Kia ora ,

Over the past couple of weeks, we've asked businesses how they're feeling about conditions for their business and the rest of NZ.  

The Hutt Valley businesses that have responded to the survey have some concern for the next 3 months, with just under 35% saying that things might be ‘somewhat worse’.

There is some optimism for the next 6-12 when compared to their feeling in January with:

• A drop (18%) in how many businesses feel like general business for their business will be somewhat worse in the next 6 months 
• An increase (13%) in how many businesses feel like general business conditions for their business will be much better in the next 6 to 12 months.

BUT Business costs and staffing continues to be a barrier and issue.

A high proportion of responders (66.7%) are expecting business costs to be somewhat more expensive though with an increase of 13% feeling this way since January.

Staff vacancies continue to be a challenge with around the same number of businesses (46%) experiencing challenges with filling a staff vacancy now, and 66.7% expect to need to fill a vacancy in the next 12 months.

So some optimism and some challenges... and this does not factor in the latest round of interest rate increases yesterday!

It is not too late to complete the survey before we publish the final results. Have your say here.

Hopefully, you will all be taking some time to recharge the batteries over the Easter break. If you are travelling please take care on the roads.

In this edition of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly:

• RiverLink Update
• Preferred Alliance Selected for RiverLink, Formal Appointment by Mid-April
• Regional Updates

• SH58 Road Closure – Wellington Region To Prepare for Extra Highway Traffic

• Have Your Say On The Hutt City Council Draft Annual Plan

• EV Charging – Two MENNEKES Charging Columns Available for Lower Hutt City Businesses

• National Updates

• Good News for Subcontractors - Law changed to protect them

• Featured Events

• How Election Year Will Impact Real Estate and Our Economy with Tony Alexander
• Breakfast with David Seymour, ACT Party Leader and Damien Smith, List MP
• Space Day: Celebrating Space Exploration - From the Hutt Valley to NASA
• More Events & Workshops

• Wellington Business Brief - How Does Leadership Impact Engagement?

• Digital Workshop in Upper & Lower Hutt | Driving Traffic To Your Website
• Member Offers

• Rotary Hutt City

• Employment Opportunities
• Are You Hiring?

RIVERLINK UPDATES

Preferred Alliance Selected for RiverLink, Formal Appointment by Mid-April

The RiverLink project has advised that they have selected a preferred alliance to help us deliver RiverLink.

The strong and robust procurement process, which started in October last year, has been one of the most important steps in the programme so far and this is another significant step forward for this project.

They reviewed three strong proposals and we expect to conclude all necessary negotiations and formally appoint the alliance by mid-April.

RiverLink will deliver three crucial and very transformational projects in Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai, guided by the three objectives of Ora Tāngata, Ora Taiao and Ora Wairua. These objectives will ensure the uplift of iwi and the community, the protection of Te Awa Kairangi and natural environment, and the prominence of iwi and te ao Māori throughout the project.

The RiverLink partners – Hutt City Council, Greater Wellington, Waka Kotahi, Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira – and the preferred alliance (once announced) will work together to successfully deliver this transformational programme of work.

What happens next?

Under the Alliance delivery model, once the preferred team is announced the RiverLink programme will enter a detailed design and construction planning phase, ahead of the main construction works starting later this year. 

This phase will likely take around six months and includes an opportunity to explore further innovations and value improvements through the design to potentially reduce costs and improve the outcomes we are targeting. It is also a chance to commence early works to ensure the main construction can start sooner. 

Once the final cost and construction approach are agreed through this phase, a Project Alliance Agreement will be signed, and construction can begin.

We will continue to keep you informed via these project updates.

REGIONAL UPDATES

SH58 Road Closure – Wellington Region To Prepare for Extra Highway Traffic

Wellington road users need to be ready for a full weekend road closure on State Highway 58 late next month.

The closure for safety improvement works will happen between Friday, 28 April and Monday, 1 May, unless postponed by bad weather.

It means people travelling between the Hutt Valley and Porirua/Kāpiti must use State Highway 1 and State Highway 2 via Ngauranga instead.

There will be significantly more vehicles using these routes during the closure.

Waka Kotahi Regional Manager Maintenance and Operations, Mark Owen, says as a result, travel delays are expected on State Highways 1 and 2.

“People travelling between the Hutt Valley and Porirua or Kāpiti will need to allow extra time for the detour, but all drivers should be ready for heavier traffic and delays on the state highway network between Wellington and the Hutt Valley.”

You can read the rest of the update here.

Have Your Say On The Hutt City Council Draft Annual Plan

Hutt City Council are consulting on their draft Annual Plan 2023-2024 from 31^st March 2023.

This year’s draft Annual Plan will see rates increases. Costs and inflation have escalated significantly since the 10-Year Plan was set, which means Council services and projects cost more. Council have informed us that they are working to find a balance so they can continue investing in the basics while keeping the extra cost to ratepayers as low as possible.

Council are proposing to delay some projects and reduce budgets where possible and increase debt levels responsibly to pay for infrastructure and vital projects set out in the 10-Year Plan. Council will be focusing on investing in essentials and getting the basics right, like critical infrastructure and key services for our city – all while being financially responsible in a difficult economic climate. This will also provide commercial opportunities for our local businesses to be involved in future work.

In the year ahead Council is planning to:

• Maintain the existing drinking water, wastewater and stormwater networks and build new infrastructure by investing $75m
• Start redevelopment of the city centre as part of the Riverlink project 
• Begin the Cross Valley Connections work to help reduce traffic along The Esplanade in Petone and make it more bike and pedestrian-friendly 
• Add bike / shared paths for connecting the city centre, Wainuiomata and northern suburbs 
• Maintain the transport network and make it safer plus seismic strengthen the Cuba St overbridge 
• Repair the Eastern Hutt Road 
• Expand the Silverstream landfill 
• Redevelop the Naenae town centre  

In the coming year, Council is also looking to launch a new low-carbon acceleration fund for reducing emissions and are increasing safety and crime prevention activities with the employment of a coordinator working with our commercial centres. 

Hutt City Council wants to hear your feedback on their proposals, because your thoughts are an important piece of information that elected members rely on when making the final decisions about next year’s budget and work programme. Consultation will be open until 30 April and Council will report back to the public in May/June 2023.

How can you participate in the consultation or provide your feedback?

There are two ways to do this.

1. Provide your feedback directly to the Hutt City Council using their feedback mechanism. The link which will be open on 31^st March is as follows: hutt.city/annualplan2023
2. Provide your feedback to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. We will collate the feedback and write to the Council with the views of our business community. Please email me your views at patrick@hvchamber.org.nz.

EV Charging – Two MENNEKES Charging Columns Available for Lower Hutt City Businesses

The Hutt City Council wants to support a business that wishes to make progress on reducing their transport emissions.

They have two (2) MENNEKES type 2 Socketed charging columns to provide to two businesses. The units are supplied with two outlets that can charge two vehicles at the same time at up to 11kW each. These units will be donated to a business that is deemed to be the most deserving based on their response to this survey.

The survey can be accessed here.

NATIONAL UPDATES

Good News for Subcontractors -
Law changed to protect them

Changes have been made to legislation to give subcontractors the confidence they will be paid the retention money they are owed should the head contractor’s business fail, Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods announced last week.

Companies and directors who choose to hold retention money against subcontractors will now be required to hold retention money on trust in a separate bank account, which is unable to be mixed with other company money or assets. Information about the retention money held must be reported to subcontractors on a regular basis, at least once every 3 months.

You can read more here.

FEATURED EVENTS

MORE EVENTS & WORKSHOPS

MEMBER OFFERS

Featured Guest Speakers from Rotary Hutt City

Rotary Hutt City have many projects and community-focused events that appeal to people of all ages.

They have invited some speakers to the Hutt Valley that may be of interest to the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce members and non-members.

19 April: Scott Fitzgerald/Marie Harris, Asmuss Steel, Seaview.
Scott is the branch manager of the 100-year family-owned Company Asmuss Steel Products based in Seaview.

They recently celebrated their 100 years in business, establishing a Foundation which gave a donation to Innovative Young Minds.

He’ll be speaking about interesting projects they’ve been involved in over the years.

3 May: Nick Leggett, Chief Executive, Transporting NZ
An outspoken advocate for greater transport investment and better-planned outcomes across different transport modes,

Nick is a former Mayor of Porirua and currently chairs the Hutt Mana Charitable Trust and is a Director of Wellington Water and Greater Wellington Rail. 

Nick will speak about the critical role of the trucking industry in delivering 93% of New Zealand’s freight and some of the challenges being faced by the sector and how it may decarbonise over time. 

For more info, visit: https://rotaryhuttcity.org.nz/Speakers 

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 contact 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.