Tēnā koutou katoa,

February is already shaping up to be a busy one. With the long weekend just around the corner, and some long-awaited good weather forecast, we hope you are able to take a moment to kick back and relax.  And if you needed another reason to smile today, it is New Zealand Rosé Day🍷!  

Speaking of wine, do you have your tickets to Marlborough's iconic Wine and Food Festival?  If your business is supporting the event, feel free to add your details into the comments section on our Facebook post.

It was great to kick off our first Coffee Catch Up of the year on Tuesday. A strong turnout, good conversations, and a reminder of the value of getting out from behind the desk and connecting with each other.  Our next events are loaded up on our website, so check them out and register your attendance HERE.

On the advocacy front, I have been actively engaging with industry in our region to understand opportunities and challenges for the upcoming year.  There are also a couple of surveys about to close soon - Forsyth Barr's Pulse of NZ Business Survey , Workplace Inclusion Survey,  Council's Business Development and Growth Needs Survey  and the opportunity for you to submit on the Crimes Act Amendment Bill 2025.  Please have your say.

Ngā mihi nui, 

Thursday 19 February | 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM 

Join us at 12 Wai iti Avenue to meet the team, explore the quality of their homes, and hear more about their story, all while enjoying drinks and nibbles with fellow Chamber members.

Monday 23 February - Friday 27 February

Marlborough Chamber of Commerce members are invited to attend Climate Action Week Marlborough (23–27 February 2026) at a discounted member rate, as part of a collective learning journey to strengthen the long-term resilience and prosperity of our region.

Thursday 26 February | 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM 
Join Transporting NZ for an industry update where they will dive into all the latest on the Interislander ferry replacement programme. It's your chance to hear from Ferry Holdings - the entity leading the procurement and delivery of the new ferries and associated port infrastructure.

Thursday 26 February | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM 

Our first Young Chamber event of the year is here, and we’d love for you to join us for a loose and fun evening of bowling at Blenheim Indoor Sports on Thursday, 26 February. Brought to you by Noel Leeming.

Tuesday 3 February | 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM 

Join us on Tuesday 3 March for our catch-up & learn about Space Create! 

Space Create is a Marlborough District Council initiative that brings new life to town centres by activating vacant and underused spaces with creative, community-led projects. 

Thursday 5 March | 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM 
Join industry leaders at the Marlborough Infrastructure Forum 2026; a free community event showcasing current and upcoming construction, civil, and engineering projects across the region.  

Learn how the industry is contributing to the region and what’s ahead for Marlborough. 

Retail crime continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing businesses across New Zealand. Parliament is currently considering the Crimes Act Amendment Bill 2025, which proposes changes that could significantly affect retailers, workers, and communities.

The Bill would:

• Strengthen penalties for theft
• Recognise the real stress and harm caused to retail workers by aggressive shoplifting
• Give Police more practical tools to respond to low level theft
• Provide clearer legal protection for victims who act reasonably to defend themselves or their property.

These proposals reflect many of the issues retailers have been raising for some time, particularly around organised theft, repeat offending, and worker safety.  Now is your chance to be heard.

You can read the proposed bill and make submissions HERE.  Submissions are open until Monday 16 February.

NZ Chambers will be making a submission in alignment with recommendations from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Retail Crime, but we strongly encourage members, especially retailers and those who attended our recent engagement events, to make their views known. Real world experiences matter and Select Committees do read them.

Making a submission to Parliament is straightforward and takes as little as five minutes. You do not need legal knowledge, and your submission can be as simple as saying whether you support the changes or sharing your experience of retail crime.

The Ministerial Advisory Group for Retail Crime have set-up a short 30-minute webinar to help retailers and members. The session will be held on Wednesday 11th February 2026 at 10:00 am.

This is a short, friendly session that aims to demystify what is happening and how you can make your voice heard by decision-makers.

Alternatively, one on one help can be arranged for members who would like guidance on making a submission.  Please contact us for link to webinar or more details.

Join Spy Valley Wines in support of the Malaghan Institute on the mission to raise funds to bring car-t cell cancer therapy to New Zealand.

- Live Auction - Epic Adventures & Items
- Silent Auction Table
- David Downs from Malaghan & Ashley Bloomfield Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health
- Live music
- Glass of Bubbles on arrival & Kaiaka Catering Canapes

$80 per person

Spy Valley Wines
Saturday 7th March 2025
5:30pm onwards

Following an unforgettable 2025 event, NAWIC are delighted to announce that the 2026 NAWIC Excellence Awards will be held on Friday 24 July 2026 in Wellington.

The 2025 Awards brought together more than 600 people from across Aotearoa New Zealand to celebrate the women shaping the future of construction. From apprentices and students to site leaders and industry trailblazers, the Awards recognised women who are breaking barriers, lifting others, and redefining what’s possible across the sector.

Get fancy for falcons! Join Karearea Falcon Trust for a black-tie evening at Oak & Ivy.

Sip delicious Huia and Lake Chalice wines, enjoy a decadent five-course meal, and relax to live music, all in support of their charity and conservation programmes. The night’s auction features a degustation dinner for eight at Avon Valley Lodge. 

This survey is a part of Council's updated Housing and Business Development Capacity Assessment (HBA). An HBA is one way that Councils can monitor and report on urban development and ensure land is zoned appropriately for the future demand and use. The survey will help to provide context and on-ground information about the Business aspect of growth.

A similar survey was completed for the 2022 HBA and Council found the information received very useful for reporting. Hearing directly from business owners ensures business growth and development is accurately provided for in the 2025 version. 

The Workplace Inclusion Barometer is Aotearoa’s first independent, nationwide measure of trust, belonging and inclusion in the workplace. It captures people’s lived experiences, providing insight into what’s working, what’s not, and where change is needed.

If you’re in paid employment, your voice matters. By taking part, you’ll contribute to research that helps organisations benchmark progress, strengthen workplace culture, and design more inclusive policies and practices.

The survey is confidential and open to anyone in paid work across Aotearoa.

Stadium 2000 Trust is looking for a youth board apprentice

 
This is a non-voting, learning role that gives a young person the opportunity to:

·  sit alongside Trustees at Board meetings

·  contribute a youth perspective to strategic discussions

·  learn how governance and decision-making works in practice

This role is designed to support youth leadership development and future governance pathways.

For more information contact: mark@unwinder.nz

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