Covid 19 coronavirus Delta outbreak: Waikato businesses remain optimistic despite lockdown impact

Waikato businesses have the most positive outlook compared to Auckland, Tauranga and Taupo. Photo / Michael Craig

Waikato businesses are optimistic the consequences of the Covid lockdown will not be as severe as expected.

A coalition of the northern Chambers of Commerce recently put out a joint survey to 100 different member organisations in each region, with Waikato businesses having the most positive outlook compared to counterparts in Auckland, Tauranga and Taupō.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce executive director Don Good. Photo / Supplied

While only 67 per cent of Waikato businesses surveyed are able to operate under the current level 4 restrictions, 89 per cent are confident they will survive the Covid pandemic, the highest result out of all the regions surveyed.

In Auckland, 80 per cent of businesses reported they were confident they would survive the pandemic and only 64 per cent of all business surveyed could say the same.

Perhaps the most interesting result is that 97 per cent of Waikato businesses responded they would not be accessing the government support schemes to survive the lockdown.

Again, this was an outlier compared to the regions that took part in the survey. In it 95 per cent of Auckland businesses answered yes, they would be making use of the support options available to them, with 56 per cent of the total businesses surveyed reporting the same.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce CEO Don Good was pleased to see the optimistic outlook of the Waikato businesses that took part in the survey.

"It could change with an extended level 4, but less than 10 per cent of businesses eyeing the government support schemes shows the resilience of our economy here in the Waikato. Our farming and technology associated sectors have performed extremely well so far this year and we hope this trend continues," said Good.

Another positive note is only 9 per cent of Waikato businesses said they were considering making staff redundant as a consequence of the current lockdown.

This was much lower than the overall average of 23 per cent of the total businesses surveyed saying it was an option being considered.

Thirty-seven per cent of Waikato businesses reported that the level 4 lockdown had not impacted their weekly financials so far and 85 per cent in total saying the financial hit was less than $100,000.

This was again the most positive result out of the regions involved in the survey with only 29 per cent overall reporting they had not been impacted financially by the lockdown yet.

"While the overall outlook is good for our region, it is a difficult time for those in the events, tourism and hospitality sectors. We hope that the level 4 restrictions for the Waikato lift on Friday night and we can get back to supporting them," said Good.