘get out’,” she said.

The motel’s occupancy is usually about 50 percent Aucklanders, she said, but she is not seeing that trend in bookings.

“We’re filling up from people outside of Auckland,” she said, adding that she has also had bookings from Australia for April, May and winter next year.

Naomi said some smaller summer events have been cancelled due to the complexity of the new framework.

“We are working with MBIE and MOH to host another business zoom session next week and we will invite members of the business community to come and watch the zoom together and connect with others in the same situation, to share ideas and challenges after the zoom to help people navigate this new step-change in our Covid world," she said.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App