Ata mārie,

Edge Interiors Golf Day
Our 2026 Edge Interiors Waikato Chamber Golf Day was held on Friday and was a great day on the course, with strong competition, good banter and we managed to doge the bad weather! Congratulations to our overall winner, ASB and top four teams, who stood out in a competitive field. A big thank you to our naming rights partner, Edge Interiors and all of our sponsors for their generous support, and to everyone who joined us on the day. If you missed out or are keen to be involved next year, click here to register your interest for the 2027 Golf Day.
1st Place: ASB
2nd Place (equal scores): ANZ & Edge Interiors
3rd Place: Higgs Building

Our 2026 Advocacy Priorities
Advocacy is a core activity of the Chamber, focused on influencing decisions across political, economic and social institutions to improve the environment for Waikato businesses to flourish. We work to ensure business voices are heard, defended and genuinely considered when decisions are made on issues that affect you.

In 2026, our advocacy will focus on the priorities that matter most to Waikato businesses and the region’s long-term prosperity:

1. Strengthening arterial routes and progressing critical expressway infrastructure

2. Supporting the unification of Waikato councils under the Government’s Simplifying Local Government initiative

3. Inspiring and enabling more Waikato companies to export and grow internationally

4. Addressing energy challenges by reducing costs and improving supply resilience

5. Lifting graduate work readiness to better meet the needs of employers

6. Ensuring political party policies are practical, future-focused and Waikato business friendly

To view our advocacy priorities from previous years, visit our website.

Inspire Leadership with Sir Graham Henry – Sold Out!
We are incredibly excited about our upcoming Inspire event, Leadership Under Pressure, An Evening with Sir Graham Henry, happening next month. The response has been outstanding and the event is already sold out, which speaks volumes about the appetite for real, grounded leadership insights. If you missed out on a ticket, we encourage you to join the waitlist in case spaces become available for what promises to be a memorable and inspiring evening.
 

Homegrown Hits the Waikato
We are looking forward to Homegrown coming to our city next month! With thousands of visitors expected, the event will bring a real buzz to our CBD, increased foot traffic for hospitality and retail, and a strong showcase of what our city has to offer on a national stage. Many people still do not realise Homegrown is happening here this year, not in Wellington, so now is the time to spread the word. There are tickets still available, and we encourage everyone to get in behind an event that delivers both great music and great economic impact for our region.

Have a great week ahead,
The Chamber Team

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