News

Advocacy is one of those terms that gets used often, but is not always clearly explained. In a business context, it simply means representing your interests to the people who make decisions that affect how you operate. That includes government, local councils, and regulators. It’s about making sure the voice of business is heard when policies are being developed, reviewed, or changed. For most businesses, and especially small to medium–sized, that kind of engagement is not st

The ExportNZ ASB Hawke’s Bay Export Awards are now open for 2026, celebrating the exporters and individuals driving the region’s international success. This year marks an exciting milestone for the awards, with ABB announced as Platinum Sponsor. ABB steps into the role following its recognition as the 2025 Hawke’s Bay ASB Exporter of the Year - a full-circle moment that highlights its continued commitment to the region’s export community. Business Central CEO Hayley Horan s

Business confidence in Wellington lifted noticeably in the last quarter of last year, with many firms entering 2026 feeling more optimistic about their prospects, Wellington Chamber CEO Hayley Horan says. “What we’re hearing from Wellington businesses is realistic optimism. While the broader economic backdrop remains challenging, firms have built resilience and are beginning to see more possibility on the horizon.” The most striking change is in how businesses view their own

Business confidence across central New Zealand is firming, with Business Central’s latest Business Confidence Survey showing businesses slowly moving out of defensive mode and preparing for recovery. Business Central Chief Executive Hayley Horan says the results from the final quarter of 2025 point to a clear shift in mood. “Businesses are still realistic about the challenges ahead, but the tone is different. Confidence in the national economy has jumped, and that’s meaningfu

The ExportNZ ASB Central Region Export Awards are now open for 2026, returning to Wellington and expanding to include exporters from the Nelson Tasman region for the first time. Building on the success of last year’s sold-out Central Region awards, the 2026 event will be held in Wellington at Parliament’s iconic banquet hall on the 11 th of June - continuing the alternating hosting arrangement between Wellington and Palmerston North and highlighting Wellington’s importance t

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Mayor Andrew Little’s commitment to reduce Wellington’s commercial rates differential and to pursue sector-specific advisory councils, describing the announcements made yesterday at a sold-out Chamber event, as a significant pro-business signal from the new Mayor. Wellington Chamber CEO Hayley Horan says this represents a pivotal moment for Wellington’s business community. "For years we have urged a fairer commercial rates s

After a tough few years, Wellington has a golden opportunity to receive billions in Government infrastructure spending to improve our roading network. New tunnels at Mt Victoria and the Terrace along with Basin Reserve improvements and four-lanes on sections of SH1 have been desperately needed for decades. These chokepoints were never built to handle our current population and clog our city, economy and neighbourhoods. So what are the benefits to Wellington from NZTA’s propos

Following a comprehensive financial review and audit, Business Central has released its annual results for the 12 months ending 30 June 2025.The review for the year just concluded, included prior-period adjustments for the previous financial year, to ensure accuracy and transparency. One key adjustment involved reclassifying $800,000 of international trading revenue that had previously been recognised in FY23/24. This change followed expert advice and a review of revenue reco

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce congratulates Mayor Andrew Little and all newly elected members of the Wellington City Council, following the official swearing in of the new Council today.

The contributions of some of Wellington’s most prominent businesspeople were celebrated last night at the 2025 Wellington Address, hosted at Pipitea Marae. For the third-year running, the event recognised the mahi and relentless energy of three individuals and one business who have made outstanding contributions to our city. They are people who inspire others and help Wellington’s business community prosper and thrive. This year saw the beginning of a new era for The Wellingt

Business Central and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the appointment of Hayley Horan as its Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 November. As CEO, Ms Horan will lead the organisation’s strategic direction, member engagement, and policy influence. Ms Horan is a seasoned executive with a demonstrated history of bringing together business, government, and education to build more connected and resilient regional economies. Ms Horan has extensive networ

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Business Confidence Survey highlights the need for Council to prioritize pro-business reform, Acting Chief Executive, Amanda Wood says. “Nearly 60% of businesses surveyed were very unsatisfied with the Council’s performance in supporting the business community and local economy, with 35% being very unsatisfied with their interactions with Council.” Businesses were asked if they felt supporting and growing business in Wellington i

Business Central welcomes the Government’s decision to replace the Holidays Act with a new Employment Leave Act next year. Business Central Acting Chief Executive Amanda Wood says it’s a long-awaited move that will bring much-needed clarity and simplicity to leave entitlements, and it is positive that the planned new legislation will contain the policy recommendations of Business Central members. "The shift to an hours-based approach for calculating leave is particularly welc

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the Government’s announcement of updates to the Commerce Act, released as part of its Going for Growth agenda. Acting Chief Executive Amanda Wood says the changes provide a helpful step toward greater clarity and certainty for businesses. "Clearer rules and oversight give local businesses more confidence to plan for growth while maintaining integrity and public trust. "Certainty in how businesses can work together is important f

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has today released its report, Green Light Economy: The Path to a More Resilient Wellington Through Private Sector Growth, setting out a bold vision to address Wellington’s major challenges and supercharge its commercial future. “We are proud to present this report for Wellington as we head into the mayoralty race for 2025” said Greg Pollock, Chair of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. “Wellington has all the right ingredients to thrive, f

The Coalition Government’s second Budget has landed, attempting to strike a balance between responsible spending and investment in business growth. The Government has identified $21 billion of savings over the next 4 years, reinvesting them into health, education, defence, law and order – and a flagship policy for business: a $1.7 billion a year package known as ‘Investment Boost’. The new scheme will incentivise capital investment by allowing businesses to claim tax deductio

Tomorrow the coalition Government of National, ACT & New Zealand First will announce Budget 2025. The task for the Government is to walk a line that ensures fiscal responsibility, while still investing in measures that will help New Zealanders get ahead. Many of the measures in this year’s Budget have been announced in advance, though there are always surprises to be revealed on Budget Day. Read on to discover what it means for business and what to expect on Budget Day. Budge

This week the Government announced a series of proposed changes to health and safety laws. The changes are intended to clear up confusion, bring down the cost of compliance, and allow firms to focus on what matters most – keeping people safe. A series of announcements were made this week, focused on small business, recreational land owners, company directors and Approved Codes of Practice. The changes won’t take effect until they’re passed through Parliament, which is expecte

Business Central faced a challenging year as recessionary conditions impacted revenue from services and as public sector job cuts impacted the Wellington economy . As an organisation we took the opportunity to focus on productivity, review our products and merge our revenue services into one team. Our member retention rate was consistent with long term trend, despite a lift in fees to meet the demands of inflation.

We’re excited to announce a proud partnership with Best Places to Work for 2025! Our mission of delivering business support you can count on is a natural fit with their goals: helping Kiwi businesses grow stronger and build workplaces that prioritise people and positive impact. This means Business Central members and the BPTW community now have access to a greater range of powerful tools to help drive employee engagement, customer satisfaction, community commitment, and stron