Kia Ora , 

Our region is a hotspot for amazing business activity. Every day, I get to see businesses that impress me with their fresh ideas, new innovations, top-notch products, and their focus on making customers happy. But that's not all - there's so much more to discover and celebrate here.

• Our manufacturing sector contributes a massive $1.5b to our economy every year
• Our service sector supports our business community every day to be the best they can be
• We have over 400% more scientists in the Hutt Valley than anywhere else in Aotearoa
• Investment in construction and infrastructure projects, like Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), will be around $3b in the next ten years
• We are getting an investment of over $400m in science in our region, including $270m in Science City in the Hutt Valley.

This is all fantastic and worth shouting from the rooftops. 

So it's great to let you know that the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce is running the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards again in 2023. The awards are an opportunity to reflect on what you and your team have achieved and celebrate your excellence. As Matt Hobson, CEO and Co-Founder of Native Sparkling, said 

"Entering the awards was a game-changer for our business. It not only celebrated our achievements but also opened the doors to new opportunities and connections within the business community."

You can read more about the awards and enter to celebrate your business here.
 

Business Confidence Survey

Please help us by answering this 2-minute Business Survey.

With businesses continuing to go through challenging and changing times, your responses to this survey help us build a picture of what our business community is experiencing.

We truly appreciate you taking the time to give us your valuable feedback. If there are topics not covered in this survey that you feel the Chamber could support on, please reach out to me directly at any time via email to patrick@hvchamber.org.nz 

The Business Confidence Survey is sponsored by Red Hot Business Coaching & Consulting. Red Hot helps business owners get their lives back. If you require specific 1:1 business support, find out more at www.redhot.co.nz.

In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:

• Te Awa Kairangi Updates

• Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi / RiverLink – Walk Around

• Daly Street – Demolition Work Starting soon

• Regional Updates

• NZCIS Official Opening 

• National Updates

• Who will pave the pathway forward?

• Protect your retail shop with a fog cannon

• 5 Fair Pay Agreements have been approved to start bargaining

• Featured Events

• Business after 5 | Economic Outlook in an Uncertain World

• Digital Workshop | Success in Social Marketing Upper Hutt | Synthesis Marketing

• Plus many more

• Past Events: A Celebration and Appreciation

• Women in Business 

• New Members event | June 23

• Domestic Tech Story 

• Member Offers

• 2degrees

• Hot Chocolate Take-Home Kits

• Save up to $2,000 on Mitsubishi Triton

• The Big Breakfast

• Torpedo 7 Winter Friends and Family Sale

• Employment Opportunities

• Business Development - Sales | Jolly Billboards

• Trainee Sports Turf Assistant | New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport

• Are You Hiring?

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi / RiverLink – Walk Around

Come and have a walk around the RiverLink project with Greater Wellington Council and hear what is happening.

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi has been in planning for a long time. The project is now moving to building removal, finalising design, and early works, so now is a good time to walk and talk about what will unfold over the next few years, including the likely disruption to access and transport during construction. 

Event Information
WHEN | Friday, 7 July 2023 
TIME | 10am - 12pm
WHERE | On the street in the vicinity of Little Footprints Care & Education, 84 Pharazyn Street, Melling
ROUTE | A loop from 84 Pharazyn Street heading south across Ewen Bridge along the stopbank past Daly Street, Harvey Norman, across Melling Bridge and back to 84 Pharazyn Street. 

Daly Street – Demolition Work Starting soon

The buildings from No 6 to No 12 in Daly Street will shortly be demolished, with the area will be cleared and sealed to provide car parking space.

The process will begin on the 3rd of July with the siting of portable works offices moved onto the empty parking site next to the UDC Building at 15 Daly Street. The following plans are in place:

• Safety Fence - Erecting a safety fence around all the buildings to be demolished to secure the works area and protect the public.  This fence will be sited to allow access down the service lane along the rear of the buildings on Dudley Street,  Erection of the safety fence should take about two to three weeks.

•    Asbestos Removal - There will then be a period, estimated at nine weeks, during which all asbestos will be removed from the buildings before their demolition. There is one building which has more asbestos than others and will be fully wrapped while this happens.  The remaining buildings have smaller amounts of asbestos-containing material which is expected to be removed without problems.

•    Demolition - the buildings will be demolished individually, starting at the northern end. The demolition rubble with be removed as it is created. During the demolition of each building, the surrounding fence alongside that building is expected to be moved out to provide a suitable safety buffer.  This will necessitate the closure of the footpath and any adjacent car parks on Daly Street for a short time, along with restricted access in the service lane adjacent to the building.

Some additional information 

•    Service Lane - The demolition team have committed to work with businesses in the area in order to minimise the impacts on their business.  If you are concerned about access to your business or workspace or feel that your concerns have not been adequately addressed, please contact the Chamber, and we will help connect you with the Hutt City Council.

•    Impact - The demolition team is committed to reducing the impact on nearby businesses and residents as much as possible, so it will keep air pollution, dust, noise, and vibration under constant review to achieve this. A separate business has been engaged to monitor the noise and vibration to assist with this process.

Please contact patrick@hvchamber.org.nz if you have any concerns or questions.

Regional Updates

NZCIS Official Opening 

Congratulations to Chamber Member New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) for their grand opening last Thursday in Upper Hutt. The project, envisioned by Malcolm Gillies and Kevin Melville, was actualised by a strong team and businesses, many of which are local.

The standards and attention to detail across the world-class Performance Institute and the adjoining accommodation, conference, dining facilities, and commercial spaces are second to none, thanks to the guidance and leadership of Jamie Tout and Belinda Wotton.

Mana whenua and Prime Minister Christopher Hipkins welcomed guests and officially opened the facility after an impressive performance by Te Ara Whānui Kura Kaupapa Māori. 

The project has already generated 150 jobs, and as it continues to develop, we look forward to the impact on our local community and New Zealand. Congratulations to all contributors on this fantastic achievement.

National Updates

Who will pave the pathway forward?

Hanga-Aro-Rau, the Workforce Development Council for the Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics industries, is approaching two years of operation since the Reform of Vocational Education. They have been working hard to achieve the shared goal of a transformed vocational education system that delivers for your industry.  

They have reached a crucial point in our operation, involving us looking back to forge the pathway ahead. Hanga-Aro-Rau is seeking feedback from you to track where we are now and how we can do more in the future.  

Protect your retail shop with a fog cannon

If you have a small retail shop you can still apply for a $4,000 subsidy to get a fog cannon installed. Fog cannons can stop criminals from seeing what’s going on, and prevent further damage or theft.

You can choose from a range of fog cannon providers who offer different installation packages and types of fog cannons.

Think about what type of fog cannon is best for you before choosing a provider that meets your needs.

Apply for a Fog Cannon Subsidy here

5 Fair Pay Agreements have been approved to start bargaining

MBIE has approved 5 applications from unions to start bargaining for Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs):
•             Early childhood education industry
•             Commercial cleaner occupation
•             Hospitality industry
•             Security officers and guards occupation
•             Bus transport industry

Applications to start FPA bargaining for the Waterside workers occupation and the Supermarket and Grocery Store industry are still being considered by MBIE.

If you employ people in an occupation or industry which is covered by a Fair Pay Agreement where bargaining has started, there are specific actions you must take now. You can read more about these here.

Featured Events

Past Events: A Celebration and Appreciation

Women in Business | Navigating a career change to fulfil your passions

Overflowing with thanks and gratitude for our amazing Wāhine after our Women in Business event! 

Our wonderful facilitator for the day, Sarah Wilson from Sarah Wilson Recruitment, steered us through incredible stories shared by Celeste Skachill from StudioC, Megan Compain from EightyOneX, and Viv d'Or from Resolve Legal and  We Love Tradies HR. All are strong women who taught us that dreams can become real when we never give up.

A huge thank you to New Zealand Media & Entertainment, our Platinum Partner, for sponsoring this inspiring day. A big shout-out to our partners, Equip Recruitment, BNZ, and Open Polytechnic Te Pūkenga, who made the event even better with their support.

And, of course, thank you to everyone who came along. Your energy and interest made the day a huge success.

As we all head back to our lives, let's remember the powerful stories we heard. It’s not about reinventing the wheel; it's about reinventing your life. Let's remember it's never too late to follow your heart; with bravery, we can achieve anything. 

New Members Function | June 2023

What a night! Last week, the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce had the privilege of welcoming our new members at our special New Members Function. Meeting so many dynamic individuals and innovative businesses who have joined our community was truly inspiring. It was a fabulous evening full of shared stories, networking, and learning from each other. 

A huge thank you to everyone who attended! Your company, alongside the drinks and nibbles, made it an unforgettable night. A heartfelt welcome to those who received their membership certificates. We're thrilled to have you with us and are excited about what we can achieve together.

These new members are: MRL Power Solutions, Pandion Ltd, Theia Ltd, T&R Interior Systems Limited, Simplexity Dynamics, HamptonDavis - Employment Law & HR, Heliner Ltd, Haven, Platform 1, Obvious Agency, Intelligensia, EY and Booths Logistics.

We would also like to extend a special thank you to our partners who were there to support our new members. A big shoutout to Sarah Wilson Recruitment, PKF Kendons, Gibson Sheat Lawyers, Synthesis Marketing, LINK Business Brokers NZ - Wellington, McKone Consultancy,  and Red Hot Business Coaching & Consulting. We greatly appreciate your involvement and continued support.

You're part of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce family now, and we're here to support each other in our business ventures.

Domestic Tech Story Launch

We're thrilled to be advancing the future of tech with the Auckland Business Chamber through TechStep, fostering a community that encourages exploration and innovation in digital careers. Together, we're striving towards a brighter, more inclusive digital future.

A big thank you to our incredible speakers who shared their invaluable insights and inspired not only our attendees but also the students from Wainuiomata High School who joined us to learn: Minister Ginny Andersen - Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications, Simon Bridges - CEO of Auckland Business Chamber and Brooke Roberts - Co-CEO and Director of Sharesies.

Your inspiring words have ignited our passion and set us on an exciting path of transformation. By sharing your stories and expertise, you've helped shape the aspirations of young minds and showcased the vast possibilities of digital careers.

A special thank you to Sharesies for graciously hosting this event, providing a platform for us to come together and celebrate the future of tech. Your support and dedication to fostering innovation and inclusivity are truly commendable.

Join us on this exhilarating journey as we unlock the endless possibilities of technology and pave the way for a world where everyone can thrive.

Member Offers

2degrees Chamber of Commerce Offer 

As a Chamber member, you’ll get 4 months free and 10% off for the life of your plan when you sign up for a 36-month Fibre plan

Chat to one of the 2degrees team or visit 2degrees.nz/NZChamber

Hot Chocolate Take Home Kits 

The Sweet As Hutt’s Hot Chocolate Challenge is being held from Thursday 29th June until 16 July with 21 central Lower Hutt cafes participating.  Goody Goodness at 179 High Street, Hutt Central, is getting into the spirit of the event by offering "Hot Chocolate Take Home Kits" - a choice of pre-curated boxes or build your own!  

For only $29.95 for 2 x edible chocolate flavoured cups, 2 x hot chocolate domes, and 2 x Molly Woppy Biscuits, it’s great value as well as a fun experience during these cooler days.  There is also a dairy-free option available. 

Please email hello@goodies.nz to order - or visit their shop at 179 High Street Tuesday-Saturday.  

Save up to $2,000 on Mitsubishi Triton

You could be driving away one of NZ’s most popular workhorses, the mighty Mitsubishi Triton, from only $39,990 + ORC + CCF. If you’re thinking of upgrading your ute or need to expand your fleet, now’s the time to get the best price across the Triton range with the Mitsubishi Beast Runout. Ask Gary Calcott, Fleet Specialist, at Brendan Foot Supersite for more info. View and test drive the Triton range at Railway Ave, Lower Hutt – open every day. 

The Big Breakfast

Big Brothers Big Sisters Wellington leads a youth mentoring programme to enhance the quality of life in children aged 6 to 12 years old by providing a mentor to those who have adverse childhood experiences. This helps to develop a relationship that leads to a positive, long-lasting impact in their lives. We give hope to young people and help them to identify their own potential and to build their confidence, we do this by creating one on one, long-term, consistent relationships in mentoring.

We are very excited to be hosting our inaugural The Big Breakfast and live auction event on Friday 28 July at the Hutt Bowling Club.

Cillín Hearns of Results Coaching is our guest speaker for The Big Breakfast and is an author, leadership and performance coach. Cillín will talk about how he has helped individuals and teams perform at a higher level by igniting their potential and how the formative years are so important.
 
Grab your tickets for The Big Breakfast and live auction being held at The Hutt Bowling Club on Friday, 28 July. 

Torpedo 7 Winter Friends and Family Sale

Get ready for exclusive savings during our Winter "Friends and Family" sale starting on the 28^th of June! Share the joy with your team and loved ones by accessing our unbeatable commercial pricing on all our products. Upgrade your gear from work essentials to recreational gear with up to 50% off on our Torpedo7 branded items. Don't miss this chance to score big on cost-plus deals! Check out the attached flier and spread the word to everyone you know. For more information, reach out to us directly. Happy shopping!

The Deal: Save up to 50% off
Valid Dates: 28th June – 11th July 2023

How to redeem:
In-store|Show the attached flyer. 
Online | See the promo code on flyer to use at the online checkout
Terms and Conditions: Discounts are off RRP. If the product is already on promotion customer will receive the lower offer or promo pricing. Not all products are eligible for a discount. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.Excludes Electronics, Freight, Gift Cards and Workshop Services.
 

Want More Member Offers?

To see a list of our member's offers visit our Members Marketplace on our website here or check out our Hutt Valley Chamber App to see a list of all the deals we have on offer for Chamber members.

You can download our Hutt Valley Chamber App from the Apple App Store here and the Google Play Store here. Please get in touch with Patrick at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz for account instructions or questions.

EMPLOYMENT

Business Development - Sales | Jolly Billboards

Jolly Billboards are seeking a motivated and results-oriented Salesperson to join their team at Jollybillboards.co.nz. As a Salesperson, you will sell billboard advertising space to businesses and organisations.

Your primary goal will be to drive revenue growth by identifying potential clients, building strong relationships, and closing sales deals. This position requires excellent communication skills, a persuasive nature, and a passion for meeting and exceeding sales targets.

Trainee Sports Turf Assistant | New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport

Are you fit, energetic and enthusiastic about being part of the best sporting facility in New Zealand? 

The New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport are looking for someone to join their team of qualified turf experts to assist in the maintenance and upkeep of the sports turfs and wider campus grounds at the NZ Campus for Innovation & Sport (NZCIS).  

This is an apprentice role where you will be offered the chance to become a qualified turf expert and work with the awesome team at NZCIS & the Gillies Group, where passion is to provide world-class facilities for use by elite sports athletes and teams through to local and community sporting groups.  

Are You Hiring?

If you have a job suitable for a student get in touch with our Education to Employment Coordinator Amanda Walters at  amanda@hvchamber.org.nz or call 049399821.

Thank you to all our Partners

As always, special thanks to all our Members and Partners for your ongoing support.