Kia Ora , 

Wow, what a night! There is so much talent in our region and so many great businesses.

Last week we celebrated the finalists for the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards 2023 at the Cossie Club in Upper Hutt. It was amazing to see over 200 people come to celebrate with their friends and colleagues.

I would like to extend a huge congratulations to all of those who entered the awards and, of course, the finalists. 

If you want to come and celebrate with them and our business community, you can still buy tickets for the Gala Dinner here.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have completed the Business Confidence Survey. You can see the results in this issue of the Hutt Valley Business Weekly.

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 Offers

• Employment Opportunities

Jobs and Skills Hub open

Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai/Lower Hutt Jobs and Skills Hub opened its doors earlier this month, welcoming local job seekers looking to work in construction and infrastructure in the Hutt. Doors are open for walk-ins during business hours. Job seekers of all levels and experience can chat with Hub staff about their skills, and available jobs and training opportunities.

The Hub opened at 9 Kings Crescent on Monday 9 October. It’s operated by the Ministry of Social Development, in collaboration with the central government, local government, mana whenua and community organisations. It will play a big part in the delivery of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi. Hubs like this are a no-cost recruitment and training facilitation service to support the construction and infrastructure sectors in New Zealand and improve employment and skills outcomes for communities.

Upcoming opportunities include paid six-week cadetships where people can get their tickets and endorsement to work in the industry.

Daly Street demolition

Work on Daly Street is progressing well, and they're excited to move into the next phase with demolition and removal of buildings.

The local contractor McMahon Services NZ Limited has carefully removed the asbestos and will now start demolishing the buildings. This work will take place over the next two months. Traffic management will be in place for the safety of road users and pedestrians

Melling Road Stop Bank Pre-loading

Delivering better flood protection is a key objective for the project and the team at Dixon Dunlop are making great progress on the gravel extraction works just south of Kennedy Good Bridge.

Over 17,000m3 of material (or around 3,000 truckloads) has been removed so far and placed along the stopbank at Melling Road. This material is being stored so they can use it 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.

Salvage day success

Materials that were salvaged from demolished properties on Pharazyn and Marsden Streets were made available, for free, to the community on 7 October.

Over 200 items were taken—including 14 stoves, 70 doors, 80 skirting boards, and other appliances. Thank you so much for helping reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.

Riverbank market here to stay!

We know everyone loves the Riverbank market, and it is here to stay - although it will move temporarily when construction starts.

Hutt City Council and the project team are working with market organisers to identify a suitable location. Once we’ve confirmed the new location and timing of the move, we’ll let you know.

In the meantime, you can expect to keep using the carpark and visiting your favourite vendors down by the river over summer.

Regional News

Business Confidence Survey Results | October 2023 

Thank you to all who contributed to the October 2023 Hutt Valley Business Confidence Report, painting a picture of resilience and optimism in our business community. A special acknowledgement to Red Hot Business Coaching, our esteemed bronze partner, for their unwavering support and commitment. The full report can be found below. 

2degrees Wellington Regional Excellence Awards Finalist Function | Meet the Finalists

A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the 2degrees Wellington Regional Excellence Awards. Last week's Finalist Function was memorable, and to all our entrants, your achievements stood out impressively. Special congratulations to our finalists; your dedication truly shined.

Our gratitude extends to the Cossie Club for providing a splendid venue and delicious food. We deeply appreciate and thank Waihanga Ara Rau's sponsorship for the evening; it wouldn't have been the same without your support. Additionally, a thank you to Clarative Media for beautifully capturing our event.

For those eager to relive the moments, photos are available for view and download at the link below. We're excited about the upcoming Gala Dinner, and spaces are going quickly – secure your spot today!

Water Tanks Back in Stock| Upper Hutt City Council

 Seeking to accomplish some tasks this weekend and aid the community in its resilience efforts? A fresh batch of 200L tanks has been delivered.

For those who have been on the waiting list, it's time to collect them either before the long weekend or after. Anyone interested in acquiring one can visit the Civic building or call in advance to check for availability.

Each tank is priced at $115, but holders of the Community Services Card are eligible for an additional discount*. This special promotion is exclusively for the Upper Hutt Community, aimed at bolstering resilience.

PC50 Rural Chapter Update | Upper Hutt City Council

The community is being invited to examine the proposed modifications and submit their feedback specifically on the provisions of Plan Change 50 – rural update.
Plan Change 50 is an ongoing part of the District Plan review, aiming to incorporate national and regional guidelines while taking into account the unique rural backdrop of Upper Hutt.
For further details, to go through the suggested PC50 provisions, and to register your feedback, kindly click on the link provided below 👇.

Featured Events

Business Skills Lunch Series | Building Effective Teams 

Additional Events

Member Offers

Rove Rentals | Chamber Member Deal

Located in Wellington Region

From moving house to weekend getaways, Rove has got your transportation needs covered.  They are also van and truck rental specialists. Their family-run team is dedicated to making your rental experience seamless, convenient, and tailored to your unique requirements. When you choose ROVE, you're not just renting a vehicle; you're investing in a hassle-free experience. They make it easy for you to rent what you need, right when you need it! So, if you want to keep things easy, talk to us first.

We can also help you after a vehicle accident.  If your vehicle is damaged you may be entitled to a no-cost or low-cost courtesy vehicle whilst yours is off the road.

Ready to rent? Visit our website at www.roverentals.co.nz or give us a call on 04 560 4755 to reserve your vehicle. Experience the ROVE difference for yourself!

ROVE Rentals - Rent What You Need, When You Need It!

HVCC OFFER – 15% off base rental rate, all vehicles

HOW TO REDEEM OFFER – when booking online, use code “HVC15” | when booking via phone or email, please mention this offer and confirm you are a member of the Chamber of Commerce

2degrees | Chamber Member Deal

Noel Leeming | Friends & Family Deals

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.