Kia Ora , 

The clock is ticking! We're 23 days away from closing entries for the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards, celebrating the incredible achievements of our business community. The awards are a fantastic opportunity to receive recognition, create team pride, and set your business apart in the competitive landscape.

If you've been on the fence about entering, there's still time, and we strongly encourage you to take the plunge. To help you along, here are some helpful tips to streamline your application process:

Top Tips for Your Award Application:
Work Externally: Save time by drafting your application in a Word document. Once you're happy with your application, simply copy and paste the text into the awards platform.

Keep It Concise: Use your limited word count to highlight key areas that make your business exceptional. This could be anything from customer testimonials to significant achievements in management or operations.

Update Your Images: The awards platform will automatically pull images from your website to include in your entry form. Make sure the page you link to reflects your business at its best.

More is More: If your business spans multiple categories, why not enter more than one? There are no limits to how many you can apply for. 

Need Guidance?: If you are not sure which category your business fits into, email Patrick at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz 

So don't hold back! This is the time to share your success! Apply now, and let's make your business a star of the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards. We're rooting for you and can't wait to celebrate your achievements!

In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:

• Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Delivering Riverlink) Updates

• Regional News

• Featured Events

• Member News

• Member Offers

• Employment Opportunities

Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Presenting Riverlink) Building Construction - Area G

Greater Wellington Regional Council have invited responses to a two-stage procurement process (Registration of Interest and then a closed Request for Tender) to support the RiverLink project.

This procurement process is seeking to procure a suitably qualified commercial construction company to work alongside the Te Awa Kairangi demolition provider, to stabilise, demolish and reinstate the former Carpet Court building, then repair the external wall of the adjoining building in Rutherford Street, Lower Hutt.

The adjoining building must be able to maintain full trading and operations while the works are underway.

You will need to be able to demonstrate your track record in recent projects within commercial buildings, that required working alongside a tenant or business while they remained operational.

The timelines are tight for the project, and we would like to complete the works in 2023.

Details
Open Date :    Friday, 25 August 2023 - 5:00 PM
Close Date  :    Friday, 8 September 2023 - 10:00 AM 
 

Regional News

Less Waste. Greater Place. Have your say on the regional Waste Management and Minimisation Plan

The Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan (WMMP) is currently being updated, and the Hutt City Council & Upper Hutt City Council want to hear what you think about the future of waste in the Hutt Valley and Wellington region. All eight councils in the Wellington region have joined forces to tackle the daunting issue of waste, which is filling our landfills, and causing environmental harm. 
 
Both councils have actions that are designed to help the region shift away from just managing waste and instead carry out activities which are focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling. 
For many of these actions, collaboration with businesses and industry will be a big part of driving change. 

Click the button to read the regional plan and the Local Action Plans for each council and to have your say by 1 September 2023.

Join the trustees for the Maidstone Park Trust

Are you a visionary leader with expertise in governance and Te Ao Māori coupled with a background in facility management, health and safety or business development? Are you passionate about making a positive impact in our community? 

Upper Hutt City Council are seeking interest from candidates to fill TWO vacant seats on the Board of Trustees for Maidstone Park Trust.

Applications close at 5PM on Monday, 4 September 2023.

Hutt City Council Indigenous Biodiversity Strategy Council Meeting 

Thank you if you made a submission on the Hutt City Council draft Indigenous Biodiversity Strategy.  They received 69 submissions and your feedback has helped shape the recommendations for the finalised strategy.

The Climate Change and Sustainability Committee will consider the submissions and the proposed changes to the draft at their next meeting.  You are very welcome to attend the meeting, which will be held in the Council Chambers, Level 2 of the Hutt City Council Administration Building, 30 Laings Road in Lower Hutt at 2pm on 5 September. If you would like to speak during the public comment section of the meeting, please advise by 3 September and I’ll pass that on to the Democratic Services team to book you in. Speaking time is limited to 3 minutes per person.

The Committee will recommend to full Council to approve changes to the Draft Strategy at the Council meeting on 3 October. Updates will then be made to the document and finalised for publication in December.

Please contact the council by e-mail below if you have any questions or need a hand to understand the process.

Featured Events

Women in Business | Empowering Mental Health: For you and your team

SERIES | Planning for your business future | Wellington Centre of Business Excellence

Additional Events

Member News

Blue Mountains Campus – The region’s new resilient, green business hub

We are delighted to share more information about Blue Mountains Campus, one of the Hutt Valley’s most exciting new commercial offerings being developed by region locals, Willis Bond and construction partner LT McGuinness.

The decision to develop the campus was triggered by the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, which resulted in high demand for resilient, sustainable commercial space in the region. The Ward Street, Upper Hutt location was chosen for being one of the most naturally resilient commercially-zoned sites in the region, complemented with excellent road, rail and bus links and strong wider infrastructure.

These factors, partnered with the campus’ expansive park-like environment with its large lawns and mature totoras and elms and an exciting new café that is set to open in October, creates a sought-after work environment.

The campus also boasts exceptional sustainability features, with the now complete Buddle Building achieving a 5 Green Star design-accredited rating and the large-format timber buildings that form later stages of the campus designed to deliver similarly high sustainability results.

KiwiRail and MBIE are already signed as anchor tenants in Stage 1 and enjoying these features.

Up to 1,700sqm of modern, 5 Green Star design-accredited office space with expansive views is available to lease now – either altogether or as smaller spaces. Leasing packages can be customised to meet your needs and Upper Hutt City Council is offering a rates remission deal for tenants for 10 years (starting in 2023).

Upper Hutt Railway Cleanup | Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful

Mark your calendars for an important community clean-up event hosted by Keep Hutt Valley Beautiful. Join fellow community members on Saturday, September 2nd, at 10 a.m. to tidy up the railway corridor around Upper Hutt Station. If the railway area is not accessible, the focus will shift to cleaning local streets and parks. All supplies will be provided; just make sure to wear sturdy footwear!

Real Steel acquires Precision Cutting & Processing — expanding South Island footprint

It is fantastic to see that Real Steel Ltd has acquired Precision Cutting & Processing, extending its footprint to include a state-of-the-art facility in Ashburton.

Real Steel is one of the leading steel plate processors in New Zealand, supplying customers all over the country from its 8500m2 factory in Upper Hutt.

Luke Mathieson, Managing Director of Real Steel, told us “By combining the strengths of Real Steel and Precision Cutting & Processing, we aim to deliver unparalleled value and experience to all customers. We’re pleased to announce that Josh O’Malley, Managing Director of Precision Cutting & Processing, will continue to lead the Ashburton factory and join the Real Steel leadership team.”

The Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce congratulates Real Steel Ltd for this significant achievement. This acquisition is not only a milestone for Real Steel, but also a testament to the thriving business community we have in the Hutt Valley.

First Steps to Financial Wellness | Free Zoom Webinars | Sureplan + Auckland Chamber of Commerce

Session 4: Being Retirement Ready 

Determine how much you truly need for a fulfilling retirement, how to be financially fair to your future self, and explore the non-monetary aspects of retirement that are equally crucial.
•    How much money do I really need to retire?
•    Being financially fair to your future self
•    It’s not just about the money
 
In this session, you will gain an understanding of what a realistic retirement could look like for you.  How striking the balance of living life up to and past retirement is often something people have trouble with.  And, what else other than the money is important in making retirement choices.

Date: 6th September 2023
 

YEA Good Youth Employment Symposium 

Thursday 14 – Friday 15 September 2023 
Lower Hutt Event Centre, 30c Laings Road, Lower Hutt

Join us for a deep dive into the landscape to understand and build good youth employability and employment. 

Guest speakers include:
•    National MP, Chris Bishop, will share his party’s vision for the future of youth employment. 

•    Patrick McKibbin, CEO of the Hutt Chamber of Commerce, will provide an approach to building cross-sector youth employment partnerships. 

•    Krishan Kumar, Outward Bound’s Community Development Partner, will share learnings from the new work-ready programme Whakatipu 

•    And Gala Baumfield, Youth Activator and Creator, will lead a panel of youth to share their views and experiences on entering the world of work.

Registrations are open now: 
$85 (+ gst and fees) per day for business
$55 (+ gst and fees) per day for charitable organisations 

Member Offers

2degrees | Chamber Member Deal

Brendan Foot Supersite | Chamber Member Deal

Add an EV to your fleet from $99 per week!

There’s never been a better time to upgrade to an EV with 4 incredible value EV deals all under $200 per week from Hyundai.* Avoid rising fuel prices & drive away the IONIQ Series II EV from only $99 per week.* Or grab yourself a bargain on the 2022 or 2023 World Car of the Year – Hyundai IONIQ 5 or IONIQ 6 – or our most popular small SUV – Hyundai Kona EV, which is on run-out while stocks last.

Take your pick & save up to $7,015 Clean Car Rebate. Hurry, deals end 30 September 2023. Contact their Fleet Specialist, Gary, to see how he can help you with your fleet. *Ts&Cs apply

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.