December CEO Thoughts
It is Time to Unify the WaikatoJust two thoughts for you this month, inspired by the Government’s announcement last week called “Simplifying Local Government – a draft proposal”.In the three decades since the last shakeup in 1989 some councillors have driven division and demarcation, masquerading as independence.It is time for vision to turn into action:To unite the WaikatoTo rub out the artificial council barriersTo eliminate the pencil lines on a map that cost ratepayers millionsT...
December 17, 20252025 Waikato Business Awards Emerging Leader of the Year
The third time was a charm for Claire Williamson who was named Emerging Leader of the Year at the Waikato Business Awards.Applauded by judges for her bold, values-driven leadership and her commitment to empowering both her team and her community, Claire had entered the category twice before.“When you enter and don’t win… it could be easy to get a bit despondent. But I knew I was doing some cool stuff and I’d taken on board the feedback from judges I had spoken with the past two times I...
December 16, 20252025 Waikato Business Awards CEO of the Year
Fiona Michel, chief executive of Braemar Hospital, has been named Waikato's CEO of the Year for 2025 – a recognition that crowns her as one of the region’s most progressive and values-driven health leaders.Fiona’s leadership is guided by what she calls her “Shining Eyes” philosophy, a mindset shaped through years of seeking purpose and meaning at work. “I know I’ve done a great job when someone just sparks. The moment when they say, ‘I can do that, I can lead that, I can make tha...
December 16, 20252025 Waikato Business Awards Supreme Winner
RML Machinery took centre stage at the 2025 Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, earning both the Supreme Award and the Innovation Award for its advancements in automation technology. Judges described RML as an exemplar of Waikato innovation, integrating technical excellence with substantial commercial results and a profound impact on the local community. Behind these achievements lies a vibrant, passionate team whose energy and determination were palpable at the awards. ...
December 16, 2025November CEO Thoughts
Unification of the WaikatoWe call for the unification of Waikato councils.It is time for newly elected councillors to tighten their belts and deliver us a unified Waikato. One where rates are inflation plus a margin to fund growth. One where regulation and its interpretation are identical across the region. One where democracy flourishes and voter turnout exceeds 75%. One where efficiency and financial prudence triumphs over ideology and petty party politics.One Waikato. Not a collection of prin...
November 5, 2025From Flat Whites to Fast Growth: How One Hamilton Café Owner Found Her Recipe for Success
Running a business is no easy task – especially in the fast-paced world of hospitality. But for Hamilton café owner Kendall Steele, the journey from manager to successful business owner has been one of learning, growth, and remarkable achievement – supported by the Icehouse Business Owner Programme, delivered in partnership with the Waikato Chamber of Commerce.Brewing Up a Dream at Café FrescaKendall purchased Café Fresca nearly three years ago, taking over one of Hamilton’s most loved ...
November 4, 2025Welcome to the Chamber Rebecca Wylie
Welcome to the team! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I’ve called rural Waikato home for the last 14 years but grew up in rural Wairarapa and Manawatu on large sheep & beef farms. Job opportunities, location, and the hub of everything equine related brought me to call Waikato home.My family and I live on a lifestyle block near Gordonton, and I have two primary school aged children who enjoy competing in Show Hunter and Motorcross across the Waikato, and surrounding areas.I have ...
September 22, 2025Quarterly Economic Update
According to Infometrics provisional GDP estimates, the Waikato regional economy contracted 0.5% in the year to March 2025. The decline is the first since the year to September 2021, as revisions pulled the year to December 2024 up to unchanged from a year earlier. The decline was driven by construction, mining, and utilities industries, partially mitigated by growth in agriculture.Consumer spending fell 0.4% in the year to March 2025, falling for the first time since March 2021. Lower spending ...
May 22, 2025Welcome to the Chamber - Kiani Tuhua
Hey Kiani, welcome to the team. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I spent much of my childhood living next door to my marae in Waiti, rural Waikato, and in Kirikiriroa, before heading across the ditch to Australia, where I lived for ten years before returning home.Outside of mahi, my fiancé and I keep busy with our three kids (well, two are more or less adults now!), and our little one, who’s in primary school, has more sass than all of us combined! I love exploring, whether that’...
May 20, 2025A big investment in the future prosperity of Hamilton and the Waikato
When big Waikato events are on like Fieldays, Maadi Cup, WakaAma, All Black and Chiefs rugby, fans from outside of the region have been forced for years to find accommodation as far afield as Tauranga, Rotorua, or resort to driving daily from Auckland.This will change as Templeton Group have announced their proposal to develop the council Victoria St site.“This announcement for the development of the council site on Victoria St is long overdue and very welcome investment news for the city and ...
April 3, 2025Welcome to the Chamber Caz Wood
Born and bred in the mighty Waikato, I was raised on a dairy farm in my early years and have called Kirikiriroa my home for most of my adult life with the exception of 2 years in London on my OE and 2 years in Wellington.Outside of work, I’m a Mum of two boys, who are quickly catching up to me in height, and have a packed schedule of sports and activities that keep me entertained (and crazy). In my spare time, I enjoy being at the beach or in nature or attending a concert or sports event.I’v...
April 2, 2025Welcome to the Chamber - Devon Parker - Auld
I was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, I left to complete a Bachelor of Arts, in Pōneke, Wellington. Since my degree, I moved down to Te Waipounamu and began my career journey there. After a wonderful 2 years down in Ōtautahi, Christchurch my partner and I packed our bags and went overseas for a few months around Sri Lanka, Australia and the Pacific Islands. We found ourselves drawn to Raglan and made the move over the new year entering 2025.Besides my whereabouts, I love being h...
March 26, 2025Congratulations Sir John Gallagher
It is with great pride and admiration that we share an outstanding letter celebrating the remarkable achievements of Sir John Gallagher, who has been awarded a Knighthood in the New Year Honours. This well-deserved recognition as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit reflects Sir John’s extraordinary contributions to business, philanthropy, and community service.Sir John, who was inducted into the Chamber’s Business Hall of Fame in 2020, has exemplified what it means to be a r...
January 13, 2025Waikato Business Awards 2024 - Small Business of the Year - Brainchild
Waikato-based PR and content agency Brainchild celebrated a double win at the 2024 Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, taking home both Small Business of the Year and People’s Choice.And Brainchild founder and director Angela March has some simple advice for other small business owners contemplating entering the Awards next year: “Do it!”.“The entry and judging process is super valuable. As a business owner you get so busy working in the business, entering the Awards forced me t...
November 27, 2024Waikato Business Awards 2024 - CEO of the Year - Pam Roa
A "kaitiaki of culture and leader of leaders”. That was the fitting description of Pam Roa by her team when they nominated her for CEO of the Year at this year’s Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.Pam took home the CEO of the Year gong and the metal fabricator and manufacturing company she and husband Les founded in 1992, Longveld, took out the People and Culture Award.And while Pam is the first to encourage her team to “step into your light”, she wasn’t so sure about entering...
November 26, 2024Waikato Business Awards 2024 - Emerging Leader of the year - Ashley Mason
If you’d told Ashley Mason when she left school that in a couple of decades she’d be standing on stage accepting an Emerging Leader Award, she would likely have scoffed at you.But that’s exactly where Ashley was on November 15 – being handed the trophy at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.Ashley’s career path has evolved organically. When she left school she worked as an EA for about 15 years. At one point she did a year’s study to be a secondary school maths teacher. D...
November 25, 2024Waikato Business Awards 2024 - Supreme Winner: Waitomo Group
With growth like Waitomo Group has seen over the past five years comes a lot of hard work. To the point where it’s rare for the team to stop, reflect and recognise what they’ve achieved.But that’s exactly what they did in November as they took out the Supreme Award at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. They also took out the Sustainability Award, and the Business Growth & Strategy Award.Group Manager Customer Experience Greta Shirley explains Waitomo didn’t enter the aw...
November 25, 2024Creating Spaces of Comfort and Productivity: Waikato Chamber’s New Office Fit-Out with Cemac
In the heart of Waikato’s bustling business community, the Waikato Chamber of Commerce has always been committed to supporting local businesses, and now, thanks to an exciting partnership with Cemac, we’re taking that commitment to a new level—starting with our own office space!We’re proud to announce that Cemac, one of our “Powered by” sponsors, has masterfully fitted out our new office, transforming it into a space designed not only for productivity but also for comfort and functio...
October 24, 2024Thank you Senga Allen
Members, Senga Allen retires today after serving her 10 years as a Director of the Waikato Chamber and it is a tribute to her leadership and guidance that the Waikato Chamber is in such good financial health and its mana is growing.In 2015 the Board did a Skills matrix exercise and recognised its governance deficiencies. Certainly, there was a lack of women on the board, and we lacked expertise in Human Resources, Tourism and Innovation.Reaching out to Senga to add some HR horsepower to you...
October 23, 2024Welcome to the Chamber: Abby Hill
Hey Abby, welcome to the team, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?I was raised on a lifestyle block in Otorohanga, where I spent most of my life. Growing up in this rural environment gave me a strong sense of community and independence. At 18, I relocated to Hamilton to pursue a hairdressing course, which allowed me to develop my skills and begin my career in a larger city.When I turned 28, I moved to Auckland while my husband served in the defence force. We lived there for six years, a...
October 10, 2024Waikato's Resilience: Navigating a Slight GDP Dip with Optimism for the Future
The Waikato Region continues to quietly get on with business despite a minor reduction in the region’s GDP in the last quarter.Given the recent rise in the Global Dairy Trade auction prices we see a more positive outlook for our economy running up to Christmas than we have enjoyed in the previous 6 months.Infometrics highlight issues in construction, retail, transport and manufacturing that contribute most to the small decline. This would not be news to Waikato business people, but it is margi...
August 22, 2024Cautiously optimistic
The August OCR announcement has come and gone and with it a great deal of negative press on the Governor, the Monetary Policy Committee and the Reserve Bank whilst applauding the cut to 5.25%OCR 5.25% - Monetary restraint tempered as inflation converges on target - Reserve Bank of New Zealand - Te Pūtea Matua (rbnz.govt.nz)A respected economist once said:“When facts change, I change my mind – what do you do sir?” John Maynard KeynesFacts do change and it would not surprise us if non-trade...
August 15, 2024Tangible Economic Development (TED) - What is it?
The Waikato Regional Council is trying to find out. Te Waka, the regional economic development agency has closed. Some Waikato councils have strengthened their own economic development staff levels amid allegations of not getting any benefit from Te Waka. A lot of what people call economic development seems to be reports, working groups along with connections to political parties and Wellington bureaucracy, but does it result in a tangible return on the ratepayers investment?Is this an...
August 5, 2024Record number of entries for Waikato Business Awards
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, supported by Foster Construction Group, has received a record number of entries for 2024. There are 88 entries across different categories.“That’s the is the most we have ever had and is 11 more than last year,” said marketing and events manager Rebecca Aston.“We’re thrilled to see so many emerging and established businesses entering; it’s a great opportunity to focus on your business to identify strengths and competitive advantages as...
July 9, 2024Long-Term Plan (LTP) Season
It's LTP season throughout the country as local councils rewrite their long-term plans. Most are going to the Bank of Ratepayers for double digit increases at a time when Kiwis are coping with a cost of living crisis.With the Consumer Price Index rising by 20% since the start of 2020, that has eroded households’ purchasing power. It’s been particularly tough for those households on lower incomes as much of the rise in living costs relates to necessities, like housing rents (up 17% since 2020...
April 29, 2024 Posts 1-25 of 81 | Page next
