Kia Ora , 

What an amazing night we had at the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards 2023 last Friday. It was very special to be with so many fantastic businesses from across the Hutt Valley and our region.

Nearly 500 people came together at the Lower Hutt Events Centre to see who won the nine categories, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and who was the Supreme Winner. They were all there to celebrate business success. Every day businesses across our region are making the most fantastic products, innovating, providing the best support services, running the best cafés and hospitality venues, creating jobs, exporting products all over the world, and driving our local economy. So, it was a real honour to be involved in this evening, which recognises some of our most amazing businesses.

And just in case you had not heard, the winners were:

Special Categories

• Diversity and Inclusion – New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport, Upper Hutt
• Best Small Business – Contemporary Korowai Designs Ltd, Wainuiomata
• Excellence in Sustainable and Environmental Practices – East By West Ferries, Wellington
• Young Businessperson of the Year – Joshua Ross. Lower Hutt

Business Categories

• Excellence in Service and Support – PaySauce, Lower Hutt
• Excellence in Manufacturing – AROTEC Diagnostics Limited, Lower Hutt
• Excellence in Technology and Innovation – Times-7, Lower Hutt
• Excellence in Hospitality, Tourism, and Retail – Sarin Hotels, Lower Hutt
• Excellence in Construction, Trades, and Infrastructure – Paradise Painting Services Ltd, Wellington 

Hall of Fame 

• Hutt Gas and Plumbing Systems Limited – Lower Hutt
• METCO Engineering – Lower Hutt
• NME Group - Lower Hutt
• Wheelers Shoes – Upper Hutt

The major award, the Supreme Winner, was PaySauce. Congratulations to them for taking out this award. 

Jaime Monaghan, Chief Financial Officer from PaySauce commented, ‘It was such a privilege to accept the award on behalf of Asantha Wijeyeratne and PaySauce, especially given just how much incredible talent was in the room.’ We totally agree, Jamie.

Congratulations to all those who entered and all the finalists.

Thanks also to our sponsors. Without them, it would not be possible.

Thanks 2degrees, PKF Kendons, Hutt City Council, Pertronic Industries Limited, Te Awa Kairangi, Fletcher Construction, New Zealand Media & Entertainment (NZME), THE SEBEL, Bank of New Zealand, Upper Hutt City Council, CentrePort Ltd, Woburn International, Metco Engineering Ltd, Waihanga Ara Rau, Lower Hutt Events Centre, Clarative Media, Cameron Harrison Butchery and Delicatessen, Cossie Club Upper Hutt, and Blue Star New Zealand
 

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
• Regional News

• Featured Events

• Member News & Events

• Member Offers

• Employment Opportunities

Interim Project Alliance Agreement update 

The project continues progressing in the Interim Project Alliance Agreement (IPAA) phase. This is a detailed review of the consented design to understand the scope and confirm a price to deliver the project. The initial timeframe of December for having this phase finished was set optimistically. The complexity of the project, and the need for detailed, robust design and scoping, means this phase will take longer. It’s important to take the time to get the IPAA phase right to ensure cost, scope and design decisions are fully informed and made on the best evidence available, reducing risk for all parties.

The programme partners, iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency are committed to the delivery of this project. It’s a transformative project for Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai / Lower Hutt, delivering greater flood protection and improved ecological health of the river, better and more connected transport options and building a foundation for a revitalised city centre.
We’re continuing to progress the work that could be started earlier, such as the preloading of gravel for future construction purposes, property removals and demolition, and geotechnical investigations.

Preloading Work Complete

Te Awa Kairangi is happy to report that preloading work was completed six weeks ahead of schedule. A significant amount of gravel has been moved, about 19,000m3, or more than 3,100 truckloads, from south of the Kennedy Good Bridge. The gravel was taken from Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River by Greater Wellington and is being stored alongside the stopbank north of the Melling Link Bridge to be used at the start of construction.

Demolition Update

The removal of properties and demolition work continues, with Mills Street ground-level demolition complete. Demolition to ground level is almost complete for the east end of Pharazyn Street, with asbestos surveys and the disconnection of commercial property utilities also complete at the west end.

Next up is Marsden Street, with houses there currently being demolished and the lower end of Marsden commercial properties being disconnected from their utilities. Work will continue over the next few months, with traffic management in place for the safety of road users and pedestrians.

Demolition on Daly Street has progressed well, with the removal of the buildings nearly complete. The next step will be the below-ground works to remove concrete foundations and clear the site completely. The work area and walkway closures will remain in place for the duration of the works, clearly marked by fencing and signage. More than ten houses were relocated in full as part of these works.

Skatepark public consultation

Hutt City Council is currently seeking public comment on changes to the city’s skateparks in 2024. As part of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), the existing Melling Skate Park at Block Road is moving so that work on flood protection and the new Melling Interchange can begin. Hutt City Council is proposing an upgrade to the existing skatepark at Avalon Park as a replacement to Melling and to provide improved recreational facilities for the community.

Consultation on this proposal closes at 5pm on 28 November 2023. 

What you’ll see in the coming months

Key activities that will be observed between now and the end of the year include the continuation of building removals on Daly, Marsden, Pharazyn, and Mills Streets, along with ongoing work in the river and near the Mills Street stopbank.

Behind the scenes, there is a hive of activity with a comprehensive review of the scope and cost being undertaken, and the development of the construction timeline for the main project works is in progress. The goal is to ensure that the outcomes delivered will not only provide greater flood protection but also enhance the ecological health of the river, improve and connect transport options, and lay the groundwork for a revitalized city center.

The anticipation for detailed timelines is acknowledged, and once these specifics are finalised, the information will be promptly communicated.

Regional News

This Week's Highlight: Award Night Memories!

The vibrant photo gallery from the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards and Hall of Fame 2023 is now live! Relive the magic and honor the achievements of Wellington's businesses.

From triumphs to toasts, each snapshot celebrates our winners and the spirit of our community. The full collection is a click away and ready to spark inspiration.

Tag your friends, share the joy, and let's keep the applause going!

Rediscover the South End: Our Hutt Christmas

Once the heartbeat of Lower Hutt, the South End of High Street has seen generations come and go, and it's time for a revival. Join Southend for Our Hutt Christmas, a journey that merges cherished nostalgia with the promise of a vibrant future.

🕰️ Nostalgia & Revival: Relive the golden days and help us reignite the spirit of the South End.

🌟 Welcome a New Generation: They're writing a fresh chapter for South End shoppers.

🤝 Community Revival: It's more than an event; it's a revival. Connect with your community and show your support for local businesses.

🎄 Rediscover the Magic: Join us as we rekindle the South End's magic.

Our Hutt Christmas- where memories meet dreams.

Thursday 7^th December. 2023.  Southend High Street.

Help shape the future of Plumbing, Drainlaying and Gasfitting Training

As the final stage of the PGD project approaches, the input from stakeholders becomes increasingly vital. There has been extensive consultation with PGD industry experts throughout the project, and it is with great pleasure to announce that the proposed PGD qualifications and standards are now ready for NZQA approval.

The feedback from the industry will be instrumental in ensuring that these qualifications accurately represent the needs and aspirations of the PGD industry. Stakeholders are encouraged to take the time to review these qualifications and share their thoughts. The insights provided are crucial to developing a resilient PGD workforce for the future in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

BRANZ/MBIE Seismic Risk Communication Project

Are you a commercial building tenant?  Tell us how you would react to different messages about seismic risk!  

The team at Resilient Organisations and the Joint Centre for Disaster Research are running a short survey to learn more about how commercial building tenants react to different messages about the seismic risk of the buildings they lease. 

Survey findings will contribute to the development of guidance for professionals who communicate seismic risk information with commercial building tenants. 

Find out more about the project:  
https://www.resorgs.org.nz/our-projects/risk-and-resilience-decision-making/seismic-risk-comms/

Student INTERNSHIPS | MASTER OF SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

A unique opportunity awaits with the Master of Software Development (MSwDev) program. From March to June, MSwDev students are available as full-time paid interns, ready to bring their skills and knowledge to your projects.

These interns are trained to handle a variety of technical tasks, enriching your team with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. There are no specific requirements for the type of work they can engage in, making them versatile additions to any development or design team.

Internship Details:

Availability: Early March through June
Contact for more info: Lynda Turner at lynda.turner@vuw.ac.nz or 027 432 2280, and Conrad Spohr at conrad.spohr@vuw.ac.nz or 022 013 9064.
This is an excellent chance to support emerging talent while benefiting from their latest software development expertise.

Featured Events

Tax Update under the new Government | PKF Kendons

When: Wednesday 22 November
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lv 3, 15 Daly Street.

Member Offers

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.