Kia Ora , 

The General Election voting is done. It seemed to be a long campaign.

With half a million votes still to be counted, things could still shift a bit. So, with all this in mind, How are you feeling about your business confidence now?

Let us know how you are feeling by answering this short survey. 

The survey is sponsored by Bronze Partner, Red Hot Business Coaching & Consulting

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
• National News
• Regional News

• Featured Events

• Member Offers

• Employment Opportunities

Daly Street Service Lane Closures

Work is underway to prepare for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), which aims to make Lower Hutt a more vibrant and liveable city, while delivering greater flood protection and improved transport links.

During the demolition of the buildings on Daly Street, the service lane behind the buildings is required to be closed for safety reasons. This will take place in two stages as shown below and traffic management will be in place to prevent
vehicles or pedestrians from passing through.

Work is underway to prepare for Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink), which aims to make Lower Hutt a more vibrant and liveable city, while delivering greater flood protection and improved transport links.

During the demolition of the buildings on Daly Street, the service lane behind the buildings is required to be closed for safety reasons. This will take place in two stages as shown in the link below and traffic management will be in place to prevent
vehicles or pedestrians from passing through. 

Daly Street Traffic Management
There will also be traffic management along Daly Street to coincide with the demolition of the front parts of the buildings for the safety of the public. These closures will span for a similar time and include partial lane closures with stop/go traffic control.

Pito-One to Melling Cycleway Opens

The Pito-One to Melling section of Te Ara Tupua cycle way opened on Monday 16^th October. The new cycle way is part of the creation of a walking and cycling link between Wellington and Lower Hutt. It has been funded by Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency and Hutt City Council, and has been delivered by contractors, Fulton Hogan.

The Pito-One to Melling section will join the Ngā Ūranga to Pito-One section (once complete in 2026); it will also link to walking and cycling paths to be built as part of Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (formerly known as RiverLink).

Key features of the Pito-One to Melling section include:

• rail underpasses at Pito-One and Parliament Street (near the Normandale overbridge)
• a well-marked route through the Petone railway station car park
• a cycle bypass for southbound cyclists at the Dowse interchange, and
• a connection to the existing Hutt River Trail.

National News

Ringa Hora Workforce Development Plan

Ringa Hora, Service Sector Workforce Development Council, has released its ‘Service Sector Workforce Development Plan'. Businesses know the importance of workforce development as it is pivotal in bolstering industry resilience, particularly in the face of an increasingly uncertain operating environment.

The Ringa Hora Workforce Development Plan presents:

• A high-level summary of the people working in the Service sector today
• The things that are top of mind for the sector
• A future vision
• Key areas of focus and actions we can take to develop the future workforce together.

Regional News

Upper Hutt City Centre Strategy | Upper Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt City Council is crafting a 30-year plan to revitalise its city centre. A recent assessment shows the need for a strategic approach to prioritise various improvement options.

Even though there are multiple projects underway, many happen in isolation. By 2050, the city expects an influx of over 18,000 residents, necessitating about 2,500 new dwellings. Commercial vacancies have also risen, with service businesses often replacing retail spaces. While community feedback was gathered last month, the input from local businesses is vital.

Share your thoughts via the survey at upperhuttcity.com/city-centre-strategy or pick up submission forms at Central Library. Your insights will guide the city's future blueprint.

Speed Management Plan Consultation | Upper Hutt City Council

Upper Hutt City Council are seeking your feedback on a draft Speed Management Plan that they have developed to comply with Central Government’s Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2022. The new rule states that 40 percent of schools must comply with the new, reduced speed limits by 30 June 2024, and the remainder by 31 December 2027. They are also required to review all areas with 70 km/h limits. 

Upper Hutt City Council have developed this Plan considering the requirements from central government along with factors that are unique to Upper Hutt. The rule mandates changes to speed limits around all schools, however it is up to individual Councils to determine the extent of those changes. They are consulting on the draft Speed Management Plan for Upper Hutt from 4 October – 5 November 2023.

New R & D Grant | Callaghan Innovation

Callaghan Innovation has announced The New to R&D Grant which has been created to encourage more businesses in Aotearoa to engage in research and development (R&D) to support our country's long-term economic growth. While the intent behind this grant remains the same, they've taken customer feedback on board and changed how the funding works.

Applications for R&D Grants will close from 11 October 2023 while they implement these changes. 

They expect the new R&D Grants to reopen them mid-November. Keep an eye on their website for the opening date. If you have a current application that has been approved or is in progress, you’ll receive an email to let you know what this means for you.

The changes are as follows:

• All eligible costs will be co-funded at 40% instead of 20% for R&D costs and 100% for capability development costs. You’ll find an example of how the funding will work on their website.
• You may apply more co-funding towards your R&D activities, but you must complete activities from a minimum of two Capability Development categories as well.
• The grant is not for one-off grant projects; it is to help you set yourself up for long-term R&D performance.

So, if you've never done R&D before, or you've only scratched the surface, this grant could be just what you need to get your R&D project underway and help you round out your innovation skills for the future.
 

Office Spaces Avaliable | Q Space Lower Hutt

If you're looking for office space, look no further than Q Space,

Lower Hutt's latest and largest flexible workspace! Q space is your cue to a quality work environment- It's fully furnished, fully serviced and fully managed, Allowing you to focus on the project at hand and let Q Space take care of the rest.  Located on 134 Queens Drive and due to open early 2024, Q Space takes flexible working to the next level-

Whether you want an office, a desk, or just a flexible space to hot desk.Their all inclusive membership covers everything you require, Including a team of facility staff, who manage and take care of the environment for you.

This is an amazing opportunity to establish yourself in a high end space, with designer furniture and all the facilities and amenities you would require... Allowing you the scope to grow and shrink as you need!

Plus their short term rolling contracts mean you don’t have to commit long term. Find out more, visit QSpace.co.nz, and cue quality, cue convenience and cue connection.

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

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.