Kia Ora ,
You might well be asking yourself what relationship there is between a shot glass and Hutt Valley manufacturing. Well, read on to find out.
The manufacturing sector in the Hutt Valley contributes over one billion dollars to our GDP every year and employs thousands of people. Around every corner and behind every door are people doing amazing things every day. They are innovating every day right here in the Hutt Valley. Our team is privileged to do our jobs and see many brilliant things every day.
Last week we were able to bring three of these amazing Hutt Valley companies to our BNZ Technology and Innovation series. Thank you to BNZ for their continued support in making this series happen. It is always informative and inspiring.
- Marina Rajic from BioViros spoke about their cell therapy work which is meeting the unique needs of researchers in gene-modified cell therapy.
- Garry Peak from Peek Robotics showed us Grover, an adaptable robotics platform that can perform multiple tasks like data collection, precision spraying, mowing, and towing, to name a few
- Sean Westbrook from Arotec Diagnostics spoke about their work to produce high-quality critical components to the autoimmune diagnostic industry. Their total annual production fits in a shot glass. Just amazing.
And it’s all happening right here in the Hutt Valley.
You have the opportunity on 30th May to visit one of our awesome manufacturers when we visit Flight Plastics. They are taking your recycling and making it good again. It will be a great visit. If you would like to come, you can register here.
In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:
Chamber Updates
2023 AGM Reminder
Featured Event: Flight Plastics / Pact Group - Industry Leaders in Sustainability right here in the Hutt Valley
RiverLink Updates
Early milestones on delivery of Te Ara Tupua
Regional News
Help Upper Hutt City Council improve Upper Hutt’s transport network.
Sebel Hotel Opening
National Updates
The Treasury - Te Tai Ōhanga – Guest Lecture Series - Productivity in a Changing World
Featured Events
Post-Budget Breakfast with Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance
Business After Five - Business Networking Event with Kristen Lunman
Sebel Hotel Opening, Lower Hutt | Exclusive Business Tours
How to prevent your business from being Cyber Attacked
Plus many more
More Events & Workshops
The Business Growth Accelerator Introduction Workshop
Get Your Meetings Off The Ground and Make Your Meetings Fly: Meaningful Meetings
Free HR Workshop - Creating a safe environment for Your Employees
Plus many more
Member Offers
2degrees
Symphony in the Hutt
Brewtown Christmas Corporate Packages
Employment Opportunities
Are You Hiring?
CHAMBER UPDATES
2023 AGM Reminder
Less than a week until our AGM! Just a quick reminder that the 79th Annual General Meeting of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce is coming up soon. This is your chance to participate in important discussions and decisions about the Chamber and the local business community. We value your input and opinions and encourage you to attend the meeting and make your voice heard.
The AGM is a great opportunity for our members to connect with the Chamber's leadership, ask questions, and express their opinions on issues that affect the business community in the Hutt Valley region. We hope to see you there!
Event Details:
Date: Tuesday, 23 May 2023
Time: 5:30 pm (Please be seated by 5:25 pm)
Location: Level 3, DSV House, 15 Daly Street, Lower Hutt
Featured Event: Flight Plastics / Pact Group - Industry Leaders in Sustainability right here in the Hutt Valley
As a consumer, have you ever wondered if your recycling gets recycled? You may have thought it all gets shipped overseas. Some of the facts are:
New Zealand imports around 20,000 tonnes of virgin polyethene terephthalate (PET) each year. It's mainly used for making bottles but increasingly PET food trays. Around 8000 tonnes of PET bottles are recycled each year (mostly bottles). Kerbside waste (your waste) ensures a ready supply of PET waste.
The good news is, Yes, your kerbside waste can and is recycled. And even better, every tonne of recycled PET produced will be a tonne of imported virgin PET that is no longer required.
Flight Plastics in Lower Hutt is New Zealand’s largest and most efficient low waste recycling operation of PET. They recycle over 98% of all plastic waste in-house and any waste possible from purchased goods and supplies, like meat trays, plastic wrap and cardboard containers.
Join the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce visit to the Flight Plastics to see where your recycling efforts are making a difference for New Zealand and the world.
When: Tuesday 30th May
Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Where: Flight Plastics, 75 Wainui Road, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt
Places are limited 20 people for this visit.
RIVERLINK UPDATES
Early milestones on delivery of Te Ara Tupua
If you have travelled to and from the city recently, you will have noticed work happening at either end and in the middle of the Te Ara Tupua project to connect the Hutt Valley to the city.
These early pieces of work include offshore construction with the build of temporary wharves, offshore habitats and revetments (the sloping embankments built of rock or concrete units). The offshore habitats for birds will be made of natural rock and will provide space for birds to roost away from human activity on the new shared path.
The first 1000 tonnes of Golden Bay rock for the offshore habitats recently arrived. Around 11,0000 tonnes of rock will be used to build these new wildlife habitats, part of our wildlife protection plan.
REGIONAL UPDATES
Help Upper Hutt City Council improve Upper Hutt’s transport network.
Upper Hutt City Council are working on a strategy to continue developing Upper Hutt’s transport network. This includes the roading network, freight, active transport, public transport, accessibility, and resilience. This work will show how Upper Hutt’s transport network should continue developing so that people can stay connected, moving between places, activities, and goods and services. But they can’t do it alone. They need your help to understand better what is and isn’t working well so they know what to focus on.
They have already had some engagement to discuss issues and opportunities around transport in Upper Hutt, and now they would love to get your feedback on the vision, the focus areas, the challenges we’re facing, and the outcomes they want to achieve to see if they have hit the mark or missed anything at this early stage.
Your feedback is important.
Upper Hutt City Council think what happens with transport in Upper Hutt in the future is important, and they want to give you or your organisation an opportunity to help shape and inform the development of this future.
How to share your feedback
Sharing your feedback is quick and easy. Just head over to our engagement platform to read through the three information sheets and then fill out a short feedback form.
Go to https://letskorero.upperhuttcity.com/transport. Feedback is open until 18 June.
Sebel Hotel Opening
After five long years of waiting, The Sebel Hotel in Wellington has finally opened its doors! The journey has been a rollercoaster of anticipation, excitement, and maybe even frustration. But as they say, it's all about the destination.
Now that the wait is over, it's time to revel in the glory of this stunning new hotel. The Sebel is a beacon of luxury and sophistication, boasting breathtaking views and top-notch amenities. With its prime location in the heart of Lower Hutt, guests can easily access all the city offers.
The hotel's conference and event facilities can also be a valuable asset for Hutt Valley's business community. They provide a high-end venue for meetings, conferences, and special events, which can help attract more business-related activities to the area and boost the local economy.
Overall, The Sebel Hotel's arrival is a welcome addition to the Hutt Valley, elevating its reputation as a top destination for visitors. With its world-class amenities and prime location, The Sebel is sure to attract travellers seeking a luxurious and convenient stay in the region.
NATIONAL UPDATES
The Treasury - Te Tai Ōhanga – Guest Lecture Series - Productivity in a Changing World
The Treasury Guest Lecture Series (TGLS) brings local and international experts to the Treasury to share ideas, latest thinking and research. Its purpose is to build collaborative working relationships with the academic community and other experts, provide a source of challenge and intellectual stimulation and to foster public debate.
This year's focus is on Productivity in a Changing World.
Productivity is the key long-run driver of economic performance, wages, and well-being. Yet, New Zealand's productivity growth has been low since the 1960s, making us one of the least productive OECD countries. At the same time, the economic context is changing. Like other countries, New Zealand faces significant economic, social and environmental shifts. These shifts will require considerable changes in our economy if we sustain and improve our economic and productivity performance. Therefore, this theme will explore productivity challenges and policy implications in the context of these trends, as well as the sustainability and resilience of our economy.
In the months ahead, our audience can look forward to some thought-provoking presentations on future opportunities and challenges, innovations and technological advancements, skills and the changing labour market, among others.
FEATURED EVENTS
Post-Budget Breakfast with Hon Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance
When: Tuesday 23 May
Time: 7:00am - 9:30am
Where: Boulcott's Farm Golf Club, Lower Hutt
Sebel Hotel Opening, Lower Hutt | Exclusive Business Tours
When: Wed 7 June
Time: 10:00am - 12:00am or 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: Sebel Hotel, 15 Queens Drive, Lower Hutt
Business After Five - Business Networking Event with Kristen Lunman
When: Thursday 8 June
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lower Hutt
How to Prevent your Business from Cyber Attacks
When: Wed 14 June
Time: 7:30am - 09:00am
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lower Hutt
Business After Five with Smarketing Lab | Breath New Ideas Into Your Business
When: Wed 14 June
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lower Hutt
Women in Business - Navigating a career change to fulfill your passions
When: Wed 21 June
Time: 9:00am - 11:00am
Where: Boulcott's Farm Golf Club, Lower Hutt
MORE EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
The Business Growth Accelerator Introduction Workshop
When: Thursday 1 June
Time: 8:00am - 9:00am
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce
Get Your Meetings Off The Ground and Make Your Meetings Fly: Meaningful Meetings
When: Tuesday 20 June
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Where: Upper Hutt Libraries, Upper Hutt
Free HR Workshop - Creating a safe environment for your Employees
A free HR Workshop bought to you by chamber member Employsure.
This Workshop will cover
- The latest changes to Health & Safety legislations
- Your obligations as an employer
- What are psychosocial hazards and how to manage them?
- Implementing effective safety and hygiene practices.
Join us for this in-person event to get pragmatic advice from industry experts who can answer all your questions and concerns specific to your business needs.
When: Thursday 25 May
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber, Lower Hutt
Benefits of being a Living Wage Employer
The Living Wage means thriving, not just surviving. Employers who pay the Living Wage want to ensure their workers earn enough to live with dignity.
The Living Wage Movement offers a Living Wage Employer accreditation process that allows employers to use the Living Wage Employer logo and call themselves a 'Living Wage Employer'.
The Living Wage Movement and the Hutt City Council would like to invite you to come and learn more about the Living Wage and hear from some accredited employers.
When: Thursday 15 June
Time: 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Where: Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, Level 3, 15 Daly Street, Lower Hutt
Price: No Cost
Past Events: A Celebration and Appreciation
Breakfast with David Seymour, Party Leader of ACT New Zealand.
We were delighted to welcome ACT Party Leader David Seymour and Damien Smith - ACT List Member of Parliament. Damien Smith spoke to our business community about their plans to support businesses.
During the Q&A session, David shared his thoughts on various topics such as the economy, taxation, immigration, cost of living, crime, co-governance, health, and education.
Pre Budget Speech, Nicola Willis, National Party Deputy Leader
We are immensely grateful to have hosted Nicola Willis, National Party Deputy Leader and Spokesperson for Finance, at our third political series event 2023.
Nicola's address was enlightening as she delved into National's policy commitments and their potential impact on our local business community. Her deep understanding of the challenges we face, from rising inflation to labour shortages, showcased her dedication to finding effective solutions.
A huge thank you to Gibson Sheat Lawyers: Our Invaluable Platinum Partner and Event Host
BNZ Technology & Innovation Series | Robotics & Biotechnology
We were thrilled to have Sean Westbrook from Arotech Diagnostics Limited, Marina Rajic from BioViros, and Garry Peek from Peek Robotics share their insights and expertise.
Each of their companies is making incredible strides in autoimmune diagnostics, biotechnology, and robotics, and we are grateful for their contributions to our business community.
Special thanks to our Platinum Partner BNZ for their ongoing support to make these events happen.
Space Day: Celebrating Space Exploration - Hutt Valley to NASA
An unforgettable evening of space exploration, science, and technology right here in the Hutt Valley! From NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) experiences shared by Betina Pavri and Randy Pollock to the inspiring work of Haritina Mogoșanu and Sam Leske in astrobiology and space education.
The interactive activities and demonstrations, including Mars Rovers and virtual reality experiences, were a great hit. We thank the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute, New Zealand Astrobiology Network, Star Safari, and Te Herenga Waka—Wellington Uni for making this incredible event possible!
Education to employment going from strength to strength
Our education-to-employment initiatives that actively facilitate the connection between schools and employers is going from strength to strength.
On 12th May the Naenae College Engineering Academy launched (students and teachers pictured above). Thanks to the hard work of Amanda Walters (Hutt Valley Chamber's Education to Employment Coordinator), the Principal and Careers Advisor from Naenae College and the team at Te Pukenga (UCOL), students from Naenae College and Heretaunga College will get the chance to do an engineering programme that has work experience built in. The students were excited to get started on their course which could lead to amazing careers in different engineering fields with our local businesses. The previous week the students had the opportunity to visit Metco Engineering in the Hutt Valley. Paul Jessup from Metco Engineering provided valuable insights into their work, covering areas like design, CNC, robotic welding, and laser engraving.
Amanda and Ben Kingi from Sapphire Consultants, also organised a successful employment event in Upper Hutt. The event was attended by over 400 Year 13 students eager to explore their career prospects. Employers interacted with students, shedding light on available job opportunities and fostering meaningful connections.
If you are interested in hosting Hutt Valley Rangatahi for an industry visit or work experience at your business, please get in touch with amanda@hvchamber.org.nz The students could be your next superstar employee.
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
Symphony in the Hutt
Join Orchestra Wellington for free for this year's Symphony in the Hutt!! This year's theme is THE MOVIES, so get ready to be dancing in your seat!! (Yes, the mosh pit of 3 year olds will be making a comeback).
Joined by the incredible Signature Choir Wellington, along with local Kapa Haka groups, Arohanui Strings and much more! Conducted by our brilliant Brent Stewart and hosted by the fantastic Chris Lam Sam.
When: Friday 26 May
Time: 7:00 pm
Where: Walter Nash Centre, Taita
Price: Free - no tickets required
Brewtown Christmas Corporate Packages
Experience a Christmas work party like never before! Bring your entire workforce to Brewtown's unique, completely covered 1,200m2 outdoor greenspace for an afternoon or evening of festive fun. Focused on creating a relaxed and informal atmosphere, employees will love chilling and celebrating the end of the year at this fantastic venue.
Spaces are limited - so get in quick!
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 patrick@hvchamber.org.nz for account instructions or questions.
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 049399821.
Thank you to all our Partners
As always, special thanks to all our Members and Partners for your ongoing support.
