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Canterbury businesses set to benefit from second Ashburton bridge

Source: Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury welcomes the Government’s confirmation of funding from the NZ Transport Agency and Ashburton District Council for a second Ashburton Bridge, a critical infrastructure project that will enhance resilience and connectivity for Canterbury businesses.
Business Canterbury Chief Executive, Leeann Watson says, “State Highway One through Ashburton is a lifeline for the Canterbury business community and the New Zealand economy.”
“Business Canterbury has been a strong advocate for this project for some time, and we are thrilled to see those efforts, alongside those of local leaders, finally come to fruition.
“A new bridge will strengthen the entire South Island’s supply chain, providing businesses with more reliable transport options and open up new opportunities and the certainty required for growth and development.
“Businesses told us in our latest Quarterly Canterbury Business Survey that they are looking ahead to 2025 with optimism. Many are considering a return to growth, and infrastructure developments like this bring a measure of certainty for their plans.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impacts this project will have on our business community and the broader business environment in the years to come.”
About Business Canterbury
Business Canterbury, formerly Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce, is the largest business support agency in the South Island and advocates on behalf of its members for an environment more favourable to innovation, productivity and sustainable growth.
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GDP decreases 1.0 percent in the September 2024 quarter ? Stats NZ media and information release: Gross domestic product: September 2024 quarter

Source: Statistics New Zealand
GDP decreases 1.0 percent in the September 2024 quarter – 19 December 2024 – New Zealand’s gross domestic product (GDP) fell 1.0 percent in the September 2024 quarter, following a revised 1.1 percent decrease in the June 2024 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

The update to the June 2024 quarter growth rate reflects the incorporation of annual data, a process completed by Stats NZ each October. In this instance, while the June quarter growth rate has been revised downward, the overall level of economic activity has been revised upward over a longer period.

“The structure of the New Zealand economy can change quickly, which is why we update with new data each year,” macroeconomic growth spokesperson Jason Attewell said.

“The data incorporated this year shows stronger growth over the last year, followed by two significant falls in the latest quarters.

“We balance the use of timely data for quarterly GDP estimates with more detailed information to annually update the relevant importance of industries. This approach is in line with international best practice.”

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Weather News – A soggy start to the festive season – MetService

Source: MetService

Covering period of Thursday 19 – Monday 23 December – The countdown to Christmas Day is well and truly on, however, with MetService forecasting a wet start to the Christmas break the festive spirit may be dampened a little over the next four days.

A Heavy Rain Watch for northern Hawke’s Bay and Tairawhiti/Gisborne that was first issued on Monday continues late into Thursday as a risk of downpours and thunderstorms extends into the evening. 

Rain has been almost continually feeding into this area since Tuesday morning due to a large area of low pressure situated out to the northeast of the North Island. Southeasterly winds from this system have been racing through Cook Strait, disrupting flights in Taranaki.

Friday, the last working day of the year for many, brings a shift in the weather. Cold southeasterly winds and wet conditions set in over the eastern South Island as the low pressure sinks southwards. The dry and sunnier spell of weather in the western and northern parts of the country comes to an end with the arrival of a broad band of rain and northerly winds from the Tasman Sea.

MetService Meteorologist Clare O’Connor adds more detail, “Where the northwesterly and southeasterly winds meet over the North Island is an area to approach with caution tomorrow, as the converging air enhances the risk of downpours of rain – and possibly even thunderstorms in these areas. 

For anyone setting out for their Christmas break and travelling through the central and upper North Island tomorrow afternoon and evening, adverse conditions may cause delays and disruptions to travel plans.”

Anyone waiting for a window of ideal travelling weather will be waiting until at least Monday, as the wet weather continues into the weekend for almost the entire country.

“While there will be drier spots through the weekend, rain or showers are expected right across the country at various points of the weekend – make sure you are ready for all conditions, even if you are staying home,” O’Connor says.

The best weather in the lead up to Christmas Day looks to be the two days preceding the holiday, with sunny blue skies and dry days set for most on Monday and Tuesday. 

While there is still almost a week to go to the big day itself, Santa has been advised to pack his wet weather suit for the big journey south, with the outlook indicating a wet Christmas Day for the west of the South Island and potentially the western North Island also.

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Fire Safety – Give the gift of fire safety this Christmas

Source: Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Politics, life plans, the economy – all Christmas lunch conversation starters where the danger needle sits firmly in the extreme segment.
If you’re looking for somewhere to pivot if any of these fraught conversations look set to ignite, Fire and Emergency New Zealand Community Education Manager Tom Ronaldson has the topic for you.
“Adding some fire safety chat to your Christmas lunch conversation list could help you avoid a sticky conversation, and potentially save a life in the process – it’s a win-win,” he says.
“The holiday season is a time when people come together and visit their loved ones, particularly the older members of their family, who, on a more serious note, are particularly vulnerable to the risks of fire.”
Recently completed analysis from Fire and Emergency showed over the last five years, people over the age of 60 represented 55 percent of fatalities in house fires. In many cases they did not have working smoke alarms.
“This is a massive over-representation of older people in fatal fires and it’s something that must change,” Tom Ronaldson says.
“We all need to take ownership of this issue and start having conversations with the older people we know to help prepare them for the risk of fire.
“That can be as simple as asking ‘have you got smoke alarms?’ and then helping them check they are working if they do, or helping install them in every bedroom, hallway and living area if they need assistance.”
Other topics to cover include creating a three-step escape plan, never leaving cooking unattended, keeping clothing or furniture at least a metre from the heater (or fireplace), not overloading multiboards and charging devices safely.
“If you give the gift of fire safety this Christmas it could be the best gift you ever give – the gift of a life saved.”
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Appointments – New Council members appointed to Business Central and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce

Source: Business Central

Business Central is delighted to announce the appointment of four new members to its Council.
The four new board members are:
– Nic Smith, Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Chancellor
– Jenna Raeburn, Wellington Airport GM Corporate Affairs
– Jonno Tulitt, Snorkel New Zealand Managing Director
– Greg Pollock, Agite Consulting – Partner
Mark Oldershaw was elected Business Central Chair and Siah Hwee Ang appointed President of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Current board member Chad Johnston was also reappointed for a two-year term.
Business Central Chair Mark Oldershaw says the new board members bring a wealth of skills and experience:
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Nic, Jenna, Jonno and Greg to our existing Business Central board.
“They represent some of the most important industries and employers in our region, and they bring with them a unique range of expertise in governance, infrastructure, education, tourism, commerce, policy and manufacturing – to name but a few of their contributions.
“Attracting governors of this quality and calibre is a reflection of the work of the organisation to deliver for members in recent years,” says Oldershaw.
Chief Executive Simon Arcus says: “The new board will assist in our mission to assist businesses big and small, transforming urban and rural economies to enhance prosperity for all.
“The new Council has the skills, insights and experience to give powerful support to the region’s business community. I look forward to working with them in the year ahead,” Arcus says.
About Business Central
Business Central is the largest business membership organisation in Central New Zealand, representing more than 3500 businesses across the lower North Island and Nelson and providing a voice to many thousands of stakeholders in business. It is part of the BusinessNZ Network, alongside the EMA, Business Canterbury and Business South.
The organisation supports a number of regional business membership groups – Business Central, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Porirua Chamber of Commerce and ExportNZ (Central, Hawke’s Bay, and Wellington).
As per the organisation’s constitution, composition of the board is equally split between members of Business Central and the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.
More information on the new board members is available below
New Council Member Profiles
Nic Smith (Wellington Chamber)
Professor Nic Smith is Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University of Wellington. He joined VUW in January 2023 after holding professorial appointments as the Provost at Queensland University of Technology, Dean of Engineering at the University of Auckland, Head of Biomedical Engineering at King’s College London, and Professor of Computational Physiology at the University of Oxford.
In addition to these academic leadership roles, Nic has been a director for Auckland Univservices Limited and Chaired the Business Development and Commercialisation Board for Queensland University of Technology. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Directors and a fellow of the New Zealand Royal Society and Engineering New Zealand.
Jenna Raeburn (Wellington Chamber)
Jenna Raeburn is GM Corporate Affairs at Wellington Airport. Jenna joined the Wellington Airport team in 2019 and is primarily responsible for regulatory and legal compliance, government and community relations, communications and sustainability.
Her background is in politics with a foundation in law and economics. She also has extensive government relations experience across a range of sectors including transport, technology, e-commerce and infrastructure.
Jonathan (Jonno) Tulitt (Business Central)
Jonno Tulitt is Managing Director of Snorkel New Zealand, which was up until recently manufacturing elevated work platforms, but has transitioned to solely distributing and supporting Snorkel products within New Zealand. Jonno currently serves on the Snorkel Board and is a Board Member of the Elevated Work Platform Association (EWPA) of New Zealand.
Jonno started his career in the Royal New Zealand Airforce as a teenager, training and qualifying as an Armament Technician. Following the RNZAF, Jonno moved into the rail sector, first in London as an Operations and Depot Manager, then returning to New Zealand to manage rail operations in Auckland and Wellington. Jonno is excited to share his knowledge of operations and business strategy with the Business Central Council and further complement the great work that is already being undertaken.
Greg Pollock (Wellington Chamber)
Greg Pollock has 30 years’ experience in business and leadership roles. He currently runs Agite Consulting in Wellington, a consulting business which specialises in transport, infrastructure and public policy practice and advises clients on how to deliver critical urban development and infrastructure projects.
Greg has had several CEO and C-suite roles in large organisations over the last 12 years, including in professional services and public transport operations. He lives in Wellington and is keen to see a revival in the economic fortunes of the lower North Island and believes the business community has a critical role in leading that revival. 
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UNICEF: Treaty Principles Bill a threat to the rights of children in Aotearoa

Source: UNICEF Aotearoa NZ

The Treaty Principles Bill poses a threat to the rights of tamariki and should not progress, says UNICEF Aotearoa. The Bill undermines the protections children are entitled to under Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) – both of which the Government is obligated to uphold.
UNICEF Aotearoa has published its submission on the Bill today and is urging others to make submissions before the 7th of January deadline.
The UNCRC protects a child’s right to be protected from discrimination, for their best interests to foremost in decision-making, for their voice to be heard, and for them to be free to enjoy their indigenous culture. Each of these rights would be undermined by the proposed legislation.
Teresa Tepania-Ashton, Director of Advocacy at UNICEF Aotearoa, says it is critical that New Zealanders who care about children participate in the submissions process and identify the risk to the rights of tamariki.
“The Treaty Principles Bill must be stopped in its tracks for the sake of our children. Now is the time for advocates for children across the motu to make their voices heard by participating in the submissions process, taking a stand for tamariki and their rights.
“The Bill purports to be a step towards equality, but it is a step backwards – especially for our children. True equity for tamariki will only be achieved when Te Tiriti o Waitangi is honoured in full. By respecting Te Tiriti, we lay the foundation for a society where all tamariki-Māori and non-Māori alike-can realise their full rights and potential. That is the future that our children deserve,” says Tepania-Ashton.
UNICEF Aotearoa CEO Michelle Sharp agrees that the only way forward for Aotearoa’s children is to uphold Te Tiriti and quash the proposed Bill. She says, “Tamariki are taonga. The proposed Bill undermines the very concept of protecting taonga, and that should be cause for concern for anyone who cares about our children.
“Rangatahi played a leadership role in the largest hikoi in our history, turning out in the thousands against this Bill. Tamariki held their parents’ hands as they marched to Parliament in protest. The young people of Aotearoa have made their voices heard, and it is up to us to amplify their call: this Bill has no place here.”
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Economy – Winding back the clock. The Kiwi economy recorded the weakest 6month period since 1991 (excluding covid) – Kiwibank

Source: Kiwibank
Kiwibank Economics – The Kiwi economy contracted a hefty 1% over the September 2024 quarter. And last quarter’s -0.2% decline was revised to a significantly weaker 1.1%. 
Compared to the RBNZ’s and market consensus of another -0.2% contraction, or a -0.3% contraction that we had expected to see, the 1% fall in the economy may seem to set off immediate alarm bells. 
But reader beware the larger falls have still not changed the overall end size of the economy. 
Methodological changes from StatsNZ in their GDP calculation have seen historical prints revised upwards over a longer period in previous quarters. Which has now balanced out the bigger falls in the June and September 2024 quarters seen today. 
Essentially, the end point of the economy is not too different from what was originally published in June. 
But the path in getting there has changed. The economy has been stronger than originally thought in the earlier parts of the past year. And instead, we are now facing much sharper declines. 
It’s a snowball effect. And overall, the actual size of the economy is still 0.4% larger than what was published for the June 2024 quarter off the back of the higher revisions prior to Q2.

Now that’s not to say that the economy is in a better place. Excluding covid periods, the past 6 months have been the weakest 6month period since June 1991. And 11 of the 16 industries reported declines over the September 2024 quarter. 

At the same time things on a per capita basis are still deteriorating despite a significant cooling in net migration. On a per person basis, GDP contracted 1.2%. While on an annual basis the per capita size of the economy is 2.7% smaller.  

The light at the end of the tunnel is upon us. The September quarter should mark the final quarter of the economy in decline for this cycle. 

The additional 100bps of cuts that took place over the December quarter should provide some relief to the Kiwi economy in the current quarter. And with further cuts to come, 2025 should be a much better year. 
High interest rates have hurt, and the economy demands more easing. We expect another 125bps of rate cuts to come, to return policy settings to more neutral levels.
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More construction lives will be saved by Govt mental health funding boost

Source: MATES in Construction

The lives of more construction workers will be saved as a result of the Government boosting funding for mental health and suicide prevention charity MATES in Construction New Zealand.
MATES in Construction is delighted to have secured new funding, following a successful application to the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund.
“MATES saves lives so receiving this funding will help us to continue and expand our valuable work of raising awareness of mental health and ensuring workers can identify when they or their mates might be doing it tough,” said MATES Chief Executive John Chapman.
Construction sector workers are seven times more likely to die from suicide than from an accident on a construction site. We lose more than one construction worker a week to suicide, one of the highest of any industry group. Right now, the economic downturn is impacting the sector, putting even more pressure on the workforce.
“This is a time when mental health support is needed more than ever so securing this funding will build on our success to date. Any investment in what we do has huge payoffs for our workers, their whānau and communities, the health system, and the economy.”
The organisation partners with industry and government to provide mental health support through awareness and suicide prevention education delivered on construction sites and runs a 24/7 Helpline. It helps those identified as at risk with timely, 1:1 Case Management support and connects them to ongoing formal support if required.
Funding provided through the Innovation Fund will support MATES to expand further into the regions. Funding will also support new training programmes in 2025 that have been requested by the industry.
Workers survey underlines success
Since inception in 2019 MATES has delivered over 4,500 training courses to more than 70,000 workers at thousands of construction sites across New Zealand.
“We are seeing a real difference in workers’ understanding of how to support their mental health, how they can identify a mate struggling and knowing how to seek help themselves when facing their own challenges.”
The latest MATES Reach and Impact Report surveyed 8000 workers who have participated in a MATES training in 2024. It shows how MATES programmes are helping to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and increase suicide prevention literacy among workers. For example, pre- to post-training surveys showed:
● Confidence in noticing a colleague struggling rose from 47% to 81%
● Confidence in connecting colleagues to help rose from 66% to 94%
● Awareness of where to seek help rose from 73% to 94%
“Every day we are making a difference to the lives of construction workers so this funding will help expand our successful programmes, reach more parts of the industry across the country and ensure more workers get the help they need when they need it,” said John Chapman.
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Local News – Final Porirua Writers’ Walk sculpture unveiled

Source: Porirua City Council

The fifth and final sculpture of the Porirua Writers’ Walk was unveiled on the weekend, acknowledging award-winning author Elizabeth Knox.
The series of artworks honouring different writers with strong links to Porirua has been made possible due to fundraising carried out by the Porirua Community Arts Panel (PCA). Their objective is to encourage and promote the practice and appreciation of all art and cultural forms in Porirua City.
The latest sculpture, designed by Wellington artist Keri-Mei Zagrobelna, represents a swan and is made from aluminium and zinc.
Knox spent 12 years living in Paremata and watched Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour in all its moods as she travelled back and forth on the train to school in Tawa.
Along with the sculpture, words from Knox’s 1992 novel Treasure are featured in the installation. The passage mentions Pāuatahanui Inlet directly, which connects the sculpture to its location adjacent to the harbour.
Sculpture artist Zagrobelna lived in Porirua as a teenager and studied at Whitireia’s Porirua Campus. Knox chose Zagrobelna to create the sculpture as they already knew each other, and she wanted someone to represent her who she had a close relationship with.
The newest artwork can be found along the Harbourside Walkway, near the Pirate’s Cove mini golf.
Porirua City Council supports the Writers’ Walk by providing land for the sculptures and project managing the initiative. Council also carries out ongoing management and maintenance of the sculptures.
Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says the fifth and final sculpture of the Writers’ Walk represents a long-running partnership between the PCA and Porirua City.
“We are lucky to have groups such as the PCA who work hard to fundraise to make beautiful works of art such as these accessible for the people of Porirua.
“The Writers’ Walk really adds to the rich experience of public art we have in this city, and educates both residents and visitors about well-known authors, poets and playwrights who have meaningful connections with Porirua.”
The first sculpture of the Writers’ Walk was installed at the corner of Wi Neera Drive and Titahi Bay Rd in 2015. Created in the shape of a pou, it commemorates the wordsmith Te Rangihaeata.
Others acknowledged with sculptures on the walk are local writer Patricia Grace, author and historian Michael King and poet, playwright and novelist Alistair Te Ariki Campbell.
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Disaster Assistance – RNZAF continues more flights to support Vanuatu response

Source: New Zealand Defence Force
 
A Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J-30 Hercules left at first light today and has arrived in Port Vila, with search and rescue equipment and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies following this week’s earthquake.
 
Also on board were Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade consular staff and six New Zealand Defence Force personnel, including medics and staff, who will assist with planning the emergency response and evacuation of New Zealanders.
 
Meanwhile, a second RNZAF C-130H Hercules has landed in Noumea to recover urban search and rescue members and equipment and take them to Vanuatu, after the earlier C-130H aircraft they were on last night diverted to New Caledonia following an engine fire warning indication.
 
The C-130H in Noumea will be repaired today with parts taken up on the recovery aircraft.
 
An RNZAF P-8A Poseidon is also airborne today, conducting another surveillance flight over Vanuatu including outlying areas to provide imagery for damage assessments.
 
This afternoon, an RNZAF Boeing 757 will depart RNZAF Base Auckland to transport more humanitarian assistance and disaster relief stores to Vanuatu and enable evacuations.