Photo: Geoff SloanBackpackers often lead a hand-to-mouth existence, and now hostels that accommodate them are facing a similar predicament in Christchurch with closures likely. Urbanz Accommodation Christchurch manager and part-owner Paul Crooks shared a grim outlook as the city’s first summer without significant numbers of backpackers beckons. Photo: Geoff SloanCrooks lamented the end of the government’s wage subsidy and appealed for it to be reinstated. “Australia, Canada and the UK have extended their wage subsidy, the New Zealand government have thrown us to the dogs really,” he said. They gave out the wage subsidy to everybody in the early days and most of those industries have simply bounced back and made huge profits.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 19, 2020 01:41 UTC