Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Karla Lee said the results showed greater confidence in businesses survival throughout the region compared with national statistics. Photo / Supplied
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Karla Lee said the results showed greater confidence in businesses survival throughout the region compared with national statistics. Photo / Supplied
Despite lockdown fears Hawke's Bay businesses are still showing confidence they will survive through Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest regional survey.
The Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce has sent out a local business confidence survey alongside the national survey.
Hawke's Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO Karla Lee said that the results showed greater confidence in business survival throughout the region compared with national statistics.
"Compared to the national confidence response, Hawke's Bay businesses are optimistic they will survive this pandemic with 83 per cent confident, whereas the national figure is 70 per cent confident of survival post Covid-19," she said.
"Redundancies are also lower in our region with a current figure of 2 per cent as opposed to the national redundancy figure of 9 per cent which supports the confidence levels in Hawke's Bay.
"Hawke's Bay sits even with the national belief that central Government will support them during the lockdown period with Hawke's Bay at 78 per cent and nationally at 77 per cent.
"However, we have fewer businesses who have applied for the Government subsidy with 66 per cent in Hawke's Bay and 80 per cent nationally."
She said that the Ministry Social Development has been inundated with applications and has performed extremely well under this additional pressure.
In general, the comments received identify the biggest concern is around tax relief, followed by continued financial support and rent relief.
"While the region is confident about the sustainability and recovery of their business after two weeks in lockdown, I believe this optimism will reduce if the lockdown is pushed out past four weeks," she said.
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise urges those businesses affected to be as pro-active as possible. Photo / Paul Taylor
Napier City Council is also making plans by working closely with the Hawke's Bay Business Hub to provide information and advice as to how to best manage small to medium sized businesses through the Government's various Covid-19 alert levels.
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise urges those businesses affected to be as pro-active as possible.
"I encourage business owners to not leave it too late to seek advice and help. Preparing and planning early will help make a huge difference to the resilience of Napier's economy and our ability to bounce back after the pandemic is over."
Council's recovery support programme aims to complement central Government initiatives such as the wage subsidy scheme, mortgage holidays and the business finance guarantee scheme.
Business owners can find more information about these schemes at the Business Hub response web page https://www.hbbusinesshub.nz/response/covid19-1
"Our plan includes a range of actions including a targeted relief package, review of our capital works programme, local shovel-ready projects, access to funding and advocacy in order to minimise roadblocks and assist businesses to make the most of opportunities," Wise said.
"We are particularly interested in potential impact on Napier families as we transition into a new city vision."
Council's plan considers the wider operating environment with strong links nationally and regionally with the spotlight firmly on Napier.
The first stage of the recovery plan will be released before the lift of alert level 4.
"We aren't sure what the Napier economy will look like post-Covid-19. However this plan will include feedback from local businesses, economic data and scenarios as they become available," she said.
"It is designed to see our city recover as best as possible."
