Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce

19/06/2026

Rooms like yesterday's don't happen by accident.

Kim Schofield, Kylie Taylor, and Christine Johnston each brought something different to the stage - but the energy in the room at Boulcott Farm was all its own.

Thanks to everyone who came out. See you at the next one. 🙌

19/06/2026

This hit us right in the heart. 💛

Lynda and the team at Alicetown Bakery are about to face roadworks on both access roads - simultaneously - for months... And they need your support.

If you've ever grabbed a loaf, a pastry, or just walked past and thought "I keep meaning to go in there" - now's the time. Don't let a bit of orange cone stop you from supporting one of Lower Hutt's hidden gems.

31A Railway Avenue, Alicetown. Go find it. It's worth it.

Kia Ora my Loaves

Our little bakery in Alicetown received devastating news today. We had a visit today from council (not sure if it was Local or Regional).

I wasn’t there as I had a client meeting.

We have major roadworks hitting up on both access roads leading to our bakery. Our physical address is Address 31A Railway Avenue, access from 6 Aglionby Street and Marsden Street.

We already have road works on Marsden Street for the next 5 months. The lead contractor is Wellington Electricity.

Now in July we will have major roadworks in Aglionby Street. The lead contractor is Wellington Water. This really is the final nail in the coffin for my bakery as a retail site.

When my team member was asked what the impact might be l, their response was “This will kill us”. My team member didn’t think that the council engagement team were particularly interested with our situation, it was simply a tick box ✅ exercise.

I understand the need to infrastructure projects, however killing both roads kills us. Not to mention the lack of parking we already have. Luckily I always keep our carpark directly outside the bakery free for my customers.

I also understand that our bakery is literally a hole in the wall. I like to think we are a hidden gem full is soul and food made with love.

People avoid roadworks, I know this because I do. When the going gets tough you keep on driving. My sadness is overwhelming, we try our very best every day and everything just go a whole lot harder.

I’m a proud woman and it is difficult for me to ask for help. So I’m simply going to ask for you to support local and support all the small businesses in our streets.

Lynda

19/06/2026

We've posted a lot about the Hutt Valley Manufacturing & Innovation Expo - and here's one final one to close it out properly. 🎬

Riddle Media have just dropped the official video from the day, and it's a great watch. Hit play and relive it.

One last thank you to Centreport for sponsoring and to our speakers - Peter Chrisp, Rod Badcock, Sara Meymand, Ian Walsh, Rob McKenzie-Carroll, Minister Cameron Brewer, and Gagau Annandale-Stone.

And to every exhibitor who showed up and showed out:

AROTEC Diagnostics Limited, Wellington Refrigeration, Steel E.D. & Patton, JT Group, Pertronic Industries Limited, NZ Tube Mills, Uniplas, Times-7, Mexicano, Paihau-Robinson Research Institute, Fraser Engineering Group, Blue Star New Zealand, DATUM Machines Ltd, Carnmore Hotel Lower Hutt, IΤ Works - Managed IT, Cloud and Voice, Ministry of Social Development NZ - ChamberWorks, The Better SMB, Clarity Insurance, and Arcanum AI.

The Hutt Valley is in good hands.

17/06/2026

Here's a free hour that could change how your business thinks about energy.

On Thursday 2 July, Electrify The Hutt is bringing together experts from EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority), Northstar Technical Services Ltd, and Kiwibank to break down commercial electrification in plain language. No jargon, no pressure, just the information you need to make a smart decision for your business.

Doors open at 8:00am at the Upper Hutt Cossie Club. Free to attend.

Grab a spot: bit.ly/4nT80T3

15/06/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Friday for our Post-Budget Briefing at Boulcott's Farm Heritage Golf Course!

Thank you to Hon Nicola Willis, Minister of Finance, Economic Growth and Social Investment, and Hon Chris Bishop, Attorney-General and Minister for Housing, Infrastructure, RMA Reform, Transport and Associate Minister of Finance, for joining us for an exclusive briefing following Budget 2026.

Ministers Willis and Bishop shared insights into the Government's economic outlook, key Budget announcements, and the implications for businesses, investment, infrastructure, workforce development and growth across our region.

A big thank you to our Political Series sponsor, Gibson Sheat Lawyers, for making this event possible, and to all the business and community leaders who attended, asked questions and engaged in the discussion.

14/06/2026

18 years.

Hundreds of businesses recognised.

A packed event centre, every time.

The 2026 2degrees Wellington Business Excellence Awards open this July.

18 years of proof that this region builds extraordinary things. This year - is your business part of that story?

14/06/2026

Thanks to everyone who came along last Thursday to our Connect Series event at The Grasslands, Silverstream Retreat!

It was a great evening of drinks, conversation and networking with local business leaders from across the Hutt Valley. A big thank you to Guildford Timber Company for sponsoring the evening and sharing details on the proposed Silverstream Forest Development — a major project that could bring up to 2,000 new homes to the region over the next 15+ years.

For local businesses, this means real opportunity: an estimated $480 million staying in the Hutt Valley, around 200 permanent construction jobs, and a long-term pipeline of work for trades, suppliers and service providers.

Great connections made, great conversations had. Keep an eye out for our next Connect Series event!

11/06/2026

Is your team working hard but not improving? That's a leadership problem, and it's fixable.

Darcy Mellsop has spent 20 years helping organisations cut through inefficiency and build teams that genuinely get better over time. In this three-hour online workshop he'll show you exactly how to make that happen in yours, including how AI can accelerate the process.

Every attendee also gets a 200-page extract from Darcy's book and ongoing access to Ci Lab's AI tool. Not bad for a Wednesday morning.

📅 Wednesday 24 June, 9:00am. Online. $300 + GST. Funding may be available through the Regional Business Partner Network.

Secure your place: bit.ly/4u3J4d8

11/06/2026

If your team has shown up for each other this year - if you've grown through something hard, built something new, or just quietly done excellent work - pay attention.

The 2026 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards are back and entries open in July.

Awards designed for all businesses. Not just the biggest businesses or loudest. For the ones doing good mahi and ready to own it.

Keep your eyes peeled for more info.

10/06/2026

What does it take to build a business community that actually works?

Christine Johnston has spent 25 years figuring that out — across governance, executive leadership, business advocacy, retail, and commercial sectors.

As CEO of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, she's in the business of helping other businesses grow. Before that, she was General Manager of the BusinessNZ Network, working with five regional organisations representing more than 76,000 businesses nationwide.

She knows what connects thriving enterprises. She knows what holds them back. And she knows how to build the networks and communities that make a real difference.

At our event on Thursday 18th June, Christine will be sharing her perspective on local business growth, enterprise networks, and what resilient commercial communities actually look like in practice.

📍 Boulcott Farm Heritage Golf Course
🕤 9:30–11:30am
🎟️ $30 Members | $40 Non-Members

Register here → https://bit.ly/4oewqGQ