-Helen Down,Chief Executive, Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“The most important thing the Government can do in these turbulent times is to keep a strong manufacturing base in New Zealand.  This will not only help solve the unemployment situation but it supports local supply chains and has a strong flow on effect to all society.

“The Hutt Valley itself has a huge manufacturing base. There’s not a lot we can’t do in this valley and across New Zealand.

“We have all the skills and resources as well as business owners motivated and keen to act with speed and manufacture things quickly,” said Helen Down, Chief Executive of Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce.  

Since March the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, along with Hutt City Council and Upper Hutt City Council, has been running a Hutt Valley Covid 19 Business Support Programme through various levels of lockdown. 

It has been working to ensure local companies get all the support they can and has been raising the profile of the needs of the manufacturing sector with government.

“Several of our local manufacturers instantly pivoted their business during lockdown earlier in the year and have proven they can very quickly adapt their products and services to meet sudden domestic demand changes.

“We all need to see this sector for what it can be going forward, and not what it used to be decades ago.”

One example came as a result of a significant downturn in business at Lockdown. Local packaging and supplies company Packaging Products partnered with local manufacturer Aluminium Extrusions to create and supply a pedal operated freestanding hand foam sanitiser dispenser which requires no batteries or sensors. 

Aluminium Extrusions quickly designed and manufactured the unit with Packaging Products supplying the hand sanitiser as well as some distribution.

Together, with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, the innovative unit was promoted nationwide which resulted in hundreds of dispensers being supplied into schools and workplaces around the country during lockdown. 

Before there was any suggestion of a lockdown in New Zealand, Hills Hats in Lower Hutt reviewed and upgraded its health and hygiene processes and produced a range of stylish and reusable protective face masks which were an instant hit with health workers, trades people, couriers and even one of the company’s US retail chain clients.

The company is continuing to receive huge local demand with orders coming in thick and fast.

Fraser Engineering is the largest manufacturer of Fire Engines in the pacific. The company, located in Wingate, Lower Hutt, employs 120 staff and is currently hiring staff with an order book filled up for the next few years.

According to the General Manager, Martin Simpson, the company received orders for another 20 vehicles around NZ and Australia during lockdown and as a result have hired more staff.

They are also looking to invest further in high speed machinery and technology to try and keep up capacity as they look to expand into several states across Australia.

Despite all this, Fraser Engineering experienced some major bumps in the road in the early stages of lockdown because they struggled to get placed on MBIE’s essential services list to continue operating during level 4.

Martin says if it wasn’t for the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, of which the business is a member, the damage to his company would have been significant.

The Chamber also helped Fraser Engineering connect with Hutt Valley plastics manufacturer Flight Plastics to help develop and produce cost-effective protective plastic face shields for local hospital workers.

The personal protective equipment project delivered face shields at a quarter of the price of those being imported from China at the time.

“Fraser Engineering’s partnership with Flight Plastics highlights how much manufacturing capacity we have in the Hutt Valley and throughout New Zealand. 

“It is because of this that we need to ensure funding and support is available to the manufacturing sector, our high tech industries and industrial companies, as well as all those small and medium sized businesses that are part of their supply and distribution chain. It is these sectors that will continue to supply our domestic markets if and when global supply chains and businesses get disrupted in the future.  

“We should develop our manufacturing, high tech and industrial sectors to meet not only domestic demand but also international demand,” said Helen Down, Chief Executive of Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

Alongside advocacy and support work for local businesses, the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Upper Hutt City Council, Lower Hutt City Council, the Ministry of Social Development and numerous local employers, has launched a two year programme which supports young people into vocational careers by connecting local schools, communities and employers.

“Labour shortages and being unable to employ the right staff remains a challenge for many of our local manufacturers and trades businesses who are still struggling to meet customer demand and employ the people they need.

“With two polytechnics in our valley we have the opportunity to support the business community to help local young people with their career path and into local jobs and apprenticeships.

“We believe the comprehensive programme will be a giant step in addressing the issues around labour shortages. In addition young people are one of the hardest hit sectors of our community when it comes to unemployment – they too can be a really valuable part of our recover. We need to do all we can to help them transition from secondary education into rewarding local trades and careers,” said Down.