covid-19 business survey, wave 3...‘hibernation’ (23% cf. 8% overall). impact of and response to...
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aucklandnz.com
Covid-19 Business Survey, Wave 3Full Report
20 July 2020
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Contents PAGE SECTION TITLE
3 1 Introduction
7 2 Executive Summary
10 3 Impact of Covid-19
11 3a Trading Situation
17 3b Impact of Covid-19
23 3c Closing businesses
25 4 Response to Covid-19 and economic effects
31 5 Support & Advice
37 5a Barriers to accessing support
43 6 Access to Funding and Support
46 6a RBP Programme Support
50 6b Government Wage Subsidy Package
54 6c Business Finance Guarantee Scheme
58 7 Resourcing Response
62 7a Business Size
65 7b Sector
68 7c Auckland Areas
71 8 Recovery Outlook
77 9 Sample Profile
81 10 Previous Survey Waves
1. Introduction
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IntroductionAbout the Survey
• Wave 3 fieldwork for the COVID-19 Business Survey was conducted during 'Alert level 1' starting on Friday 19 June 2020 and closing at 4pm on Friday 3 July 2020.
• The purpose of the survey is to understand how Auckland businesses are responding to the Covid-19 situation and follow-on economic effects as New Zealand settles into Alert level 1. The survey aims
to understand how businesses are doing and what specific guidance and support they need so that ATEED can find ways to better support businesses in the Auckland community.
• The survey was executed and managed by the ATEED Research and Insights team.
• The survey sample was drawn from businesses on ATEEDs CRM which included (among others) RBPN businesses ATEED have interactions with. From this base, the sample was selected: 1) according
to ANZSIC classifications so that the proportional distribution of the sample matched as closely as possible the size distribution of Auckland businesses according to the number of employees in each
sector. 2) The ‘newest’ CRM contacts so that the likelihood of current/ correct details and responses were increased.
• Booster samples were provided for ‘Tourism operators’, ‘Māori businesses’ and Screen Sector businesses’ to help improve the number of responses in these sectors so that separate analysis could be
conducted for the Tourism and Hospitality sector and among Māori businesses. The purpose of the screen sector booster was simply to ensure slightly better that average representation in the overall
survey (rather than the need to conduct separate analysis) as ‘screen’ is a key ATEED sector of interest.
• No attempt has been made to weight survey results to reflect the broader make-up of the Auckland economy in terms of business size, sector or location within Auckland.
• Key sample profiling information is provided on the following pages and in section 9 of this report.
About this Report
• The purpose of this report is to consolidate information collected and provide key findings about the attitudes, behaviours and business needs of respondents.
• All percentage results have been rounded to the nearest whole number for reporting purposes.
• It should be noted that the number of completed surveys achieved for some sub-groups (sectors and areas etc) are low and therefore should be considered indicative only. Where base sizes are
particularly low, these have either been flagged on the relevant pages or combined with other sub-groups to increase base sizes for reporting.
• No significance testing between groups has been conducted. As such, any flagging of ‘higher’ or ‘lower’ proportions should be considered indicative only.
• Where comparisons have been made with previous waves of the Business Survey, these should be considered indicative only as the survey sampling approach changed between waves one/ two and
wave three. Notes about the limitations of any wave on wave comparisons have been provided on the relevant pages and wave sample sizes are provided in relevant footnotes. Key approach and
sample profile information about previous waves has been provided in Section 10 of this report.
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Response Sample & Sub-Groups
Māori businesses
Respondents were asked whether they
consider their business to be a ‘Māori
business’ on account of the philosophy,
ownership, employees, management practices
etc.
Note: This question was adapted from
the Statistics New Zealand ‘Māori
business’ identifier question.
No analysis by Māori Businesses has been
included in this report. A separate report for
Māori businesses will be available at the end
of July 2020.
Overall, 11% (n=119) of respondents said
‘Yes’, theirs was a ‘Māori business’.
4
11
14
21
22
22
25
27
36
36
38
38
39
42
54
68
72
79
93
151
154
Public Administration and Safety
Rental, hiring and real estate services
Electricity, gas, water and waste services
Transport, postal and warehousing
Events
Primary Industries (Agriculture, forestry…
Manufacturing - Food and Beverage
Administrative and support services
Financial and insurance services
Other Services
Arts and recreation services
Screen & Film
ICT (Information media and…
Health care and social assistance
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Education and training
Manufacturing - Other
Construction (including engineering and…
Tourism & Hospitality (including tourism…
Professional, scientific and technical…
Number of Completed Surveys
Sectors
The sectors included in this report for analysis
are a combination of ANZSIC sectors and those
of interest to ATEED.
Given the sampling method used, completes
are weighted towards the sectors that ATEED
has worked with/ had contact with.
As noted previously, no attempt has been
made to statistically weight the data to be
reflective of Auckland business demography.
Reporting note:
Because of the low number of completes for
some sectors, these have been combined for
reporting purposes. For examples, as there
was only one complete from a business in
‘Primary industries’ this complete has been
included under ‘Other’.
Tourism & Hospitality:
A separate report for the Tourism and
Hospitality sector will be available at the end of
July 2020 and look at this sector in more
detail.
11%
84%
5%
Proportion of Māori Businesses
Yes No Don't know
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Response Sample & Sub-Groups
Business Size
Business size definitions are as
follows:
• Sole trader or partnership
• Small enterprise with 1 to 5
employees
• Medium size enterprise with 6 to
49 employees
• Large enterprise with 50+
employees.
Auckland Areas
Respondents could select more
than one area in response to
the following survey question:
“Where in the Auckland region
is your business located?”
(Select all that apply if you
operate in several locations).
Reporting note:
Because of the lower number of
completes from rural
businesses, North/West and
South/East rural areas have
been combined with responses
from ‘Hauraki Gulf Islands’ for
reporting purposes.
202
450
350
44
Sole trader or
partnership
Small enterprise
with 1 to 5
employees
Medium sized
enterprise with
6 to 49
employees
Large enterprise
with 50+
employees
Number of Completed Surveys
488
289
166
84
167
126
6444
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
North/ West
Rural Areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South/East
Rural Areas
Hauraki Gulf
Islands
Number of Completed Surveys
2. Executive Summary
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Executive Summary
Trading situation
• While almost 9 in 10 Auckland businesses (88%) are currently trading again in some way, the majority (almost 7 in 10) have indicated that trading is at reduced levels
either in terms of capacity, turnover or both.
• 'Manufacturing' and ''Retail/ Wholesale trade were the sectors that seem more likely to indicate they were trading in excess of usual (pre-covid) levels (9% respectively,
compared with 5% overall), while those in the 'Construction' sector appear to be more likely to say they are back to trading as usual (26% cf. 16% overall).
• As might be expected, those in the ‘Screen, Arts and Recreational services’ sector were more likely to indicate they were trading as usual but with reduced capacity/
turnover (75% cf. 67% overall), while those in the ‘Tourism, Hospitality and Events’ sector were more likely to say they were not trading with their business still in
‘hibernation’ (23% cf. 8% overall).
Impact of and response to the Covid-19 Situation
• As with previous waves of this survey, ‘Sales/ revenue' and 'Cashflow’ are the areas of business that have been impacted the most by the covid-19 situation.
• In response to the Covid-19 situation and follow-on economic effects, over half of respondents said that they/ their business had ‘Broadened digital marketing and social
media to engage new customers’ and ‘Revised product, service or experience offerings’ (53% respectively). Only 5% of respondents said that they/ their business had done
nothing or no changes had been made or were planned to be made.
Advice and Support needs and barriers to access
• In previous waves of the survey, ‘Financial advice/ cashflow management’ was the most common need for advice and support either at the time or over the ‘next few
months’. Over time, the need for financial advice/ cashflow management has reduced steadily in prominence, down from 54% in wave 1 to 44% in wave 2 and now to 39%
in wave 3. This reducing need aligns with the level of trading allowed at each NZ alert level. I.e. as trading resumes and increases, the need reduces.
• In Wave 3 of this survey the need for advice and support in the areas of ‘Business growth and sustainability’ (55%)*, ‘Business strategy and Planning (50%), and Marketing
(45%) have taken over as the largest needs. *’Business growth and sustainability’ was a new option asked in Wave 3 only.
• Over half of respondents (52%) said that the main thing preventing them from accessing the advice/ support they need was that it was ‘Too expensive/ the cost of
accessing advice/ support is too high’. This was followed by uncertainty about how long the Covid-19 situation would last (40%) and ‘Not knowing what types of advice/
support are out there for me/ businesses like mine’ (38%).
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Executive Summary
Access to Funding and Support
• Overall, around 4 in 10 respondents (41%) indicated that they had accessed additional funding for advice or support via the Regional Business Partner Programme while
another quarter of respondents (25%) said they intend to do so.
• The majority of respondents said that they had accessed the government wage subsidy (85%) with only another 3% saying they hadn’t done this yet but intend to.
• When it came to the 'Business Finance Guarantee Scheme' or the more recently introduced ‘Small business loan scheme’, just under 4 in 10 respondents said they/ their
business had accessed this with another 8% saying they intend to.
Resourcing Response
• While the previous wave of the survey; only 29% of respondents said they anticipated maintaining staff levels over the next 4-8 weeks, in the latest/ current wave of the
survey (Wave 3), 35% of people say that staff levels were maintained over the last 2-3 weeks. This indicates that the staffing outlook may have been more positive than
previously anticipated with more staff being maintained.
• In addition to this, the outlook for the rest of 2020 is comparatively positive with 37% of respondents saying they thought staffing levels would be maintained for the
remainder of 2020.
• Those in the Tourism and Hospitality sector were less likely to say that staffing levels would be maintained for the rest of 2020 (27% cf. 37% overall). Likewise, those in
rural areas of Auckland including the Hauraki gulf islands were also less likely to say staff would be maintained in 2020 (32% cf. 37%).
Recovery Outlook
• In general sentiment around recovery appears to be more pessimistic with fewer respondents saying they think it will take 12 months or less to return to pre-Covid trading
levels and more respondents thinking it will take over a year to recover.
• Over half of respondents (51%) thought their business would return to pre-Covid trading levels within the next 12 months (compared with 59% of respondents in
wave 2 of the survey).
• Around 4 in 10 respondents (41%) said they thought it would take over a year to return to pre-Covid trading levels (compared with 32% in wave 2 of the survey).
3. Impact of Covid-19
3a. Trading Situation
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Trading situation
4%1%
8%
67%
16%
5%
Trading situation
Trading: In excess of usual
Trading: As usual
Trading: Reduced capacity/ turnover
Hibernation
Closing
Other
Don't know/ prefer not to say
Q. In which of the following situations is your business currently in? Base: n=1039
Overall, the move to Level 1 has not meant a return to ‘business as
usual’ for the majority of Auckland businesses with almost 7 in 10
indicating that they are trading at reduced capacity or turnover.
• Almost 9 in 10 Auckland businesses (88%) are currently trading again
in some way, either at pre-covid levels, in excess of these levels or
with reduced capacity/ turnover.
• The majority of businesses (almost 7 in 10) have indicated that while
they are trading, this is at reduced levels either in terms of capacity,
turnover or both.
• 8% of businesses say they are not trading and still in ‘hibernation
mode’ even though New Zealand is at alert level 1. (For the Tourism,
Hospitality and Events sector this proportion was notably higher at
23%).
• Only 1% of businesses (around 7 respondents) indicated that their
business was currently in the process of closing.
• Out of those who said they had some other kind of trading situation,
around a quarter indicated that they were in the process of starting-
up either a new business, revenue stream, concept, product etc.
Respondents from businesses who had
received assistance from the ‘COVID-19
Voucher Scheme’ were slightly more
likely to be trading but with reduced
capacity/ turnover (70% cf. 67% overall)
but slightly less likely to indicate they
were still in hibernation (6% cf. 8%
overall) or that they were in the process
of closing their business (0% cf. 1%).
Note: The COVID-19 Voucher Scheme
provides expertise to help businesses
meet the challenges resulting from
COVID-19 disruption in a variety of
areas such as, Business Continuity
Planning, HR, Health & Safety, Legal,
Wellness, Financial Planning and Cash
Flow, Marketing and Digital
Enablement.
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Trading Situation cont.
5%4%
2%1%
59%
8%
27%
67%
4%
16%
2%5%
Wave 2 (Late Alert Level 4) Wave 3 (Alert Level 1)
Trading: In excess of usual
Trading: As usual
Trading: Reduced capacity/ turnover
Hibernation
Closing
Other
Don't know/ prefer not to say
Q. In which of the following situations is your business currently in? Base: Wave 2, n=239 | Wave 3, n=1039
As would be expected, many businesses were able to come out of
‘hibernation’ and begin trading again at Alert level 1.
Of interest however is that between waves 2 and 3 of the survey there has only been a
15-percentage point increase in the number of businesses reporting they are trading in
excess of usual (pre-covid) or as usual.
'Manufacturing' and 'Retail/ Wholesale trade' were the sectors that seem more likely to
indicate they were trading in excess of usual (pre-covid) levels (9% respectively,
compared with 5% overall).
Those in the 'Construction' sector appear to be more likely to say they are back to
trading as usual (26% cf. 16% overall).
Also as might be expected:
• Those in the 'Screen, Arts and Recreational services' sector were more likely to
indicate they were trading as usual but with reduced capacity/ turnover (75% cf.
67% overall).
• Those in the 'Tourism, Hospitality and Events' sector were more likely to say they
were not trading with their business still in ‘hibernation’ (23% cf. 8% overall).
Total trading in
excess of, or as usual
6%
Total trading in
excess of, or as usual
21%
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Trading situation
5%
16%
67%
8%
1%
4%
0%
5%
13%
61%
13%
0%
7%
0%
4%
17%
65%
9%
1%
4%
1%
7%
16%
71%
3%1%
2%0%
2%
16%
74%
2%0%
5%
0%
Trading in excess of usual
levels
Trading as usual Trading but with reduced
capacity and turnover
Not trading with business
still in 'hibernation' mode
Currently in the process of
closing the business
permanently
Other Don't know/prefer not to
say
% of respondents saying their business is currently in the following situation:
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. In which of the following situations is your business currently in? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 202 | Small enterprise, n=450 | Medium size enterprise, n=350 | Large enterprise, n=44
BUSINESS SIZE
The larger the
business, the more
likely it is that they
report they are
'trading but with
reduced capacity
and turnover'.
The smaller the
busines, the more
likely it is that they
will still be in
'hibernation'.
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Trading Situation
Q. In which of the following situations is your business currently in? Base: n=1039
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality &
Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Trading in excess of usual levels 5% 2% 3% 3% 9% 6% 9% 1% 7%
Trading as usual 16% 4% 26% 13% 19% 17% 17% 8% 23%
Trading but with reduced capacity and turnover 67% 64% 66% 70% 62% 67% 69% 75% 63%
Not trading with business in ‘hibernation’ mode 8% 23% 2% 6% 6% 5% 2% 13% 2%
In the process of closing the business permanently 1% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
Other 4% 6% 1% 7% 4% 4% 2% 1% 4%
Don’t know/ Prefer not to say 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0%
% of respondents saying their business is currently in the following situation: Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
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Trading situation
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Trading in excess of usual levels 5% 4% 4% 5% 7% 8% 7%
Trading as usual 16% 15% 16% 14% 17% 17% 18%
Trading but with reduced capacity and turnover 67% 69% 70% 66% 64% 68% 64%
Not trading with business in ‘hibernation’ mode 8% 7% 7% 7% 6% 4% 6%
In the process of closing the business permanently 1% 0% 0% 1% 1% 0% 1%
Other 4% 5% 2% 6% 4% 2% 4%
Don’t know/ Prefer not to say 0% 0% 0% 1% 1% 1% 1%
% of respondents saying their business is currently in the following situation:
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. In which of the following situations is your business currently in? Base: n=1039
3b. Impact of Covid-19
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Impact on different aspects of business
50%
41%
30%
21%
13%
4%
1%
1%
2%
26%
22%
19%
16%
18%
6%
2%
3%
2%
4%
8%
11%
15%
14%
12%
10%
9%
5%
6%
10%
16%
19%
22%
25%
23%
18%
17%
5%
8%
12%
17%
16%
25%
27%
23%
25%
9%
11%
12%
13%
16%
29%
36%
46%
49%
Exports
Imports
Logistics/ Freight
Supply Chain
Human resources
Business continuity
Wellbeing/ stress
Cashflow
Sales/ revenue
Don't know/ Not applicable No Impact Slight Impact
Moderate Impact Significant Impact Very significant Impact
As with previous waves of this survey, 'Sales/
revenue' and 'Cashflow' are the areas of business that
have been impacted the most by the covid-19 situation.
While results are not directly comparable over time there are
some findings that appear sensible within the context of the
different alert levels/ waves:
• Across all three waves of the survey, Sales/ revenue and
Cashflow are the two key areas of business that have been
the most impacted by the Covid-19 situation. This has not
changed notably with the move to Alert Level 1 (Wave 3).
• Imports and the Supply chain appear to be less affected in
the current wave (Alert level 1) compared to previous
waves. This seems in line with the situation overseas as
more countries relax restrictions and re-open for business.
• Wellbeing/ stress has been impacted consistently
throughout regardless of which alert level the survey was
undertaken in.
Q. To what extent has the Covid-19 situation impacted the following aspects of your business? Scale: 1-No Impact. 2-Slight Impact,
Moderate Impact, Significant Impact, Very Significant Impact. Base: Wave 1, n=977| Wave 2, n=239 | Wave 3, n=1039
NET Significant + Very significant Impact
74%
30%
24%
19%
14%
63%
53%
33%
69%
88%
47%
40%
30%
23%
64%
81%
56%
84%
67%
42%
31%
29%
18%
62%
58%
38%
67%
Wave 3
(Alert level 1)
Wave 2
(Late, Alert
level 4)
Wave 1
(Early, Alert
level 4)
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Differences by Sub-Group
Business size
• As found in previous waves of this survey, all businesses regardless of size have been impacted in some way by the Covid-19 situation with little
variation over time regarding the type or scale of impact.
• As might be expected, the larger the organization, the larger the impact Covid-19 and subsequent economic situation has had on staffing/
Human Resources with almost 6 in 10 large businesses (58%) indicating that the situation has had a significant or very significant impact (cf.
33% overall).
Sector
• As in previous waves of this survey, the ‘Professional, scientific and technical services’ sector appears least affected while significant impacts are
felt across all of the other sectors measured, particularly the 'Tourism, Hospitality and Events' sector.
Auckland area
• Respondents with businesses located in East Auckland (excluding rural areas) appear to have been less affected by the Covid-19 situation now
that we are in Level 1.
• On the other hand, those with businesses located in West Auckland (excluding rural areas) appear to have been impacted more, particularly in
the areas of Sales/ revenue (76% cf. 74% overall), Cashflow (73% cf. 69%) and Wellbeing/ stress (66% cf. 63%).
• Businesses in South Auckland (excluding rural areas) appear to have been impacted more in the areas of Supply chain (32% cf. 30% overall),
Human resources (38% cf. 33%) and Imports (24% cf. 19%).
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Impact on different aspects of business
30%
24%
74%
69%
33%
63%
14%
19%
53%
26%
20%
71%68%
21%
56%
13%16%
50%
30%
25%
77%
74%
28%
64%
14%
20%
56%
31%
24%
70%
64%
42%
63%
13%
19%
52%
33%
26%
81%
65%
58%
67%
16%
23%
56%
Supply Chain Logistics/ Freight Sales/ Revenue Cashflow Human Resources Wellbeing/ Stress Exports Imports Business Continuity
% of respondents saying the covid-19 situation has had a significant or very significant impact over the last 2-3 weeks
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. To what extent has the Covid-19 situation impacted the following aspects of your business? Scale: 1-No Impact. 2-Slight Impact, Moderate Impact, Significant Impact, Very Significant Impact, Don’t know/Not
applicable. Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 202 | Small enterprise, n=450 | Medium size enterprise, n=350 | Large enterprise, n=44
BUSINESS SIZE
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Impact on different aspects of business
Q. To what extent has the Covid-19 situation impacted the following aspects of your business? Scale: 1-No Impact. 2-Slight Impact,
Moderate Impact, Significant Impact, Very Significant Impact. Base: n=1039
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality &
Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Supply chain 30% 43% 25% 18% 37% 21% 44% 24% 25%
Logistics/ freight 24% 20% 21% 11% 45% 11% 47% 18% 27%
Sales/ Revenue 74% 92% 66% 76% 72% 68% 72% 82% 66%
Cashflow 69% 89% 64% 69% 63% 63% 66% 79% 61%
Human Resources 33% 54% 28% 25% 34% 25% 25% 29% 33%
Wellbeing/ Stress 63% 75% 57% 65% 61% 55% 61% 68% 63%
Exports 14% 22% 3% 14% 26% 8% 13% 14% 12%
Imports 19% 19% 14% 10% 28% 9% 42% 14% 19%
Business Continuity 53% 80% 45% 55% 50% 43% 48% 62% 49%
% of respondents expecting covid-19 to have a significant or very significant impact on this aspect of their business Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
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Impact on different aspects of business
Q. To what degree do you expect the following aspects affecting your business as a result of the evolving COVID-19 Coronavirus situation? Scale: 1-No Impact. 2-Slight Impact, Moderate Impact, Significant Impact, Very
Significant Impact. Base: n=1039
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Supply chain 30% 30% 29% 27% 32% 24% 31%
Logistics/ freight 24% 21% 24% 25% 27% 22% 28%
Sales/ Revenue 74% 76% 72% 76% 71% 73% 71%
Cashflow 69% 70% 69% 73% 68% 68% 66%
Human Resources 33% 35% 28% 34% 38% 33% 31%
Wellbeing/ Stress 63% 64% 64% 66% 62% 59% 62%
Exports 14% 14% 14% 13% 12% 6% 8%
Imports 19% 17% 19% 19% 24% 17% 16%
Business Continuity 53% 56% 52% 61% 54% 52% 62%
% of respondents expecting covid-19 to have a significant or very significant impact on this aspect of their business
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
3c. Closing Businesses
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Closing businessesOne impact of the Covid-19 situation and the follow-on
economic effects is that some businesses have closed
or will close in the near future.
Overall, there were only 7 respondents who said that they were
currently in the process of closing their business permanently (1%
of all respondents). This proportion is likely to be higher given that
those in the process of closing their business will generally be less
likely to respond to this type of survey.
For those who said they were in the process of closing, only a few
questions were asked as follows:
1. We are sorry to hear your business is closing/ has closed. So
that we can better understand how we might support
businesses like yours during this difficult time, please tell us:
What were the main reasons that your business is having to
close?
2. Approximately how many people will lose their primary
employment as part of this closure?
3. What types of help, advice and/or support do you need as
your business closes?
Reasons for closing
Export market unavailable
“Higher freight cost, tax assistance
right off unavailable. Export market
for Manuka honey non-existent”
Cashflow
“No money for marketing. People
tend to trust more of bigger
business”.
Compliance costs
“Financial and time costs of
compliance and regulation.
Consumer well protector against
everything but who is supportive of
business?”
Suppliers cut off
“Manufacturing Supplier was located
offshore.”
Cashflow and supply chain disruption
“Cashflow, we could not import
materials on time due to COVID-19
we on a transition of upgrading the
company venturing in new projects
and it is now difficult to carry
because of lack of cashflow.”
Market unavailable
“No tourism”
From the 7
businesses that
said they are in
the process of
closing,
37 people will
lose their
primary source
of employment
as part of the
closure.
Help, advice, support needed
Several of the respondents who said
their business is in the process of
closing said there was nothing that
could be done or no support/ advice
that could be provided and would
make a difference.
IRD services
“IRD to answer the phone.”
Core support
“Housing, accommodation, health,
financial, job assistance,
transportation”.
Fiscal support – supply chain
“I do not wish to close there are
opportunities offered and I am
looking for a loan to get me back on
my feet. Suppliers are over charging
materials thus our services becomes
unaffordable.”
4. Response to Covid-19 and economic effects
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Response to situation
Q, How has your business changed or how does it plan to change in response to the Covid-19 situation and its follow-on economic effects?
Base: n=1039
To better understand what changes businesses have made to
date, survey respondents were asked how their business has
changed or how it plans to change in response to the Covid-19
situation and the follow-on economic effects.
Over half of respondents said that they/ their business had ‘Broadened digital
marketing and social media to engage new customers’ and ‘Revised product,
service or experience offerings’ (53% respectively).
Only 5% of respondents said that they/ their business had done nothing or no
changes had been made or were planned to be made.
2%
5%
7%
13%
28%
35%
40%
45%
53%
53%
Don't know
None/ No changes made or planned to be made
Other
Improved or altered supply chain options
Initiated, improved or expanded e-commerce capacity and/or
capability
Enabling more flexible working practices
Targeted new markets
Initiated or updated business continuity planning
Revised product, service or experience offerings
Broadened digital marketing and social media to engage new
customers
Responses to Covid-19 situation and follow-on economic effects
aucklandnz.com
Differences by Sub-Group
Business Size
Large businesses were more likely to have taken a number of different actions in response to the Covid-19 situation and the follow-on economic effects:
• Initiated or updated business continuity planning (72% cf. 45% overall)
• Enabled more flexible working practices (56% cf. 35% overall)
• Targeted new markets (54% cf. 40% overall)
• Improved or altered supply chain options (23% cf. 13% overall).
Small businesses on the other hand seem to be more likely to have:
• Broadened their digital marketing and social media to engage new customers (59% cf. 53% overall) and;
• Revised their product, service or experience offering (57% cf. 54% overall).
Sector
When it comes to different responses by sector we find that:
• Those in the Retail and Wholesale Trade sector had made a number of changes, most notably: Revised product, service or experience offerings (63% cf. 54% overall),
Initiated, improved or expanded e-commerce capacity and/or capability (49% cf. 28% overall) and Improved or altered supply chain options (30% cf. 13% overall).
• As might be expected, those in the Tourism, Hospitality and Events sector were most likely to have targeted new markets such as having a stronger focus on domestic
markets (52% cf. 40% overall) and those in the Professional services sector were most likely to have Enabled more flexible working practices (47% cf. 35% overall).
• Interestingly, respondents from the ‘Screen, arts and recreational services’ sector were more likely to say that they had not made any changes nor plan to do so (12% cf.
5% overall).
Auckland Area
As might be expected due to the large number of office workers, those in Central Auckland were more likely to report that their business had enabled more flexible working
practices such as remote working and/or flexible working hours/ days (40% cf. 35% overall).
While there were a range of differences depending on the area of Auckland businesses were located, there were no other obvious trends or patterns that might suggest a
theme around how businesses have behaved in response to the Covid-19 situation and economic effects.
aucklandnz.com
Response to situation
13%
45%
35%
29%
53%
40%
54%
7%
2%5%
9%
28%
23% 24%
47%
36%
48%
9%7%
8%
11%
44%
30%31%
59%
40%
57%
8%
1%3%
17%
54%
46%
27%
49%
41%
54%
7%
2%
5%
23%
72%
56%
37%
51%54%
49%
2%0%
2%
Improved or altered
supply chain options
Initiated or updated
business continuity
planning
Enabled more
flexible working
practices
Initiated, improved
or expanded e-
commerce capacity
and/or capability
Broadened digital
marketing and social
media to engage
new customers
Targeted new
markets
Revised product,
service or experience
offerings
Other Don't know None/ No changes
made or planned to
be made
% of respondents indicating response to situation
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q, How has your business changed or how does it plan to change in response to the Covid-19 situation and its follow-on economic effects? n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large
enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Response to situation
Q, How has your business changed or how does it plan to change in response to the Covid-19 situation and its follow-on economic effects?
Base: n=1032
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Improved or altered supply chain options 13% 14% 9% 4% 24% 6% 30% 5% 12%
Initiated or updated business continuity planning 45% 48% 58% 30% 41% 45% 48% 37% 49%
Enabling more flexible working practices (e.g. remote working, flexible
working hours/ days)35% 32% 34% 27% 30% 47% 28% 39% 29%
Initiated, improved or expanded e-commerce capacity and/or
capability28% 26% 15% 44% 39% 24% 49% 18% 21%
Broadened digital marketing and social media to engage new
customers53% 51% 48% 59% 53% 60% 59% 33% 48%
Targeted new markets such as stronger focus on local/ domestic
markets40% 52% 42% 27% 44% 39% 40% 33% 34%
Revised product, service or experience offerings 54% 57% 34% 61% 53% 59% 63% 42% 47%
Other 7% 7% 10% 6% 8% 7% 6% 9% 7%
Don’t know 2% 4% 5% 4% 1% 0% 1% 3% 3%
None/ No changes made or planned to be made 5% 4% 2% 3% 4% 3% 5% 12% 7%
% of respondents indicating response to situation Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
aucklandnz.com
Response to situationAUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Improved or altered supply chain options 13% 11% 15% 14% 21% 14% 14%
Initiated or updated business continuity planning 45% 48% 49% 46% 53% 42% 51%
Enabling more flexible working practices (e.g. remote working,
flexible working hours/ days)35% 40% 33% 32% 33% 30% 28%
Initiated, improved or expanded e-commerce capacity and/or
capability29% 27% 33% 26% 26% 21% 25%
Broadened digital marketing and social media to engage new
customers53% 55% 56% 53% 58% 54% 52%
Targeted new markets such as stronger focus on local/
domestic markets40% 42% 43% 35% 47% 39% 48%
Revised product, service or experience offerings 54% 56% 52% 50% 53% 57% 51%
Other 7% 6% 9% 10% 8% 6% 10%
Don’t know 2% 2% 3% 4% 2% 2% 3%
None/ No changes made or planned to be made 5% 3% 4% 4% 1% 7% 5%
% of respondents indicating response to situation
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q, How has your business changed or how does it plan to change in response to the Covid-19 situation and its follow-on economic effects? Base: n=1032
5. Support & Advice
aucklandnz.com
Types of support & advice
19%
24%23%
11%10%
54%
45%
9%
18%
22%
8%
20%
27%
17%
20%
10%9%
44%
33%
8%10%
18%
15%
8%
35%
45%
16%
19%
4%
15%
39%
50%
11%
55%
7%8% 8%
Legal advice ICT capability
incl. systems
for remote
working
Digital
capability for e-
commerce and
online
marketing
Marketing in
general
People
management
Health &
Wellness
Supply chain
management
Leadership Financial
advice/
cashflow
management
Business
strategy and
planning
Manufacturing
and/or service
delivery
Business
growth and
sustainability
Flexible
working
arrangements
Other None
% of respondents indicating which types of advice & support needed in ‘Alert Level 1’
Wave 1: Support/ advice needed Wave 2: Intended to seek in next 4-8 weeks Wave 3: Needed over next few months
Wave 3: Q. Which types of advice and support do you/ your business need most now that we have moved into ‘Alert Level 1’ and as we progress over the next few months? Base: 1039
Wave 1: Q. Which type of support and advice would be most helpful to you? Base: 977
Wave 2: Q. And based on what you know about the future, what type of additional support (that you have not sought to date) do you think you will need over the next 4-8 weeks? Base: 239
What advice and support do people/ businesses need
now that we have moved into ‘Alert Level 1’ and as
we progress over the next few months?
• In previous waves of the survey, ‘Financial advice/ cashflow
management’ was the most common need for advice and
support either at the time or over the ‘next few months’. Over
time, the need for financial advice/ cashflow management
has reduced steadily in prominence, down from 54% in wave
1 (Early, Alert Level 4) to 44% in wave 2 (Late, Alert Level 4)
and now to 39% in wave 3.
• In Wave 3 the need for advice and support in the areas of
‘Business growth and sustainability’ (55%)*, ‘Business
strategy and Planning (50%), and Marketing (45%) have
taken over as the largest needs.
• Respondents needs for these types of advice and support
were echoed in the verbatim comments given in wave 3. I.e.
There is an increased emphasis on/ need for support around
marketing activities and planning.
*’Business growth and sustainability’ was a new option asked in Wave 3
only.
aucklandnz.com
Differences by Sub-Group
Business Size
The most notable differences in the support and advice needed by business size are as follows:
• Those from large businesses were more likely to say that their business will need Legal advice over the next few months (25% cf. 14% overall). Those from large
businesses were also more likely to say they wouldn’t need any support/ advice over the next few months (23% cf. 8% overall).
• Sole Traders were more likely to indicate that they would need general marketing advice/ support (50% cf. 35% overall).
• Small businesses were more likely to indicate that advice/ support around ‘Business growth and sustainability’ would be needed over the next few months (60% cf. 54%
overall).
• Medium sized businesses on the other hand were more likely to indicate that advice/ support around ‘People management’ (26% cf. 16% overall) and 'Leadership' (21%
cf. 15% overall) would be needed.
Sector
Each sector appears to have quite different needs however the following should be noted:
• The advice/ support needed most by the 'Tourism, Hospitality and Events' sector over the next few months include: Marketing in general (51%), Health and Wellness
(24%) and Legal advice (18%).
• Those in the 'Manufacturing' sector appear to report needing advice/ support around: Manufacturing and service delivery (33%), Leadership (18%) and Supply chain
management (16%).
Auckland Area
Overall, businesses in South Auckland (excluding rural areas) and Rural areas including the Hauraki golf islands appear to have the strongest need for advice and support
across a number of different areas:
• Those in South Auckland need advice/ support in the areas of Business growth and sustainability (65%), Digital Capability (39%), Leadership (23%), People management
(20%), ICT (15%) and Supply chain management (7%).
• Those in Rural areas including the Hauraki gulf need advice/ support in the areas of Business strategy and planning (58%), Marketing (54%), Financial advice/ cashflow
management (48%), Digital capability (39%), Health and Wellness (26%) and Legal advice (18%).
aucklandnz.com
Types of support & advice needed over next few months
14%
8%
35%
45%
16%
19%
4%
15%
39%
49%
12%
54%
15%
8%9%
7%
39%
50%
5%
17%
1%
7%
40%
48%
11%
48%
15%
8%
14%
6%
38%
46%
13%
16%
4%
14%
43%
53%
12%
60%
13%
6%
16%
10%
31%
40%
26%
23%
4%
21%
34%
47%
11%
51%
16%
8%
25%
9%
20%
41%
23%
25%
7%
18%
23%
36%
14%
45%
20%
23%
Legal advice ICT capability
incl. systems
for remote
working
Digital
capability for
e-commerce
and online
marketing
Marketing in
general
People
management
Health &
Wellness
Supply chain
management
Leadership Financial
advice/
cashflow
management
Business
strategy and
planning
Manufacturing
and/or service
delivery
Business
growth and
sustainability
Other None
% of respondents indicating which types of advice & support they need most over the next few months
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Which types of advice and support do you/your business need most now that we have moved into ‘Alert Level 1’ and as we progress over the next few months? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 200 | Small
enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Types of support & advice needed over next few months
Q. Which types of advice and support do you/your business need most now that we have moved into ‘Alert Level 1’ and as we progress over
the next few months? Base: n=1032
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Legal advice 14% 18% 13% 13% 14% 13% 15% 16% 14%
ICT capability incl. systems for remote working 8% 6% 6% 8% 6% 10% 6% 4% 10%
Digital capability for e-commerce and online marketing 35% 36% 19% 44% 46% 31% 50% 24% 34%
Marketing (general) 45% 51% 44% 51% 50% 44% 39% 39% 41%
People management 16% 13% 17% 15% 17% 17% 12% 16% 21%
Health & Wellness 19% 24% 14% 24% 17% 18% 12% 18% 21%
Supply chain management 4% 3% 2% 0% 16% 1% 5% 1% 4%
Leadership 15% 11% 18% 17% 18% 17% 12% 13% 15%
Financial advice/ cashflow management 39% 39% 42% 41% 33% 35% 40% 41% 45%
Business strategy and planning 50% 42% 58% 44% 51% 54% 54% 39% 51%
Manufacturing and/or service delivery 12% 8% 9% 6% 33% 8% 13% 8% 13%
Business growth & sustainability 54% 49% 67% 49% 54% 52% 57% 53% 58%
Other 15% 17% 16% 13% 13% 20% 7% 13% 12%
None 8% 7% 5% 6% 5% 10% 7% 13% 8%
% of respondents indicating which types of advice & support they need most over the next few months Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
aucklandnz.com
Types of support & advice needed over next few months
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Legal advice 15% 15% 11% 13% 17% 11% 18%
ICT capability incl. systems for remote working 8% 9% 7% 8% 15% 7% 11%
Digital capability for e-commerce and online marketing 35% 36% 39% 36% 39% 35% 39%
Marketing (general) 45% 48% 48% 42% 49% 52% 54%
People management 16% 18% 14% 17% 20% 17% 18%
Health & Wellness 19% 19% 20% 22% 22% 25% 26%
Supply chain management 4% 3% 4% 3% 7% 4% 5%
Leadership 15% 18% 16% 17% 23% 17% 20%
Financial advice/ cashflow management 39% 40% 38% 43% 41% 40% 48%
Business strategy and planning 50% 51% 53% 45% 51% 52% 58%
Manufacturing and/or service delivery 12% 10% 13% 11% 16% 17% 12%
Business growth and sustainability 55% 55% 53% 56% 65% 63% 63%
Other 15% 17% 14% 15% 19% 17% 16%
None 8% 8% 7% 11% 5% 9% 7%
% of respondents indicating which types of advice & support they need most over the next few months
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Which types of advice and support do you/your business need most now that we have moved into ‘Alert Level 1’ and as we progress over the next few months? Base: n=1032
5b. Barriers to accessing support
aucklandnz.com
Barriers to accessing support
Q, Thinking about your advice and support needs over the next few months, what are the key things that would prevent you from accessing what you
need? Base: n=1039
We asked people what might prevent people from seeking or
accessing the advice/ support they need or would like over the
next few months.
Over half of respondents (52%) said that the main thing preventing them from
accessing what they need was that it was ‘Too expensive/ the cost of accessing
advice/ support is too high’.
This was followed by uncertainty about how long the Covid-19 situation would
last (40%) and ‘Not knowing what types of advice/ support are out there for me/
businesses like mine’ (38%).
5%
7%
18%
21%
27%
30%
30%
38%
40%
52%
Don't know
Other
Too complicated
Not feeling like the advice/support is applicable to me
Too busy to look for/ apply for support
Not knowing where to get it
Not knowing if I qualify
Not knowing what is out there for me/ my business
Uncertainty about how long the Covid situation will continue
Too expensive
Barriers to accessing advice/ support
aucklandnz.com
Differences by Sub-Group
Business Size
• As might be expected, begin ‘Too expensive’ is the key barrier for all but large businesses. Even so, a third of large businesses (33%) still said this was a key barrier to
accessing the advice and support needed.
• Sole Traders were more likely to cite knowledge related barriers than other business sizes: ‘Not knowing what types of advice/ support are out there’ (45% cf. 38%
overall), ‘Not knowing where to get it/ who provides the advice/ support needed’ (36% cf. 30%) and ‘Not knowing if I qualify to access the advice/ support’ (35% cf. 30%
overall).
• Small businesses do not appear to be more likely to cite any particular barrier while medium sized businesses appear to be slightly more likely to say that they are ‘Too
busy/ don’t have enough time to spend looking for or applying for advice/support’ (29% cf. 27% overall).
• On the other hand, large businesses appear to be more likely to say that ‘Uncertainty about how long the Covid situation will last’ (47% cf. 40% overall) and ‘Not feeling
like the advice/ support is applicable to their business’ (26% cf. 21% overall) are key barriers for them.
Sector
• While being ‘Too expensive’ was the key barrier to accessing support for most, this appears to be a particular issue for those in the ‘Education and Training’ sector (62%
cf. 52% overall).
• Those in the ‘Retail and Wholesale trade’ sector were more likely to say that knowledge issues such as ‘Not knowing what is out there’ (46% cf. 38% overall) and ‘Not
knowing where to get it / who provides it’ (38% cf. 30% overall) were barriers to accessing the advice and support they need. People in this sector were also more likely to
say that they were ‘Too busy’ to spend time looking for and/or applying for advice/ support (37% cf. 27% overall).
• Those in the ‘Manufacturing’ sector were more likely to say they didn’t know if they qualified to access the support they need (35% cf. 30% overall) and those in the
‘Screen, Arts and Recreational services’ sector were more likely to feel that the support wasn’t applicable to them or their business (32% cf. 21% overall).
Auckland Area
While there were some slight differences, barriers to accessing support were relatively similar between the different Auckland areas.
aucklandnz.com
Barriers to accessing support
38%
30%
21%
27%
18%
52%
30%
40%
7%
5%
45%
36%
20%
23%
18%
55%
35% 34%
7% 8%
40%
33%
22%
27%
19%
53%
31%
39%
7%
3%
35%
25%
19%
29%
17%
53%
28%
43%
6%4%
21%
16%
26% 26%
14%
33%
5%
47%
7%
14%
Not knowing what is
out there
Not knowing where
to get it/ who
provides it
Not feeling like the
support is applicable
to me/ my business
Too busy/ Not
enough time to
spend looking for or
apply for
Too complicated/
hard to apply
Too expensive Not knowing if I
qualify to access
Uncertainty about
how long the Covid-
19 situation will
continue
Other Don’t know
% of respondents indicating different barriers for accessing support
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q, Thinking about your advice and support needs over the next few months, what are the key things that would prevent you from accessing what you need? n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise,
n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Barriers to accessing support
Q, Thinking about your advice and support needs over the next few months, what are the key things that would prevent you from accessing
what you need? Base: n=1032
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Not knowing what is out there 38% 37% 37% 38% 42% 35% 46% 36% 37%
Not knowing where to get it/ who provides it 30% 29% 23% 30% 28% 31% 38% 29% 32%
Not feeling like the support is applicable to me/ my business 21% 28% 18% 15% 14% 22% 18% 32% 15%
Too busy/ Not enough time to spend looking for or apply for 27% 22% 34% 25% 27% 25% 37% 21% 26%
Too complicated/ hard to apply 18% 15% 14% 23% 14% 20% 21% 22% 16%
Too expensive 52% 48% 52% 62% 55% 53% 52% 50% 51%
Not knowing if I qualify to access 30% 29% 32% 34% 35% 32% 27% 26% 24%
Uncertainty about how long the Covid-19 situation will continue 40% 58% 30% 39% 37% 34% 33% 42% 40%
Other 7% 5% 7% 6% 7% 9% 3% 7% 9%
Don’t know 5% 5% 3% 1% 7% 7% 2% 5% 5%
% of respondents indicating different barriers for accessing support Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
aucklandnz.com
Barriers to accessing supportAUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Not knowing what is out there 38% 37% 40% 35% 36% 37% 38%
Not knowing where to get it/ who provides it 30% 31% 30% 30% 31% 35% 30%
Not feeling like the support is applicable to me/ my business 21% 21% 20% 21% 14% 18% 22%
Too busy/ Not enough time to spend looking for or apply for 27% 29% 27% 26% 30% 27% 30%
Too complicated/ hard to apply 18% 20% 17% 16% 15% 17% 16%
Too expensive 52% 52% 57% 51% 52% 52% 47%
Not knowing if I qualify to access 30% 28% 30% 30% 34% 32% 33%
Uncertainty about how long the Covid-19 situation will continue 40% 40% 38% 38% 40% 37% 43%
Other 7% 5% 6% 7% 9% 2% 5%
Don’t know 5% 5% 4% 7% 5% 8% 8%
% of respondents indicating different barriers for accessing support
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q, Thinking about your advice and support needs over the next few months, what are the key things that would prevent you from accessing what you need? Base: n=1032
6. Access to Funding & Support
aucklandnz.com
Key Findings Overall
• Overall, around 4 in 10 respondents (41%) indicated that they had accessed additional funding for advice or support via the Regional Business Partner Programme while
another quarter of respondents said they intend to do so.
• The majority of respondents said that they had accessed the government wage subsidy (85%) with only another 3% saying they hadn’t done this yet but intend to.
• When it came to the 'Business Finance Guarantee Scheme' or the more recently introduced ‘Small business loan scheme’, just under 4 in 10 respondents said they/ their
business had accessed this with another 8% saying they intend to.
Intending to access RBP Programme Support
The groups more likely to indicate that they haven’t accessed RBP support yet but intend to were:
• Sole Traders (31% cf. 25% overall)
• Those in the Construction sector (35%).
• Those in South Auckland (excluding rural areas), (32%)
• Those in rural areas including the Hauraki Gulf Islands (32%).
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access Funding/ Support
41%
25%
85%
3%
38%
8%
Yes - have accessed Yes - intend to access
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access different types of funding/ support
RBP Programme Govt. wage subsidy package Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) scheme or Small Business Loan Scheme
Q. Have you or do you intend to access additional funding for advice or support via the…? Base: 1032
SUMMARY
6a. RBP ProgrammeSupport
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access RBP programmesupport
41%
25%
11%
23%
28%
31%
12%
30%
43%
24%
9%
24%
47%
23%
10%
19%
30%
14%
35%
21%
Yes - have accessed Yes - intend to access No - have not and don't intend to access Don't know/ Not applicable
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access RBP programme support
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Have you or do you intend to access additional funding for advice or support via the Regional Business Partner Programme (administered by ATEED in Auckland)? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 200 | Small
enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access RBP programme support
Q. Have you or do you intend to access additional funding for advice or support via the Regional Business Partner Programme (administered by ATEED in Auckland)? Base: n=1032
SECTOR
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access RBP programme support Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality &
Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Yes – have accessed 41% 30% 42% 34% 47% 51% 40% 53% 22%
Yes – intend to access 25% 30% 35% 32% 26% 19% 24% 18% 17%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 11% 13% 8% 8% 10% 10% 12% 9% 16%
Don’t know/ Not applicable 23% 26% 15% 25% 17% 20% 24% 20% 45%
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Yes – have accessed 41% 43% 41% 36% 39% 39% 38%
Yes – intend to access 25% 23% 24% 25% 32% 26% 32%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 11% 10% 11% 13% 7% 12% 5%
Don’t know/ Not applicable 23% 23% 24% 26% 22% 23% 25%
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access RBP programme support
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Have you or do you intend to access additional funding for advice or support via the Regional Business Partner Programme (administered by ATEED in Auckland)? Base: n=1032
Intent to access RBP programmesupport
6b. Government Wage Subsidy Package
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access Govt. wage subsidy package
86%
3%5%
6%
1%
76%
3%
9%11%
2%
85%
3% 4%6%
2%
90%
2% 3% 4%
0%
95%
0%2% 2%
0%
Yes - have accessed Yes - intend to access No - have not and don't intend to access Not applicable/ don't qualify Don't know
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Governments wage subsidy package
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Government’s wage subsidy package? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access Govt. wage subsidy package
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Government’s wage subsidy package? Base: n=1032
SECTOR
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Governments wage subsidy package Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality &
Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Yes – have accessed 86% 91% 92% 82% 83% 79% 93% 91% 82%
Yes – intend to access 3% 3% 1% 3% 3% 3% 2% 1% 3%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 5% 2% 2% 7% 6% 9% 1% 4% 3%
Not applicable/ Don’t qualify 6% 4% 4% 6% 8% 8% 5% 3% 9%
Don’t know 1% 0% 0% 3% 0% 2% 0% 1% 3%
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Yes – have accessed 86% 87% 88% 88% 80% 82% 83%
Yes – intend to access 3% 2% 2% 3% 5% 4% 4%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 5% 4% 4% 4% 6% 8% 5%
Not applicable/ Don’t qualify 6% 5% 6% 4% 6% 5% 5%
Don’t know 1% 1% 1% 1% 3% 2% 2%
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Governments wage subsidy package
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Government’s wage subsidy package? Base: n=1032
Intent to access Govt. wage subsidy package
6c. Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
38%
8%
37%
7%
9%
25%
7%
49%
8%
12%
43%
6%
34%
5%
11%
44%
10%
34%
6%6%
12%
5%
47%
33%
5%
Yes - have accessed Yes - intend to access No - have not and don't intend to access Not applicable/ don't qualify Don't know
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme or the more recently introduced Small Business Loan Scheme? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444
| Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Intent to access Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme or the more recently introduced Small Business Loan Scheme? Base: n=1032
SECTOR
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality &
Events
Construction Education &
Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Yes – have accessed 38% 43% 40% 38% 42% 35% 46% 29% 34%
Yes – intend to access 8% 10% 9% 14% 11% 5% 5% 4% 8%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 37% 35% 34% 27% 30% 41% 38% 50% 39%
Not applicable/ Don’t qualify 7% 6% 4% 8% 6% 9% 4% 5% 9%
Don’t know 9% 6% 13% 13% 12% 10% 7% 12% 9%
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Yes – have accessed 38% 37% 41% 44% 36% 40% 36%
Yes – intend to access 8% 7% 7% 7% 10% 7% 7%
No – have not and don’t intend to access 37% 39% 38% 35% 35% 36% 36%
Not applicable/ Don’t qualify 7% 8% 7% 4% 8% 10% 9%
Don’t know 9% 9% 8% 11% 12% 7% 12%
% of respondents indicating whether they intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Have you or do you intend to access the Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme or the more recently introduced Small Business Loan Scheme? Base: n=1032
Intent to access Business Finance Guarantee (Loan) Scheme
7. Resourcing Response
aucklandnz.com
Staffing levelsIntention to maintain staffing levels
• During the first wave of the Covid-19 Business Survey we asked respondents what their intention in
respect to staffing levels given the unfolding Covid-19 situation. Initially in wave 1 (Early, Alert Level
4), the majority of respondents indicated that they intended to maintain staffing levels (53%)
however, with later announcements and as the situation evolved, this fell (33%). Overall in wave 1,
43% of respondents said they intended to maintain staffing levels.
• In the second wave of this survey which was conducted around alert level 3, respondents were
asked what workforce adjustments they had made over the last 2-3 weeks and what adjustments
they anticipated making over the next 4-8 weeks. At this time, 39% of respondents said that their
business had maintained staffing levels over the last 2-3 weeks but, this reduced when looking
forward with only 29% of respondents saying they anticipated staffing levels would be maintained
over the next 4-8 weeks.
• While in wave 2 (Late, Alert Level 4) only 29% of respondents said they anticipated maintaining
staff levels over the next 4-8 weeks, we find that in the latest/ current wave of the survey (Wave 3),
35% of people say that staff levels were maintained over the last 2-3 weeks. This indicates that the
staffing outlook may have been more positive than previously anticipated with more staff being
maintained.
• In addition to this, the outlook for the rest of 2020 is comparatively positive with 37% of
respondents saying they thought staffing levels would be maintained for the remainder of 2020.
• Those in the Tourism and Hospitality sector were less likely to say that staffing levels would be
maintained for the rest of 2020 (27% cf. 37% overall). Likewise, those in rural areas of Auckland
including the Hauraki golf islands were also less likely to say staff would be maintained in 2020
(32% cf. 37%).
39%
35%
43%
29%
37%
Wave 1 (Early Alert Level 4) Wave 2 (Late Alert Level 4) Wave 3 (Alert Level 1)
Maintained Staff
Maintained staffing levels over the last 2-3 months Anticipate maintaining staff levels in next few months
Wave 3: Q. Which of the following workforce adjustments have you/ your business undertaken over the last 2-3 months as a result of the
Covid-19 situation? Base: 1032
Wave 3: Q. Which workforce adjustments do you anticipate you anticipate making during the remainder of this year (2020)? Base: 1032
Wave 2: Q. In response to the developing situation and impacts on your business, which of the following workforce adjustments have you/
your business made over the last 2-3 weeks as a result of the Covid-19 situation? Base: 239
Wave 2: Q. Thinking about the future, what workforce adjustments do you anticipate you/ your business making in the next 4-8 weeks as a
result of the Covid-19 situation? Base: 239
Wave 1: Q. In response to the developing situation and impacts on your business, please tell us whether you currently intend to add, maintain or
reduce staffing levels. Base: 977
Intend to
maintain
staffing
levels
aucklandnz.com
Staffing levels cont…
Overall
• Overall, around a quarter of respondents (24%) said that staff had been reduced over the last 2-3 months and 15% anticipated that staff would be reduced
throughout the remainder of 2020.
• In the last 2-3 months, 28% of respondents said that salaries/ wages for existing staff had been reduced and 11% anticipated salaries/ wages being reduced during
the remainder of 2020. Unfortunately the reduction in salaries/ wages for existing staff over the last 2-3 months doesn’t look like it will recover over the next few
months with only 6% of respondents saying they thought salaries/ wages would be increased for existing staff.
• Respondents also appear to be more confident in their understanding of the situation and their predictions around what might happen in their businesses, with 10%
of people saying they ‘Didn’t know’ when asked what workforce adjustments they think will be made over the next few months in wave 2, down to 7% in wave 3.
Business Size
• Larger businesses were both more likely to stay that there had been staffing reductions over the last 2-3 months (63% cf. 23% overall) and anticipated staffing
reductions for through the remainder of the year (33% cf. 15% overall). Likewise, larger businesses were more likely to indicate the hours for existing staff had been
reduced over the last 2-3 months (72% cf. 37% overall). Respondents from large businesses are also more likely to think hours for existing staff will be reduced in
the rest of 2020 (23% cf. 15% overall).
Sector
• Those in the Tourism & Hospitality sector were more likely to say that staffing levels would be reduced in the rest of 2020 (31% cf. 15% overall). Likewise, those in
this sector were also more likely to say that existing staff would have reduced hours (28% cf. 16% overall) and/or salaries/wages (21% cf. 11% overall) for the rest
of 2020.
• These predictions for the Tourism & Hospitality sector are concerning given those working in this sector were also more likely to say that staff had been reduced
(44% cf. 24% overall), had a reduction in hours (57% cf. 38% overall) and/or had a reduction in salaries/ wages (37% cf. 28% overall) in the last 2-3 months.
Auckland area
• Those with businesses in Central Auckland were also slightly more likely to indicate staffing levels would be reduced (17% cf. 15%), hours for existing staff would be
reduced (12% cf. 11% overall) and the salaries/ wages of existing staff would be reduced (12% cf. 11%) for the remainder of 2020.
aucklandnz.com
Resourcing response
6%
35%
24%
38%
3%
28%
2%
18%
0%
16%
37%
15%16%
8%
11%
6%
15%
7%
Added more staff Maintained staffing
levels
Reduced staff Reduced hours for
existing staff
Increased hours for
exsiting staff
Reduced salaries or
wages for existing
staff
Increased salaries
or wages for existing
staff
Not applicable/ no
staff
Don't know
% of respondents who said they have made or intend to make, one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the
Covid-19 situation
Last 2-3 Months For Remainder of 2020
Q. Which of the following workforce adjustments have you/ your business undertaken over the last 2-3 months as a result of the Covid-19 situation? Base: 1032
SUMMARY
Q. Which workforce adjustments do you anticipate you anticipate making during the remainder of this year (2020)?
7a. Business Size
aucklandnz.com
Resourcing response over last 2-3 months
6%
35%
23%
37%
3%
28%
2%
18%
0%1%
10%
3%
12%
3%
12%
2%
65%
1%
4%
42%
18%
34%
4%
26%
1%
12%
0%
9%
41%
37%
52%
4%
37%
3%1% 0%
12%
26%
63%
72%
2%
35%
5%
0% 0%
Added more staff Maintained staffing
levels
Reduced staff Reduced hours for
existing staff
Increased hours for
exsiting staff
Reduced salaries or
wages for existing
staff
Increased salaries
or wages for existing
staff
Not applicable/ no
staff
Don't know
% of respondents who said they had applied one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19 situation
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. In response to the developing situation and impacts on your business, which of the following workforce adjustments have you/ your business made over the last 2-3 months as a result of the Covid-19 situation?
Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
Resourcing response for remainder of 2020
16%
37%
15%15%
8%
11%
6%
15%
7%
10% 11%
2%
5%3%
5%4%
57%
8%
17%
39%
11%
15%
8%
13%
5%
9%
7%
19%
47%
24%
21%
10%
12%
8%
0%
7%
12%
49%
33%
23%
7%
12%
5%
0%
5%
Add more staff Maintain staffing
levels
Reduce staff Reduce hours for
existing staff
Increase hours for
exsiting staff
Reduce salaries or
wages for existing
staff
Increase salaries or
wages for existing
staff
Not applicable/ no
staff
Don't know
% of respondents who indicate their business will apply one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19
situation in the remainder of 2020
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Q. Which workforce adjustments do you anticipate you anticipate making during the remainder of this year (2020)? Base: Sole Trader or partnership, n= 201 | Small enterprise, n=447 | Medium size enterprise, n=347
| Large enterprise, n=44
BUSINESS SIZE
7b. Sector
aucklandnz.com
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education
& Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Added more staff 6% 3% 14% 6% 9% 6% 6% 1% 3%
Maintained staffing levels 35% 20% 41% 42% 41% 35% 36% 25% 43%
Reduced staff 24% 44% 21% 11% 28% 15% 23% 20% 22%
Reduced hours for existing staff 38% 57% 35% 37% 34% 28% 35% 43% 36%
Increased hours for existing staff 3% 1% 5% 11% 6% 3% 4% 1% 1%
Reduced salaries or wages for existing staff 28% 37% 22% 25% 25% 29% 22% 33% 24%
Increased salaries or wages for existing staff 2% 2% 2% 6% 1% 1% 2% 1% 4%
Not applicable/ no staff 18% 19% 11% 17% 16% 23% 15% 22% 17%
Don’t know 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 0% 1%
% of respondents who said they had applied one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19 situation
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. In response to the developing situation and impacts on your business, which of the following workforce adjustments have you/ your business made over the last 2-3 months as a result of the Covid-19 situation?
Base: n=1032
Resourcing response over last 2-3 months
aucklandnz.com
SECTOR
% of respondents who indicate their business will apply one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19 situation in
the remainder of 2020
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Q. Which workforce adjustments do you anticipate you anticipate making during the remainder of this year (2020)?
Base: n=1032
Resourcing response for remainder of 2020
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education
& Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
Add more staff 16% 7% 16% 15% 18% 17% 21% 16% 22%
Maintain staffing levels 37% 27% 45% 35% 50% 37% 39% 29% 36%
Reduce staff 15% 31% 15% 15% 14% 9% 11% 9% 12%
Reduce hours for existing staff 16% 28% 14% 14% 17% 10% 10% 13% 16%
Increase hours for existing staff 8% 5% 12% 8% 7% 8% 10% 9% 8%
Reduce salaries or wages for existing staff 11% 21% 13% 8% 6% 11% 6% 11% 9%
Increase salaries or wages for existing staff 6% 2% 5% 10% 6% 8% 3% 5% 7%
Not applicable/ no staff 15% 15% 9% 18% 5% 20% 12% 24% 15%
Don’t know 7% 9% 9% 4% 10% 7% 8% 5% 5%
7c. Auckland Areas
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Added more staff 6% 6% 5% 9% 9% 9% 7%
Maintained staffing levels 35% 35% 39% 33% 42% 39% 41%
Reduced staff 23% 23% 22% 20% 21% 17% 16%
Reduced hours for existing staff 37% 38% 36% 38% 38% 32% 31%
Increased hours for existing staff 3% 3% 3% 5% 4% 3% 3%
Reduced salaries or wages for existing staff 28% 31% 26% 18% 21% 24% 16%
Increased salaries or wages for existing staff 2% 2% 2% 2% 1% 2% 2%
Not applicable/ no staff 18% 17% 17% 20% 17% 19% 21%
Don’t know 0% 1% 0% 1% 0% 0% 1%
% of respondents who said they had applied one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19 situation
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. In response to the developing situation and impacts on your business, which of the following workforce adjustments have you/ your business made over the last 2-3 months as a result of the Covid-19 situation?
Base: n=1039
Resourcing response over last 2-3 months
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
Add more staff 16% 19% 16% 14% 18% 20% 18%
Maintain staffing levels 37% 36% 38% 38% 40% 36% 32%
Reduce staff 15% 17% 14% 10% 16% 13% 11%
Reduce hours for existing staff 15% 15% 14% 18% 21% 13% 18%
Increase hours for existing staff 8% 9% 8% 7% 10% 11% 9%
Reduce salaries or wages for existing staff 11% 12% 11% 10% 10% 8% 12%
Increase salaries or wages for existing staff 6% 7% 4% 5% 5% 6% 3%
Not applicable/ no staff 15% 14% 15% 18% 13% 16% 17%
Don’t know 7% 7% 8% 6% 5% 8% 7%
% of respondents who indicate their business will apply one or more of the following workforce adjustments as a result of the Covid-19 situation in
the remainder of 2020
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Which workforce adjustments do you anticipate you anticipate making during the remainder of this year (2020)? Base: n=1039
Resourcing response for remainder of 2020
8. Recovery Outlook
aucklandnz.com
Recovery Outlook
7% 8%
3% 1%
8% 10%
24%
31%
32%
27%
13%
14%
14%10%
Wave 2 (Late Alert Level 4) Wave 3 (Alert Level 1)
0-3 months
3-6 months
6-12 months
1-2 years
More than 2 years
Will never return to pre-Covid levels
Don't know/ prefer not to say
Base: Wave 2, n=239 | Wave 3, n=1039
To understand how businesses are feeling about the economic recovery
given the situation, we asked respondents how long they thought it would
take their business to recover.
This type of question was asked in both wave 2 and 3 as follows:
• Wave 3: “Given the current situation in New Zealand, around the world and as we are
now at ‘Alert Level 1’, how long do you think it will take your business to return to pre-
Covid trading levels?”
• Wave 2: “Assuming that NZ moves out of Level 4 restrictions after the current 4-week
period, how long do you think it will take your business to return to pre-Covid-19
trading levels?”
While not directly comparable due to the differences in the questions asked, results from
both these waves indicate that:
• In general sentiment around recovery appears to be more pessimistic with fewer
respondents saying they think it will take 12 months or less to return to pre-Covid
trading levels and more respondents thinking it will take over a year to recover.
• Over half of respondents (51%) thought their business would return to pre-
Covid trading levels within the next 12 months (compared with 59% of
respondents in wave 2 of the survey).
• Around 4 in 10 respondents (41%) said they thought it would take over a
year to return to pre-Covid trading levels (compared with 32% in wave 2 of
the survey).
1 year or less
59%
1 year or less
51%
aucklandnz.com
Differences by Sub-Group
Business size
• Respondents from large businesses were notably more pessimistic about the recovery outlook with 47% saying they thought it would take 1-2
years for trading to return to pre-Covid levels cf. 31% of respondents overall. Similarly, more respondents from large businesses also said they
thought it would take more than 2 years (28% cf. 10% overall).
• In contrast, Sole Traders, small and medium businesses were more likely to think they would be returning to pre-Covid levels of trading within 12
months compared with large businesses.
• Interestingly, those from large businesses appear to be more confident in their predictions about recovery with only 2% saying they didn’t know
how long it would take, compared with higher levels of uncertainty about recovery among smaller businesses: 11% of Sole Traders said they
didn’t know, 9% of Small businesses and 7% of medium sized businesses were uncertain).
Sector
• Those in the ‘Construction’ sector were most positive about the length of time it would take to recover and return to pre-covid trading levels with
18% of respondents in this sector saying it would take between 0-3 months (cf. 10% overall) and another third (33%) thinking it would take 6-12
months (cf. 27% overall).
• As might be expected given NZ boarders remain closed and the Covid-19 situation overseas is precarious, those in the ‘Tourism, Hospitality and
Events’ sector were more likely to think that it would take a year or more to recover – either 1-2 years (40% cf. 31% overall) or more than 2 years
(25% cf. 10% overall).
Auckland area
• Respondents in rural areas and the Hauraki Gulf appear less optimistic about the time it will take to recover and return to pre-Covid trading levels
with 37% of these respondents indicating it will take 1-2 years compared with 31% overall.
• In contrast, those in businesses operating in West Auckland (excluding rural areas) appear to be more optimistic with 16% thinking it will take 3-6
months to recover (cf. 14% overall) and 31% thinking it will take 6-12 months (cf. 27% overall).
aucklandnz.com
Recovery Outlook
10%
14%
27%
31%
10%
1%
8%
12%
18%
24%
27%
8%
1%
11%10%
13%
29%30%
8%
2%
9%8%
14%
28%
32%
11%
1%
7%
2%
9%
12%
47%
28%
0%
2%
0-3 months 3-6 months 6-12 months 1-2 years More than 2 years Will never return to
previous levels
Don't know
% of respondents predicting it will take various lengths of time for their business to return to pre-Covid-19 trading levels
Total Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Q. Given the current situation in New Zealand, around the world and as we are now at ‘Alert Level1’, how long do you think it will take your business to return to pre-Covid trading levels? Base: Sole Trader or partnership,
n= 200 | Small enterprise, n=444 | Medium size enterprise, n=345 | Large enterprise, n=43
BUSINESS SIZE
aucklandnz.com
SECTOR
TOTAL Tourism,
Hospitality
& Events
Construction Education
& Training
Manufacturing Professional
Services
Retail and
Wholesale
Trade
Screen, Arts &
Recreational
Services
Other
0-3 months 10% 4% 18% 3% 11% 12% 9% 4% 12%
3-6 months 14% 5% 7% 20% 11% 18% 17% 17% 17%
6-12 months 27% 18% 33% 25% 30% 30% 25% 32% 25%
1-2 years 31% 40% 23% 35% 31% 25% 29% 34% 30%
More than 2 years 10% 25% 7% 7% 6% 8% 11% 1% 6%
Will never return to previous levels 1% 2% 1% 1% 4% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Don’t know 8% 6% 12% 8% 8% 6% 9% 12% 9%
% of respondents predicting it will take various lengths of time for their business to return to pre-Covid-19 trading levels
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Assuming that NZ moves out of Level 4 restrictions after the current 4-week period, how long do you think it will take your business to return to pre-Covid-19 trading levels? Base: n=1032
Recovery outlook
aucklandnz.com
AUCKLAND AREA
TOTAL Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural and
Hauraki
Gulf
0-3 months 10% 10% 8% 9% 11% 10% 7%
3-6 months 14% 12% 15% 16% 15% 14% 12%
6-12 months 27% 28% 23% 31% 22% 23% 26%
1-2 years 31% 31% 36% 26% 32% 33% 37%
More than 2 years 10% 11% 8% 7% 12% 10% 8%
Will never return to previous levels 1% 1% 1% 2% 0% 2% 2%
Don’t know 8% 6% 10% 9% 9% 9% 9%
% of respondents predicting it will take various lengths of time for their business to return to pre-Covid-19 trading levels
Blue text=Lowest proportion(s) | Orange text=Highest proportion(s)
Q. Given the current situation in New Zealand, around the world and as we are now at ‘Alert Level1’, how long do you think it will take your business to return to pre-Covid trading levels? Base: 1039
Recovery outlook
9. Sample Profile
aucklandnz.com
Sector by Auckland area
As noted in the introduction to this
report, this survey was completed by
respondents who were sent the open
survey link. Completion was by self-
selection and no attempt has been
made to weight survey data according
to Auckland business demography.
The following chart shows the
proportion of respondents who said
they worked in sectors by Auckland
area.
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland excl.
rural areas
West
Auckland excl.
rural areas
South
Auckland excl.
rural areas
East Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural &
Hauraki Gulf
Administrative and support services 2% 2% 5% 3% 4% 7%
Arts and recreation services 3% 4% 4% 5% 3% 4%
Construction (including engineering and infrastructure) 8% 15% 14% 14% 13% 19%
Education and training 6% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services 1% 1% 2% 4% 2% 3%
Events 2% 1% 4% 2% 2% 2%
Financial and insurance services 4% 3% 1% 4% 5% 1%
Health care and social assistance 5% 4% 4% 2% 4% 3%
ICT (Information media and telecommunications) 5% 3% 1% 2% 5% 2%
Manufacturing - Food and Beverage 2% 2% 1% 2% 3% 4%
Manufacturing - Other 3% 6% 8% 13% 10% 5%
Primary Industries (Agriculture, forestry and fishing) 1% 2% 1% 1% 0% 4%
Professional, scientific and technical services 18% 13% 14% 11% 17% 8%
Public Administration and Safety 0% 1% 1% 1% 1% 2%
Retail trade 6% 8% 5% 4% 7% 5%
Rental, hiring and real estate services 1% 2% 2% 3% 3% 3%
Screen & Film 5% 2% 7% 1% 0% 1%
Transport, postal and warehousing 2% 2% 2% 3% 1% 1%
Tourism & Hospitality 16% 12% 10% 9% 6% 15%
Wholesale trade 4% 6% 2% 6% 5% 3%
Other 4% 3% 5% 5% 4% 5%
aucklandnz.com
Sector by Business Size
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey
was completed by respondents who were sent the open
survey link. Completion was by self-selection and no
attempt has been made to weight survey data
according to Auckland business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of
respondents who said they worked in the following
sectors by business size.
Sole
Trader
Small
Business
Medium
Size
Business
Large
Business
Administrative and support services 4% 3% 1% 0%
Arts and recreation services 7% 4% 2% 0%
Construction (including engineering and infrastructure) 4% 10% 11% 7%
Education and training 8% 8% 5% 7%
Electricity, gas, water and waste services 1% 2% 1% 2%
Events 2% 3% 1% 2%
Financial and insurance services 6% 3% 3% 5%
Health care and social assistance 4% 4% 5% 0%
ICT (Information media and telecommunications) 3% 4% 4% 2%
Manufacturing - Food and Beverage 3% 2% 2% 2%
Manufacturing - Other 2% 6% 12% 5%
Primary Industries (Agriculture, forestry and fishing) 4% 2% 2% 0%
Professional, scientific and technical services 21% 16% 10% 7%
Public Administration and Safety 0% 0% 1% 0%
Rental, hiring and real estate services 2% 1% 1% 2%
Retail trade 7% 6% 6% 5%
Screen & Film 3% 3% 4% 2%
Transport, postal and warehousing 0% 2% 3% 2%
Tourism & Hospitality 11% 13% 15% 43%
Wholesale trade 2% 5% 7% 5%
Other 2% 4% 3% 2%
aucklandnz.com
Business size by Auckland area
46% 45%49% 60%
27%31% 26%
19%
17%
17%14%
19%
15%
14%17%
33%
13%
11% 12% 23%
11%8% 8%
5%7%
6% 7% 7%6% 4% 3% 5%
Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Central AKL North AKL excl. rural areas West AKL excl. rural areas South AKL excl. rural areas
East AKL excl. rural areas North/West rural areas South/East rural areas Hauraki Gulf Islands
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey was
completed by respondents who were sent the open survey
link. Completion was by self-selection and no attempt has
been made to weight survey data according to Auckland
business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of respondents
who said their business was located in various parts of
Auckland by business size.
Note: Respondents could indicate that their business was
located in more than one area.
10. Previous Survey Waves
aucklandnz.com
Overview of Previous WavesWave 1
• The first wave of the COVID-19 Business Survey was made ‘live’ around 3pm on 11 March 2020 in response to the current pandemic and closed at 8am Monday 30 March 2020. This means that
fieldwork was undertaken just before Alert Level 4 Lockdown and throughout the early part of the lockdown (Alert level 4 commenced on 25/3/2020 and ended 27/4/2020).
• The purpose of this first wave of the survey was to gather key information about how businesses are responding to the evolving situation and understand the types of advice and support they need
from ATEED.
• The survey was conducted online and was administered by the ATEED Research & Insights team.
• An open link to the survey was initially provided to Regional Business Partners and other ATEED business contacts through both an ATEED EDM process (via the ATEED Communications Team) and
was shared by various ATEED managers among their networks. From the initial mailout, the link was circulated and shared widely among the Auckland business community through various
associations and business networks. This sharing of the link was encouraged.
• Given the method of sharing, the survey sample is self-selecting among those who were provided the survey link and wished to participate.
• Due to the approach used, responses were weighted towards the sectors/ industries that shared the link most. As such, wave 1 of the business survey (as can be seen from the sample profile
information provided on the following pages) is heavily weighted towards the views of the Screen and Film sector.
• No attempt was made to weight survey results to reflect the broader make-up of the Auckland economy in terms of business size, sector or location within Auckland. This decision was made due to
time and resource constraints at the time of reporting for wave 1.
Wave 2
• The second wave of the COVID-19 Business Survey was made ‘live’ on Tuesday 7 April 2020 in response to the current pandemic and closed at 12 noon on Friday 17 April 2020. This means that
fieldwork was undertaken in the later part of Alert Level 4, just before moving to Alert Level 3 (Alert Level 4 ended on 27/4/2020 with Alert Level 3 starting on this same date).
• As with wave 1 of the survey, the research was administered by the ATEED Research & Insights team, used an open-link, self-selecting online approach to gaining responses and had a similar purpose.
• Due to the approach used, responses were weighted towards the sectors/ industries that shared the link most. As such, wave 2 of the business survey (as can be seen from the sample profile
information provided on the following pages) is heavily weighted towards the views of the Tourism and Hospitality sector.
• No attempt has been made to weight survey results to reflect the broader make-up of the Auckland economy in terms of business size, sector or location within Auckland.
• It should also be noted that the sampling approach used in wave 2 was not as successful in wave 2 with n=239 responses compared with n=977 in wave 1.
aucklandnz.com
Wave 1: Response Sample & Sub-Groups
615
285
77
Pre-Travel
Restrictions:
11-14 Mar
Travel
Restrictions:
15-18 Mar
Boarder Close:
19-27 Mar
Number of Completed SurveysWave on Wave
The waves reported on follow key
announcement milestones made in New
Zealand as follows:
• Pre-travel restrictions: 11 March (start of
survey) to 14 March. On Saturday 14
March, the NZ government announced a
series of travel restrictions that would
come into effect from 15 March.
• Travel restrictions: 15-18 March. The
period when the travel restrictions were in
effect before the ‘next Border close’
announcement was made on 19 March.
• Border close: 19-27 March. From 19 March
2020 stricter Border closure measures
were put into effect by the NZ Government.
• Note regarding Level 3 & 4 Announcement:
On Monday 23 March, the NZ Government
announced that the alert level was
increasing effective immediately to level 3
and level 4 restrictions would be put in
place within 48 hours. While this is a key
milestone, there are insufficient survey
responses within this time period to
conduct analysis on. As such, this period is
included within the ‘Border close’ wave
noted above.
8
15
26
29
29
31
47
50
64
85
112
114
179
189
Primary industries
Logistics/ Freight
Healthcare/ Social
assistance
Manufacturing - Food &
Bev
Arts & Recreational
Services
Education & Training
ICT
Construction
Manufacturing - Other
Professional, Scientific
& Technical Services
Retail Trade
Tourism/ Hopsitality
Other
Screen/ Film
Number of Completed SurveysSectors
The sectors included in this report for analysis
are a combination of ANZSIC sectors and those
of interest to ATEED.
Given the sampling method used, completes
are weighted towards the sectors that ATEED
was actively working with prior to the evolving
Covid-19 situation.
As noted previously, no attempt has been
made to statistically weight the data to be
reflective of Auckland business demography.
aucklandnz.com
Wave 2: Response Sample & Sub-Groups
175
52
12
Essential Not essential Don't know
Number of Completed SurveysEssential vs Non-Essential Businesses
Respondents were asked whether their
business was classified as an ‘essential
service/ business’. While all completes are
shown in the chart here – due to low numbers
of those responding ‘Don’t know’ analysis in
the rest of this report only shows differences
between those who are considered ‘essential’
vs those who are not considered essential.
0
1
1
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
8
13
20
25
29
31
31
52
Public Administration and Safety
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (Primary Industries)
Screen and Film
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
Information Media and Telecommunications (ICT)
Health Care and Social Assistance
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services (incl. Property
Management)
Logistics and Freight (incl. Transport, Postal and
Warehousing)
Financial and Insurance Services
Administrative and Support Services
Education and Training
Arts and Recreational Services
Wholesale Trade
Construction (incl. Engineering and Infrastructure)
Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
Retail Trade (incl. online)
Manufacturing
Other
Tourism and Hospitality
Number of Completed Surveys
Sectors
The sectors included in this report for analysis
are a combination of ANZSIC sectors and those
of interest to ATEED.
Given the sampling method used, completes
are weighted towards the sectors that ATEED
was actively working with prior to the evolving
Covid-19 situation.
As noted previously, no attempt has been
made to statistically weight the data to be
reflective of Auckland business demography.
Reporting note:
Because of the low number of completes for
some sectors, these have been combined for
reporting purposes. For examples, as there
was only one complete from a business in
‘Primary industries’ this complete has been
included under ‘Other’. It should also be noted
that when sectors are combined, duplicates
have been removed.
aucklandnz.com
Wave 1: Response Sample & Sub-Groups
Business Size
Business size definitions are as
follows:
• Sole trader or partnership
• Small enterprise with 1 to 5
employees
• Medium size enterprise with 6 to
49 employees
• Large enterprise with 50+
employees.
Auckland Areas
Respondents could select
more than one area in
response to the following
survey question:
“Where in the Auckland region
is your business located?”
(Select all that apply if you
operate in several locations).
224
350 347
56
Sole trader or
partnership
Small enterprise
with 1 to 5
employees
Medium sized
enterprise with
6 to 49
employees
Large enterprise
with 50+
employees
Number of Completed Surveys
509
224
171
92
201
171
6952
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
North/ West
Rural Areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South/East
Rural Areas
Hauraki Gulf
Islands
Number of Completed Surveys
aucklandnz.com
Wave 2: Response Sample & Sub-Groups
Business Size
Business size definitions are as
follows:
• Sole trader or partnership
• Small enterprise with 1 to 5
employees
• Medium size enterprise with 6 to
49 employees
• Large enterprise with 50+
employees.
Auckland Areas
Respondents could select more
than one area in response to
the following survey question:
“Where in the Auckland region
is your business located?”
(Select all that apply if you
operate in several locations).
Reporting note:
Because of the low number of
completes from rural
businesses, North/West and
South/East rural areas have
been combined with responses
from ‘Hauraki Gulf Islands’ for
reporting purposes. It should
also be noted that when these
areas are combined, duplicates
have been removed. This
means that the new ‘Rural and
Hauraki Gulf’ category has a
total of n=38 completes.
48
84
92
15
Sole trader or
partnership
Small enterprise
with 1 to 5
employees
Medium sized
enterprise with
6 to 49
employees
Large enterprise
with 50+
employees
Number of Completed Surveys
80
23
35
11
47
60
7
26
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
North/ West
Rural Areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South/East
Rural Areas
Hauraki Gulf
Islands
Number of Completed Surveys
aucklandnz.com
Wave 1: Sector by Auckland areaAs noted in the introduction to this
report, this survey was completed by
respondents who were sent the open
survey link. Completion was by self-
selection and no attempt has been
made to weight survey data according
to Auckland business demography.
The following chart shows the
proportion of respondents who said
they worked in sectors by Auckland
area.
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
North/
West Rural
Areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South/
East Rural
Areas
Hauraki
Gulf
Islands
Primary Industries 0% 0% 1% 1% 2% 1% 3% 0%
Tourism/ Hospitality 12% 10% 4% 8% 6% 6% 3% 21%
Retail Trade 10% 11% 7% 3% 9% 10% 6% 10%
Construction 5% 13% 11% 14% 8% 9% 10% 10%
ICT 6% 5% 4% 3% 4% 4% 6% 4%
Manufacturing – Food & Bev 2% 1% 2% 3% 3% 2% 1% 2%
Manufacturing – other 3% 3% 4% 1% 10% 10% 1% 4%
Logistics & Freight 1% 0% 1% 2% 4% 3% 0% 0%
Healthcare & Social Assistance 2% 3% 1% 2% 3% 2% 1% 0%
Professional, Scientific & Technical
Services
8% 9% 5% 7% 7% 9% 10% 4%
Education & Training 3% 5% 5% 4% 6% 4% 4% 4%
Arts & Recreational Services 3% 2% 4% 1% 2% 2% 3% 2%
Screen/ Film 28% 17% 39% 38% 17% 18% 41% 27%
Other 17% 20% 14% 12% 23% 21% 10% 14%
aucklandnz.com
Wave 2: Sector by Auckland area
As noted in the introduction to this
report, this survey was completed by
respondents who were sent the open
survey link. Completion was by self-
selection and no attempt has been
made to weight survey data according
to Auckland business demography.
The following chart shows the
proportion of respondents who said
they worked in sectors by Auckland
area.
Central
Auckland
North
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
West
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
South
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
East
Auckland
excl. rural
areas
Rural &
Hauraki
Gulf
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (Primary Industries) 0% 0% 0% 2% 0% 0%
Tourism/ Hospitality 24% 13% 14% 9% 2% 63%
Retail Trade (incl. online) 20% 13% 20% 6% 12% 5%
Construction (incl. Engineering and Infrastructure) 6% 13% 11% 21% 23% 5%
Information, Media and Telecommunications (incl. ICT) 3% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0%
Manufacturing 8% 17% 9% 26% 20% 3%
Logistics/ Freight (incl. Transport, Postal and Warehousing) 0% 0% 0% 4% 3% 0%
Healthcare/ Social assistance 3% 0% 3% 0% 0% 0%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 14% 4% 14% 4% 7% 5%
Education & Training 4% 4% 9% 0% 0% 0%
Arts & Recreational Services 4% 9% 0% 2% 2% 3%
Screen/ Film 1% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 0% 4% 0% 0% 2% 0%
Wholesale Trade 0% 0% 0% 4% 18% 0%
Financial and Insurance Services 3% 0% 0% 0% 3% 0%
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 3% 4% 0% 2% 0% 0%
Administrative and Support Services 1% 0% 3% 4% 0% 0%
Other 9% 17% 14% 15% 8% 16%
aucklandnz.com
Wave 1: Sector by Business Size
0% 1% 1% 2%
8%
12% 14%14%
6%
15% 11%13%
1%
6%6%
9%
0%
5% 7%
4%
2%
3% 3%
5%
0%
6%11%
13%
0%
2%
2%
2%
1%
3%
4%
2%
8%
9%
9%
7%
2%
4%
3%2%
5%
3%
2% 2%
54%
12%6%
11%
13%
19% 21%16%
Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Primary industries Tourism/Hospitality Retail Trade Construction ICT
Manufacturing - F&B Manufacturing - other Logistics/ Freight Healthcare/ Social assistance Prof, Scientific & Tech Services
Ed & Training Arts/ Rec Services Screen/Film Other
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey was
completed by respondents who were sent the open survey
link. Completion was by self-selection and no attempt has
been made to weight survey data according to Auckland
business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of respondents
who said they worked in the following sectors by business
size.
aucklandnz.com
Wave 2: Sector by Business Size
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey
was completed by respondents who were sent the open
survey link. Completion was by self-selection and no
attempt has been made to weight survey data
according to Auckland business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of
respondents who said they worked in the following
sectors by business size.
Sole
Trader
Small
Business
Medium
Size
Business
Large
Business
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (Primary Industries) 0% 0% 1% 0%
Tourism/ Hospitality 25% 21% 23% 7%
Retail Trade (incl. online) 17% 14% 9% 7%
Construction (incl. Engineering and Infrastructure) 2% 6% 10% 33%
Information, Media and Telecommunications (incl. ICT) 2% 2% 0% 0%
Manufacturing 2% 12% 17% 27%
Logistics/ Freight (incl. Transport, Postal and Warehousing) 0% 1% 3% 0%
Healthcare/ Social assistance 2% 2% 0% 0%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services 23% 10% 5% 7%
Education & Training 0% 2% 3% 0%
Arts & Recreational Services 6% 2% 3% 0%
Screen/ Film 0% 1% 0% 0%
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services 0% 0% 2% 0%
Wholesale Trade 0% 6% 9% 0%
Financial and Insurance Services 2% 0% 2% 7%
Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 2% 1% 0% 7%
Administrative and Support Services 4% 1% 1% 0%
Other 13% 17% 11% 7%
aucklandnz.com
Wave 1: Business size by Auckland area
62%53%
46%
46%
25%
23%
22%
23%
31%16%
10%
20%
17%10% 4%
13%
19%19% 21%
36%
15% 17%
16%
34%
11%7%
3%18%
10% 6% 3% 2%
Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Central AKL North AKL excl. rural areas West AKL excl. rural areas North/West rural areas
South AKL excl. rural areas East AKL excl. rural areas South/East rural areas Hauraki Gulf Islands
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey was
completed by respondents who were sent the open survey
link. Completion was by self-selection and no attempt has
been made to weight survey data according to Auckland
business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of respondents
who said their business was located in various parts of
Auckland by business size.
Note: Respondents could indicate that their business was
located in more than one area.
aucklandnz.com
Wave 2: Business size by Auckland area
31% 29%38%
40%
6% 8%
12%
13%
19%16%
11%
20%
4%5%
4%
7%
10% 13%27%
40%
13%
30%
25%
40%2%
3%20%
25%
8% 8%
Sole Trader Small Business Medium Size Business Large Business
Central AKL North AKL excl. rural areas West AKL excl. rural areas North/West rural areas
South AKL excl. rural areas East AKL excl. rural areas South/East rural areas Hauraki Gulf Islands
As noted in the introduction to this report, this survey was
completed by respondents who were sent the open survey
link. Completion was by self-selection and no attempt has
been made to weight survey data according to Auckland
business demography.
The following chart shows the proportion of respondents
who said their business was located in various parts of
Auckland by business size.
Note: Respondents could indicate that their business was
located in more than one area.
aucklandnz.com
Ngā mihiThank you
Key Contacts
Chris Guenter Taija Peach
[email protected] [email protected]
For information about this survey please contact the
ATEED Research and Insights Team