Two level 4 lockdowns and closed borders have hit downtown Auckland and Queen St hard, and there is presently no strategy to revitalise the downtown economy. An Auckland restaurateur who heads into a loss-making level 3 faced with closing both his businesses says there needs to be greater awareness of the plight of the hospitality industry. LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff Matthew Fitzgerald, pictured at his former restaurant Madame George, faced closing two businesses as a result of the pandemic. “I don’t even know if [the Government] know what’s going on or they choose not to know what’s going on... I don’t know if it’s wilful ignorance or they’re too busy.”Restaurant Association chief executive Marisa Bidois said while it was “a relief” to see Auckland going into level 3, it wouldn’t be a salve for all businesses.

Source: Stuff September 21, 2021 03:32 UTC