Restaurant owners are urging hospitality staff to stay positive post lockdown.

Next week the country moves to alert level three, meaning some restaurants will reopen if they can provide their services in a contactless way.

Owner and founder of Nourish Group Richard Sigley told Kerre McIvor the money they are earning at the moment is going straight into retaining their staff.

"We paid all our staff for the first month 80 per cent of their salaries, and that cost us a bit."

Hospitality Guru and owner of Wellington's Karaka Cafe Paul Retimanu told Kerre McIvor it's unlikely many businesses will regain the revenue they lost during lockdown.

"The longer it takes the harder it is. Level three to be fair doesn't do a lot for us."