• New Pacific Business Trust Chairman appointed – Paul Retimanu

• Call for entries – Pacific Business Awards 2022

• Skills shortage impact on your team 

• Meet Pasifika businesses 

• Marketing strategy overview – self-assessment tool

• Product360 – your free guide to achieving commercial success

• Become part of the Activate business community 

• 2022 APAC TVET Forum – Reshape, Rethink, Reset

• Stop the spread of illness in winter 

• Happy healthy kids from Variety 

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Introducing Paul Retimanu Pacific Business Trust’s new Chair

The Pacific Business Trust (PBT) welcomes Paul Retimanu as the new Chair of the Board as of 1 August 2022. Of Samoan descent, Paul hopes to lead by example when it comes to what is possible for budding Pacific entrepreneurs and is an established business owner and entrepreneur with over three decades of experience in the hospitality sector based in Wellington. His recent appointment as PBT Chair will allow him to continue building capability of Pacific businesses in all of Aotearoa but especially in the regions, a current key focus for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. 

In addition to his work as PBT Chair, Paul currently volunteers his services to Wellington Pacific Business Network as Chairman, he is the Deputy Chair of Te Awe Māori Business Network, and the National Vice President – Environment and Sustainability of Hospitality NZ (New Zealand) and President of Hospitality NZ (Wellington branch).  

Call for entries – Pacific Business Awards 2022 

Entries and nominations for the Pacific Business Awards 2022 are now open with 9 award categories.  

Make sure you don’t miss out! It’s free to enter, just complete the entry form. Know a business person or business that deserves recognition of an award? Nominate them here. Don’t delay! Entries close 9 September 2022.  

Get your tickets early to attend the Awards Gala Dinner and Ceremony on Friday 11 November on Eventfinda.

Skills shortage having an impact on your team? 

Many people leaders are struggling to recruit talent and keep staff. Older workers bring valuable experience, skills, insights, and knowledge to the table; and keeping them has become more important than ever.    Our colleagues at business.govt.nz have developed a practical toolkit to help you hire, develop and keep mature workers. Its tools and resources include tips on leading and working with older staff, case studies and more. 

Check out their toolkit here.  

Meet Pasifika businesses 

Introducing our next Pacific business owners Anastacia Oloapu, Lise Dannies Hope-Suveinakama and Dr Craig Aitu. Hear about their business journey and advice as they talanoa with Brian Sagala on 531pi radio station. 

WunWiseWomen – Anastacia Olopau 

Wun-Wise-Women supplies education on health and wellbeing to empower women to make wise decisions when it comes to their livelihoods. Anastacia leads WunWiseWomen, by aiding clients through a range of areas to help them better manage aspects relating to the mental and emotional, spiritual, societal, and physical health concerns women face. Through consultation and assessment, WunWiseWomen envisions a safe space for women to seek help when it comes to their health. To find out more click here.  

Olatia Consulting Limited – Lise Dannies Hope-Suveinakama 

Meet consultant and director of Olatia Consulting Limited, Lise Dannies Hope-Suveinakama. Lise using her knowledge and experience working for the Tokelauan Government to now to run Olatia Consulting which is a legal consulting agency that offers: legal and non-legal advice, law and policy awareness, and training on governance and management - especially providing translative services to the Tokelauan community. Lise’s passion is for Pacific Island culture and helping her community. Get in touch today to find out more. 

Axon Chiropractic - Dr. Craig Aitu 

Dr Craig Aitu is the business owner and chiropractor of Axon Chiropractic. Dr Aitu has led a life dedicated to the community and his work as a chiropractic practitioner. Axon Chiropractic supplies a health care service that helps the body work at its best, based on an assessment on an individual’s needs and preferences. Axon Chiropractic offers and performs solutions to underlying issues that hinder one’s body from performing well. Promoting a -space to help people “achieve greater quality of life through chiropractic care. For more details click here.  

Marketing strategy overview – self-assessment tool Use this marketing self-assessment tool to better understand the role of marketing in your business, and how to implement strategies that meet customer needs. The interactive tool includes a personalised report evaluating your business and offering recommendations on where to focus your efforts to build marketing skills. Check out the interactive marketing tools at business.govt.nz

Product360 – your free guide to achieving commercial success

Boosting a product's chances of commercial success relies on clearly understanding the market opportunity and knowing how to tackle commercialisation challenges before launch.

That's where Callaghan Innovation's new free resource hub, Product360, comes in. It's designed to support this business-critical work and help you identify and avoid potential roadblocks. Get access to tools, user guides, and more than 100 video case studies from leading businesses and industry experts.

Sign Up

Become part of the Activate business community 

Check out the Activate Tāmaki Makaurau business community. It’s overflowing with exclusive, free tools and resources that you can access right now to support your business and upcoming free online which are aimed at moving your business forward. 

Here are events that you can join:

Girls in Business – Conference and Awards 

Saturday 20 August – 10.30am – 4.30pm | Register Here  

Need some motivation? Looking to upskill and learn from other successful women? Want to meet other likeminded people? Girls In Business is an organisation for driven women to connect. We currently have over 55,000 members across Australia and New Zealand. Our goal is to bring females together and create an environment for them to network, meet new people and be inspired. This event includes insightful speakers, panel discussions, lunch, and networking activities. No matter your profession, business experience or age, we are sure you will leave motivated and ready to build your empire. If you're thinking of coming solo, even better! This is an ego and judgement free zone. We have guests that travel from all over New Zealand. For more information, please email info@girlsinbusiness.org.nz or visit here. 

Restaurant Association: Attract and Retain – Upskilling Staff in the New Normal

Monday 22 August – 10am – 11am (online event)

In this session, which is FREE for Restaurant Association Members and $74.75 for non-members, hospitality trainer and business coach Marg Main will cover:

Effective ways in which employers can incorporate targeted, quick, and effective training in their venues alongside tips and techniques for recruiting staff. Marg Main is the founder of Turning Tables, a hospitality training and coaching business focused on helping business owners nationwide to retain, develop and grow their teams. Marg is an industry professional with over 30 years of experience, in a mixture of roles and venues across the hospitality sector. She remains passionate about utilising her experience to inspire, interest and educate hospitality staff and managers across NZ. Marg is a creative and engaging facilitator, who brings a fabulous sense of humour and fun to her sessions. For more information, contact info@restaurantnz.co.nz or phone 0800 737 827.

This is the opening to a larger series of events under our HiT30 showcase, a selection of short sharp webinars available for purchase on the RA website.

Immigration Policy Setting and Supply Chain Disruptions (EMA Members)

Wednesday 24 August – 4pm – 5pm (Hybrid event)

This is an in-person only event for EMA members. We encourage you to attend in person to take advantage of the networking opportunities our Forums provide. Chatham House Rule applies to this event. Join this members-only Policy Forum to hear from the Productivity Commission’s, Gail Pacheco, on their final recommendations to Government for their inquiry into immigration policy settings for New Zealand’s long-term prosperity and wellbeing. The Commission found immigration was net positive for the country. The Government has also flagged that it is likely to respond to the recommendations in the next few weeks. We will also be given a preview into the potential new inquiry topic around the New Zealand economy’s resilience to supply chain disruptions. The Productivity Commission provides advice to Government on improving productivity in a way that is directed to supporting the overall wellbeing of New Zealanders. Professor Gail Pacheco is an applied economist with a passion for evidence-based analysis. She is a Commissioner at the NZ Productivity Commission, as well as the Director of the NZ Work Research Institute at AUT. There will be a Q&A session and networking opportunities following the main discussion.

To become a member of the EMA: Click here

For more information, contact conferences@ema.co.nz or phone 0800 300 362 

FMCG Business Summit 2022

Thursday 1 September – 8.30am – 5.30pm – Ellerslie Events Centre, Auckland

After two hugely successful editions, FMCG Business Marketing Summit will be held again on Thursday 1 September 2022 at the Ellerslie Events Centre in Auckland. Fill your details in below and we will notify you of any news and updates. The FMCG Business Marketing Summit offers a full day of uncovering the marketing insights that make FMCG brands successful. Join us at the one-day marketing masterclass, jam-packed with education, stimulation and curated sessions that will help attendees to stay ahead of the game in NZ’s fast-moving grocery and retail sectors. The summit will include presentations from recognised industry experts, Q&A panel discussions and valuable networking opportunities to connect with other professionals. Please note: The 2022 FMCG Business Marketing Summit will be subject to the New Zealand public health orders at the time of the event.

Tickets to this event cost $395 + booking fees and can be purchased here.

For more information, contact bcurtis@intermedia.com.au 

Mayoral Debate 

Friday 9 September – 7.15am – 9.30am | Register Here 

With Auckland’s Mayoral Election approaching, we know there are a few contenders ready to take the position and it is crucial for business to understand who our candidates are. Hear from Auckland mayoral candidates on topics such as COVID-19 recovery and infrastructure for tomorrow. You’ll have the opportunity to listen to each candidate’s keynote presentation, understand the impact each candidate would have on Auckland if elected, and ask questions during the interactive Q&A session. To keep things interesting, we’re harnessing interactive technology. We know it’s not always easy to speak up in political spaces, as it’s often reserved for those who have the confidence to ask a question. The event will be delivered both in-person and online, and questions will be taken from both platforms via Slido. This will also give us an opportunity to poll a range of topics with the business audience. If you choose to attend online, the live stream will be available on our Auckland Business Chamber Facebook account on September 9th at 8am. No ticket needed! For more information, please email membership@chamber.co.nz 

NZ SME & Entrepreneur Festival 

When: 8 – 9 November from 8.30am – 5pm | Register Here 

Where: Sir Woolf Fisher Arena, Vodafone Events Centre, 770 Great South Rd, Manukau City  

There is no other event like the SME & Entrepreneur Festival Powered by Xero in NZ. 7 headline speakers - 26 workshops - 1 SME&E Party - 700 attendees. SME&E seamlessly combines high-quality business learning from some of the best business minds in NZ with entertainment, creativity and innovation. SME&E is a new business learning experience, you will leave with new insights, new skills to implement and a strategic framework to help your business grow. Check out some of the topics covered in the workshops and headline presentations: How to develop your brand story | How to measure digital marketing campaigns | Why you need an effective sales process | Why business values are essential | Why a thriving, inclusive work culture is a good business strategy | How to attract the right talent | How to create a business plan | What needs to be in a marketing plan | How to get more traffic to your website | How to incorporate culture into your business | How to analyse your marketing | Business law advice | Insurances tips | social media marketing tactics | Creating the right content for ads | PR tactics | more information here For more information, contact Craig on 021 0877 6773 or email craig@intrinsicevents.co.nz 

Don’t worry if you miss an event, all recordings are available in the Business Activate Community resources section. 

2022 APAC TVET Forum – Reshape, Rethink, Reset 

Asia Pacific Technical & Vocational Education and Training Forum (APAC) brings together global leaders with a focus on creating thriving futures for businesspeople around the world. This free two-day virtual event looks at sharing knowledge around the theme of “Reshape, Rethink and Reset” with topics including: 

• Solving skills shortages in a global community  

• Youth employment and lifelong learning 

• Skills for tomorrow and the credentials required  

• Reimagining work: digital transformation   

• Inclusive systems that bridge the gender gap and promote diversity  

• Embedding sustainability in vocational education   

Attendees will hear from senior government officials, major companies, international organisations and TVET sector leaders from around the world. Don’t delay! Register Now to secure your spot!  

Where: Online 

When: 14 September & 15 September 

For more information about this exciting event, visit www.apactvetforum.com, or email us at info@apactvetforum.com. 

Happy Healthy kids support from Variety 

The kids at Variety – Children’s Charity need your help. Every day, 1 in 5 Kiwi kids go without the basics most of us take for granted. At Variety, their support is focused on improving the wellbeing of children and young people across New Zealand and together we can give each kid what they need for a happier, healthier childhood. Click here to find out many ways you can show your support.  

Stop the spread of illness in winter – Protect your staff 

Help protect your staff from the spread of viruses this winter. There are steps you can take to control the spread airborne diseases at workplaces such as: 

• Keep spaces ventilated  

• Stay at home when sick 

• Encourage the use of masks and rapid antigen tests 

It’s important to follow recognised prevention measures and support your staff. These measures don’t just keep you safe but also reduce the number of employees likely to be away from work at one time.  

Click here to learn more. 

The PBT Team www.pacificbusiness.co.nz Ph 0800 287 7526