Issuu

STRONG Strong business. Strong community. Strong region.

SPRING 2026

LEADING WITH

Strength, identity, and purpose See the speaker spotlights and what’s on the agenda for the Inspiring Women conference, p 6-7

ALSO INSIDE: The research leading the next generation of skincare Business Award applications open | How hopefulness fuels growth

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Grow your business, not your costs.

With great value mobile and broadband plans. Explore exclusive Business Mobile and Broadband deals for Chamber members. Visit 2degrees.nz/business/nz-chamber or get in touch with Gareth Richardson: 022 200 0122 gareth.richardson@2degrees.nz

MC20498A

Switch telco. Save money. Get to Business. T&Cs apply. 2

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Contents

Real conversations. Practical ideas. Meaningful connections.

Featured Articles 04

From the CEO

Is This Your Year?

Inspiring Women

Lighting Up for a Cause

A Home for Our Blue Economy

Creating Opportunities for Connection

Workflows & Wi-Fi

Giving your Career Room to Grow

Recognising Nelson’s Strengths

Trust Becomes a Premium

Being Hopeful

Next Generation Skincare Ingredients

Shownotes

Reinforcing the Value of Local Banking

Is Your Tech Spend Showing up on the P&L?

Go Accounting

Mediaworks

Upcoming Events

Oh Snap! Photos

Strong Business Mentoring

Fundraise with Monopoly

Meet our Members

Member Benefits

For enquiries, please contact: 322 Hardy Street, Nelson 7040 03 548 1363 | www.commerce.org.nz Chair: Venus Guy | Deputy Chair: Manoli Aerakis Board Members: Peter Pattullo, Sharon McGuire, Lee Wood, Alfredo Puche, Richard Butler, and Danielle Martel. Editor: Britt Coker | Publication Design: Tizza Design STRONG MAGAZINE

FROM THE CEO

Kia ora There’s a sense of momentum running through this edition of STRONG and I think that reflects what we’re seeing across Nelson Tasman. Despite an operating environment that continues to challenge businesses, there is plenty happening that gives us reason for confidence. Across these pages you’ll find stories of investment, innovation and businesses looking ahead: from the growing blue economy and the Blue House Innovation Hub, to new technology at Port Nelson, international research at Cawthron, and businesses continuing to invest in their people, productivity and future. It’s also a reminder of just how much capability we have in this region. We may be relatively small, but Nelson Tasman businesses, researchers and entrepreneurs consistently punch above their weight. November’s General Election makes the next few months particularly important for the Chamber. Advocacy is a fundamental part of our role, and elections provide an opportunity to make sure the issues that matter to our business community are understood by those seeking to represent us. We’ll continue engaging with candidates and political parties across the spectrum, advocating for the conditions businesses need to invest and grow - including infrastructure, skills, productivity, sensible regulation and 4

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"It’s also a reminder of just how much capability we have in this region." policies that recognise the contribution strong regional economies make to New Zealand. Our Last Chance Nelson Candidate Debate on 29 October will also give members the opportunity to hear directly from candidates before heading to the polls. Alongside advocacy, we continue to evolve what Chamber membership looks like. Our new Young Chamber and Alumni memberships recognise that being part of a strong business community isn’t confined to one particular stage of your career. Ultimately, that connection is what the Chamber is about: bringing people together, championing our region and helping create the environment in which good businesses and good ideas - can thrive. Ngã mihi,

AliBoswijk Chief Executive Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce

IS THIS

your year?

Applications now open

Applications are now open for the 37th Nelson Pine Industries Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

AWARD CATEGORIES

KEY DATES

• Large Business

Entries Close: Oct 12th

• • • • • •

Medium Business Small Business Start-up Business Community Impact Innovative Business Young Business Leader

Announced: End of Oct Awards Night: Feb 26th

APPLY NOW

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Real conversations. Practical ideas. Meaningful connections. 22–23 October 2026 | Trafalgar Centre, Nelson A boutique women’s leadership conference for women who want more than just inspiration. Explore leadership, confidence, ambition and the realities behind success through honest conversations, practical insights and powerful connections that last long after the conference ends.

GET TICKETS

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MIHI / WELCOME Livia Esterhazy (Event MC), Melisa Kappely (Intepeople | Brannigans), Ali Boswijk (Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce)

GROWING WITH PURPOSE Hannah Hardy-Jones (Contented)

WĀHINE TOA: LEADING WITH STRENGTH, IDENTITY & PURPOSE Olivia Hall (Executive Leadership & Governance), Kerensa Johnston (Lawyer), Renee Thomas (Tasman District Council)

UNCONFERENCE SESSION Led by May Miller-Dawkins (PRISM)

TAKING THE BRAVE STEP Sarah Hedger (Yum Granola), Nikki Neate (Sublime Coffee), Bonnie Slade (NaturKidz)

LEADING WITH AN EDGE Gina Dellabarca (NBS)

BUILDING QUEENS Rachel Taulelei (Founder, Owner, Director)

LEADING FROM WITHIN: NAVIGATING THE CORPORATE WORLD Nikki Dines (Air NZ), Aimee McManon (Pic’s Peanut Butter), Belinda van Eindhoven (Westpac NZ)

ONE OF THE BOYS Vanessa Anderson (Engineer), Sally Gepp (Barrister), Tendy Cooper (Builder)

STAYING TRUE: BUILDING EXCELLENCE WITHOUT COMPROMISE Monique Fiso (Chef, Writer, Entrepreneur)

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Lighting up for a cause that matters

This Christmas, your business is invited to bring its creativity, team spirit, and community pride to one of the region's most visible festive fundraisers: the Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance.

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he idea is simple. Sponsor a Christmas tree, gather your team, and transform it into a display that captures your business, your people and your connection to Nelson Tasman. The trees will brighten the airport terminal for six weeks during the busy Christmas and New Year travel period, when around 100,000 passengers are expected to pass through.

"Nelson Tasman Hospice must raise more than $4 million from the community every year to continue its services.”

It’s a rare chance to showcase your brand in a playful, memorable way while supporting Nelson Tasman Hospice. Nelson Tasman Hospice provides free specialist palliative care to more than 210 people and their whānau each month and must raise more than $4 million from the community every year to continue its services. The airport campaign has raised $125,000 for hospice since it began three years ago. Plus, with the help of our generous business community, it has created a much-loved experience for travellers and locals, filling the terminal with colour, stories and plenty of friendly competition. Decorating day is a great team-building opportunity, bringing colleagues together away from the usual routines. Your tree can be heartfelt, humorous or wonderfully inventive. Previous entries have featured everything from hi-vis bows and toy trucks to potato baubles and a digital tree topper. Dame Suzie Moncrieff, founder of World of WearableArt, will select the Overall Winner, while travellers vote for the People’s Choice. Families can also join the fun through the Great Bauble Hunt. Nelson Airport Trees of Remembrance is a chance to celebrate local enterprise and stand alongside other businesses backing a vital community service. Tree numbers are limited. Get in touch with Ana Fierek, ana.fierek@nelsonhospice.org. nz, to learn more and help make the 2026 display the biggest, brightest, most generous yet. STRONG MAGAZINE

A home for our blue economy Creating a physical home for opportunity

elson Tasman has long had the ingredients of a strong blue economy: world-class marine science, aquaculture, seafood, engineering, technology, manufacturing, skilled people and established businesses working across the sector. Together, those strengths make Nelson Tasman the centre of New Zealand’s blue economy, and the Blue House Innovation Hub is creating a physical home for the opportunity that brings. Established through the support of NRDA, Westpac, Kernohan and Moananui, Blue

House was designed as a place where businesses, founders, researchers and industry can connect, work alongside each other and turn good conversations into practical opportunities. And in its first three months, we are already seeing that happen. More than 300 unique visitors have come through Blue House for meetings, events, introductions, workshops and collaboration. Three early-stage blue economy ventures are now based in the building, bringing founders and new ideas into the heart of Nelson’s established marine sector. One of the strongest signals of what this ecosystem can attract is Ocean Impact Organisation Aotearoa’s decision to establish a significant presence here as it launches BlueStart Aotearoa. Beginning this year, BlueStart will deliver both an incubator and accelerator programme over the next two years, supporting founders and businesses developing solutions for the ocean economy. For Nelson Tasman, that creates an exciting opportunity. Founders coming through BlueStart will be able to connect into the depth of industry experience, research

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capability, infrastructure and networks that already exist here, while local businesses gain new opportunities to engage with emerging technologies, ventures and ideas. That connection between established capability and new thinking is exactly what Blue House is intended to enable. And Blue House isn’t only for startups. We want local businesses working in, supplying to, supporting or simply interested in the blue economy to use the space. Come in for a meeting, attend an event, meet someone new or talk to us about an opportunity. The strength of Nelson Tasman’s blue economy already exists. Blue House is simply making it easier to connect the pieces and build on it. For enquiries about Blue House email bookings@bluehouse.org.nz

Damian Moran from Bioeconomy Science Institute presenting at Blue House. STRONG MAGAZINE

Creating opportunities for connection New ideas, stronger partnerships, and a community that’s better connected: here’s how Mahitahi Colab in Māpua is already supporting the work of Whenua Iti Outdoors.

hen Mahitahi Tasman officially opened, many of the Whenua Iti Outdoors team were there to celebrate. The energy in the room, the conversations, and the genuine sense of community immediately had us thinking about how this new space could help bring people together in meaningful ways. Since then, we’ve already made use of the presentation space for some initial team planning and collaboration. Stepping away from the day-to-day distractions of the office into a dedicated environment creates the time and headspace for focused thinking, stronger collaboration, and better conversations. We can also see it becoming a fantastic venue for future staff training, workshops, events, and partner meetings. “As an organisation built on relationships, connection is at the heart of everything we do,” says Bree Arnott, Partnerships 12

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“Spaces like Mahitahi Tasman are about far more than flexible work. They strengthen local networks, spark new partnerships, and help build a thriving Tasman.”

Development Manager. “Having a vibrant community hub like Mahitahi Tasman so close to home gives us a place to connect, collaborate, and learn alongside other individuals and organisations.” That sense of community connection is why we were excited to partner with Mahitahi Tasman to host the Networking & Youth Short Film Evening last

month, a free event showcasing winning entries from the Whenua Iti Outdoors Youth Outdoor Film Competition. It was a chance to celebrate young people’s creativity while bringing together businesses, community organisations, and locals who share a passion for making a positive impact - and a great chance for the community to find out more about Whenua Iti Outdoors, our programmes, and impact. Spaces like Mahitahi Tasman are about far more than flexible work. They strengthen local networks, spark new partnerships and ideas, and help build a thriving Tasman community. We’re excited to be part of that journey. STRONG MAGAZINE

s w o fl k r o W

& Wi-Fi

Port Nelson recognises how an upgrade to private wireless connectivity improved productivity, safety and workflows in day-to-day operations.

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very day, thousands of pallets of wine, seafood, fruit and forestry products move through Port Nelson on their way to customers around the world.

To address the challenge, Port Nelson partnered with Spark and Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions to deploy a private 5G network across its warehousing operations.

It’s a process most people never think about. Yet behind every shipment is a complex network of workers, vehicles, warehouses and digital systems that all need to work together seamlessly.

Unlike public mobile networks or traditional Wi-Fi, a private 5G network is connected to a specific organisation. It is designed to deliver secure, predictable, reliable coverage across large and complex sites, giving businesses greater confidence that critical systems and devices will stay connected.

At Port Nelson, keeping those moving parts connected had become a growing challenge. Within the Port’s warehouses, forklift operators are required to scan every pallet they move as part of inventory and logistics processes. But the combination of highdensity storage, steel structures and the wider layout of the Port site was creating persistent Wi-Fi dead spots. The result was frustrating for staff and a barrier to modernising the Port’s operations. “Connectivity was becoming a real operational constraint for us,” says Reagan Pattison, General Manager Business Transformation at Port Nelson. “No matter how much we tried to saturate our warehouses with Wi-Fi, we couldn’t get consistent performance. That impacted productivity, created frustration for our operators, and limited our ability to modernise how we work.” While the issue might sound technical, the implications were very practical. As New Zealand businesses increasingly rely on digital systems, real-time data and connected devices, reliable connectivity is becoming as important as the physical infrastructure around it. In environments such as ports, even small interruptions can affect workflows and make it harder for teams to work efficiently.

The network now covers around 30,000 square metres across three warehouses and outdoor operational areas in Nelson and Blenheim. For forklift operators and warehouse staff, that means the ability to scan pallets and access digital systems in real time as they move throughout the site, without needing to work around connectivity issues. But Port Nelson sees the benefits extending well beyond smoother day-to-day operations. “Safety is fundamental in a port environment,” Pattison says. “The 5G+ Private Network gives us the ability to prioritise critical communications, improve visibility of what’s happening across the site, and move towards more proactive, engineered safety controls.” The Port is also looking at installing a digital push-to-talk communications platform that will improve real-time communication across the site. Future applications could include location-based alerts, geofencing technology and targeted messaging for contractors working in operational areas. Jessica Ammundsen Communications & Engagement

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Give your career room to grow A busy life does not have to stall your career. Sometimes the next step is a new qualification. Sometimes it is the chance to explore a different direction.

MIT offers working professionals across Te Tauihu practical ways to build capacity, step into leadership, change careers, or explore an interest with study options designed for different ambitions and stages of life. Ready to strengthen your management expertise? The Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Management starts in Nelson on 5 October. Build higher-level skills in leadership, strategy and decision-making, with pathways in logistics and supply chain management, 16

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healthcare management, business analytics, aquaculture management, or multidisciplinary study. Drawn to helping others shape their future? The New Zealand Diploma in Career Development offers a blended pathway into professional career practice in 2027. Study full-time or part-time and develop skills to support people navigating work, education and change, valuable across schools, community services, government, and business. Or choose a less conventional kind of

growth. NMIT’s part-time apiculture programmes begin from August to October. Learn to manage your own hives or build advanced queen bee-rearing skills for personal interest, an industry pathway, or a buzz-worthy side venture. Not sure where to begin? Come to the NMIT Open Day in September at the Nelson campus. Meet tutors, explore learning spaces and discover study options for 2027. Whether you want to progress, change direction, or pursue something you have always been curious about, your next move could be closer than you think.

FREE EVENT

Saturday 12 September 10am - 2pm Nelson Campus

Explore, Discover, Connect! Bring the family for campus entertainment and discover study options and student life with interactive info sessions held throughout the day nmit.ac.nz/events

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Recognising Nelson's strengths Beth McAuley from Pitt & Moore reflects on what initially drew her family to Nelson, and what the region is doing right.

fter more than a decade practising law in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, my family and I chose to make Nelson our home, and in early 2025 I joined the Pitt & Moore Property team as a senior associate. The years preceding our move provided invaluable experience across a diverse range of projects and industries. However, as we welcomed the first of our two boys, my husband and I began searching for a place where we could continue to build our careers while creating a lifestyle beyond work alone. Like so many, we were drawn by Nelson's natural beauty, strong sense of community and nationally significant industries. I knew Nelson would be professionally rewarding; however, in the short time we have been here I have been impressed not only by the scale of investment and development taking place, but also by the quality, optimism and vision behind it. In writing this article, I found myself 18

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reflecting on what distinguishes investment and development in the traditional sense from the nature of what is happening in Nelson. My feeling is that the variety and quality of projects emerging across the region are positioned for success because investment is being directed towards Nelson's existing strengths. Rather than trying to dramatically reinvent itself, Nelson is investing at the

Rather than trying to dramatically reinvent itself, Nelson is investing at the intersection of what it already does well and the opportunities that lie ahead."

across the city. Projects such as Bridge to Better, the Nelson Marina Masterplan and proposed new civic buildings are investments in the foundations that will support Nelson's growth for generations to come. While these projects may not always receive the same attention as major commercial developments, they are essential to creating the confidence required for private investment. At Pitt & Moore, I work alongside landowners, developers and investors and see firsthand the critical importance of this. Significant projects such as Safari Group's redevelopment of the former bus exchange site and Scott Construction’s Morrison Square project are helping to reimagine Nelson for the future, but they rely on the confidence that comes from strong infrastructure and long-term public investment. intersection of what it already does well and the opportunities that lie ahead. I see examples of this kind of thoughtful investment every day. Nelson has long been an incubator for creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, producing businesses, ideas and technology that have impact far beyond Te Tauihu. The Blue House at Port Nelson is an exciting example of that tradition continuing. By bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and investors focused on New Zealand's blue economy, it combines our region's deep connection to the maritime sector with cutting-edge innovation. It is a compelling example of Nelson building its future on foundations that already exist. The same approach can be seen in the significant public investment being made

Like every region, Nelson faces challenges and uncertainty. Industries evolve, markets fluctuate and businesses must adapt. Yet what gives me confidence is that many of the decisions being made today are grounded in a clear understanding of the region's strengths and the opportunities they create for the future. For my family, choosing Nelson was about more than lifestyle. It was about becoming part of a community that is creative, innovative and looking ahead. By recognising its significant assets and investing in them thoughtfully and deliberately, Nelson is building on its strengths today while creating opportunities for future generations. Beth McAuley Senior Associate | Pitt & Moore

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he term slop basically means lowTrust becomes quality content that offers little value to its audience. It is created quickly cheaply using artificial intelligence with the premium and the goal of attracting views and advertising

When content becomes slop We’ve all seen it. There’s been a lot of talk lately about AI “slop.” Andrew Board draws the line between slop and AI-assisted content - and why we want one and not the other.

revenue on social-media platforms.

The difference between AI slop and AIassisted content is all about the human involvement. From a content-creation point of view, AI has made it easier than ever to create all sorts of useful stuff like posters for club fundraisers, polished emails to clients and engaging editorial for your website. Used well, it can sharpen an idea, improve its presentation and save considerable time. But there is a difference between using AI to polish an idea and asking it to come up with the idea altogether. When automation replaces

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originality, judgment and human oversight, AI can quickly go from superstar to slop. The sheer volume of this material is beginning to change the experience of being online, particularly on social-media platforms where AI slop is thriving. At the same time, audiences are already tiring of digital communication. The latest VMA Industry Insight found digital fatigue was a clear theme, with 86% of respondents across Australia and New Zealand saying they felt digitally overwhelmed. Together, digital overload and the rise of synthetic content create another problem: an erosion of trust. It is becoming increasingly difficult to rely on what we see online when it can be almost impossible to determine what is real, what has been manipulated and what has been invented entirely. For business owners and managers, that matters. Marketing is about communicating a message to customers through a medium that reaches them, but the message can work only if the customer trusts both the medium and the messenger. In a digital environment increasingly associated with volume and uncertainty, physical media offers something different: it’s tangible, it’s durable and it shows that somebody considered the message was worth committing to paper. Separate VMA findings from New Zealand help show the difference. The research found

86%

Consider themselves digitally overwhelmed

90% of New Zealanders check their letterbox at least weekly, while 43% regard information received through it as trustworthy, placing physical mail ahead of email and social media. More than half of respondents, 54%, also said they concentrate better when reading printed material than when reading online. This column isn’t an argument against digital communication, but these findings suggest that print and digital perform different and, potentially, complementary roles. VMA Chief Executive Officer Kellie Northwood says consumers were not simply choosing one medium over the other. Digital channels offered convenience and immediacy, while physical communications remained important when information needed to be trusted, retained or revisited. “As organisations compete for attention in increasingly crowded digital environments, understanding how consumers engage with different channels becomes increasingly important,” she said.

The lesson for marketers is not to replace every email with a letter or every social post with a brochure. It is to match the medium to the importance of the message. Digital remains king for speed and immediacy. But when a communication needs attention, credibility or a longer life, print may now offer something increasingly rare: relief from the feed and trust in the message.

43%

Trust physical media above email & socials

54%

Concentrate better with printed material

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Being Hopeful What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? Tony Downing explains why hopefulness is the fuel that makes growth possible and can lead to better... even in business.

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think that anxiety and hopefulness are very similar.

Both are ways of imagining the future. Anxiety imagines a future that has gone wrong, and it sits there simmering, a low-level unease that quietly drains energy and creativity. Hope imagines a future that has gone right, and it does the opposite. It energises. In my experience, it is the real engine behind creative breakthroughs and commercial ambition. Nobody builds something new without first believing it can be better. Author Vaclav Havel put it better than I can: "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." Hope is not pretending everything is fine. It is looking straight at the pressure, the pain, the tough trading conditions, and choosing to act anyway because the direction still makes sense. This thought makes me think of a recent conversation with Barry Sheridan, CEO of NPDGull. Downing has worked with Barry and the NPD team

Playing it safe rarely builds a strong brand." for the best part of 20 years, and this year we have supported NPD through a merger with Gull Fuel. The result has been the creation of New Zealand's largest independent fuel network, now moving over a billion litres of fuel each year. Barry started with NPD as a part-time employee back in the 1990s. He now leads and has a majority share in New Zealand’s largest independent fuel company. I asked Barry if he sees himself as a big risk-taker. He stepped back from that straight away, and said: “Everything we do is carefully considered, deeply thought through, and only moved on when we know it’s the right thing to do.” The boldness and the speed people see from the outside is really conviction, not recklessness. It's a hope built on certainty, on a plan that's been properly worked through, not on wishful thinking. That is exactly the distinction Havel is making. Barry's hope isn’t blind

optimism. It was a cleareyed belief in a future he had already done the work to earn. The businesses that lean into a clear, well-considered, hopeful story of where they're headed tend to make braver decisions, lead their teams with more confidence, push on through the tough times, and market themselves with more conviction. The ones stuck in anxious holding patterns tend to play it safe, and playing it safe rarely builds a strong brand. So the choice facing every business leader is not whether hard things are happening. They are. The choice is whether you meet them with anxiety or with hope. One shuts creativity down. The other is what creativity runs on. Choose hopefulness. It's better for business, and better for you. Tony Downing Director

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THE GLOBAL SEARCH FOR

Next-generation skincare ingredients

CEOMICS is a Horizon Europefunded project involving 12 organisations across 8 countries, led by Spanish research institute AINIA.

Researchers from Cawthron Institute and Callaghan Innovation’s Biotechnology Research Group have joined an international consortium to explore the country’s vast ocean territory for marine microorganisms that could produce breakthrough ingredients for the global skincare industry.

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The programme will use artificial intelligence, genomic screening and biotechnology tools to identify novel bioactive compounds from marine microorganisms, targeting applications in high-value skincare formulations including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, UVprotecting and skin barrier products. New Zealand’s participation focuses on the country’s unique and largely unexplored marine biodiversity. Cawthron will lead

"This project gives us the tools to start unlocking what may be a remarkable natural resource.” research into marine microalgae, while Callaghan Innovation’s Biotechnologies Group will study marine bacteria from New Zealand waters – including samples from pristine coastal, sub-Antarctic and subtropical environments. Dr Johan Svenson, Science Impact Manager at Cawthron Institute, says New Zealand sits at the edge of some of the most biologically diverse and least studied ocean environments on earth. “This project gives us the tools and the international partners to start unlocking what may be a remarkable natural resource – with real potential for commercial outcomes that benefit New Zealand.” “Being selected as part of a Horizon Europe consortium is a significant recognition of the quality of New Zealand’s marine science and an exciting first for Cawthron Institute – we’re proud to bring our expertise to this global programme.” Svenson says the consortium is grateful for the support received from MBIE, who fund and manage New Zealand’s association to pillar II of Horizon Europe on behalf of the Government, enabling New Zealand researchers to lead and participate in projects addressing major global challenges. Anaru Luke, Cawthron Institute’s Pou Arataki (Chief Māori, Indigenous & Transdisciplinary Partnerships Officer) says the project has been designed from the outset in accordance with New Zealand’s legal, ethical and Treaty obligations.

“What’s unique about this project is that sampling will proceed subject to agreement with iwi, guided by Te Tiriti-based principles including partnership, kaitiakitanga, and respect for mātauranga Māori.” “Critically, no organisms will leave New Zealand. Only extracts and genomic data will be shared with consortium partners, and all genomic and metabolomic data will be stored and stewarded in New Zealand to support data sovereignty.” Luke says any commercially promising strains will be characterised in New Zealand, and downstream commercial benefits will be shared with participating iwi. “Iwi are invited to participate in any part of the New Zealand programme – including sampling, research, and product development – and to grow their own knowledge of marine biodiscovery and the emerging blue bioeconomy.” Anaru Luke Tumuaki Te Arahanga Āio

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Shownotes. L

ittle work got done the day Summer transformed our Keetrax office into an adhoc podcasting studio. Initially I thought, "We should have built a dedicated space for this" (like at least one other company in this region has been smart enough to do). But then I heard Anabelle say: “If you have a really solid funnel that feeds people through, the ability to scale obviously comes down to budget. But if you don't have those fundamental things set up, for example, you don't have the email flows, you don't have a properly

Meet the Experts

Danielle Martel CEO & Co-Founder

Alice Hazlett Head of Marketing

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Anabelle Pollock Lead Marketing Strategist

converting website, then just pushing money into ads is not going to scale your business.” I pulled up a chair and started taking notes. —

Acquiring customers

Alice: “Marketing is complicated. But everything comes back to how well you understand your audience. And with time, the audience ages. They move platforms. They search different things. So you should revisit your personas at least every year.” Mallory: “Especially if your following is growing, it pays to check how your audience is changing. You

Mallory McKegney Marketing Strategist

Jana Cottle Marketing Strategist

might dive into the data and discover your audience is unexpectedly Gen Z. You’ll either need to adjust your targeting or start talking in Gen Z language.”

Bonding with your audience

Jana: “We're all seeing generic AI creatives on our feeds that aren't cutting through, because everybody's doing the same thing. AI is only as good as the information you feed it. So to cut through the noise, if you work with AI, you need to feed it the right information and humanise it.” Alice: “And it can’t all be AI. Real people connect with real people. That’s why I’m happy to see more brands talking to the camera, showing the faces behind the brand. It doesn’t have to be the founder either. I like seeing multiple faces to a brand.” Anabelle: “It’s a nice counterweight to hard-selling too. I don't want to be told to buy something at this price; I want to be told why I need it. Being constantly sold to is something our generation is crawling away from. We're not interested in generic content constantly pushing us to buy. Brands that aren't

Marketing is complicated. Everything comes back to how well you understand your audience." leaning into solving problems are going to get left behind.”

Converting customers

Danielle: “People often put all their eggs in one basket in terms of marketing. For example, they go all in on Google Ads. But then they don’t follow up on social media, they don’t send emails, they don’t retarget. They send everyone to a website that's only half built and half fleshed out. This may have worked when a sale required 3 to 7 touchpoints, but they’ve gone up to 11 to 15. You need to touch people on all the different platforms before they convert.”

Delighting so they keep coming back

Mallory: “Most people focus on customer acquisition and follower growth. But when you nurture your own community and actually focus on them, rewarding

them with giveaways or customer promotions, the right people will come because people see that and want to be part of it.” Alice: “If you really can understand what your audience is interested in, you can provoke emotion and get them to speak. A coin collector client we work with, for example, has a very passionate community. They're going backwards and forwards, recommending other coins, and getting quite intense about it. So the audience does the selling for the client.” — Our office has since been restored to its original state. The recording is on our socials. I hear it's good to show the faces behind the brand — and for once, we took our own advice. Mike Martel Co-Founder

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Reinforcing the value of local banking

or local business owners, good banking support can make a real difference.

Our aim is to make those conversations easy, useful and grounded in local understanding.

Sometimes it’s a timely conversation about cashflow. Sometimes it’s support to grow your business or to purchase equipment or property. And sometimes it’s simply having someone who understands your business and is easy to reach when you need them.

Andrew joins us as Regional Manager and brings many years of experience working across business, commercial and rural banking. He understands that behind every business decision there are people, families, staff and communities. His focus at NBS will be helping our teams stay close to clients, understand their goals and make timely, practical decisions.

At NBS, local relationships have always mattered. They shape the way we work with our clients, the decisions we make and the support we provide to businesses across our region. That’s why I’m pleased to welcome Andrew Parker and Tom Williams to NBS. Both bring many years of banking experience, but more importantly, they understand the value of getting to know people, listening well and making decisions close to home. Whether you’re starting out, expanding, buying new equipment, managing seasonal cashflow or planning your next move, having the right banking conversation early can help.

“What attracted me to NBS was the connection to local communities and the ability to make decisions close to the people they affect. In larger banks, that personal relationship and speed of local decision making can sometimes be harder to achieve.” Tom has stepped into the role of Head of Branch Operations. In plain English, that means he’ll help make sure our branches are well supported, consistent and easy to deal with, so clients receive the same friendly, practical service wherever they bank with us. Based locally, Tom understands the communities our branches serve and the importance of keeping banking personal, practical and close to home. He brings senior leadership experience in banking, with a clear focus on helping our clients succeed. *NBS is not a registered bank. Linda Sullivan Chief Client Officer

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Meet your local NBS managers Meet the new NBS appointments and branch managers who are providing our local community with business banking support.

Andrew Parker Regional Manager 027 385 3424 andrew.p@nbs.co.nz

NELSON

RICHMOND

Tom Williams Head of NBS Branch Operations 027 253 3936 tom.w@nbs.co.nz

Jen Low Support for everyday banking and business conversations 03 539 0522 jen.l@nbs.co.nz

Dan Binion-Cooper Banking from someone who knows our local community 03 528 1118 dan.b@nbs.co.nz

MOTUEKA

TĀKAKA

MURCHISON

Ammie McHardy Practical local guidance for clients in Motueka 03 528 1115 ammie@nbs.co.nz

Freya Jones Relationship-led support for Golden Bay clients 03 525 6255 freya.j@nbs.co.nz

Heather Kinzett Accessible, down-to-earth banking support for Murchison 03 548 2484 heather@nbs.co.nz

Contact one of our friendly team members today for more business banking information.

0800 101 700 | info@nbs.co.nz

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Is your technology spend showing up on the P&L?

echnology can save time, reduce risk and make work easier. But unless those improvements eventually move a number on the profit and loss statement, can they really be called a return? Most businesses know what they spend on software, managed IT, cybersecurity and AI. What is often harder to explain is what those investments give back financially. A genuine return should show up in one of three places: lower operating costs, greater capacity to generate revenue, or reduced financial losses. Lower costs

AI and automation can remove repetitive work like preparing reports, entering data, searching for documents, processing forms or drafting recurring content.

A genuine return should show up in one of three places: lower operating costs, greater capacity to generate revenue, or reduced financial losses.”

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But time saved is not the same as value created. The real question is what happens next. Does it reduce overtime, delay new hiring, cut reliance on contractors or minimise costly errors? Imagine every employee saved just one hour a month. In a business with 100 employees, that’s 1,200 hours a year. The return isn’t in the hours themselves, but in how they’re converted into lower costs or better business performance. Greater capacity Not every return comes from cutting costs. Technology can also help businesses handle more work without increasing headcount at the same pace. A professional services firm may prepare proposals faster. Finance teams may close month-end sooner. Customer service teams may manage more enquiries. Operations teams may process more orders with fewer manual handovers. When businesses can serve more customers, deliver faster or free experienced staff to focus on highervalue work, technology starts influencing revenue and margins. Reduced losses

Technology also protects profit by reducing risk.

Poor cybersecurity, unmanaged AI and weak data governance can lead to downtime, remediation costs, compliance issues, customer loss and reputational damage. Likewise, employees working from outdated documents or poorly managed information create delays, duplication and expensive mistakes. AI can amplify these problems if it is connected to poorly governed data. Security and governance are no longer just technical safeguards. They protect revenue, margin and business continuity. Technology spend to business return

a different question: What are we improving or automating this month, and which business metric should it move? That’s the thinking behind CORE, First Focus’s intelligent managed services model for businesses with 20 to 200 employees and no internal IT team. By combining managed IT, cybersecurity, data governance, SharePoint, AI adoption, automation and employee training, CORE focuses on delivering measurable business improvements, not technology for its own sake.

Buying ChatGPT, Claude or Microsoft Copilot is easy. Creating measurable business value is not. It requires identifying highcost processes, prioritising the right opportunities, securing business data, training employees and continually improving how technology is used.

The specific return will differ for every business, whether it’s lower administration costs, slower headcount growth, faster delivery or fewer costly errors. But the principle is always the same: If your technology investment is delivering real value, it should eventually show up on the P&L.

That also changes the role of an IT partner. Traditional managed IT keeps systems running and users supported. Those services remain essential, but they are defensive and prevent productivity from going backwards.

So, where is technology investment showing up on your P&L? If that’s a difficult question to answer, visit firstfocus. co.nz/services/core/.

The next generation of managed services asks STRONG MAGAZINE

“Go Accounting is a core member of our team, standing with us through the bad times and the good. With their help, we’ve looked uncertainty in the eye, smashed our goals and continued to grow.”

Finally, people who speak my language — not just numbers! My mentor helped me to make a plan, increase my profits and futureproof my business. He even helped me become a 50% stakeholder.”

- Nicki & Brad, The Grape Escape

- Jo Neale, Homes by Orange

“They have helped walk us through the steps of starting up and scaling Squarekicker, with business coaching and accounting that have enabled us to better understand the financial pillars of our company for ourselves.”

- Nick & Hannah, Squarekicker

Award-winning Chartered Accountants helping Kiwis thrive. 03 545 6565 | letsgo@goaccounting.co.nz 32

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6 Cube Court, Richmond

At MediaWorks, we’re passionate about audio. So when Prof. Mark Ritson presented his Appreciating Audio: Why Radio & Podcasts Deserve More Attention webinar, it reinforced what we’ve long believed: audio deserves a central place in the world’s most effective marketing strategies. Presented at Cannes Lions on behalf of the audio industries of Australia, the UK, Ireland and the US, the research brought together evidence from more than 1,200 campaigns to answer a simple question: does audio advertising work?

“

Audio is the catalyst that makes your whole campaign work harder.

“

What Mark Ritson’s Latest Research Means for Audio Advertising

MARK RITSON

The answer was clear. Audio doesn’t just deliver results on its own – it makes every other media investment work harder.

THREE KEY TAKEAWAYS

AUDIO MAKES EVERY MEDIA DOLLAR WORK HARDER Campaigns that included audio consistently outperformed those without it across key effectiveness measures, including profit, customer acquisition, trust and price resilience. ON AVERAGE, CAMPAIGNS FEATURING AUDIO DELIVERED RESULTS AROUND

22% STRONGER

Suggesting audio can act as a multiplier, increasing the effectiveness of the channels around it.

DISTINCTIVE SOUND IS ONE OF A BRAND’S MOST POWERFUL ASSETS One standout finding was the enduring power of sonic branding. Jingles and distinctive audio assets continue to build memory long after a campaign ends, making brands easier to remember and choose. For marketers, it’s a reminder that distinctive brand assets aren’t just visual – what people hear can be even more powerful, with audio assets proven to build memory and drive results.

AUDIO BUILDS TRUST AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION Campaigns using audio generated

81%

HIGHER TRUST

with the research also reinforcing the power of emotion. Audio creates an intimate, immediate connection, helping brands build both emotional engagement and longer-term memory.

The Secret to Profit and Trust: Audio, presented by Mark Ritson at Cannes Lions, 2026. Based on the Effie x System1Databank

WHY THIS MATTERS The webinar reinforced that audio is more than another media channel. Across radio, streaming and podcasts, it builds mental availability, extends reach and amplifies the wider media mix. As attention becomes increasingly fragmented, the question for marketers is no longer whether to include audio, but how to maximise its impact.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR NEW ZEALAND MARKETERS While the research is global, its implications are highly relevant in New Zealand. Audio reaches millions of Kiwis every week, combining broad reach with trusted personalities, local content and growing digital listening. A distinctive sound, engaging message and consistent delivery can build trust, strengthen brand memory and attract new customers – helping brands make every marketing dollar work harder.

MEDIAWORKS: MAKING AUDIO WORK HARDER At MediaWorks, we’re committed to helping advertisers unlock the full potential of audio across radio, streaming and podcasts, while bringing the latest research and thinking to New Zealand marketers. If Mark Ritson’s latest findings reinforce anything, it’s this: audio doesn’t just work - it makes your campaign work harder.Want to dive deeper? Talk to the MediaWorks team about applying these insights to your next campaign. Your customers are already listening to us. It’s time to get them listening to you. STRONG MAGAZINE

Advertise with mediaworks, find us at mediaworks.co.nz

NELSON

September

WESTPAC SMARTS: REWIRING AOTEAROA

October

KNOWLEDGE @ NOON: WEARING ALL THE HATS

CRACK THE CODE: FIND YOUR PERFECT CUSTOMERS

YOUNG CHAMBER: INVEST FOR YOUR FUTURE

FINDEX BA5: BROOK WAIMĀRAMA SANCTUARY

12:00pm - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

5:00pm - 7:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

5:00pm - 7:00pm 651 Brook Street, Nelson

ATTRIBUTES OF THE MODERN LEADER

GREEN DRINKS BY BLUEMOTH

22 34

10:45am - 12:00pm Tides Hotel, Nelson

9:00am - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

5:00pm - 6:00pm The Freehouse, Nelson

KNOWLEDGE @ NOON: SCALING A BUSINESS 12:00pm - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

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GO ACCOUNTING SPEAKER SERIES: MATTHEW HOOTON 12:00pm - 2:00pm Tides Hotel, Nelson

KNOWLEDGE @ NOON: UNDERSTANDING XERO

EMPLOYMENT RELATION SKILLS FOR SMEs

BOLSTERING YOUR BALANCE SHEET

INSPIRING WOMEN BUSINESS CONFERENCE

LAST CHANCE NELSON CANDIDATE DEBATE

12:00pm - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

9:00am - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

9:30am - 10:30am Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

22 October - 23 October Trafalgar Centre, Nelson

5:30pm - 7:30pm Tides Hotel, Nelson

November

SALES LEADERSHIP, COACHING & ACCOUNTABILITY 9:00am - 1:00pm Mahitahi Colab, Nelson

September

TASMAN

09 Check out the events out at Mahitahi Tasman at 18 Stafford Drive in Māpua!

PORT NELSON EXPORT HUB: FROM GATE TO PORT 4:00pm - 6:00pm

17 9:00am - 10:00am

BUILDING BETTER BUSINESS: KNOW YOUR NUMBERS

23 1:00pm - 5:00pm

SUCCESSION IN FAMILY BUSINESS

October IN 08 GOVERNANCE FAMILY BUSINESS 1:00pm - 5:00pm

@ NOON: 15 KNOWLEDGE OPERATIONAL TECH 12:00pm - 1:00pm

ST BE THE FIR TO KNOW

@ NOON: 21 KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTIVITY 12:00pm - 1:00pm

our Subscribe to r te et sl new

November YOUR 19 BOLSTERING BALANCE SHEET 9:00am - 10:00am

December

KNOWLEDGE @ NOON: SCALING A BUSINESS 12:00pm - 1:00pm

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Oh snap!

Members snapped in special moments at events over the past few weeks.

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Practical support. Trusted relationships. Connected growth. The Chamber is here to support local businesses every step of the way. Through STRONG Business Mentoring, we offer all businesses and individuals a free, one-hour confidential mentoring session with our expert in-house business advisor, Stephen Broad-Paul, to provide the strategic guidance and business support you need.

“Strong Business Mentoring gave me someone to talk things through with and the feedback I needed to build confidence in my personal and business goals. It provided ongoing support, accountability, and a sounding board for ideas, helping me find direction and define clear next steps.”

Sandrine Savarit Immigration Advisor

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“Stephen’s ability to distil what was in my head into clear, articulate statements gave us a strong foundational launch pad. I cannot recommend these sessions enough.”

Christen Killick Making Teams Work

“Stephen’s warm and knowledgeable manner made every session both enjoyable and valuable. His questions helped turn ideas into actions. To any business owner considering the programme, why wouldn’t you join?!”

Nicky McBride Melius Learning

“Working with Stephen gave us the space to step back from the day-today and clarify our goals. His insight helped us strengthen our vision and set a clear direction.”

“Strong Business Mentoring was instrumental to our success. Their guidance helped us reach our goal despite challenging economic conditions, and I would highly recommend them to any business owner.”

Mathew Hay Fineline Architecture

David Short Te Mamaku Native Corridor Project

FUNDRAISE FUNDRAISE WITH WITH NELSON NELSON TASMAN TASMAN MONOPOLY MONOPOLY

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PLAY IT FORWARD RAISE MONEY FOR YOUR COMMUNITY GROUP OR NONPROFIT ORGANISATION WITH NELSON TASMAN MONOPOLY.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Register your group’s interest & receive a unique code 2. Share the code with your networks 3. Every Monopoly game purchased online using your code = a $15 donation to your organasition! Contact info@commerce.org.nz to find out more.

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03 539 1137 info@cancernelson.org.nz

021 168 4986 alienor@coreform.co.nz

We support people across our region affected by cancer. Our offices in Nelson and Motueka provide free services including information, counselling, support groups, one-on-one support, driving service to appointments, wellbeing and exercise classes to support recovery and rehabilitation. We’re here for you, working to improve quality of life and reduce barriers to care. We support research, health promotion, early detection, and partner with our community to reduce the impact of cancer.

At CORE.FORM, we are bringing a completely new fitness experience to Nelson’s CBD - a reformer Pilates experience like no other! Our premium studio features a guided class system across 15 reformers, combining digital instruction with hands-on coaching. This way, we offer a personalised experience that feels like a private class. We help everybody build strength safely. It’s not a short-term trend; it’s about moving well for the long term. Guided. Supported. Stronger. Every session.

021 217 9054 steve@marshallbuilders.co.nz

022 403 0257 ekos@ekos.co.nz

At Marshall Builders, we believe in crafting, projects that stand the test of time, and doing things right from the get-go.We believe a home is more than just walls and a roof: it’s the foundation for your family’s story. Whether you’re building from scratch, renovating, or designing your forever home, we bring vision, craftsmanship, and care to every project. Our work is built on relationships, trust, and a shared passion for creating spaces that reflect who you are.

Ekos is a social purpose business built on a simple idea: looking after nature by looking after people. Our mission is to help businesses thrive in a changing climate through practical, sciencebased solutions and shared value. We hold this space with two arms: nature based solutions, spanning forest carbon markets, biodiversity and impact projects; and sustainability consulting, providing advisory, workshops, reporting, and implementation services in carbon, climate and sustainability for all organisations, big or small.

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Alumni Memberships STAY CONNECTED WITH THE LARGEST & MOST ACTIVE BUSINESS NETWORK IN NELSON TASMAN. Alumni Membership is an individual membership, designed for retired business owners and professionals who want to stay connected to the business community. Includes access to Chamber networking, mentoring opportunities, and community initiatives, allowing you to share your experience and support emerging businesses. Email kim@commerce.org.nz to discuss your membership options.

027 772 4469 office@safeguardingchildren.org.nz

03 546 6223 nelson@duncancotterill.com

Safeguarding Children is a Nelson-based charity working across Aotearoa to help protect children and young people from abuse and neglect. We provide practical training, resources and support for organisations, staff, volunteers, parents and caregivers. Our work helps people recognise when a child may be at risk, know what to do if they are concerned, and make organisations and community settings safer for children. We are proud to be part of the Nelson Tasman community.

A market leader in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough regions and one of New Zealand’s oldest law firms, we have been represented in Nelson since 1994. We combine our deep local knowledge with the resources and expertise of a nationwide, full-service law firm. We provide expert advice across corporate and commercial law, property, construction, litigation and dispute resolution, employment, family law, trusts and estates, succession planning, environmental and regulatory matters.

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Get access to your discounts on the go! Unlock big nationwide discounts with your digital Chamber membership card.

Plus lots of great local discounts with member-to-member offers, including:

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