18th May 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker
The team at Bush and Beach preparing for a courier run. Image: Supplied
Auckland tour company Bush and Beach has branched out into the courier trade as a way to keep staff busy and generate some income.
The 35-year old, award-winning, zero carbon-certified Auckland tour operator is one of many to switch from guiding international visitors to Hobbiton, Piha, Coromandel and wine tours to delivering parcels. The operator is delivering Auckland Council food packages under contract to New Zealand Couriers.
Managing director Ben Thornton said the firm’s mechanic removed the seats from five of the company’s vehicles and the operator obtained the necessary designation from the NZ Transport Agency.
“We’ve got 12 weeks out of it thanks to the wage subsidy and it’s nice for the guys to be doing something and helping out,” he said.
“We’d consider helping out any other courier companies with similar work.”
Thornton said it was unlikely to be permanent because courier companies had their own contracts and would continue as usual when the extra work dried up.
He had been grateful for the continuation of the wage subsidy but said there had been confusion about what the $400m allocated in the Budget was exactly for.
“Twelve years ago after the global financial crash, the prime minister took the tourism portfolio. I’m not sure tourism is quite the priority it was.”
Thornton said 99% of Beach and Bush’s business was focussed on international tourists.
“So with our international borders closed for the foreseeable future, we needed to reinvent ourselves. While the wages subsidy has been helpful, it doesn’t cover all of our wages bill, let alone rent,” he said.
“With 10 weeks of being unable to trade, the opportunity to help New Zealand Couriers has been invaluable. We couldn’t think of a better way to put our people and our vehicles to use than ensuring fellow Aucklanders get the food their families need.”
The operator had been delivering food parcel boxes six days a week.
“It’s hard, physical work, but the recipients of the boxes are all extremely grateful and it has been a humbling experience for the whole team,” Thornton said.
“As well as helping cover some costs its been great to get the team back on the road.”
Bush and Beach had developed a new series of tours especially for Auckland locals and New Zealanders visiting Auckland, which would be announced shortly.
The company would take bookings from 1 June.
