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In this edition of YOUR news

     

Alert Level 3

Kia ora tatou,

The move to Alert Level 3 for at least two weeks announced by the Prime Minister on the 20th September will have been of little or no comfort to many members who are still unable to operate at anywhere near full capacity. 

Businesses need immediate help to enable them to operate, reduce financial burdens and keep the economy moving. In support of our members, over recent weeks BNH has written letters to Ministers and local MPs expressing our concerns over a number of different issues which continue to adversely affect our members, including the need for additional financial support, labour shortages and the supply chain. Read these letters here and here

We have called upon the Government to take action to mitigate the effects of these issues to help our members overcome the current challenges and support their economic recovery, as Auckland continues to bear the brunt of Covid lockdowns, compared to the rest of New Zealand. Read the response from Minister Stuart Nash here

Like you all, I look forward to some positive changes in Alert Levels as soon as possible. In the meantime please don't hesitate to contact the team at BNH if we can provide any further assistance. 

Ngā mihi mahana,

Kevin O'Leary 
General Manager, Business North Harbour
     

Vaccination is the only way forward

Having now endured another significant lockdown, it is obvious that the Delta virus is here to stay for the foreseeable future. The Government has stated that the only way we can avoid further lockdowns is to maximise vaccination rates, so I would encourage as many members as possible to get vaccinated. In addition, I would also encourage you to support your families and employees to get vaccinated so that we can minimise any future disruption to businesses due to the pandemic, as together we look to recover stronger. Click here to visit the Book My Vaccine website.
     

Latest Covid information from business.govt.nz

The following links from business.govt.nz and Ministry of Health provide the latest Covid related information on;


Got questions or need support? Call the free Covid-19 Business Helpline on 0800 500 362. 
     

Upcoming Workshops, Webinars & Events

   
   
   
     

ONE DAY SALE 2021 registrations now open!

Forget Black Friday, this is the most exciting day of the year in our area as the biggest shopping bonanza in Auckland is happening again on Saturday 4th December 2021! ONE DAY SALE is open to all Business North Harbour members and is especially well suited to retailers, wholesalers and distributors. Buying local and supporting local will never be more important. For more information and to register, click here.
     

Psychological Safety webinar recording now available

Simon Weakley from Dale Carnegie recently delivered an informative webinar on "Introducing and recognising Psychological Safety" which can now be viewed hereIn this webinar session, Simon introduced the concept of psychological safety and discussed ways that leaders can assess the level of psychological safety within their teams and organisations. All of our past webinars can also be accessed via the Member Resources page on the BNH website.
     

Register today: ELMO Change Management Webinar

Organisations have dealt with insurmountable change as a result of the pandemic – change to organisational strategy, operating models, products and services, talent, culture, and more. 

Join Elmo's upcoming webinar on Wednesday 13th October as they discuss how to successfully implement new workplace technologies, from the reasons why so many change initiatives fail, to best practice tips, and the crucial role of HR in navigating change management. Register here.
     

Support for hospitality sector from Auckland Council as Level 2 looms

Fast-tracking new street trading licences and extensions to food-only dining applications are available to Auckland businesses as they prepare for Alert Level 2 trading. Automatic extension to expiry dates for existing outdoor dining licences, is another means Auckland Council has introduced to assist the region’s businesses to get back up and running. 

Alert Level 2 rules are more challenging this time round for business with more focus on safety measures to minimise the risk of Covid transmission. Cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs can open under Covid rules with a maximum number of patrons; 100 people, all seated inside at one time and 100 people, all seated within a defined outdoor space. These rules are enforced by the Police. Read more here, apply online here and for other Council guidelines please click here.
     

Mental Health Awareness Week, 27th September – 3rd October

Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) is run annually by the Mental Health Foundation and has been since 1993. MHAW is endorsed by the World Federation for Mental Health and is marked in over 150 countries at different times of the year. 

This year’s theme is take time to kōrero/mā te kōrero, ka ora – a little chat can go a long way. This MHAW is all about connecting with the people in our lives and creating space for conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Whether it’s checking in with a mate, having a kōrero over some kai or saying hello to a stranger, a little chat can go a long way. Read more here.
     

Buy North Harbour Facebook Group

The Buy North Harbour Facebook group allows BNH members to proactively promote their business, products, services and special offers along with the opportunity to support other North Harbour businesses by sharing tips and advice. Join here for free and engage with your local business community!
     

SOS Business encourages NZers to Spend On Small

SOS Business encourages New Zealanders to Spend On Small at the small businesses feeling the impact of lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. The platform is not-for-profit and run by a committed and passionate team. They're dedicated to seeing small business survive and then thrive with the support of our generous community. 

Even as lockdowns lift and we see businesses open their doors, help is still needed. Head to the SOS Business website here to learn how you can support small biz in New Zealand, especially our local North Harbour businesses! Read full article here
     

Inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland

Parliament's Transport and Infrastructure Committee has published its report on an inquiry into congestion pricing in Auckland which can now be viewed here. The following is summary of recommendations that the Transport and Infrastructure Committee recommends that the Government: 

• Progress legislation to enable New Zealand cities to use congestion pricing as a tool in transport planning
• Implement a congestion pricing scheme in Auckland, including, as described in the Congestion Question technical report: a region-wide strategic corridors scheme starting in the city centre; an access charge that would apply once per journey in peak times; the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to identify vehicles that incur a charge 
• Consider whether existing schemes could be used to reduce inequity caused by a congestion charge
• Use any revenue raised by a congestion pricing scheme to: mitigate equity impacts and reinvest in public and active transport in the region where the charge applies
• Undertake research into whether changes to, or the removal of, the Auckland regional fuel tax may be appropriate if congestion pricing is implemented
• Investigate the potential for any enabling legislation for congestion pricing to also provide for low-emission zones
     

AT bus updates for North Harbour

When Auckland was previously at Alert Level 3, AT ran all bus services to their full timetables. However, demand for bus travel turned out to be relatively low. Now that Auckland is at Alert Level 3, AT has continued to run buses to Saturday timetables, as they were doing at Level 4. Running buses to Saturday timetables means:

• Monday – Saturday
  • Buses run as often as they usually would on Saturdays 
  • Buses start and finish at the same times as they usually would on Saturdays 
  • If a bus doesn’t usually run on Saturdays, then it will not run 
• On Sundays
  • Buses run as they usually would on a Sunday (or not run at all if they don’t usually run on Sundays)
There will be exceptions to this arrangement, and one of these is the 884 that serves the North Harbour Industrial Estate. At Alert Level 3, the 884 will run approximately every 30 minutes from 6am to 7pm on weekdays. The 884 will not run on Saturdays or Sundays. For further information, view the AT bus timetables here
     

BNZ Partners Centre Bookings Update

The team at BNZ North Shore Partners would like to inform BNH members that the use of their Partners Centre is not available for room bookings until Auckland returns to Alert Level 1. To make a future room booking, please email Mel Corliss, Centre Activation Lead (E: Mel_Corliss@bnz.co.nz) in the first instance. Once the centre is reopened, Samantha Addison-Saipe (E: Samantha_Addison-Saipe@bnz.co.nz) can also be contacted. The BNZ team warmly welcomes BNH members to utilise these facilities free of charge and invites you to come and check out the fantastic meeting room options that are available.
     

Auckland Climate Festival, 12th – 31st October

The Auckland Climate Festival is going ahead from the 12th - 31st October despite Covid, with an amazing line-up of over 40+ events on offer. To celebrate the launch of the festival, the organisers are hosting a one hour virtual launch event on Tuesday 12th October to coincide with Vector Lights, in partnership with Auckland Council, lighting up of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in the festival colours. 

You'll hear from festival founder, Michelle Kennedy; learn about the festival themes; as well as hear from passionate leaders shaping climate action across Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa and abroad. Sign up to this free event here and to learn more about ACF21 and to check out the line up of events, click here.
     

CONTACT: 09 968 2222 WEBSITE: www.businessnh.org.nz

EMAIL: admin@businessnh.org.nz OFFICE: Level 1, Unit 2, 322 Rosedale Road, Rosedale 

POSTAL: PO Box 303126, North Harbour