Early Edition with Kate Hawkesby

My daughter’s in Queenstown with a friend and her family at the moment, and she's been snapchatting me pictures of all the shop and cafe windows, with all the 'STAFF WANTED' signs everywhere.  I haven't forgotten about the plight of Queenstown, because we still hear regularly from many business owners down there, still exasperated.  And many of the visitors who return from there have tales to tell. All the same tale sadly.  That it’s a gut-wrenching time of heartbroken owner operators struggling to get by with no staff.  For many who are repeat visitors or bach owners there, it’s sadness at what’s become of the place. A once bustling vibrant city with an international feel.  Now it’s the same old story all the time - late check ins because rooms aren’t ready, the lack of housekeeping services in general, the lack of staff, the inexperience of the staff they do have, the shut shops and the closed cafes.  None of this is new, but the fact it’s still going on is heart breaking. It just hasn’t been fixed yet. The