Restaurants around the country switched off their lights for two minutes at 7pm on Tuesday to bring attention to the staffing crisis.
The industry is calling for urgent visa extensions, border exemptions for critical workers, and extended working hours for student visas.
The Restaurant Association estimates an extra 20,000 hospitality workers will be needed over the next three years.
In Hawke's Bay, last night the local council and polytechnic met with restaurateurs in the region to discuss the hospitality crisis.
The head of tourism and hospitality at the polytechnic Glenn Fulcher spoke to Corin Dann.
