Hi

With the Easter holidays and daylight savings coming up soon, along with the end of the financial year this week, there's plenty going on if you're in business.

Perhaps you're looking to save some cash in your budget? Find out how to take advantage of special nationwide deals for Chamber Members below, or get involved in the inaugural Small Business Day for your chance to win one of five prizes of $10,000 cash. First up though, next week's Economic Outlook event. This is your last chance to book.

LAST CHANCE TO BOOK:
Economic Outlook with Brad Olsen
Thursday, 8 April 2021

Looking forward to bringing you Brad Olsen next week at the Lower Hutt Events Centre. If you've been intending to book, register NOW as we will be closing off registrations on Thursday, 1 April.

Join us to find out the latest on the implications of the Government's announcement around housing and property investments, along with an overview on this year's economic outlook here and overseas.

This event is brought to you by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Platinum Partner, Kendons. Book your tickets now.

Get your tickets NOW

COVID-19 Updates - Quick Links

Quarantine-free travel from Cook Islands and Niue to NZ
Resurgence support payment - applications close on 12 April
COVID-19 vaccines - free and voluntary for everyone in NZ aged 16+. Find out where you are in the queue with this online tool

A reminder of a few significant changes underway for the business community:

Minimum wage rise of 6% from Thursday 1 April
Changes to timeframes of bright-line test explained
Changes to interest deductions on residential property income
Budget 2021 to be delivered on 20 May 2021

In case you missed it ...

Livestream Replay: Workplace Vaccinations

How does the flu vaccine fit in with the NZ COVID-19 immunisation programme?

The 2021 Influenza Immunisation Programme starts in April. As we now know more than ever, the impact of illnesses such as influenza spreading within the workplace can be very costly for businesses. The flu vaccine is the most cost effective way for employers to protect their staff, reduce the chance of the illness spreading and the associated risk of productivity losses.

Louise Talbot and Rachael Horwood, Chamber Members and owners of Wellworks Pharmacy Boulcott, discuss the benefits of workplace vaccinations. Both Louise and Rachel have extensive vaccination experience and have completed the COVID-19 Vaccinator Education Course for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. They have both had the vaccine themselves and are currently rolling out the COVID-19 vaccinations to local DHB staff.

"I Can't Wait" Campaign - Upper Hutt Launch:
6 April 2021 ONLY 1 PLACE LEFT

We are partnering with Upper Hutt City Council and Crohn's & Colitis NZ to launch this campaign in Upper Hutt.

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are Iifelong gastrointestinal disorders collectively known as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). New Zealand has one of the highest prevalences of IBD in the world.

We can help those who are struggling with the physical and emotional toll of living with IBD and other medical disorders by raising public awareness. Join us to promote “I Can’t Wait!” stickers to give those people who require it, urgent access to facilities at local business premises. Find out more here.

Find out more and book here

Mayoral Breakfast: 14 April 2021

The Hutt City Council has released its proposed Ten Year Plan for the city. Proposed changes include:

New transport routes
Changes to commercial property rates
Property development costs and more.

These proposals are likely to impact all local businesses as well as providing many new opportunities. All are welcome.

This event is now full. You are welcome to join the waiting list, or attend the next public event which is a Hutt City Council pop-up LTP engagement session at Queensgate on 17 April, from 1.30 pm-3.30 pm.

Mayoral Breakfast Waiting List

National Deals for Chamber Members

Take a look at these special deals available from Noel Leeming, OfficeMax, Spark Business, Vodafone and Z Business.

See what you're entitled to as a Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Member and save your business some cash now.

If you're not a member of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, join today to enjoy these savings.

Small Business Day: Friday, 9 April

SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS (with up to 50 staff): pin your business on the map at www.smallbusinessday.co.nz and go in the draw for one of five prizes of $10,000 cash.

This is a first. The new annual national Small Business Day launches this year.

As a Chamber full of many small businesses, we are proud to support this campaign and encourage everyone to support our local small businesses.

With the rocky road from COVID-19 far from over for many businesses, Small Business Day has been launched to remind us all to shop local and in this case, shop small, to help small businesses through these tough times.

SHOPPERS: shop at a small business on Friday, 9 April for your chance to win one of five $10,000 small business shopping sprees, plus tons of other prizes! How to enter:

Make at least one purchase with a small business on Friday, 9 April
Share a photo or screenshot of that purchase on social media
tag @smallbusinessdaynz and use the hashtag #choosesmallnz.

Find out more at stuff.co.nz

Get your small business on the map, here

Thank You

Always good to get great feedback from the schools that we are working closely with, to help get young people into local jobs. This one made our day. We couldn't do this work without the support of our business community, so you deserve the thanks as well.

"Just want to say on behalf of HVHS, we are so grateful for the work that you and Amanda do that benefits us in so many ways. It is so great to have ACTION not just info and emails but actual connections with employers that lead to real opportunities for our students be it Gateway, work experience or apprenticeships.

For many years those of us involved with supporting students with their ‘next steps’ have been saying we need connections to employers. We would hear about employers needing people and we had the people but for whatever reason, we didn’t get to connect. You are connecting us with these employers and real opportunities and we are so grateful."

Jude Allen, Head of Careers and Employment Pathways, Careers Adviser, Hutt Valley High School

Read about our Education to Employment Programme and get involved today.

Welcome Back, Partner!

Thank you Platinum Partner, BNZ. They are part of our Manufacturing and Technology Programme and will be supporting us to bring you the BNZ Tech Series this year and the Manufacturing and Technology Business Safari. We appreciate your support and look forward to working closely with you this year.

Have a wonderful Easter break everyone.

We look forward to seeing many of you next week at the "I Can't Wait" Upper Hutt launch and the Economic Outlook 2021 lunch with guest speaker, Brad Olsen.

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