Personality, Purpose and Play - A One-Day Seminar to Reignite Your Spark (Kaikohe)
2025-09-09 09:30 - 15:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Ngawha Innovation and Enterprise Park, 5449a State Highway 12, Kaikohe, Northland, 0405, New Zealand
Ready to reconnect with what makes you you — and have some fun doing it?
Join us for a dynamic, one-day experience designed to help you:
🧠 Understand the different personality types, and what makes you, you and what’s needed to better engage with others
💡 Reconnect with your purpose — your inner compass for clarity and impact
🎈 Rediscover the power of play — through curiosity, creativity, and a little cheek
When times are tough, knowing our strengths and those of others is important to help us build resilience and connection. You’ll learn how to use your gifts, know what others need, and hear how purpose can drive us to new directions.
This is not your average seminar. It’s interactive, energising, and full of insights you can use right away — in life, work, and relationships.
Meet Your Facilitators
Leah McKerrow | CEO of NorthChamber, Leah is a seasoned change leader with deep expertise in organisational culture, leadership, and transformation. She’s a certified in a range of profile tools like Myers Briggs Type Indicator and Team Management Index. As a facilitator, she’s known for her ability to make complex ideas accessible and actionable. And she’s tried her hand at Stand Up in Las Vegas in 2024!
🗣 “Leah brings clarity, warmth and insight to every room she’s in. Her sessions are always engaging, practical and full of lightbulb moments.”

Tania McInnes | A respected leader, strategist, and facilitator, Tania has a proven track record across government and community, in advocacy and project management. She believes leadership is most powerful when authentic, inclusive, and purpose driven. Her approach is grounded, values-led, and committed to empowering people and communities to thrive.
🗣 “Tania is an incredible advocate and leader — compassionate, visionary, and deeply committed to empowering others.”

[Event Postponed] BA5 hosted by Forsyth Barr
2025-09-10 17:30 - 19:00 | Forsyth Barr, L2, 120 Bank Street, Whangarei, 0110, New Zealand
Due to circumstances beyond the hosts control, they have chosen to postpone this event. This event will now happen in May 2026.

BA5 Hosted by NorthChamber and Mr Monopoly!
2025-09-10 17:30 - 19:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
Take a trip around Te Tai Tokerau Northland at our next BA5!
Join us in celebrating the launch of our very own Te Tai Tokerau Northland edition of Monopoly, a fun, family friendly celebration of our region and some of its unique places, spaces, and businesses.
Meet Mr Monopoly in person and take one of our bespoke playing tokens for a whizz around the board. We would love for our business community and project stakeholders to join us for this fun and interactive event and enjoy the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles. We’d love to see you there!

Northland Business Connect with Hon. Chris Bishop
2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
NorthChamber are pleased to bring the Hon. Minister Chris Bishop to connect with Northland businesses in Whangārei.
Proving that Northland is at the top of minds, Hon. Chris Bishop will be visiting Northland. Minister Bishop will be updating us on his key reporting areas that affect Whangārei and Northland businesses including Infrastructure, Transport and RMA reform.
Given Minister Bishops broad range of portfolios, this is an excellent opportunity to engage directly with the Minister and other business leaders to discuss the priority and focus of the Government. It is also an opportunity to explore key concerns around infrastructure and other areas affecting small businesses in our region.

About Hon. Chris Bishop | Chris Bishop is the Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Minister of Transport, Leader of the House, Associate Minister of Finance and Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation. He is the MP for Hutt South. Chris was born and raised in Lower Hutt where he lives with his wife and two children. He has a first-class Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington, and was the 2006 Young Wellingtonian of the Year. Before serving as an MP, Chris worked as a researcher for the National Party in Opposition and was later an advisor to Ministers in the John Key-led Government. Chris was the National Party Campaign Chair for the 2023 General Election.

BA5 Hosted by Boffa Miskell
2025-09-24 17:30 - 19:00 | Boffa Miskell, Level 1, BDO Business Centre, 15 Porowini Ave, Morningside, Whangārei, Northland, 0110
Curious about how great design and collaboration can transform communities? Join NorthChamber and the inspiring team at Boffa Miskell for our next BA5, hosted at their Whangārei offices.
Boffa Miskell is a proudly employee-owned New Zealand business with 50 years of experience in landscape architecture and environmental design. Their work spans Aotearoa, with a strong legacy right here in Te Tai Tokerau.
This is more than just a catch-up — it’s a chance to:

Explore how thoughtful design is shaping better places from town centres, and public spaces to blue-green networks, ecological restoration and ecological restoration projects across Northland.
Learn about exciting local initiatives like the Taipā Bridge & Main Street upgrades, Te Amo Pūtoro playspace in Kerikeri, and Te Ara Hikoa A Kauika Bridge.
Connect with professionals passionate about sustainability, community impact, and creating better places.
Support a local business making a real difference in our region.

BA5 | Hosted by Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) and Northern Rescue
2025-10-08 17:30 - 19:00 | NEST, 59 Handforth Street, Onerahi, Whangārei, Northland
Exciting times! The wonderful team at Northland Emergency Rescue Trust (NEST) and Northern Rescue would like to invite you along to this very special BA5. They are finally at their new base in Onerahi and can’t wait to show you around and update you on what has been happening.
Location | Whangarei Airport in the blue hangar at the very end of Handforth Street. 59 Handforth St is the Whangarei Airport Terminal building, walk to the very end of the road to reach the big blue hangar. See map below.
Parking | Parking will only be available on the road or in the Airport Public Carpark.

BA5 Hosted by GJ Gardner Whangārei / Kaipara (Marsden Cove)
2025-10-22 17:30 - 19:00 | GJ Gardner – Marsden Cove, 64 Maturiki Drive, Marsden Cove, Northland
Our next BA5 networking event is hosted by the incredible team at G.J. Gardner Homes Whangarei / Kaipara at their showhome in Marsden Cove. Please come along and check out this beautiful show home and hear the latest news from GJ’s – New Zealand’s most trusted home builder!
Of course there will also be the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles.

Westpac Smarts: Navigating Credit Trends
2025-10-23 10:30 - 11:30 | The Orchard
What’s really happening in the New Zealand economy, and what does it mean for your business.
Join us for an exclusive Westpac Smarts session featuring Keith McLaughlin, one of New Zealand’s most trusted voices in finance and credit. With over 30 years of experience including leading Baycorp through its growth era and now heading Centrix, NZ’s leading credit bureau, Keith brings unmatched insight into the financial forces shaping our business environment.
In this session, Keith will break down the latest Centrix credit data to reveal:

Consumer spending and borrowing patterns: What they signal about confidence and demand
Business credit trends: Who’s borrowing, who’s struggling, and what that means for your cash flow and growth
Financial stress indicators: How to spot early warning signs in your market or customer base

Whether you’re managing risk, planning for growth, or simply want to stay ahead of economic shifts, this session will give you the data-backed clarity to make smarter decisions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain practical insights that could directly impact your business strategy.

About Keith McLaughlin | A highly experienced Senior Executive and Director, Keith started Centrix with a vision to offer New Zealand businesses a superior and cost-efficient credit offering. Previously the Founder and Managing Director of Baycorp Holdings Limited, Keith has a wealth of finance experience and holds a number of awards, including Deloitte / Management Magazine NZ Executive of the Year.
About Centrix | As New Zealand’s national credit bureau, Centrix knows New Zealand better than anyone, with the most comprehensive consumer account payment data and credit information on 95% of Kiwis, or 4 million consumers. Centrix also has a Commercial Bureau, with data on most credit-active businesses, to help Kiwi businesses manage risk and protect their cashflow.

Retail Crime Prevention
2025-10-30 17:00 - 19:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
NorthChamber recently hosted the team from the Ministerial Inquiry into retail crime. As a result of those sessions, we are partnering with our local Police team to provide some support and assistance to our retailers in Whangarei ahead of our busy summer shopping season.

Retail Crime Prevention Seminar – Practical Tools for Retailers
Retail crime affects businesses of all sizes, but small, independent retailers often feel the impact more directly. This seminar is designed to help you and your team understand the common patterns behind shoplifting and retail theft, and what you can do to reduce the risk. You’ll learn how to spot early warning signs, respond safely and effectively, and make simple changes to your store layout and routines that can make a big difference.

Focused, Practical, and Staff-Friendly
We know your time is valuable, so this session provides you with practical tools you can use straight away. From staff training tips to low-cost deterrents, you’ll leave with some clear steps you can take. The seminar also covers how to build a safety-first culture that supports your team and helps prevent incidents before they happen. Whether you’re on the shop floor or managing the operations, this is a chance to strengthen your approach to retail crime prevention.

Our Facilitators:
Leanne Wakelin – One of the Police Sergeants working in the Area Prevention Team at the Whangarei Police Station. Portfolios include Retail Crime and Community Partnerships. With the Police for 24 years stationed in Whangarei, Wellington, and Kaikohe and spent 18 years as a Detective in the Criminal Investigation Branch.
Dave Wilkinson – Senior Sergeant Area Prevention Manager Whangarei/Kaipara, 28 years in the NZ Police, 20 plus years in the CIB Prevention teams include Retail Crime and Community Partnerships.
Matthew Tierney – Manager, National Retail Investigation Support Unit (NRISU) Police National Headquarters (Auckland based).

Northland Business Excellence Awards Celerbration 2025
2025-11-07 18:00 - 22:30 | McKay Stadium, 97 Western Hills Drive, Whangārei, Northland
Awards Presentation & Celebration Evening
The 2025 Awards Presentation & Celebration evening will showcase local food, wine and entertainment while offering plenty of opportunity for networking and celebrating before and after the formalities of the event.
Don’t miss the black-tie event of the year!
Ticket prices includes:

Welcome drink & canapés.
Entree, main and dessert served shared style to your table.
Two bottles of wine per table | Additional beverages will be available via the bar (note the bar is cashless – Eftpos and major credit cards accepted).
Awards programme and entertainment.

Hear from the 2025 winners and their success stories.
Opportunity for networking | Bar available | Music and dancing to follow.
Please get in touch if you would like a ticket office@northchamber.co.nz
Note: Entry to the Presentation & Celebration Evening is by ticket only. No ticket, no entry.

BA5 Hosted by Hot Spring Spas Whangārei
2025-11-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Hot Spring Spas Whangārei, 4/10 Gumdigger Place, Raumanga,, Whangārei, 0110
Join us for a vibrant BA5 evening hosted by Hot Spring Spas Whangārei, where wellness meets innovation, in a relaxed and social setting.
Hot Spring Spas are the world’s number one selling spa and New Zealand’s most trusted spa pool brand. Hot Spring Spas has had a presence in Northland for the last 15 years and one year ago moved into their impressive new 500sqm showroom. The company is NZ owned and operated with the head office and warehouse located in Auckland.
Hot Spring spas and Endless Pools swim spas specialise in creating ultimate relaxation and wellness experiences with innovative, energy-efficient products.
Discover the latest in luxury spas, swim spas, and cold plunge therapy — designed to help you relax, recover, and perform at your best. You will have a chance to learn more about the latest in hot and cold therapies and the many benefits they bring to your overall physical health and wellbeing.
You will also get hands-on with the products, hear from passionate experts, and enjoy a great evening of conversation, drinks, and nibbles. We’d love to see you there!
P.S. Feeling brave? Take on the Cold Plunge Challenge in the lead-up to the event! Contact Rebecca at rebecca.varley@hotspring.co.nz to get involved — there are prizes for those who give a cold plunge a go!

Making Safety Work 3.0
2025-11-26 10:00 - 14:30 | The Orchard
Making Safety Work 3.0 – Workshop Invitation
Join NorthChamber for the third session in our Making Safety Work series — a practical, interactive workshop designed to help you turn workplace events into opportunities for learning and improvement. This is particularly relevant for small businesses, and you do not need to have attended our earlier Making Safety Work events.
Led by international Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) specialist Matt Schlapfer, this half-day session goes beyond traditional investigations. You’ll explore modern root-cause analysis tools and learn how to uncover why events happen, not just what happened.
What You’ll Gain
• A clear understanding of HOP principles
• Tools to analyse events and near misses effectively
• Practical ways to identify real causes and system impacts
• A structured approach to sustainable improvement
Who Should Attend
Business owners, managers, and safety professionals ready to move from reactive compliance to proactive performance. Whether you’re a small retailer or a large operator, this workshop will help you make safety make sense — and add real value.
Your Takeaway
Leave with fresh insights, practical tools, and a better way to build safer, smarter workplaces.

Proudly supported by:

BA5 Hosted by Sport Northland
2025-11-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Sport Northland, McKay Lounge Room 1, McKay Stadium 98 Western Hills Drive, Whangārei
Sport Northland is one of 14 Regional Sports Trusts across Aotearoa, with a core purpose to enrich Northlanders’ lives by inspiring and enabling more movement. The team is excited to showcase how the Northland business community can make the most of McKay Stadium’s full facilities — including lounges, the stadium, and Kensington Fitness — to support team building and workplace wellness.
This BA5 is also an opportunity to hear how sponsors play a vital role in helping Sport Northland continue delivering on its mission. Their support enables impactful community programmes, events, and initiatives that promote healthier, more active lifestyles across Te Tai Tokerau.
Join us for a fun and interactive evening! Expect the usual great conversations, drinks and nibbles.
🎁 Plus, be in to win some awesome prizes:

2 x Family Passes to the Harcourts Hātea Loop Challenge – with a splash of colour!
1 x 3-Month Membership to Kensington Fitness
1 x Free Hire of the McKay Lounge

We’d love to see you there!

NorthChamber Christmas Connection 2025
2025-12-05 12:00 - 14:30 | Northland Rugby Clubrooms, 136 Riverside Drive, Parahaki, Whangarei, 0112, New Zealand
Get your diaries out now! The NorthChamber Christmas Connection sponsored by Oxygen8 Business Consulting is back and the NorthChamber would love to wrap up the year in style with you. Join us for a delicious Christmas lunch and inspiring guest speakers – it’s all about Connection, Kai and Kōrero!
We have brought together some inspirational guest speakers, organised a delicious lunch, and are assembling a bunch of fantastic people to hang out with. Make sure you get your tickets quick; we reached capacity last year and would hate for you to miss out this year. Your ticket includes Christmas lunch, drink on arrival and festive frivolity!
Your ticket includes Christmas lunch plus drink on arrival.
Gifts for you…
🎁 An Air New Zealand voucher ($500) for a NorthChamber member
🎁 We’ve also managed to get hold of some epic spot prizes from our friends at One NZ.
🏆 We will also announce our 2025 Chamber Champion, awarded in recognition of a Chamber member’s outstanding engagement and support of our work.
12.00 | Doors Open for networking and mingling.
12.30 | Event kickoff.
12.45 | Lunch served.
1.15 | Most Excellent Panel
1.45 | Prizes!
2.00 | Event ends (approx).
Many thanks to our valued sponsors: Oxygen8 Business Consulting, One NZ, and Air NZ.

Westpac Smarts | Quiz - Brains, Brews, and Banter
2025-12-11 16:00 - 18:00 | The Orchard
The end of year wind down just got competitive! Are you game? 🍕 Pizza, Beer, Wine – and plenty of finance-related Brain Teasers are on the cards!

Join us with a team of 4-6 and test what’s left of your collective brain cells after the epic year of mahi we have all had. If you’re solo business operator (or even a bit of a Nigel-no-mates because you neglected your social connections this year to drive your business), you can still join us and we will connect you into a team, and potentially with some amazing new business contacts for 2026!
Our Finance Quiz Master (a former Chief Economist!) is ready to put your money knowledge to the test. Can you outsmart the expert? There’s only one way to find out! Questions may or may not include; What is the OCR? What does EBITDA stand for? Or even What year did ABBA’s Money Money Money come out?
Bring your A-game, your team spirit, and your appetite. It’s going to be a great way to celebrate the year and connect with friends and colleagues.
Spaces are limited – book your spot now and let’s make this a quiz to remember!

Chamber Chats | Feb 2026
2026-02-12 10:00 - 11:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
If you’re curious about NorthChamber and want to know more about what we do for our Northland business community, we invite you to an informal chat over coffee (and a muffin!) with our CEO Leah McKerrow.
Leah is keen to share how NorthChamber advocates for our members and wider business community, how we help build business capability and connection through events and workshops, and celebrate our business through promotion, story telling and the Northland Business Excellence Awards. NorthChamber are excellent connectors and have built solid working relationships with our members and strategic partners. We want to hear about your business, your journey so far (even the not so good bits and pain points), so we can work together to get your business to the next level.
Already a member? Great! Leah would love to take this opportunity to catch up with you and you’re welcome to bring a friend in business.

BA5 Hosted by House of Travel
2026-02-18 17:30 - 19:00 | House of Travel Whangārei, 25 Rathbone St, entrance via Laurie Hall Carpark Lane, Whangarei, 0110, New Zealand
We’re excited to kick off the 2026 Business After 5 networking event series with our good friends at House of Travel Whangārei.

For 35 years, the locally owned team at House of Travel has supported Northlanders with personalised travel planning—and importantly, 24‑hour on‑call assistance when things don’t go quite to plan. From missed connections in the middle of the night to weather‑related cancellations, their team steps in so travellers don’t have to navigate the stress alone.
Join NorthChamber and the House of Travel team to reconnect with our local business community and get a behind‑the‑scenes look at how the team at House of Travel support clients every step of the journey.
We look forward to seeing you there and having a new year catch up over drinks and nibbles.

A Connected North [Private Event]
2026-02-24 09:30 - 15:30 | Tahuaroa, Waitangi Treaty Grounds, 1 Tau Henare Drive,, Waitangi, Northland, 0293, New Zealand
Note | this is a private, invite only event. If you are interested in learning more, please contact ceo@northchamber.co.nz. If you have already been invited by Leah McKerrow, please register below.

Join us for a day of collaboration and vision-building for Northland’s future.
This interactive event brings key Northland voices together to co-create a shared vision that strengthens our business ecosystem and fosters deeper connection across the region.
Expect rich conversations, inspiring success stories, and practical ideas to accelerate Northland’s economic momentum. Together, we’ll shape the messaging that showcases why Northland is the place for businesses to thrive and talent to relocate.
Helping Northland prosper is our key objective, and creating a compelling story for our business community is an important step in supporting our regional economic development efforts.
Purpose

Create a simple, compelling vision story for Northland through the lens of the business community.
Connect businesses with iwi, local and regional councils, education, and other stakeholders to strengthen the ecosystem.
Contextualise existing vision reports into real-world opportunities.

Outcomes

Stronger alignment and engagement among key stakeholders.
Widen and deepen the conversation about Northland’s future.
Identify collaborative focus areas and quick wins.
Produce a succinct, compelling story document to align stakeholders across Northland’s business ecosystem.

Agenda
9.30am | Networking
10.00am | Morning session starts
12.30pm | Lunch & networking
1.30pm | Afternoon session starts
2.45pm | Conclusion
3.30pm | Event ends

Note | this is a private, invite only event. If you are interested in learning more, please contact ceo@northchamber.co.nz. If you have already been invited by Leah McKerrow, please register below.

Business Breakfast with Hon. Nicola Willis
2026-02-26 07:30 - 09:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
Join us for a special business breakfast with the Hon. Nicola Willis, offering our local business community an opportunity to engage directly on the issues shaping New Zealand’s economic landscape.

This session will focus on key topics including infrastructure development, social investment, economic growth, and the current financial environment. Attendees will hear insights on government priorities and have the chance to raise questions, share perspectives, and discuss challenges affecting businesses across our region.
Whether you’re seeking clarity on upcoming policy settings, confidence in infrastructure, interested in long‑term economic direction, or looking to connect with other business leaders, this breakfast provides a valuable forum for informed, practical conversation.

About Nicola Willis | Nicola Willis is the Minister of Finance, Minister for Economic Growth and Minister for Social Investment. Prior to becoming an MP, Nicola held a number of senior management roles at New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra. She also served on the boards of Export NZ and policy think-tank the New Zealand Initiative. Nicola was a senior advisor to Prime Minister John Key during his first term in Government, having previously worked for the National Party in Opposition. She is a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with a first-class Honours degree in English literature. She grew up in Wellington, and today she lives there with her husband Duncan and their four children.

BA5 Hosted by Northland Scaffolding
2026-03-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Whangārei Athletics Lounge (Trigg Sports Arena), 25 Park Avenue, Kensington,, Whangārei, 0112
NorthChamber and the super fun team at Northland Scaffolding invite you to our next BA5 networking event.
Chris Douglas started the Northland Scaffolding 23 years ago and has weathered the ups and downs of economic cycles ever since. Through it all, one theme has remained constant: growth—growing the business, growing the capability of the team, and genuinely loving the journey along the way. Chris will share insights from building a resilient local company and what he’s learned over two decades in business.

Northland Scaffolding are also proud supporters of community events throughout Northland and will be showcasing some of the incredible organisations and initiatives they’ve helped over the past 12 months.

Please come along for the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles, we’d love to see you there.
Location – Athletics Whangārei Lounge (upstairs at Trigg Sports Arena), 25 Park Ave, Kensington.

ChamberChats | March 2026
2026-03-12 10:00 - 23:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand

NorthChamber AGM + Nibbles and Networking [Member only event]
2026-03-17 17:30 - 19:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
NorthChamber members, partners and friends — it’s your time!
Please join us for your Annual General Meeting followed by an evening of connection, celebration, and a bit of fun. We’ll catch up on the year that’s been, enjoy good kai and refreshments, roll the dice for our Business Booster giveaways, and help shape the year ahead with your ‘Ideas for Impact’.
What to expect:

5.30pm – 123rd Annual General Meeting
We’ll keep it short and sharp! No voting needed this year under our new constitution and Board.

6.00pm onwards – korero and connect
Have a go at our giant Monopoly‑style Business Booster game to unlock spot prizes designed to help grow your business. Share what you’d like more of from your Chamber in the coming year, and enjoy a look back through our “Chamber yesteryear” photo wall — you might even spot someone you know.

We’d truly love to see you there. If you haven’t connected with us for a while, this is your call to action! We’re here to help you connect, collaborate, and prosper — and we’d love to hear how we can support your goals.
Let’s celebrate our Chamber whānau — together.

BA5 Hosted by Ministry of Social Development
2026-03-25 17:30 - 19:00 | WOTSO, 31 Hannah Street, Whangārei, 0110
Connecting local talent with local business
We’re excited to welcome you to a special Business After 5 event hosted by Ministry of Social Development (MSD) alongside North Chamber – featuring MSD’s newly appointed Regional Commissioner, Rena Hona.
This is a fantastic opportunity for the Whangārei business community to connect with Rena: a respected public sector leader who’s recently returned home to Te Tai Tokerau. She brings deep local knowledge, strong relationships with agencies, iwi and communities nationwide, and a clear passion for partnering with businesses to support a strong, resilient Northland economy.
Here’s what’s in store:
✨ Hear directly from Rena about Northland’s workforce strengths and future opportunities.
🤝 Connect with our local Work Broker team and talk about your workforce needs.
🔍 Learn how MSD matches businesses with great candidates, including those with the skills or potential to grow.
📈 Discover practical ways to strengthen your team and support long‑term success.
🌟Network with local businesses – come along and enjoy the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles.
This event is all about how MSD can help local businesses to connect with local talent – giving you insight into how their teams can support your recruitment, training, and long‑term workforce planning.
Don’t miss out – register now and secure your spot!
We look forward to seeing you there for the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles.

ChamberChats | April 2026
2026-04-09 10:00 - 23:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
If you’re curious about NorthChamber and want to know more about what we do for our Northland business community, we invite you to an informal chat over coffee (and a muffin!) with our CEO Leah McKerrow.
Leah is keen to share how NorthChamber advocates for our members and wider business community, how we help build business capability and connection through events and workshops, and celebrate our business through promotion, story-telling and the Northland Business Excellence Awards. NorthChamber are excellent connectors and have built solid working relationships with our members and strategic partners. We want to hear about your business, your journey so far (even the not so good bits and pain points), so we can work together to get your business to the next level.
Already a member? Great! Leah would love to take this opportunity to catch up with you and you’re welcome to bring a friend in business.

NZ-India Free Trade Agreement Opportunity
2026-04-14 17:00 - 19:30 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
India is a strategic priority for New Zealand because of its growing global influence, economic scale, and regional importance. The New Zealand-India FTA will create valuable opportunities for New Zealand and Indian exporters to expand two-way trade. It also supports the Government’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.
The FTA provides New Zealand goods and services exporters with:

significant tariff preferences on key exports;
preferential access to India’s middle class which within five years will provide a larger market than the entire population of the EU or ASEAN ;
a more level playing field with key competitors who already have FTAs or other advantages in India, including Australia, UK, and Chile among others; and
greater opportunity for diversification and to grow exports

Who is this event for?
Any Northland based business professional or owner looking to explore the opportunities that a Free Trade Agreement with India brings.
Join us to hear from Indian business representatives calling in from India, learn about a proposed trade delegation to India, talk in person with the New Zealand based consulate team and the Indian Consulate General and grow your understanding of India’s dynamic market potential

Workshop | Shift Happens 2026 - A Leadership Reset
2026-04-21 09:15 - 14:45 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
Shift Happens 2026 is your one‑day road trip to a self-driven leadership reset — a chance to step out of the day‑to‑day, rethink how you make decisions, and walk away with practical tools and clarity to lead 2026 with more ease and direction.
You can expect to:

gain practical tools you may not even know existed;
enjoy fresh, helpful perspectives on everyday challenges; and
discover new strategies & techniques to navigate the bumps & potholes we all need to contend with.

There will be laughter, clarity, and plenty of “aha” moments – all designed to strengthen mindset, self-leadership and people skills, so you can lead your mahi with greater ease and intention.
Destination: by the end of the day, you’ll have mapped out clearer direction and next steps to help 2026 take you — and your business — to better places.

Facilitator bio
Jaki George-Tunnicliffe (Jaki GT) is a leadership facilitator and NLP Trainer (IANLP) and the director of Creating Change Ltd. With an extensive background in both HR and Neuro Linguistic Programming, she works with business owners and leaders to build clearer thinking, stronger communication.

POSTPONED BA5 Hosted by Cancer Society Northland POSTPONED
2026-04-22 17:30 - 19:00 | Cancer Society, Daffodill House, 73 Kamo Road, Kensington, Whangārei, Northland
Please note event postponed.
The team at Cancer Society Northland are excited to introduce a significant new initiative for our region — the Northland Lodge project, an accommodation lodge for Cancer Patients in Northland – Proposed Opening 2027
For many years, cancer patients and their whānau from Northland have been required to travel to Auckland for radiation therapy, staying at our Domain Lodge accommodation facility while receiving treatment at Auckland Hospital. From 2026, radiation therapy will be available at Whangārei Hospital, marking a pivotal shift in the delivery of cancer care in our region. A dedicated accommodation facility will provide not only a place to stay but also comprehensive wraparound support services, including nursing, psychological and counselling care, and social support.
This project will be transformational for cancer care in Te Tai Tokerau, and the Cancer Society team are eager to engage with the local business community to share our vision and invite collaboration.
Register below for what is sure to be an inspiring and informative BA5, plus the usual good chats, drinks and nibbles.

ChamberWorks | Northland Employer Roundtable
2026-04-30 08:00 - 09:30 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
Expressions of Interest: Northland Employer Roundtable – A breakfast discussion around employment in Tai Tokerau including workforce challenges and opportunities, and an insight into ChamberWorks
We would love to hear from local businesses interested in being part of a small (10-12 people), focused roundtable discussion on employment, workforce challenges, and opportunities in Northland.
This session will also mark the local introduction of ChamberWorks – a national programme supported by the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, delivered locally through Chamber, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development. This new partnership approach aims to better connect employers, talent, and workforce support.
About the Roundtable
This is not a public event, and attendance is not automatic.
We are keeping the group small to allow for open, practical discussion.
The kōrero will explore:

Workforce challenges and trends in Northland
Roles that are hardest to fill and why
What “work‑ready” looks like in practice
Where employers and jobseekers aren’t quite connecting
How ChamberWorks can help, and what we should focus on next

📅 Thursday, 30 April
⏰ 8.00am – 9.30am (breakfast provided)
📍 The Orchard Business & Events Hub, Whangārei
👥 Note, numbers will be limited for the roundtable, there will be further opportunity at a later date for wider engagement with our business community.
Ideal participants include businesses or organisations that:

Employ a large or diverse workforce
Find it challenging to recruit and retain staff
Work across the employment sector and would be able to apply multiple insights across the employment system or multiple sectors
Have experience (or challenges) in connecting jobseekers with employment

If you feel you have insights to contribute to this kaupapa, we’d love to hear from you. Register your Expression of Interest by emailing office@northchamber.co.nz and our Community Engagement Manger will be in touch.

Find out more about ChamberWorks
ChamberWorks also offers access to a range of free training and support, including:

Online learning to upskill teams (digital literacy, leadership, customer service and soft skills).
Wellbeing and mentoring support to help with staff retention and resilience.
Practical resources such as guides, templates and information about available funding.

BA5 Hosted by North Haven Hospice
2026-05-13 17:30 - 19:00 | North Haven Hospice Shop, cnr Robert and John Streets, Whangārei, 0110
North Haven Hospice Business After 5 and Op Shop to Office Challenge
Join us for an evening of connection, conversation and community impact at our next Business After 5, proudly hosted by North Haven Hospice and supported by Craigs Investment Partners.
This BA5 offers a chance to hear from Dr Warrick and the team at Hospice who do a remarkable job balancing purpose, people and financial reality, while finding creative ways to remain resilient and uphold their kaupapa of care. Catch up on the heart-warmingly successful ‘500 for 5’ and ‘$1k for Care’ projects and learn more about the latest ‘A Taste to Remember’ campaign.
And it wouldn’t be a Hospice BA5 if we didn’t have some optional after-hours retail therapy. So be prepared for the great Op Shop to Office Challenge! It’s a fun way to boost awareness of Hospice, create positive social media content that makes people smile and show your support for a much‑loved local cause.

Step 1: Create a thrifted outfit in-store at the BA5 (any style, any era, serious or fun).
Step 2: Wear it to work on the Thursday or Friday following the event.
Step 3: Take a photo and send it to – fundraising@northhavenhospice.org.nz for judging. Categories include Best Op Shop to Office Look and People’s Choice (most likes on the North Haven Hospice Facebook page – yes, your pic will appear on social media).
Step 4: Optional, but we’d love you to share the fun by posting your pic on your own or your organisation’s Facebook page and tag NorthChamber and North Haven Hospice and use #OpShopToOfficeChallenge.
We hope you decide to join in this fun – it is not compulsory, just an add-on to our usual good chats, good food and networking.
Please note: This event will be held at the Hospice Shop, cnr of Robert Street and John Street, Whangārei.

Proudly sponsored by:

ChamberChats | May 2026
2026-05-14 10:00 - 11:00 | The Orchard Business & Event Hub, Level one, Cnr Cameron & Walton St, Entrance off Walton St, via carpark, Whangārei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
If you’re curious about NorthChamber and want to know more about what we do for our Northland business community, we invite you to an informal chat over coffee (and a muffin!) with us.
We are keen to share how NorthChamber advocates for our members and wider business community, how we help build business capability and connection through events and workshops, and celebrate our business through promotion, story-telling and the Northland Business Excellence Awards. NorthChamber are excellent connectors and have built solid working relationships with our members and strategic partners. We want to hear about your business, your journey so far (even the not so good bits and pain points), so we can work together to get your business to the next level.
Already a member? Great! We would love to take this opportunity to catch up with you and you’re welcome to bring a friend in business.
