‘Move on’: Journalist kicked out of New Zealand cafe after one hour

A cafe’s controversial decision to boot a customer who spent $12.50 on coffee and food has sparked heated debate on morning television.

A journalist has been told to leave a New Zealand cafe and was later banned from the owner’s other venues after he seemingly outstayed his welcome, having spent just an hour working at the eatery.

In a piece for New Zealand paper Hawke’s Bay Today, deputy editor Mark Story, said he was left “puzzled” last week when he was asked to leave Smiths cafe in Napier – a “good-feels premises” where he occasionally works remotely.

Mr Story had spent $12.50 on a coffee and brioche, and sat down at a table to work from his laptop.

After an hour, he was approached by a staff member who asked if wanted any more food or drink.

When he declined, the worker said words to the effect of “then I’ll need you to move on. I’m mindful of other paying customers”.

Mr Story was asked to leave after spending an hour at Smiths cafe. Picture: Google Maps

Mr Story pointed out there were other tables available, but the worker replied saying he had only ordered a coffee.

“Don’t forget the brioche,” Mr Story added before leaving.
The journalist acknowledged that while he considered the cafe a “proxy office away from office”, he was quick to move along if other paying customers began to fill the tables.

“If your lengthy stay threatens to preclude incoming customers, hop on your bike,” he wrote.

Mr Story spent $12.50 on a coffee and some brioche. Picture: iStock

Aware the cafe had recently changed hands, he emailed the business about the issue but received no response.

He was later referred to owner Lisa Caro who asked if his issue was “newsworthy” before upgrading his “punishment”.

‘Twas the briefest of chats. But long enough for Caro to confirm she’d now upgraded my punishment to a total ban on entering any of her Hawke’s Bay establishments,” Mr Story wrote.

Despite the quarrel, Mr Story said he didn’t hold any ill will towards the cafe.

“I love that place. Should my expulsion ever expire, I’d happily recouple,” he wrote.

“But the reality is one of us has seriously misread the room.”

Mr Story asked others in the hospitality industry about the appropriate time to spend in a cafe.

One restaurateur and chef said it was fine for a customer to take a free table, noting it adds to the atmosphere of the cafe. But staff will inform them if another customer walks in and the table is needed.

New Zealand AM TV hosts Nicky Styris (left) and Amanda Gillies (right) both sided with the cafe after a journalist was booted for overstaying his welcome. Picture: Three TV

The cafe’s decision to ban Mr Story sparked a passionate debate on New Zealand breakfast TV.

“You’re not paying rent for that to be your work office,” said AM host Nicky Styris.

“I feel it’s a little one-sided, and the fact that he’s been banned - at a time when hospitality is hurting,” added Amanda Gillies.

But Lloyd Burr rushed to the defence of the journalist, questioning why the cafe made such a harsh decision when it wasn’t at capacity.

“If you’re the cafe, do you want your cafe to look full, so people go ‘Ooh, must be good food in here’ and then come in?”

He described the total ban as a “brutal punishment”.

“At a time when hospitality is hurting, I don’t think they’d be turning away that many people,” he said.

News.com.au has contacted Smiths for comment.