Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has described a report detailing widespread job losses in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier as sobering but won't say what additional support they may get.
Hikers enjoy the scenery at Franz Josef, but many tourism businesses there are operating at the 20 percent capacity. Photo: ruslankphoto.com / 123RF
The new Covid-19 impact survey of 103 businesses found 16 had closed, roughly 62 percent of jobs have been lost, and most were operating at 20 percent of their normal capacity.
Nash received the findings along with a nearly $35 million wishlist to help communities stay afloat.
He confirmed he planned to visit Glacier Country in the near future.
"I don't think we'll let them die but I am well aware that Covid is having a significant impact on the viability of many businesses there," Nash said.
"But what I am really keen to do when I am down there is sit down, one-to-one, talk about the issues, see what we can do to help in the long term because this isn't going to be something that can be solved overnight if we make an assumption that the borders won't be open before next year.
"I think I've been reasonably clear when I have said don't expect to see our borders open - apart from the Australian bubble, which we're working really hard on - before the end of the year. I can't give any more information or reassurance than that, keeping in mind it's a health approach and it's a decision that Cabinet will make when we believe the time is right."
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash says the opening of borders is ultimately a health decision. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
He was working with the Finance Minister on a wider tourism package focused on regions that were heavily reliant on international visitors, he said.
Nash would not be pushed on when or what kind of support may be on the table.
The government had provided support for the Glacier Country, including STAPP funding, DOC's Jobs for Nature programme and millions of dollars for infrastructure projects, he said.