More foot traffic in the main cities is expected to be a significant boost for retailers facing a much slower than hoped for economic recovery.
Stats NZ figures show that retail sales sales for all of 2024 were down 2.2% compared to the year before.
But employers from big business to government departments, are requiring workers to be in the office more than they have been.
Retail NZ's Chief Executive, Carolyn Young, says it is still a struggle for retailers to remain profitable, but more people downtown will help.
