Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News

Take it outside: Summer dining boost for Hamilton's struggling restaurants

Waikato Herald
11 Nov, 2021 09:09 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

From left: HCBA general manager Vanessa Williams, Mat Pedley from Waikato Food Inc, Mayor Paula Southgate, and Deputy Mayor Geoff Taylor discuss the potential for more outdoor dining in t

From left: HCBA general manager Vanessa Williams, Mat Pedley from Waikato Food Inc, Mayor Paula Southgate, and Deputy Mayor Geoff Taylor discuss the potential for more outdoor dining in t

Outdoor summer dining is coming to Hamilton as the city council drops red tape and fees to allow restaurants and cafes to put outdoor tables in the city's public spaces.

And it is calling on the Government to ease liquor licensing rules so diners may enjoy a glass of wine or beer with their al fresco meal

The council is throwing a lifeline to the city's struggling hospitality sector to breathe life into restaurants and cafes which have been barely able to trade for nearly six weeks and don't have space inside to meet Covid spacing rules.

The council has also asked the Government for urgent help, supporting the Restaurant Association of New Zealand, Hospitality NZ, and Heart of the City Auckland in seeking immediate changes to liquor legislation that will allow city diners to have a drink with a meal.

Decisions from its meeting yesterday will see Hamilton City Council automatically extend outdoor dining permits, waiving all fees and charges. Any new outdoor dining applications will be prioritised and issued for 12 months. Council also directed staff to urgently explore further use of outdoor seating that could be used to support the sector.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mayor Paula Southgate and deputy mayor Geoff Taylor have pushed hard for the initiative, alongside Hamilton Central Business Association (HCBA) general manager Vanessa Williams.

"These are unusual and desperate times for many hospitality businesses in our city. We wanted to do what we could to get rid of red tape," Southgate said.

"People's jobs and livelihoods are on the line and all councillors have agreed we must do whatever we can to help. We know many of our restaurants and cafes simply don't have space inside to meet Covid spacing rules.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"In Hamilton, we are privileged to have some great public spaces so let's use them," she said. "Let's take advantage of that, support our local businesses, and help resurrect the city's dining scene."

Measures within Hamilton City Council's control will be in place as soon as possible. Any move from the Government to loosen up liquor laws and provide for temporary variations to on-licence conditions may take longer.

"We need the Government to change the law urgently so that's what we're asking for," Taylor said.

"But let's be really clear. We're not advocating for booze-ups in Garden Place. We simply want people to be able to sit down at a table, enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with a meal from a nearby restaurant – that's all."

Discover more

Much-loved city spots open and buzzing

05 Nov 09:10 PM

Waikato leaders demand easing of alert level restrictions

08 Nov 08:45 PM

Covid rains on Christmas parade, carols concert

09 Nov 10:45 PM

Te Huia weekday services will travel into central Auckland

10 Nov 02:10 AM

Williams said hospitality makes up 20 per cent of Hamilton's central city businesses and the change could make a huge difference to their viability. She was hoping the Government would come to the party fast on changes to liquor legislation.

"Our restaurants and cafes are huge contributors and create a real vibrancy and hum in the city over summer. They keep a lot of people in jobs and drive a lot of spending. The opportunity to extend dining and allow people to enjoy our restaurants despite Covid will be warmly welcomed."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Waikato News

Sport

'I want to make a statement': Masson ready to fight Parker

Sport

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France

Waikato Herald

Mum killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children, including newborn


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Waikato News

'I want to make a statement': Masson ready to fight Parker
Sport

'I want to make a statement': Masson ready to fight Parker

Waikato boxer Floyd Masson will take on John Parker in Australia on July 30.

17 Jul 03:00 AM
All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France
Sport

All Blacks team naming: 10 changes to side to face France

16 Jul 11:52 PM
Mum killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children, including newborn
Waikato Herald

Mum killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children, including newborn

16 Jul 09:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP