Chamber Chat

Chamber Chat October 2023

TARANAKI’S YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

Last week at the Young Enterprise Scheme Regional Awards evening we celebrated and recognised the hard work of 145 students from 9 schools around the province.

Chamber Chat September 2023

We’ve had a busy few weeks!

A catch up was held with the Ngāti Maru CEO to learn more about the recent rebranding of Feats to Te Heru Māpara. This valuable arm of Ngāti Maru focuses on education and training.

Chamber Chat August 2023

The carpark saga…compounded!

First, it was the closure of 268 spaces in the downtown carpark, which has been out of service for over three years. Now, a rushed plan to increase cycleways and pedestrian routes, could potentially lead to over 800 carparks disappearing in North Taranaki.

Chamber Chat July 2023

SUPPORT LOCAL – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

Each one of us has our idea of what this means. For many, it is about supporting local businesses or local talent. For some it might be about supporting the local environment or biodiversity.

Chamber Chat June 2023

Tighten your belts….again!

The decision by NPDC to adopt the 2023/2024 Annual Plan and increase rates by 12.4% was never in doubt. Unfortunately for many, there was a large shock – for many ratepayers they are looking at a 15-30% increase and it’s even higher for some!

Chamber Chat May 2023

Are you just going to stand back and watch?

I take pride in being an optimist and seeing the positive side of things. However, the stark reality is that things are crumbling around us. When I look at what really matters to businesses, I am horrified at how a steady deterioration in our business environment has crept in. 

Chamber Chat April 2023

Almost every sector in the country, from farming to pharmacies and hospitals to hospitality, is in dire need of skilled labour. Other than a labour shortage, the education industry is woefully short of overseas students.

The skills shortage problem is global and not just restricted to Aotearoa. 

Chamber Chat March 2023

STOP!
How is it ‘okay’ to normalise smash and grab thefts that are pervading our society?

Organised crime is on the increase in Taranaki and in New Zealand. Armed offenders are now attacking retailers brazenly during daylight hours.

Chamber Chat 27 February 2023

The devastation wrought in several parts of the North Island makes us sit back and consider how fortunate that our province has escaped the worst effects caused by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Chamber Chat 13 February 2023

Welcome to our first Chamber Chat for 2023. The Chamber team is already hard at work. We are looking forward to continuing our work with businesses and not for profit organisations through advocacy, employment, networking, training and events.

Chamber Chat October 2022

Published: Monday 31 October 2022 Tēnā koutou  CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE Here at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce we are privileged to be involved with many events that showcase and celebrate the businesses in our region. Last Thursday it was the turn of…

Chamber Chat September 2022

Published: Monday 26 September 2022 Tēnā koutou  LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS Local government has a huge effect on local businesses and indeed on the local community. Your voice is conveyed through your vote. Please make sure you exercise your right to vote a…

Chamber Chat August 2022

Published: Monday 29 August 2022 Tēnā koutou  Drive With Caution There is a clear and present danger on our roads in the form of large potholes, which have the potential to cause major accidents and fatalities. Taranaki is not alone, as major highways…

Chamber Chat July 2022

Published: Monday 25 July 2022 Tēnā koutou  Taranaki has several infrastructure projects happening around our maunga. Destination Play at Kawaroa Park is one of the more recent ones to be launched and will be transformational with the spend at about $ 6…

Chamber Chat June 2022

Published: Monday 27 June 2022 Tēnā koutou  Councils’ support for businesses One of the Chamber’s key roles is to advocate for business and there are times when we challenge our local councils on planning and policy decisions, and other factors that ma…

Chamber Chat May 2022

Published: Monday 30 May 2022 Tēnā koutou  Is this fair to business? The Fair Pay Agreements Bill has passed its first reading in Parliament, due to Labour using its majority in the House to ensure this passes. Labour attempted to enact this Bill in it…

Chamber Chat April 2022

Published: Monday 25 April 2022 Tēnā koutou  It was an awesome Easter weekend for Taranaki businesses. Figures from Paymark show Taranaki’s retail spending over the 4-day Easter weekend was 26% higher than the same period in 2019! It was the highest gro…

Chamber Chat March 2022

Published: Monday 28 March 2022 Tēnā koutou  SOS Go Local If you are a small business that wants to reach more customers, then please register with sosbusiness.nz  if you haven’t done so already. Spend on Small business is a website that allows custome…

Chamber Chat February 2022

Published: Monday 28 February 2022 Tēnā koutou  Buddha once said, “Do not learn how to react. Learn how to respond.” So let it be with the accelerating Omicron pandemic. Businesses are dealing with enough challenges already – staff shortages, logistica…

Chamber Chat January 2022

Published: Monday 31 January 2022 Tēnā koutou katoa Omicron was always going to arrive in Aotearoa and was expected to sweep across the nation. We have had plenty of time to get prepared – and we have done well with our vaccination rates. However, we do…

Chamber Chat October 2021

Published: Tuesday 26 October 2021 Tēnā koutou katoa The line-up for WOMAD 2022 was announced last Wednesday. For those who enjoy music, arts, dance, food, community, other cultures and festivals, WOMAD is the best thing that happens in Taranaki. Congra…

Chamber Chat September 2021

Published: Monday 27 September 2021 Tēnā koutou katoa > GET VACCINATED! > Keep track of where you have been (COVID tracer app or other means)> Wear a face covering when required in a public place> Stay home if you are sick Simple messages a…

Chamber Chat August 2021

Published: Monday 30 August 2021 Tēnā koutou katoa At the time of writing this piece, all of Aotearoa was still waiting to hear the fate of the nation – when will our Covid-19 alert level change? While being grateful for the enviable lifestyle we have …

Chamber Chat July 2021

Published: Monday 26 July 2021 Finally, we have a commitment! It is sad that it often takes a few lives before safety issues are addressed. Near misses should be enough to prompt corrective action in any safety-minded environment. In this context, it i…

Chamber Chat June 2021

Published: Monday 28 June 2021 Tēnā koutou katoa This month marks four years since I started working at the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce. Our team here is hugely passionate about the people of Taranaki, the businesses based here and our land. In other w…

Chamber Chat May 2021

Published: Monday 31 May 2021 Tēnā koutou katoa Good stuff Some wonderful things have happened in the business community since our last monthly column. The Chamber’s Wellbeing Conference was very well received Shona Glentworth was inducted as a Lif…

Chamber Chat April 2021

Published: Monday 26 April 2021 Kia ora koutou I am excited about some of the innovations happening in Taranaki. Firstgas recently announced that it would gradually phase in hydrogen-gas blends regionally, increasing from one per cent to 20 per cent hyd…

Chamber Chat March 2021

Published: Monday 29 March 2021 Kia ora koutou The evidence is before us. Recently released data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) shows that New Zealand imported more coal in 2020, than it did in 2017 and 2018 combined. In…

Chamber Chat February 2021

Published: Monday 22 February 2021 Kia ora koutou The guilt is finally gone and I feel relieved. Friends from Auckland visited two weeks ago to get a view of our maunga from the tarns – and they loved it. In 20 years, I had never once been up to the Pou…

Chamber Chat January 2021

Published: Monday 25 January 2021 God defend New Zeeeeealand! And he did, as did we all. It was almost like a subconscious chant at a basketball game – dee-fence! That’s why we could celebrate Christmas and New Year with family and friends and travel th…

Chamber Chat October 2020

Published: Tuesday 29 October 2020 Kia ora koutou The Chamber would like to congratulate the following MPs on their election: Glen Bennett – New Plymouth, Labour, Barbara Kuriger – Taranaki-King Country, National, Steph Lewis – Whanganui, Labour, Angel…

Chamber Chat September 2020

Published: Monday 28 September 2020 Recently made redundant? Our jobs have a huge impact on our lives. For most of us, it is where we spend more than half our waking hours. Besides financial security, having a job we enjoy gives us purpose, knowledge, s…

Chamber Chat August 2020

Published: Monday 31 August 2020 More Local Support Needed When Auckland sneezes, the rest of New Zealand catches a cold. Businesses have just experienced this in Taranaki and the rest of Aotearoa. Today, Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) joins us and returns…

Chamber Chat July 2020

Published: Monday 27 July 2020 Ara Ake is the name of the (long-winded) National New Energy Development Centre, which was officially launched last Thursday. Congratulations to the establishment team and Venture Taranaki who have helped to make this happ…

Chamber Chat June 2020

Published: Monday 29 June 2020 Who are we and what do we do? I have asked a few people on the street if they have heard of the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce.  Some of them have, but most do not know about what we do. We are an independent membership-base…

Chamber Chat May 2020

Published: Monday 25 May 2020 Working Closer! The Chamber and WITT will be working together more closely than ever, with an extension of their existing partnership agreement. WITT will be operating from the Chamber premises on Egmont Street in New Plymo…

Chamber Chat April 2020

Published: Tuesday 28 April 2020 May Level 4 never return Tomorrow, we re-visit level 3 of COVID-19 alert. Going back to level 4 is not an option! Each one of us has to ensure this. Our unity and collective behaviour will determine whether we can halt/c…

Chamber Chat March 2020

Published: Monday 30 March 2020 Kia ora koutou The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented crisis. One might say that we’ve exploited nature enough, and now it’s just giving us a glimpse of its power to fight back. Whatever your take on the magnit…

Chamber Chat February 2020

Published: Monday 24 February 2020 Kia ora It’s so ironic! The very government that legislated to ban future oil and gas exploration permits (except onshore Taranaki) less than two years ago, now feels the need to bring in new legislation to prepare for…

Chamber Chat January 2020

Published: Tuesday 28 January 2020 Kia ora and welcome to our first Chamber Chat for 2020. WITT Top Shop We are pleased to announce that WITT will be the new sponsor of Top Shop. This annual competition recognises those businesses in Taranaki who displ…