MEDIA RELEASE: Canterbury business confidence falling
25 September 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (The Canterbury Chamber) has today released the results of its latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey (QCBS), highlighting a decline in business confidence and rising uncertainty about inflationary pressure, rising interest rates, and demand.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: COVID Restrictions Ending August 2023
24 August 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes the removal of
all remaining COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Government today.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: COVID Restrictions Ending August 2023
24 August 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes the removal of all remaining COVID-19 restrictions announced by the Government today.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: DHL Export Survey
14 August 2023
The 2023 ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer, released today, gives a snapshot of the operating environment for exporting businesses and highlights some of the persisting barriers impacting their productivity and growth.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Another win for Canterbury exporters and manufacturers
10 July 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes news that New Zealand has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), New Zealand’s fourth largest trading partner.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: What Canterbury businesses want to see from Election 2023
6 July 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce released its election year ‘Business Expectations of Government’ report, which outlines what businesses would like to see prioritised by the next government.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Chamber welcomes progress on immigration settings
21 June 2023
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes an announcement from Immigration Minister, Hon Michael Wood this morning that changes are coming to the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) and Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV)...
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Canterbury business confidence up, but cost pressures rising
16 June 2023
Expectations of the Canterbury economy continue to improve, but cost pressures have taken the lead as the biggest issue facing businesses, along with immigration settings and compliance requirements which remain barriers to growth and productivity, according to the latest Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey (QCBS).
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Infrastructure key to the continued success of Canterbury
7 June 2023
The Building Nations conference is underway at the Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre this week, with attendees discussing the resilience and future of New Zealand’s infrastructure.
Read our media release here >
WATCH: Leeann Watson and Chris Lynch discuss Budget 2023
19 May 2023
Chamber CEO, Leeann Watson discusses the Budget, what is in it (and not in it) for businesses, and the role Government has in creating an environment supporting growth and productivity in Canterbury.
MEDIA RELEASE: Businesses left with crumbs from ‘bread and butter’ Budget
18 May 2023
“The budget is an opportunity for Government to signal to business that it recognises their role in our economy, and at this point I can’t see how this Budget has done that…”
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: NZ-UK Free Trade Agreement a "big win for Canterbury businesses"
5 May 2023
The commencement of New Zealand’s Free Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom will give Canterbury exporters better access to our seventh largest trading partner, with 99.5 per cent of current exports being able to enter duty-free from 31 May this year.
Read our media release here >
Our Submission: Christchurch City Council Draft Annual Plan 2023/24
6 April 2023
We recently completed a submission on the Christchurch City Council draft Annual Plan 2023-24. A key theme in our submission is that we would like to see a firm commitment from the Council that it recognises the acute pressures currently facing business, and a reflection of this in all aspects of the annual plan. We would also like to see a far greater effort in positioning Christchurch as an attractive and competitive city both domestically and internationally, for businesses and employers, and a greater acknowledgement of the fundamental role businesses play in the economic and social fabric of our city.
Download a PDF of our response here >
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Read the latest media coverage on our response from The Press here:
Christchurch businesses accuse council of acting as a 'handbrake'
The Canterbury Business Update Report: Leeann Watson and Chris Lynch discuss the latest implications
17 March 2023
Watch our CEO Leeann Watson discuss points of note around the investment of Christchurch with Chris Lynch in The Canterbury Business Update Report from 17 March. Including some of the challenges faced by investors due to changes to Council planning - and why these types of investments are key to the growth of our city.
MEDIA RELEASE: It's more boom than bust for Canterbury businesses
6 March 2023
Business expectations on the regional economy are improving across a range of measures according to the latest Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Help Wanted: Biggest constraint on Canterbury economy
1 March 2023
New research shows New Zealand’s need for workers will outstrip supply by a quarter of a million people by 2048, says the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, part of the BusinessNZ Network.
Read our media release here >
2022
MEDIA RELEASE: Businesses demand urgent response on Canterbury crime and antisocial behaviour
30 November 2022
As the frequency and severity of crime and antisocial behaviour throughout the Canterbury region increases at pace, 80 businesses from throughout the region have signed a joint letter, coordinater by the Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce, requesting an urgent response from Government.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Brace for impact - Chamber prepares businesses for FPA implementation
27 October 2022
The passage of the Fair Pay Agreements Act 2022 this week has the potential to be disastrous for Canterbury businesses if sector-wide agreements are put in place, and The Chamber is preparing to ensure businesses are well equipped to navigate the impacts ahead.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey
25 October 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has today released its findings from their Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey (QCBS).
Read more here >
MEDIA RELEASE: The Chamber sets out expectations for incoming Council
14 September 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has today released our Business Expectations of Local Government document outlining 55 expectations that The Chamber working with our members and business community has identified for the next term of local government.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Scrapping COVID-19 framework the right way forward
12 September 2022
Today’s decision to scrap the COVID-19 Protection Framework and removing the requirement for household contacts to isolate if they are not ill is the right decision to make.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: The Chamber announces local body election initiatives
18 August 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has announced three initiatives in the lead up to the local body elections on 8 October.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: The borders are open, now we need the people
1 August 2022
Today marks the first time in nearly two and a half years that the New Zealand border is fully open to the rest of the world.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey
19 July 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce has released its’ findings from the Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Stadium outcome a win for Canterbury
14 July 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce welcomes the decision of Christchurch City Council to progress with the construction of the multi-use stadium.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: The Stadium must be built
15 June 2022
The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce is encouraging the 2,700 members and 75,000 employees it represents to submit in favour of building the stadium without delay.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Accelerated border reopening and immigration changes welcomed
11 May 2022
The reopening of New Zealand’s border in full and long-anticipated immigration changes announced today will bolster economic growth in the Canterbury region and provide a boost for businesses that are desperate to find staff.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Orange a boost for business ahead of long weekend
13 April 2022
Canterbury’s hospitality and retail sectors will be breathing a small sigh of relief today with the long-anticipated easing of COVID-19 restrictions, after the announcement of an announcement earlier this month.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: We're going back to the 1970s
5 April 2022
The passage of the first reading of the Fair Pay Agreements Bill is forcing New Zealand to return to the industrial relations landscape of the 1970s.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: It's time to turn the immigration tap on
31 March 2022
A new report released this morning by the BusinessNZ network has outlined the severity of the situation we face in the labour market – and reinforced why we need the tap turned on for immigration right now.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: A step closer to normalisation
23 March 2022
The announcement from the Government today outlining adjustments to the COVID-19 Protection Framework has been long-awaited and indicates a step in the right direction.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: We're ready and we've been waiting
17 March 2022
The government expediting their multi-stage border reopening provides long-awaited relief to Canterbury business.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: A small boost to manufacturing in Canterbury
14 March 2022
The manufacturing sector in Canterbury will have an opportunity to access additional workforce with the
announcement of a border exception class for advanced manufacturing specialists this morning.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Reduced self-isolation a win for small business
9 March 2022
The decision to reduce mandatory self-isolation periods by three days is a step in the right direction.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce welcomes targeted financial support
21 February 2022
After nearly a month of raising concerns and highlighting the financial impact of remaining in red traffic light restrictions, today’s announcement of targeted financial support for those most affected is welcomed.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Minimum wage increase a slap in the face to Canterbury Business
11 February 2022
Increasing the minimum wage by six percent with just seven weeks' notice is a slap in the face to Canterbury business.
Read our media release here >
MEDIA RELEASE: Razing of fortress New Zealand welcome news for Canterbury Business
3 February 2022
The Prime Minister’s announcement today of a phased border reopening is welcome news for Canterbury
businesses.
Read our media release here >