Never in their worst dreams could New Zealand business leaders have imagined the havoc Covid-19 would wreak. As they try to wrestle chaos into some order, Andrea Fox has asked them how they're faring. Today, Tourism Holdings chief executive Grant Webster responds.
Describe the past month for you, and for your business
A horror film! It's like a short film that's won every short film festival globally; it now looks like an Oscar winner as well - the question is whether it's a Peter Jackson style trilogy? I never liked horror films.
In saying that, the team have done an amazing job, as we have seen in lots of other places.
We have lost nearly all revenue globally and have been dealing with stranded customers, massive people changes, and every aspect of the business needing to change.
Again, the crew though have been excellent, no matter what the outcome has been for them personally.
What time have you been getting up and getting to bed during this time?
I am up stupidly early most days, before 4am. That's when I start reading what's happening around the world. I try not to do too many emails at that time. Nights depend on whether there are calls to the UK and Europe, given what's going on there; being a global business does add some pressure. But the benefit is that I can sleep any time, when I get the chance.
Assuming you are working from home, where in your house do you work?
I am lucky enough to have a room that I can call an office or study. The only thing is that the WiFi is shocking, so I have an ethernet cable running through the house (taped down from a H&S perspective). Looks terrible, but that really doesn't matter in today's world!
How has the family reacted to you working at home?
I have two children in this bubble and two in another bubble, so it's hard from that perspective. The family here are being just awesome, looking after me very well, while I hide away in my little office! The dog seems to like to join in calls when he can. I physically see the family more often, obviously - but for short amounts of time, as I am passing to go to the bathroom or am getting a drink (of water).