Three of New Zealand’s most influential business networks are merging to help boost the manufacturing sector for the years ahead.

The Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce (The Chamber), The Manufacturers’ Network (TMN), and the Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) are merging their operations supporting manufacturers to further enhance their respective services to the New Zealand business community.

The Chamber Chief Executive Leeann Watson says the merger is a vital step towards future-proofing the manufacturing sector in New Zealand and will have a significant positive impact on the business community as a whole.

“We are really excited about the additional benefits and opportunities the merging of our services will bring to business and, in particular, manufacturing across New Zealand,” says Ms Watson.

“This initiative will provide TMN members access to a much greater range of services and expertise available through The Chamber and EMA, and additional manufacturing expertise for our manufacturing members.”

EMA Chief Executive Kim Campbell (right) says the merger comes at a key time for employers.

“TMN is working in exciting and challenging areas of manufacturing expertise such as rapidly evolving technological change, robotics and applying Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the workplace,” says Mr Campbell.

“The specialist expertise TMN will bring to our existing membership will position our manufacturing members well for the future.”

The Manufacturers’ Network Chief Executive Dr Dieter Adam (above) says the merger will bring benefits for all involved.

“We look forward to working together to further enhance manufacturing in New Zealand, given the exponential changes the industry is facing.”

TMN will continue to support manufacturing across New Zealand through The Chamber and EMA. It will operate in a similar fashion to the successful ExportNZ model which has specialist exporters serviced under that umbrella, but within the BusinessNZ family.