SkyCity to recruit casino staff as New Zealand opens borders

With New Zealand to reopen its borders soon, SkyCity expects a gradual return to pre-Covid-19 levels.

New Zealand.- SkyCity’s chief operating officer, Callum Mallet, has said the company expects to hire “hundreds of staff” as New Zealand prepares to reopen its borders for fully vaccinated foreign visitors after two years of insulation due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

SkyCity Entertainment, New Zealand’s only listed casino operator, welcomed the planned opening. It recently reported a 143 per cent decline in profits year-on-year for the six months to December 31 due to the lack of tourists. The company laid of hundreds of workers during the pandemic.

Mallett said: “From a tourism perspective, particularly those in the entertainment and hospitality space, it has been a challenging two years, so the return of the majority of New Zealand’s international markets is a real boost for our sector.”

SkyCity Auckland reopened its doors in December after being closed for more than 100 days. SkyCity Hamilton was allowed to reopen on November 17, 2021, and SkyCity Queenstown reopened last September.

Fully vaccinated Australians will be allowed to enter New Zealand from April 13. Visitors to New Zealand will not have to go under quarantine but will be required to show a pre-departure negative Covid-19 test and two rapid antigen tests on day one and and day five/six of their stay.