Kia Ora , 

As the Sunday election day draws closer, I know many of us feel that the campaign has gone on for too long. And at the end of it all, we're all hoping for some clear direction. Every business in our community is hoping for a way forward that's clear and steady.

But, even amidst all this waiting, one thing stands out to me every day: the heart and spirit of the Hutt Valley's business community. I see this every single day. Our upcoming 2degrees Wellington Business Excellence Awards highlight the great work and people in our area. Next week, we'll announce the 2023 Award Finalists. This event is a big celebration of who we are in business. I'm excited to join around 200 of you at the Upper Hutt Cossie Club for this special moment.

If you would like to attend and celebrate with our business community, you can Register here!

Let's look forward to what's next and bring it on!

A Huge Thank you to all our Partners for your continued support.

In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:

• Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Delivering RiverLink) Updates
• National News
• Regional News

• Featured Events

• New Member Welcome

• Member News

• Member Offers

• Employment Opportunities

Progress Update: Advancements in Flood Protection Near Kennedy Good Bridge

Delivering better flood protection is a key objective for our project and the team at Dixon Dunlop are making great progress on the gravel extraction works just south of Kennedy Good Bridge.
Over 6,000m3 of material (or around 1,000 truckloads) have been removed so far and placed along the stopbank at Melling Road. This material is being stored so it can be used later when construction starts on the new stopbank.
To stay safe while works are underway, a reminder for cyclists and pedestrians travelling along the city side of Te Awa Kairangi/Hutt River, traffic management is in place on Harcourt Werry Drive and Melling Road where trucks are crossing shared paths to collect and deposit material. 
Please remember to keep an eye out for trucks crossing if you are travelling through these areas.

 Pito-one to Melling Cycleway Opening

A community event is being held to celebrate the opening of the Pito-One to Melling cycleway, on Saturday 21 October from 10am-12pm. 
This is a free event at Honiana Te Puni Reserve. 

1. Ride the new cycleway and find out more about Pito-One to Melling and Te Ara Tupua projects.  
2. Get your bikes checked by the local My Ride Hutt Valley team
3. The Tāwharau Pods, new community, and cultural buildings, will be open on the east side of the reserve 
4. Chat to Hutt City Council about safe cycling 
5. Greater Wellington’s Pedal Ready will also be there offering guided rides with free ebikes to try out

National News

Employment Law Update | October 2023

With the general election looming on 14 October 2023, Parliament has finished until its resumption post-election.  Some of the employment related bills that had been introduced prior to Parliament rising were:

Employment Relations (Trial Periods) Amendment Bill. Introduced by ACT - this amendment Bill is to enable businesses that have 20 or more employees to include a 90-day trial period in a new employee’s employment agreement.

Human Rights (Prohibition of Discrimination on grounds of gender identity or expression and variations of sex characteristics) Amendment Bill.  Introduced by Te Pati Maori - this amendment Bill is to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi by taking steps towards ending discrimination against takatāpui and rainbow (LGBTIQ+) people.

Privacy Amendment Bill Introduced by Labour, the key purpose of this bill is to improve transparency for individuals about the collection of their personal information and better enable individuals to exercise their privacy rights.

Employment Relations (Protection of KiwiSaver Members) Amendment Bill.   Introduced by Labour this bill seeks to restore protections afforded to KiwiSaver members by the Employment Relations Act 2000 before it was amended by the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2008. It aims to ensure that workers cannot be discriminated against because they are members of a KiwiSaver scheme or a complying superannuation fund.  This Bill is currently open for submissions through to 30 October 2023.

Employment Relations (Restraint of Trade) Amendment Bill.  Introduced by Labour -This bill will prohibit the use of restraints of trade in employment agreements for lower and middle income employees. It will also require employers of higher income employees to carefully consider whether a restraint of trade is appropriate in relation to those employees and, if they insist on a restraint of trade, to compensate the employees for it.
 

Regional News

A Seat on the NZCIS Waka – Commercial Leasing Opportunity

If high performance is what you aim for in your business, then an amazing opportunity has become available at the amazing New Zealand Campus for Innovation and Sports (NZCIS) in Trentham. 

This 809sqm recently refurbished office space comes with everything you need, including open plan areas, meeting rooms, break out spaces and everything you need to suit any modern private or public sector organisation. The tenancy comes complete with its own physical security system and can be set up with appropriate furniture and fittings if required. Transport is not a problem, with rail and bus services on the doorstep, and 15 carparks available. There is also access to meeting rooms and conference rooms.

If you would like to know more, contact Peter Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Gillies Group Facilities Management on 027 441 5377 or email peter.thomas@gilliesgroup.co.nz
 

H2O Xtream Upgrade Updates | Upper Hutt City Council

Inside H2O, a maze of scaffolding has sprouted, aiding in the installation of structural steel over the pool area and in the removal of the existing timber battens, vapor barrier, and insulation.
In sections, like the plant room showcased in the video above, the concrete slab has been set. At the front of the facility, the process of piling (inserting pile foundations into the ground to uphold the structure) is complete. 
Lastly, and perhaps what many deem as the highlight, is news about the hydro-slides. Ground beams have been established, and the structural steel is in place. This ensures that the slides will remain stable and secure for visitors' initial experiences and for countless subsequent ones.
For details on the upgrade plans of this Long-Term Plan project, view their website here 👇

Draft Speed Management Plan | Upper Hutt City Council

The Upper Hutt City Council want feedback on changes they're proposing to speed limits around schools, neighbourhood centres, and some other urban and rural areas in Upper Hutt.
Take a look at the draft plan and share your thoughts.

Featured Events

Planning Life with Purpose 

Business Skills Lunch Series | Building Effective Teams 

Additional Events

New Member Welcome

A Big Welcome to our Members who joined in September & October!

Welcome to our Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce community! We're delighted to introduce our newest members, bringing their unique services and perspectives to our thriving network:

Do Good Group Limited: Connects values-focused individuals and organisations aiming to make a positive impact in the world. Their platform amplifies efforts towards purpose-driven goals. Learn More

Miracle Electronics: A leading manufacturer specialising in Nurse Call and Emergency Alarm Management technology, serving hospitals, aged care facilities, medical clinics, and various other businesses. Learn More

Porta King: Wellington's premier portable toilet hire company. They prioritise hygiene and reliable service, offering high-quality flushing toilets and consistent maintenance. Learn More

Supreme Dental Concepts: A dedicated team of dental professionals, they prioritise patient comfort and satisfaction. Their community-focused approach ensures personalised care and trust-building. Learn More

Grafters Honey Ltd: Born out of love for bees and the environment, they pollinate regions of Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Kapiti Coast. They produce a range of honey, including premium Manuka, and prioritise the health of honey bees. Learn More

BW Miller Dean Limited: Understanding the challenges faced by business owners and aim to streamline the business for optimal lifestyle goals. Their tailored communication style ensures clarity and effective collaboration. Learn More

South Pacific Pool Enclosures: Offering efficient enclosure systems for year-round pool, spa, or patio use. Drawing from personal experience, they advocate for the transformative power of their products. Learn More

Maze Marketing: A forward-thinking marketing agency that champions innovative strategies to help businesses navigate their growth journey. Through a comprehensive suite of services, they specialise in creating impactful campaigns that drive results. Learn More

OpenStar Technologies: Founded by Ratu Mataira, they're committed to advancing fusion energy. Ratu draws inspiration from his family's legacy, particularly his grandmother's efforts to preserve the Te Reo Māori language. Learn More

Member News

Petone Beach | Public Beach Clean with Hutt City Council

Join us Sustainable Coastlines, Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful and Hutt City Council for a Spring clean on Saturday 14th October at Petone Beach!
From 10:00am onwards they'll be cleaning up the western end of Petone beach and carrying out a Litter Intelligence survey!
For all the details and to register your interest please see their website:
 

Kiwi Girls Who Walk (KGWW) Launch

'Inspired by 'City Girls Who Walk' based in New York City, Kiwi Girls Who Walk (KGWW) is a unique business to land in New Zealand.  KGWW is on a mission to redefine the social norms in NZ, by creating a platform specifically and intentionally targeted for all females in NZ to be a part of. Lower Hutt based founders Lucy Sewell and Ngapuna Julian are excited to bring this vision to life.

KGWW will provide:

• a platform to bring together women from all walks of life, different ages, different backgrounds to bond/socialise through exercise and movement
• A 'social club' for females that is FREE for everyone who attends
• A space for people to connect and network, whether that be catching up with current friends, making new friends, or maybe finding a new work connection!
• A platform to bring exposure back to businesses and local community!
• A Sunday walk full of fun, fresh air and good vibes!

Launching on Sunday 15 October - you can find them on Instagram and Facebook to see their latest updates and events. If you are interested in the opportunity to be involved with a Collab Walk, please email kiwigirlswhowalk@gmail.com for more information.'
 

Member Offers

2degrees | Chamber Member Deal

Armourguard | Chamber Member Deal

Embroidme | Chamber Member Deal

Brendan Foot Supersite | Chamber Member Deal

One of the NZ’s most popular fleet cars, the Suzuki Swift is compact yet spacious, nippy, and incredibly fuel efficient to keep your fuel expenses down. What’s more you’ll avoid a Clean Car Fee due to the Swift’s low CO2 emissions. It’s available in a wide range of colours to suit your branding. From only $22,990 + on roads or $106 per week. The Suzuki Swift has always been excellent value, and it just got even better. You can now add a Suzuki Swift to your fleet and finance it with zero deposit and Suzuki’s exclusive 6.9% interest rate. Stock available now. Contact their Fleet Specialist, Gary, to see how he can help you with your fleet.     

Friends & Family Promotion | Linda & Ray Wallace - Ray White

Nicole Rose | Make it Happen Package

Nicole Rose | Online Business Manager is excited to offer an exclusive deal for Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce members. With her Make it Happen package, you can save $200 and receive 20 hours of work for one whole month!!! This offer is specifically designed to help busy business owners and executives streamline their workload, smash out a project or get you through a busy patch! 

As a corporate project manager and executive assistant expert, Nicole understands the importance of time management and the challenges that come with managing high-level responsibilities. Don't miss out on an opportunity to work with a powerhouse who knows how to get things done. Send Nicole an email delegate@nicolerose.co.nz or give her a call on 022 031 2942 for further information.  

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:

Customised Pricing? Take advantage of a wide range of discounts across our extensive product range.
Business Solutions? From build and fit out through to maintenance and cleaning? our dedicated business team have got you covered.
Account Management Tools? Manage quotes, invoicing, and transactions via your online PowerPass account portal or PowerPass App.
Quick, Easy and Flexible Fulfilment? With 48 locations across the country, we offer convenient payment, pickup and delivery, or view our range online for click & collect or delivery.

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

For More Offers:

EMPLOYMENT

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 04 9399821.

Thank you to all our Partners

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