northland chamber

And now for the good news…

Business confidence is continuing to rise according to Chamber of Commerce members in the latest Quarterly Business Confidence Poll. Whilst the results are still provisional the indication is that for the fifth successive quarter, the level of business optimism has increased in regard to how Northland businesses view both the economy’s overall performance and how they assess their own prospects in the period ahead.
The indicators which are gradually improving are; Business Optimism, Business prospects and a reducing number of people believing that business conditions are deteriorating.
Widely reported claims by economic commentators last year predicting a fall in NZ business optimism through 2006 have turned out to be 100% wrong, as far as businesses in the Northern Regional Chamber of Commerce catchment area. In fact, the exact opposite trend has occurred as business confidence has steadily improved throughout the year.
In December last year nearly 60% of businesses were predicting the business environment to deteriorate in 2006. But in every survey since, the level of pessimism has dropped with just 18% now picking that the business environment will get worse next year.
Despite recent warnings from the Reserve Bank that interest rates may be forced to rise next year, 37% of respondents believe they will increase compared to 43% of this view at the last survey in September. Similarly, a recent fall in New Zealand’s terms of trade has been ignored by business in assessing their prospects in the period ahead.
Part of the explanation for the improved optimism could relate to a growing belief that the Government is serious in wanting to encourage business to improve productivity and address basic infrastructure issues such as transport and energy.

Our events calendar is slowly filling up for 2007 if you are not a subscriber to our e-letter we encourage you to do so by entering your details at our website http://www.northchamber.co.nz/ to keep abreast of the latest business news and events happening around Northland.

Meanwhile Christmas is on every ones mind, diaries are full of events to attend celebrating festive cheer as wallets empty to purchase those presents we all love to give and receive.

Remember shop Northland!! Everything on your wish list is right here in Northland and we really do have the most accessible and diverse shopping in the country. While summer is still struggling to find us, Christmas is the time retailers wait all year for to boost sales.

2007 will have implications for businesses with changes to annual leave entitlement and introduction of Kiwi Saver, but those subjects can wait for another time. Now is the time to savour Christmas and all that it means to you. Be safe, be well, be happy and enjoy time with family and friends. From the Board and Staff at the Northland Chamber of Commerce Merry Christmas and best wishes for a brilliant New Year!!


Northland Chamber of Commerce is the networking, education, advocacy and marketing group for Northland business, and is part of a nationwide network of 30 and a world-wide movement of 27,000 chambers. Subscription to the free fortnightly chamber e-news can be arranged on info@northchamber.co.nz. Enquiries to 09-4384771 or www.northchamber.co.nz , www.kaiparachamber.co.nz and www.farnorthchamber.co.nz

You can have a say on this by going to the Northland Chamber of Commerce Feedback website on www.northchamber.blogspot.com