LATEST UPDATES

Keep up to date with The Chamber's latest news and updates.

NewstalkZB business update

22 September 2020
Leeann was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. This week they discussed what businesses would like to see from the new Government.

Chamber members take out top awards

21 September 2020
Congratulations to Chamber members Westco Lumber Limited, Deloitte, Aurecon and Southern Cross Health which took out top awards at the 2020 Diversity Awards NZ™. Ka pai! Read more here.

BusinessNZ Round Table podcast

20 September 2020
In the latest update, Grant Walker talks to Leeann Watson about how businesses in the South are holding up, new policies from National and Labour, and the latest on the border.

Stuff.co.nz: 'Frustration' for Canterbury business community over level 2 extension

14 September 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Lee Kenny regarding the Alert Level 2 extension. Read more here.

Stuff.co.nz: New Government must save economy and enable growth, businesses leaders say

14 September 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Dominic Harris regarding The Chamber's General Election Directive. Read more here.

The Chamber General Election Directive

14 September 2020
Ahead of the General Election, we have released our General Election Directive – a pre-election report that represents a Waitaha Canterbury business perspective on what we would like to see from the new Government. This provides insights gained from the June 2020 Deloitte - Chapman Tripp - BusinessNZ Election Survey, which surveyed over a thousand businesses, including 280 businesses in the Canterbury region. It also includes insights on issues raised by The Chamber member and wider business community. Read our Directive here and our media release here. Full survey results can be found on electionsurvey.co.nz.

BusinessNZ Roundtable

14 September 2020
EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley spoke to Grant Walker on the Government’s extension of Level 2.5, mental health and commercial rents. Watch the video here.

Media release: Immigration changes “a great boost” to local businesses

10 September 2020
Chief Executive Leeann Watson says businesses in Waitaha Canterbury will welcome the news that valued workers that have been stuck offshore will now have the opportunity to return to Aotearoa New Zealand. The announcement by Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi will help new residents stuck offshore keep their residency status while COVID-19 travel restrictions remain in place. Read our media release here.

Latest Word

9 September 2020
This week's Latest Word discusses the recent announcement by Labour that it would make Matariki a public holiday if re-elected, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, and confirmed dates for our next Māori Culture and Language in the Workplace workshop. Read more.

Metropol column: Leeann Watson

1 September 2020
In the space of a few months, the local business community has once again responded to an unprecedented situation with agility, reviewing and reworking not only their day-to-day operations, but also their plans for the future. Read more.

Audience with Hon Grant Robertson

1 September
Finance Minister Hon Grant Robertson recently joined us to discuss the Government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan. Watch a recording of the webinar here.

The Chamber Board Election 2020/21 - Nominations now open!

31 August 2020
Nominations are now open for the 2020/21 Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber) Board. The Board’s role is to set policy, determine the strategic direction of The Chamber and support the Chief Executive. Nominations will closes on Friday 18 September at 5pm.

Latest Word

26 August 2020
This week's Latest Word looks at the recent announcement regarding alert levels which sees Auckland remaining at Alert Level 3 and the rest of Aotearoa, including Waitaha Canterbury, remaining at Alert Level 2 until a review on Sunday, 6 September. While we would welcome the news of moving down alert levels, what the last few months have demonstrated is that businesses need better processes and systems from Government going forward for managing any future regional outbreaks. Read more.

Chamber submission on Canterbury Multi-Use Arena

18 August 2020
We recently completed a Submission on proposed amendments to the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan to manage noise from the Canterbury Multi-Use Arena, which has now. Thank-you to everyone that provided comments on this issue. Chamber member Hospitality NZ also submitted a Letter of Support of our submission.

NewstalkZB business update

18 August 2020
Leeann was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. This week they discussed how Cantebrury businesses are being impacted by the loss of visitors from Auckland. Listen to the full interview here.

Stuff.co.nz: New election date gives needed certainty, Canterbury business leaders say

18 August 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Liz McDonald regarding the new General Election date. Read the full article here.

BusinessNZ update and Q&A with Kirk Hope

18 August 2020
The Government has moved the election to 17 October and provided details of the wage subsidy extension. Listen to the details here.

Stuff.co.nz: Coronavirus: Employers asked not to send asymptomatic staff for Covid-19 tests
17 August 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Michael Hayward regarding sick leave. Read full article here.

Media release: Extended support provides “welcome relief” for many Canterbury businesses
17 August 2020
Today’s announcement regarding a new wage subsidy scheme and a simplified leave scheme have been welcomed by Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Leeann Watson. Read our media release here.

Stuff.co.nz: Coronavirus: Auckland's lockdown wipes $14m from Canterbury economy

15 August 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Dominic Harris regarding the impact of Auckland's lockdown on Waitaha Canterbury economy. Read full article here.

Latest Word

12 August 2020
This week's Latest Word focused on the Prime Minister and Director General's announcement that Aotearoa New Zealand has had four cases of COVID-19 outside of a managed isolation or quarantine facility in New Zealand - and that the Auckland region will move to Alert Level 3 and the rest of the country to Level 2. Read more.

NewstalkZB business update

11 August 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. This week they discussed how small businesses are faring. Watch the video now.

BusinessNZ Advocacy Update

6 August 2020
As a founding member of national business advocacy group BusinessNZ, The Chamber and our members are represented through all BusinessNZ advocacy. Updates this week include the latest Reserve Bank announcement; the Government's Central Otago hydro scheme proposal; supermarkets market study; an increase in strikes and industrial action; and, unemployment rates. Read more.

Metropol column: Leeann Watson
6 August 2020
As we head into the home straight of the general election, and given the challenges of the current COVID-19 environment, it has never been more important to be fully informed and engaged in the election process, to play a real part in shaping the future of our country for the better. Read more.

Latest Word

28 July 2020
This week we looked at The Chamber's transformation; the new direction for the country's resource management system; Christchurch Airport's new proposal for land near Tarras in Central Otago; and the return of retail spending to pre-COVID-19 levels; and more. Read more.

NewstalkZB business update

28 July 2020
Leeann was interviewed for The Chamber's regular segment on NewstalkZB Canterbury Mornings with Chris Lynch. This week they discussed retail spending in the central city. Watch the video here.

$40 million RBP Network funding extension welcomed in Mid Canterbury

27 July 2020
The $40 million funding extension announced for the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network will make a tremendous difference for Mid Canterbury businesses as they navigate the post-COVID-19 environment, Ashburton District Mayor Neil Brown says. Read more.

Survivor City: Christchurch jobseekers face uncertain road

25 July 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed for Survivor City, a new Stuff.co.nz series that looks at how the experiences of the last decade will shape our response to COVID-19. Read the full article here.

Radio New Zealand: Christchurch economy endures Covid-19 impact, but experts warn of dire outlook

16 July 2020
The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson was interviewed by Radio New Zealand on how Christchurch is placed to weather the COVID-19 storm. Read more.

Latest Word

15 July 2020
This week we welcomed the announcement of a $40 million funding extension for the Regional Business Partner Network – of which The Chamber is a Regional Partner. This extended funding will ensure businesses continue to have access to the expertise they need to navigate this challenging post-COVID-19 environment. Read more.

Media Release: RBP funding extension will make a “critical difference” to Canterbury economy
14 July 2020
As a Regional Partner, The Chamber welcomed today’s announcement of a $40 million funding extension for the Regional Business Partner (RBP) Network. Read the full media release here.

Metropol column: Leeann Watson

8 July 2020
In the last few weeks, we saw the nation collectively holding its breath as it became apparent that our border control and testing regime was not as rigorous as we thought. Read more.

Canterbury Today: How much damage has the economy incurred and how do we lessen the impact?

7 July 2020
Chief executive Leeann Watson talks about how COVID-19 has been a catalyst for business to make changes, that could be the difference between businesses not only surviving, but thriving.Chief executive Leeann Watson talks about how COVID-19 has been a catalyst for business to make changes, that could be the difference between businesses not only surviving, but thriving. Read more.

Latest Word

1 July 2020
In the space of a few months, the local business community has responded to an unprecedented situation with agility, reviewing and reworking not only their day-to-day operations, but also their plans for the future. Read more.