Wellington businesses call for practical action to unlock growth
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Business Central, home of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, has released its Wellington Business Election Priorities 2026, setting out what Wellington businesses want from the next Government.
Chief Executive Hayley Horan said Wellington has the talent and ideas to help lead New Zealand’s next phase of economic growth.
"Wellington businesses have shown remarkable resilience in recent years, and what we’re seeing now is that they are ready to invest, employ and grow. What we need now are the right settings and support to turn that potential into results," said Horan.
The election priorities focus on six areas:
Creating a business-friendly regulatory environment
Making Wellington New Zealand's innovation capital
Accelerating housing and infrastructure delivery
Reforming local government to support growth
Investing in skills, talent and productivity
Backing creative, digital and export growth
A key recommendation is a continued focus on reducing regulatory and compliance costs, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses.
"Business owners want to spend their time growing their businesses, serving customers and supporting their staff, not navigating unnecessary administration and compliance requirements," said Horan.
The document also calls for better access to growth capital, including a dedicated Growth Fund or similar funding pathway to help established, high-potential businesses scale.
"Small business owners often rely on residential mortgage debt as their main source of capital. If we want more businesses to become success stories, we need funding pathways and investment settings that match their ambition," said Horan.
The priorities also call for investment in skills, digital capability and innovation, including support for earn-as-you-learn pathways and practical measures that help businesses adopt new technologies and lift productivity.
"As political parties develop their policies ahead of the election, we're putting forward practical ideas that will help Wellington businesses invest, grow and create jobs.
"This is about making it easier for good businesses to grow, hire and invest here in Wellington," said Horan.
