16 April 2025
Chamber Link – April 2025
Kia ora and welcome to the April edition of Chamberlink.
This month we’ve been proud to spotlight some of the incredible innovation and development happening right here in Southland.
We recently hosted two events showcasing the Datagrid NZ project, which aims to open the country’s most significant data centre by 2028 in Makarewa. The first event brought together our construction and infrastructure sectors, offering insight into the build timeline, scope, and the exciting opportunities available for local contractors and suppliers.
The second event, part of a broader showcase of Southland’s most transformative projects, featured Fonterra’s UHT Plant, the growing aquaculture industry, and the Datagrid development. These projects, along with NES’s announcement last week of the region’s first solar farm, are a powerful reflection of the region’s future-focused energy, and the Chamber is committed to ensuring our members can engage with the opportunities they create.
It was also encouraging to see the recent GDP numbers, which showed a 0.7% increase in national economic activity over the final quarter of 2024 — a strong sign of momentum that mirrors the sentiment in our latest Business Confidence Survey. A net 50% of local businesses feel more optimistic about their financial outlook, and 67% plan to invest in property, plant, and equipment this year.
However, it’s clear that consumer confidence and demand — still the top concern for 48% of businesses — remain a barrier to unlocking full investment potential. While many are positioning themselves for growth, conditions must stabilise further before all businesses feel ready to commit.
At the end of March, I travelled to Auckland to represent your interests at a meeting of the Small Business Advisory Group with Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Hon. Chris Penk. This session was focused on providing direct feedback on the Government’s Going for Growth plan, with particular attention to the needs of small businesses. It was a valuable opportunity to ensure Southland voices were heard.
We’re also excited to introduce our 2025/26 Chamber Board, featuring a strong mix of fresh talent and experienced leadership. Congratulations to Breidi McStay, who makes history as the first intern board member elected to a full term, and Helen Robinson, re-elected for another year of outstanding contribution.
We also welcome Courtney Heke-McColgan as Māori Business Representative and Jaime McNaught as our new Intern Board Member. Together, they will help lead the Chamber into our next strategic phase. Read the full announcement here.
A huge thank you as well to Community Trust South for their continued support, enabling us to deliver ten additional two-hour workshops tailored for the not-for-profit sector. These are vital for capacity-building and leadership in our community — keep an eye on our training calendar for dates and details.
Finally, a heads-up that our Chamber office will be closed between Easter and Anzac Day to give our hardworking team a chance to recharge. We’ll return refreshed and ready to support you in what’s shaping up to be an exciting quarter ahead.
To read this months edition of Chamber Link, click here.
Ngā mihi nui,
Sheree Carey
Chamber Link April 2025
