Livestreams

We have plenty of resources to help you at this time as you navigate your business through the implications of Covid-19.
With help from our partners and Chamber members, we are bringing you regular livestreams to help businesses navigate the impacts of Covid-19.

So far we’ve covered a range of topics including employers good faith obligations, commercial lease contracts, tax obligations, the wage subsidy and much more. See specialist advice from our partners here.

Livestream Replays

NZ Immigration Update

Expiring visas and border closures pose many problems for NZ employers who rely on migrant workers. Get the latest information and policy updates here.

This livestream took place on 14 July 2020.

How to Buy Property in Today's Market

Advice and tips on buying property post-covid. Find out what the market is doing and how to get your offer accepted from a panel of local experts.

This livestream took place on 11 June 2020.

Building and Developing Skills for your Workforce

Tips and hints on how to get tasks completed by your team members and being prepared for new challenges post-covid.

This livestream took place on 10 June 2020.

Improving Sales in a Tough Environment

Advice and tips on how to improve sales in a difficult economy, from Kat Soper from The Helpful Academy.

This livestream took place on 9 June 2020.

Cashflow Advice and Help for Businesses

Platinum Partners Kendons share tips with us on the seven causes of poor cashflow, the importance of cashflow forecasting and cashflow support available – that many businesses don’t know about.

This livestream took place on 26 May.

Post Budget Briefing with the Minister of Finance, Hon Grant Robertson

This is our first Political Series Breakfast of the year, sponsored by our Platinum Partners, Gibson Sheat. Due to Covid-19, this event takes place online.

In this livestream from 21 May, the Minister provides us with an overview of the Budget and the Government’s plans for bringing New Zealand out of the Covid19 crisis.

Business Recovery

In this livestream replay, we catch up with Chris Bishop, MP for Hutt South. Chris tells us what he’s seeing in the local business community and updates us on business recovery and shovel ready projects.

Get Your Business Seen - Part II

James Lamb from Hutt City Council shares tips on how to get your message out there and be visible online to your customers. This livestream replay is full of good advice for low cost and even free ways to get online exposure for your business.

BNZ Technology Series

In our first BNZ Technology Series of 2020, Helen Down, CEO of Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, talks with two local businesses; Myriad Engineering and Spiral Software (developer of Spinnaker, being used worldwide in Covid-19 clinical trials). Find out what these local companies are up to and how each are navigating the impacts of Covid-19 in their own ways.

What is Ahead for You and the Way Forward

June Ranson from Woburn International explains the new challenges for hiring migrants when New Zealanders do not have the required skills. June outlines the impact on your business of the new Immigration Bill being rushed through Parliament and explains how you can retain your migrants when their visas are expiring. This livestream was presented on 12 May.

The Hutt Valley Covid-19 Business Response Team

Hear from our CEO, Helen Down with special guests Upper Hutt City Council Mayor, Wayne Guppy and Hutt City Council Mayor, Campbell Barry. Get the latest information directly from these key local leaders. They share what they are doing in response to Covid-19 to support the local business community. A second livestream features CEO Helen Down, Hutt City Council Mayor Campbell Barry and Meka Whaitiri MP. These livestreams were presented on 6 and 8 May.

All About Packaging

Solutions to operating within Covid-19 guidelines. Hear from our panel of experts from Packaging Products, Ayrpak and Upper Hutt City Council. Sustainable packaging options and food and non-food packaging solutions are all covered.

This livestream was presented on 7 May.

Get Your Business Seen - Part I

In ‘Lockdown Basics for Online Retailing and Digital Marketing’, Richard from Synthesis Marketing offers help and guidance to those who have just moved into the unfamiliar territory of the digital world.

This livestream was presented on 6 May.

Employment Relations Update

Silver Partner, Tony McKone from McKone Consultancy gives an update on the latest employment matters. Tony discusses what constitutes “abandonment of the job”, how to re-organise your workforce when there is limited work and much more in this informative livestream replay.

This livestream was presented on 5 May.

Building Resilience and Adapting to Change

Business owners have been facing an increasing amount of pressure. A timely reminder to look after ourselves, with this livestream replay from our Bronze Partner, Anna McKinlay. Anna delivers some useful and practical step-by-step tips on managing stress while adapting to change.

This livestream was presented on 30 April.

Tax Loss Carry Back Scheme

Susan Robertson from Kendons (our Platinum Partner) shares her expertise with us on the latest tax changes from the Government. Additional significant changes have been made to the tax system to assist businesses manage the impact of Covid-19.

This livestream was presented on 29 April.

Commercial Lease Contracts

Rhys Williams from our Platinum Partners, Gibson Sheat Lawyers, provides an update on commercial leases. Rhys gives guidance on what is already happening in the market in terms of agreements being reached on what is a fair reduction and covers dispute options where agreement cannot be reached.

This livestream was presented on 28 April.

Keeping Workplaces Sterile

Ross Craig from Fabricare Floorcare explains what businesses need to do to keep their workplaces sterile from Covid-19. He shares information on suitable cleaning agents, what to look for in a commercial cleaning company and the latest information and best practices on cleaning to protect against Covid-19.

This livestream was presented on 23 April.

Funerals At Alert Level 3

Our Platinum Partners Gee & Hickton joined us to talk about the changes in restrictions for funerals under Alert Level 3.

This livestream took place on 22 April.

Business Finance Guarantee Scheme

Our Platinum Partners, Phil Patterson from BNZ explained the Government’s Business Finance Guarantee Scheme, covering the eligibility criteria and the different funding options.

This livestream was presented on 17 April.

Business Confidence

Helen Down, CEO of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce and Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, discuss the results of the March 2020 Business Confidence Survey.

This livestream was presented on 16 April.

Kiwisaver

How is your Kiwisaver balance being affected by the current Covid-19 crisis? Hayley Robertson from Taimana Wealth explains what’s happening at the moment with Kiwisaver, what your options are and the implications of early withdrawal.

This livestream was presented on 15 April.

Online Messaging

Is your business open or on pause right now? Perhaps it’s somewhere in between? It’s easy to assume people automatically know whether you’re operating right now, but in what capacity? Are you communicating this clearly?

This livestream was presented on 14 April.

Funded Business Coaching

Hear about the Government’s scheme for eligible businesses to receive fully funded 1:1 business advice to help you through the Covid-19 crisis.

This livestream was presented on 9 April by Red Hot Business Coaching & Consulting (Bronze partner of the Hutt Valley Chamber Of Commerce).

Mortgage Holidays

Our SIlver Partner, NZHL Home Loans | Insurance explains:

  • What the mortgage holiday is
  • Criteria for application
  • Your options – mortgage holiday versus interest only
  • How your loan payments will change after the mortgage holiday

The mortgage holiday livestream is from 31 March and you can also view a budgeting tips livestream from 22 April.

Legal Contracts

Find out the implications of legal contracts during lockdown including:

  • Rents
  • Commercial leases
  • Construction contracts

These livestreams were presented by our Platinum Partners, Gibson Sheat Lawyers on 30 March and 6 April. Keep up with other legal matters on their regularly updated blogs page.

Remote Working

The team at Layer3 provided technical support to help business people working from home. The topics they covered were wide ranging including improving wifi performance, tips and help with computer security and much more. They clarified what essential IT services are during the Level 4 lockdown and answered questions from local business people.

There are two livestream replays here, from 7 April and 15 April.

Funerals During Lockdown
  • Can you still hold a funeral during lockdown?
  • Who can attend?
  • What are the latest changes from Ministry of Health?
  • How do things change when we go into Alert Level 3?

This livestream was presented by our Platinum Partner, Gee & Hickton, on 7 April.

Migrant Workers

As an employer:

  • What are your responsibilities to your migrant workers at this time?
  • How does the wage subsidy scheme apply to you?
  • Have your questions answered around matters to do with immigration and migrant workers.

This livestream was presented by June Ranson of Woburn International, our Bronze Partner, on 1 April. See other immigration topics as well, on their blog.

Employment Law

Get help and advice on issues such as:

  • Employers good faith obligations
  • The wage subsidy
  • Leave entitlements
  • Downsizing
  • The new minimum wage increase.

This livestream was presented by our Silver Partner, Tony McKone from McKone Consultancy, on 31 March. You can read a number of blogs on other employment matters as well, on their regularly updated blogs page.

Questions On Tax Obligations

Susan Robertson from Kendons, covers:

  • Meeting tax obligations during lockdown
  • Tax changes that were brought in at the same time as the wage subsidy
  • Tax relief.

This livestream was presented by our Platinum Partner, Kendons, on 2 April.

Business Training

We have many online training courses available through our extensive external network of providers. Learn Microsoft Excel, Adobe InDesign or Photoshop, time management, Power BI and much more. Take a look through the list of courses here.

Additional Resources

Access additional help and guidance here, from help with working from home, navigating your business through Covid-19, staying fit while in lockdown, and more.