– Grow Wairarapa: it’s been a busy time in the Wairarapa Economic Development space. Attending the Food Focus Group, Knowledge Intensive Action Group and the Food and Tourism Action Group.
– Lunch with Stuart Nash: he stressed that the Govt’s job wasn’t to grow business but make it easier and minimise barriers.
– Central Chambers Hub Conference: Attended the annual 2 day conference with key speakers.
June 2019
Compliance remains a top concern for local businesses in the latest Business Wairarapa quarterly Confidence Survey, alongside the rising cost of doing business and attracting both skilled and unskilled labour to the region.
There is a continued overall decline in outlook for the national economy, with 47.37% of respondents expecting the New Zealand economy to become moderately worse in 12 months’ time. However, 42.11% of respondents felt the regional economy will stay the same in 12 months’ time, resulting in a net positive of 11%, compared to a net positive of 31% in March.
– Wairarapa Water Ltd has scored a substantial win for the region by securing $800,000 of funding from the government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) for its Wakamoekau community water storage project.
– Grow Wairarapa (Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan) – activity in the Grow Wairarapa space.
– ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner. 2 Key points from her address regarding China & the Reserve Bank
– Visit from Hon Simon Bridges and Alastair Scott MP. Joined with local female business leaders and Marie Claire Andrews.
– Grow Wairarapa: The Governance Group, Steering Group, and all three Action Groups (Knowledge Intensive Industries, Food Action and Tourism groups) have met to discuss the first steps in implementing the Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan.
– Sigh of relief as Captital Gains Tax is scrapped
– Wellbeing Budget to be announced on 30 May 2019, using the Treasury’s Living Standards Framework.
This quarters results show:
– Slight downturn in business confidence
– Biggest barriers are compliance, staffing issues and competition
– Most unsupportive of the proposed Tax Working Group’s Capital Gains Tax, marginally more support for Fair Pay Agreements
– Members aware of the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan. Focus should be water, transport, housing and internet.
– Facilitated an initial meeting to scope a Buy Local campaign in the Wairarapa
– MBIE visited to get a better understanding of the Wairarapa business landscape.
– Business Wairarapa presented it’s current strategy to the Carterton Economic Development Advisory Group
– NZ Customs Brexit conferencer call. Advice given to NZ exporters to the UK in preparation for a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.
– Provincial Growth Fund presentation by WREDA showing a good structure and framework for decision making
– Met with e-commerce retail platform Shopify to discuss setting up in the Greater Wellington/Wairarapa region
– Co-hosted a consultation evening with Masterton District Council regarding the revamping of Queen Street
– Actively representing local business on the Wairarapa Economic Development Strategy Steering Group
– Met with Federated Farmers to discuss ways to work together
– Attended the quarterly Chamber of Commerce Central Hub meeting
Guiding our organisation for the next year, the strategy falls out of our vision statement:
Where your business belongs
Our mission is to represent every Wairarapa business, providing leadership, creating opportunities and sharing ideas through the principles of link, collaborate and influence.
The strategy document has a number of key objectives.
We welcome and feedback you may have.