Partners remain committed despite alternative delivery programme

In late March, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Greater Wellington, Hutt City Council, and iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, announced delivery changes for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi.

The partners have already used different delivery mechanisms to progress work such as the Mills St stopbank, and the Melling skatepark. Other components such as most of the river works, stopbanks and streetscapes will now be delivered outside of the current alliance model.

An update on this was presented at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, 3 April.

• Through the Alliance with AECOM and Fletcher Construction,
• NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi will deliver the Melling Transport Improvements (including a new grade-separated SH2 Melling interchange and bridge over Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River, relocation of the Melling train station, and new/ improved walking and cycling paths).
• Hutt City Council is working to deliver the city link pedestrian bridge that links the railway station with the city centre.
• Greater Wellington will deliver the river works and stopbanks.
• Hutt City Council will deliver improvements to local roads and streetscapes.

Progress evident at Mills Street stopbank

Since February 2024, work at the Mills Street stopbank has progressed well and they expect work to be finished in October. Crews have completed their site set up and installed erosion and sediment controls. The team have started building haul roads for the dump trucks delivering material inside the site area. Soon, the team will start moving riprap (large imported rock) and start extracting gravel from the river, these materials will be used to build the permanent stopbank.

The Mills Street stopbank work is a critical component of the programme, as the existing stopbank in this location currently has the lowest level of flood protection on Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River.

Temporary closure and relocation of Melling station pushed back

The Melling station was originally planned to be temporarily closed in July 2024, but this has been pushed back due to an extension of the planning phase until late 2024 / early 2025.

Melling Station and its railway track sit where the new interchange and bridge will be located. They’ll temporarily close the station for up to 18 months while we build the new SH2 interchange.

The new station will have:

• A new park and ride facility.
• A bus interchange with safer access to SH2.
• Safer walking and cycling paths to the CBD, western hills, and links to cycling routes. We’ll keep you updated on the temporary closure date and alternative transport options as the project progresses.

What’s next for Procurement?

With the delivery mechanism changes noted above, procurement timeframes are being adjusted accordingly. Details interested providers previously shared during the ROI process in 2023 will be accessible to all delivery partners, there is no need to submit an expression of interest again to each party.

The Alliance is expecting to issue some pricing packs from mid-May through to late June 2024 to assist with their pricing exercise, and will be utilising the contacts provided during the recent ROI process to assist with this.

They will continue to share updates and notices of nearing procurement packages for the programme, although Greater Wellington and Hutt City Council may run tenders through their own portals. Please reach out to procurement@teawakairangi.co.nz if you have any queries.

Latest inflation numbers revealed

Headline annual inflation eased further to 4.0% in the March quarter, down 4.7% from the quarter previous. However, while the fall in headline inflation is encouraging (the lowest rate since June 2021) the devil was in the detail. The easing in headline inflation was caused by slowing tradables (or imported) inflation; non-tradables (or domestic) inflation only fell a touch to 5.8%, driven by items such as rents, local council rates, construction costs and the price of tobacco. Because non-tradeable inflation remains high, market analysts now do not expect to see rate cuts by the Reserve Bank until early 2025.

Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list

The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop.

“Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a project considered for inclusion in the Fast-track Approvals Bill.

“In the interests of transparency, I have decided to release this list of organisations. 

“To put this into context, during the early stages of the Fast-track Approvals Bill drafting, the Government’s intention was to include specific projects in the Bill upon introduction. There was a lot of public and private sector interest, and possible projects were sent to us from all over.

NZ Workforce Development Council Disability Employment Research - Employer Survey

Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council (WDC), in collaboration with Waihanga Ara Rau WDC, has commissioned All is for All, with support from the Donald Beasley Institute, to conduct a research project to better support work and training for Disabled People in our sectors.  

Want to support disabled people to thrive in brilliant careers? Are you an employer working in Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics, Construction or Infrastructure?

We need to hear from you!

Complete the NZ Workforce Development Council survey and help them reduce barriers for DisabledPeople, tāngata whaikaha Māori, and tagata sa'ilimalo to join our workforce. The link will remain open until Wednesday, 8 May 2024.   

Tax toolbox for tradies

Tax toolbox for tradies
If you’re a self-employed tradie, own a construction business or you’re someone who helps a tradie keep on top of their books, check out Inland Revenue’s Tax Toolbox. It’ll help you to understand:

• what expenses you can claim and how to keep good business records
• what you need to do to stay on top of your income tax and GST
• what your obligations are if you’re an employer.

Inland Revenue will be contacting tradies who have outstanding returns and/or debt. Understand your obligations and get your tax sorted now using the Tax Toolbox.   
 

Mexted Sports Turf Achieves Top Honours with 'Cricket Wellington Ground of the Year 2023/24'

Congratulations to Mexted Sports Turf for their remarkable achievement in winning the 'Cricket Wellington Ground of the Year 2023/24' for Hutt Recreation Ground. This prestigious accolade, determined by weekly evaluations from Wellington cricket captains, highlights the exceptional quality of cricket pitches maintained throughout the season.

Veteran groundsman Kevin Wakefield, with 47 years of experience in the Hutt Valley, has been instrumental in this success. His commitment and expertise have helped Mexted Sports Turf secure four of the top five spots for the highest-scoring premier cricket grounds in the region, including Fraser Park Sportsville, Petone Recreation Ground, and Barton Oval.

We are proud of their contribution to our community and the high standards of excellence they uphold. Well done to the whole team!

Long Term Plan | Hutt City Council

Help Hutt City Council take the next steps with some important decisions for our future city.

The 10 Year Plan Public Consultation is now Open! 

They want to hear what you think about the proposals we’ve made in this draft long term plan. Here you’ll find:

• More information about the four key issues we are consulting on
• Supporting information about asset management, infrastructure, finances and where we've already made savings
• Direct links to our feedback form – click through and have your say today!

They would like to hear from as many people as we can across our business community before consultation closes at 5 pm on Friday 3 May.

You’ll find more about our long term plan in some business FAQs and events where you can turn up to have your say. If you’d like a poster or any campaign materials for use in your staff rooms, in public facing areas in your offices or in your business let us know. You can also present your feedback direct to councillors at hearings on the 15, 16 and 17^th of May.

Long Term Plan | Upper Hutt City Council

The Upper Hutt City Council has opened its Long Term Plan consultation, inviting community involvement. This year's consultation poses challenging questions, emphasising the importance of public participation. The Council seeks to collaborate with the community on these difficult decisions, urging submissions by 2 May.

Long Term Plan | Greater Wellington Regional Council

Greater Wellington updates its Long Term Plan every three years, outlining strategies and budgets for the next decade. The council manages $2.2 billion in assets, planning to spend $0.7 billion on replacing aging assets and $1.0 billion on new or improved assets. Over the next ten years, $7.5 billion will go towards public transport, water supply, flood protection, and environmental maintenance. The current consultation seeks feedback on two major proposals: the ownership of public transport assets and investing in CentrePort, focusing on the impacts on rates, borrowing, and service levels.

New Zealand-European Union
Free Trade Agreement

The New Zealand-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is set to come into effect on May 1, 2024, marking a significant milestone in trade relations between the two parties.
Let's break down some key points and potential implications:

Trade Volume and Importance: The European Union is New Zealand's fourth-largest
trading partner, with significant bilateral trade in goods and services amounting to NZ$20.68 billion in 2023. With close to 450 million consumers in the IEU, it's a crucial market for New Zealand exporters.

Expected Economic Impact: Economic modelling suggests that the FTA could
substantially boost exports to the EU, potentially increasing them by up to $1.8 billion per year by 2035. This increase in exports cou ld also contribute an additional $1.4 billion to New Zealand's GDP annually.
 

Tariff Elimination and Quota Adjustments: Upon the FTA's entry into force, most New Zealand goods entering the EU will have their tariffs eliminated entirely. For certain
products like meat and dairy, while tariffs will remain, there will be an increase in quota volume and reduced in-quota tariff rates, with quotas expected to expand over time. These changes are expected to result in significant savings for New
Zea land exporters, estimated at around $100 million per year.

Consumer Benefits: New Zealand consumers are poised to benefit from the· FTA as well. The elimination of tariffs on a.Ill EU goods entering New Zealand immediately upon the agreement's entry into force will align imports from the EU with those
from New Zealand's other FTA partners. This move is estimated to remove approximately $74 million in import duties per year across various product
categories.

A reminder for Marine Insurance

A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S has indicated that the process, known as "general average,"
was declared by Singapore-based Grace Ocean, according to a customer advisory
from Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co. SA.
"This decision indicates that the owners expect the salvage operations to result in
high extraordinary costs for which they expect contribution f rom all salvaged parties
under general average," the advisory stated. General average means all parties
involved with the cargo will have to share in the cost of the salvage operations.
Marine insurance helps protects your business from loss or damage to vessels and cargo as well as the delivery and storage of goods. We recommend you take out marine insurance on every shipment. It all comes back to the very old saying "Better to be safe than sorry". 

Modern Selling - Know The Rules | Hear Say Do | Lower Hutt

The one-day sales training course distinctly articulates and demonstrates the rules of the modern sales game. You'll learn about customer perspectives, strategies for engaging new clients, methods for qualifying and closing deals, and delivering value. You will acquire tactics to execute effectively to improve client outcomes and sales performance.

For both training courses, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce members will receive a 20% discount with the code: HVCHAMBER24

When:  Tues, 28 May 
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lvl 3, 15 Daly Street, Lower Hutt

Modern Selling - Know The Rules | Hear Say Do | Wellington 

The one-day course distinctly articulates and demonstrates the rules of the modern sales game. You'll learn about customer perspectives, strategies for engaging new clients, methods for qualifying and closing deals, and delivering value. You will acquire tactics to execute effectively to improve client outcomes and sales performance.

For both training courses, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce members will receive a 20% discount with the code: HVCHAMBER24

When:  Thur, 9 May
Time: 9:00am - 4:00pm
Where: Regus - Wellington, Willis Street Level 6/Willis Street, Wellington

May & June Level Up Workshops | One Day Training

Project Management Playbook: 

When: Thurs, 30 May
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lvl 3, 15 Daly St, Lower Hutt

Managing Your Time                                When: Thurs, 6 June
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Lvl 3,  15 Daly St, Lower Hutt

Upskilling and Re-skilling                        When: Tues, 11 June
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, 15 Daly St, Lower Hutt

Business Continuity Planning Workshop | Upper Hutt

Could your Upper Hutt business be better prepared for a disruption?

Join Upper Hutt City Council for a free 90-minute business continuity planning workshop to create your own draft plan or update your existing plan.

The Brew Room | Brewtown, Upper Hutt

Looking for a space to get your team together?

After an affordable meeting room with a difference?

Brewtown is excited to present The Brew Room. The Brew Room makes meetings easy so you can focus on the important stuff and leave the rest to them, and is Fully kitted out with everything you need,

Located in the heart of the bustling Brewtown complex, surrounded by bars, eateries and activities they are the perfect location for both work and play. 

Modern Selling #4: Winning repeat business.

Many salespeople are surprised when, after they've delivered a successful project for their customers, there is no repeat business. 
In this article I will discuss how you can improve your chances of securing more business from your customers.  Afterall, we want to establish enduring, mutually beneficial business relationships.

What often happens

After the sale many salespeople ask the customer some like, “How did the project go?” Invariably the customer will say things like, “oh, it was okay,” or, “it went great,” or, “it wasn't what we wanted.” The risk here is you end up in a discussion about how the project was delivered, not about what the project delivered.

Z Energy | Chamber Deals

Z Business is delighted to advise that Chamber of Commerce members discount will increase from 10 cents per litre to 11 cents per litre off pump at service stations and truck stops from Monday 5 February.  

To find out more, click the button below!

Inferno Outdoor Fireplaces | Chamber Deals

Inferno Fires specialises in making their client's dreams & memories come true in their backyard. Inferno Outdoor Fires has a special offer for Chamber members of 5% off the marked price.

To find out more, click the button below!

Air New Zealand | Chamber Deals

For businesses looking to leverage the vast array of offerings from Air New Zealand, there's good news. Air New Zealand has crafted a specialised Business Services page that outlines the multitude of options and programs available for businesses.

To find out more, click the button below!

Bunnings Trade | PowerPass Member Deal

Unlock a range of discounts and simplify the procurement of a huge range of products across our nationwide store network.
Bunnings Trade has partnered with NZ Chambers of Commerce to offer members access to the PowerPass membership program providing a range of exclusive benefits.

For any questions or queries, please feel free to email us at orgs@bunnings.co.nz.

Rove Rentals | Chamber Member Deal

Located in Wellington Region

From moving house to weekend getaways, Rove has got your transportation needs covered.  They are also van and truck rental specialists.

Ready to rent? Visit our website at www.roverentals.co.nz or give us a call on 04 560 4755 to reserve your vehicle. Experience the ROVE difference for yourself!

ROVE Rentals - Rent What You Need, When You Need It!

HVCC OFFER – 15% off base rental rate, all vehicles

HOW TO REDEEM OFFER – when booking online, use code “HVC15” | when booking via phone or email, please mention this offer and confirm you are a member of the Chamber of Commerce

Brendan Foot Supersite | Chamber Member Deal

Pre-order the Next-Gen Mitsubishi Triton for March Delivery

One of the top three utes in New Zealand, be one of the first to drive away the new Mitsubishi Triton from RSP $38,690 + ORC (GLX 2WD ) or $43,990 + ORC (GLX 4WD). This is the Triton’s first new model in nine years, offering a significant tech upgrade & improvements in driving & off-road performance, comfort, & safety. Pre-order now for March delivery with only $500 deposit & zero Clean Car Fee. Contact their Fleet Specialist, Gary, to see how he can help you with your fleet. Test drive from February. *Ts&Cs apply
 

Unlock Your AI for your business Success 

Elevate Your Business with Local AI Expertise!  Are you ready to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence to make your business more efficient, effective, and competitive while keeping costs low? Meet Jussi, your local AI Enabler with global insights and practical knowledge right here in the Hutt Valley.

With Jussi, you get more than just AI solutions; you benefit from real human interaction and personalised support that only a local expert can provide. Experience the difference with onsite meetings that ensure your specific needs are met and continuous local support to keep your operations smooth.

Take advantage of our exclusive offer for Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce members:

• A FREE scoping meeting to tailor AI to your unique challenges.
• A 10% discount on workshops, AI design, development, and ongoing support.

Stay ahead of the curve with AI. Contact Jussi today—your local AI Enabler!

Email: jussi@jussiluukkonen.com

Phone: 021 999 652

2degrees Business Mobile| Chamber Member Deal

Join us on an eligible business mobile plan and get 2 months free. As a Chamber member you’ll also get 15% off for the life of your plan. 

Embroid Me| Chamber Member Deal

View Our Member Marketplace:

Get Our App:

Full time Printer Apprentice - Label & Litho 

Label and Litho is currently seeking a Full Time Printer Apprentice. This role involves setting up and operating printing machines that apply text and images to various materials, including paper, card, carton, plastics, and metal. If you have a student that is interested in a hands-on learning experience in the printing industry and have a passion for working with technology to create tangible products, this apprenticeship could be their perfect career opportunity.

Email your interest to our Education to Employment Advisor - Hera at hera@hvchamber.org.nz

Individual Looking for Opportunities – Irina Runova

Irina is a recent graduate with excellent research, technical and problem-solving skills. She is detail-oriented and able to learn new concepts quickly. Finance analytic and project manager with 19 years of experience in the electric energy production company (Hydro corporation). Proficient in budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting and project management. She is seeking to leverage her skills and expertise to contribute to financial success and support strategic decision-making. Irina has a student visa that allows her to work 20 hours per week till October. In October she will receive Master's degree in Management (WelTec) and may work full-time.

Contacts:

Mobile - 02102219403

Email - irinirunova@gmail.com