Manawatū Business Chamber

17/09/2026

Good to see this MDC.

You shared your views, and Council listened.

Following strong community engagement, Council has decided not to proceed with the proposed cover over the Brick Quadrant in Manchester Square at this time.

Instead, a temporary weather protection trial will take place next winter, giving us a chance to see how a covered space could be used before considering what, if anything, happens longer term.

There was a different result for the proposed Fergusson and Goodbehere Street changes, with 61.5% of respondents supporting the proposal. A 12-month traffic improvement trial will now go ahead, along with the associated streetscape and placemaking improvements. The trial is anticipated to begin February 2027.

A big thank you to everyone who had their say, including the many young people who got involved and shared what they want for the future of their town centre.

Read more about the feedback, Council’s discussion: https://www.mdc.govt.nz/projects-and-news/news/2026/community-feedback-shapes-next-steps-for-feilding-town-centre-refresh

17/09/2026

💚 Here’s a little challenge for your FriYah…

Before the working week finishes, see if you can do one thing locally.

☕ Have your meeting at a local café.
🛍️ Buy something from a local retailer.
💼 Ask a local business for a quote.
🤝 Recommend a local business to someone.
📱 Like, comment on or share a local business post.

None of those things seem particularly big on their own.

But multiply them across hundreds — or thousands — of people and they make a very real difference.

Our local businesses employ local people, support community organisations, sponsor sports teams, buy from other businesses and help make Manawatū the place it is.

Small choices can have a big local impact.

What local business are you supporting this weekend? Give them a shout-out below. 👇

17/09/2026

A big thank you to Distinction Hotel Palmerston North for hosting our BA5 as we celebrated 13 years of Placemaking Palmerston North! 🎉

What a lovely venue to bring everyone together, celebrate a fantastic milestone and enjoy a great evening with our business community. 🥂

If you’re planning your Christmas function, be sure to think of Distinction — a beautiful setting for celebrating with your team! 🎄✨

17/09/2026

✈️ Keeping New Zealand business connected

For many Manawatū businesses, being able to get around the country efficiently matters — whether it’s meeting clients, visiting suppliers, attending events or connecting with teams.

Air New Zealand has shared an update on the role business travel plays in supporting its domestic network, with more than 400 flights operating each day to 20 destinations around New Zealand.

They’ve also reported improvements in punctuality, with 86% of flights in June arriving within 15 minutes of schedule, followed by 83.1% in July — both improvements on the same months last year.

💼 And if your business regularly flies with Air New Zealand, are you making the most of Airpoints™ for Business?

Thousands of Kiwi businesses are already using the programme, which allows your business to:

✈️ Earn an additional 20% Airpoints when you or your employees fly for work — on top of the Airpoints and Status Points earned individually.

💳 Earn Airpoints on eligible everyday business spending with participating partners.

🎁 Redeem business Airpoints on flights, Koru membership or rewards from the Airpoints Store.

If you're already a Koru member, Air New Zealand says it only takes a few minutes to join through the Koru portal, and once registered you can invite up to 20 employees to your business account.

Not a Koru member? You can still sign up for Airpoints for Business and start earning.

There’s also more to come, with Air New Zealand developing a new business rewards programme. Existing Airpoints for Business members and their balances are expected to migrate automatically when the new programme launches — so there’s no need to wait to start earning.

For a region like ours, strong and reliable air connections are an important part of keeping Manawatū businesses connected with the rest of Aotearoa — and beyond. ✈️💚

16/09/2026

🤝 Networking isn't about how many business cards you collect.

The best networking usually starts with something much simpler: a conversation.

Ask someone about their business. Find out what they’re working on. Introduce two people who might benefit from knowing each other. Follow up with the person you met at the last Chamber event.

You may not do business together tomorrow — or ever — but strong business communities are built on relationships, and you never know where one conversation might lead.

That’s one of the things we love about bringing our Chamber community together.

So here’s a little Thursday challenge:

👉 Reach out to one business connection you haven’t spoken to for a while and say hello.

No sales pitch required. Just reconnect.

16/09/2026

📊 A very informative Westpac Smarts session today!

A big thank you to Westpac for another great Westpac Smarts event today, featuring economist Satish Ranchhod.

Satish was an excellent speaker, sharing plenty of useful insights and helping put what’s happening in the economy into context for businesses.

With economic conditions continuing to shape the decisions businesses are making every day, opportunities like this to hear directly from experts, ask questions and better understand what may lie ahead are incredibly valuable.

Thank you to Satish for such an engaging and informative presentation, to Westpac for making the session possible, and to everyone who joined us today. 💚

There was certainly plenty to take away and talk about afterwards!

15/09/2026

🌸 Another day, another little burst of blossom!

Every day we’re seeing more and more of the cherry trees coming into bloom around Palmy — and the timing couldn’t be better for Cherry Blossom Fest this Sunday in Coleman Place. 🌸

Have you checked out the beautiful cherry trees along George Street yet? They’re looking pretty spectacular! 🌸😍

Come and enjoy a little taste of spring in the city — and we’ll see you at Cherry Blossom Fest this Sunday!

15/09/2026

🌿 Wellbeing Wednesday – Have you checked in with your people lately?

Sometimes the most useful workplace wellbeing initiative costs absolutely nothing.

It’s simply asking:

“How are you going?”

And then taking the time to actually listen to the answer.

September can be a busy time for businesses. The end of the year is suddenly appearing on the horizon, workloads are building and Christmas deadlines don’t feel quite as far away as they did a few weeks ago.

A quick coffee, a genuine conversation or recognising someone for a job well done can make a bigger difference than we sometimes realise.

Today, take five minutes to check in with someone in your workplace — including yourself. 💚

14/09/2026

🏛️ A new chapter for a much-loved landmark!

Great to see the covers coming off the Old Post Office and the beautiful heritage façade being revealed. It’s fantastic to see this historic Manawatū building being given a new lease of life as the TRYP by Wyndham hotel.

We’re looking forward to seeing the final touches come together and welcoming the hotel when it opens in the coming months. What a transformation! 👏✨

14/09/2026

🏆 Have you got your ticket to one of Manawatū’s biggest business nights of the year?

The 2026 Yorb Manawatū Business Awards Gala Dinner is happening on Friday 30 October, and if it’s not already in your calendar, now is the time to get it there!

This year is particularly special as we celebrate the 30th year of the Manawatū Business Awards. 🎉

The Gala Dinner is always a fantastic opportunity to come together and celebrate the incredible businesses, organisations and people helping our region thrive.

Whether you have entered the Awards, are supporting someone who has, or simply want to be part of a brilliant night celebrating Manawatū business — we’d love to have you there.

✨ Black tie
📅 Friday 30 October 2026
📍 Central Energy Trust Arena

Get the team together, invite your clients or suppliers and make a night of it.

🔗 https://events.humanitix.com/business-awards-gala-celebrations-2026

🎟️ Don’t leave your tickets until the last minute — secure your seats for the 2026 Yorb Manawatū Business Awards Gala Dinner.