Restaurateur Lloyd Rooney said summer has been a mixed bag this year because of wild weather.
Restaurateur Lloyd Rooney said summer has been a mixed bag this year because of wild weather.
Wild weather and floods have dampened Northland tourism and hospitality businesses this summer, despite the Government hailing visitor numbers as the highest since 2019.
With summer over and autumn kicking off today, Northland restaurant owners, retailers and tourism operators have experienced a slump in business, with revenue downon last year.
Paihia Dive owner Craig Johnston said month by month his business was 4-5% down on last season.
“I know throughout Paihia most companies are in similar decline, if not more.
“When you throw in big weather events like January, my business was down about 15%.
Restaurateur Lloyd Rooney said summer had been “a mixed bag”.
The Cove in Waipu was up in January from the same time last year which was surprising because of the “atrocious” weather, and The Quay in Whangārei was up in December but down in January, he said.
The Cove co-owner Lloyd Rooney.
“The weather hasn’t been amazing, and there hasn’t been people hitting the beaches in their droves.
“It’s not been the best summer ever, anyone who is in hospitality will say that.
“We’ve had some really good months, and months that have been slightly quiet, but on the whole we can’t be unhappy.”
The Government recently welcomed new data showing international visitor arrivals continued to rise in December, with strong growth from China and Australia.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the Stats NZ figures showed New Zealand’s tourism recovery continues to build.
The December 2025 year was the first annual period to exceed 3.5 million overseas visitor arrivals since the March 2020 year.
“We’re seeing strong growth in visitors from China, with arrivals up by 29% [6400] in December 2025 ... as more Chinese visitors experience New Zealand’s unique scenery and hospitality.”
Todd Evers who co-owns Bad Habits restaurant in Paihia said the cruise ships have helped an otherwise tough summer in business.
Todd Evers, who co-owns Bad Habits restaurant and Tipsy Oyster Tapas and Bar in Paihia, and the Nauti Penguin in Russell, said the weeks around Christmas into the second week of January were good as usual.
He agreed the weather that followed had a big impact.
Evers said business had been “tough” and he was hoping the coming year would be better.
“For the numbers that we’ve had here, we’re doing all right.
“It’s not awful, but obviously we’d like it better.
“The cruise ships have been a help that’s for sure.”
Stats NZ figures released in February show holiday spending contributed to a 0.9% rise in retail sales, up $239m in the December quarter compared with September.
Economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said pharmaceutical and other store-based retailing, electrical and electronic goods, and hardware, building and garden supplies saw the largest increases.
Twelve of the 16 regions recorded higher retail sales, with Northland up by 2.3%.
Tony Hood, owner of 100% Errol Rogers in Kerikeri, said he had a “slight increase in sales, but there’s been a drop in profit”.
The increase was seasonal, driven by Black Friday sales from early November to early December, followed by Boxing Day sales from mid-December to mid-January, he said.
“That’s why there’s been a slight increase but a corresponding decrease in margin,” Hood said.
“The suppliers are either increasing their prices to us or decreasing the recommended retail.”
Jenny Ling is a senior journalist at the Northern Advocate. She has a special interest in covering human interest stories, along with finance, roading, and social issues.
