Business South
1. Business / Trading Name:
• Business South Incorporated (officially “Business South: Otago Chamber and Southern Employers”) – formed by the 2021 merger of the Otago Chamber of Commerce and the Otago Southland Employers’ Association.
• Predecessor Names: Otago Chamber of Commerce (est. 1861) and Otago Southland Employers’ Association (est. 1890).
2. Company Number: Data Not Found. (Business South is an Incorporated Society, not a registered company.)
3. NZBN: 9429049261219 (New Zealand Business Number assigned upon incorporation in 2021).
4. Entity Type: Incorporated Society (Not-for-profit membership association) – a member-based organisation under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908.
5. Business Classification: “Business Services” (as per official filings) – i.e. services to businesses, including advocacy, training, and advisory support.
6. Industry Category: Business Consulting and Services (self-described on LinkedIn). In practice, Business South functions as a regional chamber of commerce and employers’ association representing cross-industry business interests in Otago and Southland.
7. Year Founded: 2021 (in current form as Business South Inc). Historical roots: Otago Chamber founded 1861, OSEA founded 1890.
8. Addresses:
• Registered Office: Level 3, Public Trust Building, 442 Moray Place, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
• Postal Address: P.O. Box 5713, Dunedin 9058, New Zealand.
(All operations are headquartered in Dunedin; legacy branch presence in Invercargill (Southland) existed via OSEA prior to merger.)
9. Website URL:
https://business-south.org.nz
.
10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/businesssouthnz (Company page with ~1,700 followers, describing it as a nonprofit serving Southern businesses).
11. Company Hub NZ URL: Data Not Found. (No entry located on CompanyHub or similar company directory sites for this entity.)
12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb17810ba6216e33a8b3&_timestamp=577463483514760 (Business South is listed on the Incorporated Societies Register (Companies Office) as of 2021, but no direct public profile URL is available; records can be obtained via the Companies Office search.)
13. Social Media URLs:
• Facebook: BusinessSouthNZ (Facebook page) – used for updates on events and advocacy campaigns.
• LinkedIn: Business South Inc (see above).
(No official Twitter account identified; social media engagement is primarily via Facebook and LinkedIn.)
14. Ultimate Holding Company: None. Business South is an independent incorporated society with no parent company or holding entity. (It is, however, part of the federated BusinessNZ network as a member/shareholder, not as a subsidiary).
15. Key Shareholders: None (Not applicable). As a non-profit society, Business South has members rather than shareholders – over 1,000 member businesses as of 2021. (Founding members were the businesses formerly belonging to OCC and OSEA.)
16. Leadership:
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Mike Collins – appointed inaugural CEO in 2021 (formerly an executive in the public health and education sector).
• Board Chair: Dominique Dowding – CEO of Dunedin’s Grand Casino, elected Board Chair of Business South.
• Board of Directors: Comprised of prominent Otago/Southland business figures, including CEOs/owners from sectors like retail (Neil Finn-House of Mitre 10), engineering (Gareth Evans of Farra Engineering), etc. The board blends legacy Chamber and Employers’ Association leadership. (Business South’s Board Chair and a Board Director also sit on the national BusinessNZ Board and NZ Chamber board, ensuring high-level representation.)
17. Staff: Approximately 20–30 staff are employed (LinkedIn reports “11–50” employees). The team includes advisors for employment law, training coordinators, regional Business Navigators and Workforce brokers, and an Advocacy Advisor. (Staff are based mainly in Dunedin, with some in Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes for regional business support.)
18. Staff that have held previous government roles:
• Mike Collins (CEO): Previously held executive roles at the Southern District Health Board and at Otago Polytechnic (public institutions) before joining Business South. His public-sector background gives him insight and networks within government.
• (Other staff and board members also have public-sector experience: e.g. former Chamber CEO Dougal McGowan left to take an economic development role at Dunedin City Council, and life member Chris Staynes served as Dunedin’s Deputy Mayor, indicating the revolving-door between this organisation and government bodies.)
19. Past Employees:
• Dougal McGowan – Chief Executive of the Otago Chamber of Commerce (2015–2021), who oversaw the Chamber up to the merger; he resigned to join the Dunedin City Council’s economic development unit in 2021, and later became CEO of Football South.
• John Christie – Longtime Chamber of Commerce CEO (1990s–2014), subsequently Director of Enterprise Dunedin at DCC (a move highlighted by his role in hiring McGowan to the Council). Christie’s transition exemplified how chamber executives moved into influential public-sector positions.
• Duncan Simpson – Former chief executive of OSEA (2000s), known for his work on employer advocacy (he was OSEA CEO prior to 2009, succeeded by John Scandrett).
• John Scandrett – Chief Executive of OSEA from 2009 until the 2021 merger (retired upon Business South’s formation).
(Many past leaders have maintained influential roles in the region, indicating the organisation’s deep local networks.)
20. Clients / Members: Not applicable (the organisation does not serve “clients” per se). Its members are the local businesses it represents – numbering over 1,200 companies across Otago and Southland as of 2023. These member businesses range from small startups and SMEs to large corporates and public-sector entities, spanning all major industries in the region.
21. Industries/Sectors Represented: Cross-sector representation. Business South speaks for a “broad cross-section” of the business community – from tourism and hospitality, to manufacturing and engineering, primary industries, education, retail, tech and professional services. Its membership covers the full range from small family businesses to the region’s largest employers. (Notably, it has focused initiatives in certain sectors: e.g. an engineering/manufacturing cluster via SOREC, and partnerships in education and workforce development.)
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements:
• Policy Submissions: Regular submissions to local and central government consultations are published. For example, Business South (on behalf of OCC and OSEA) submitted on the Otago Regional Council’s Policy Statement in 2021, and on Dunedin City Council’s Annual Plans, advocating business-friendly policies (infrastructure, urban development, etc.). It has also co-authored submissions to Parliament via BusinessNZ’s network – e.g. a joint submission (with ExportNZ and others) to a select committee on an international trade agreement.
• Government & Council Working Groups: Representatives have participated in government advisory groups (e.g. an OSEA/Business South delegate was on the Finance Minister’s 2004 working group on workplace savings that designed KiwiSaver). Locally, Business South is a partner in the Grow Dunedin Partnership and similar economic development forums with councils, which is publicly acknowledged.
• Meetings with Officials: Specific lobbying meetings are not publicly listed (no mandatory register exists), but it discloses a “positive working relationship” with local councils and collaboration with ministries on regional programmes. (Any direct engagements with Ministers – e.g. hosting Ministers at events or private meetings – are not transparently reported, a common gap noted in NZ’s lobbying transparency.)
23. Affiliations:
• BusinessNZ – Business South is a formal member of Business New Zealand, the national peak lobby for employers. It inherited OSEA’s position as a founding member of the BusinessNZ network and is even described as a “shareholder” of BusinessNZ. This affiliation links Business South to national advocacy campaigns and gives it a seat at the BusinessNZ Board table (Business South’s CEO and a Board member currently sit on BusinessNZ’s governing board).
• New Zealand Chambers of Commerce (NZCCI): Through the legacy of the Otago Chamber, Business South remains connected to the nationwide Chamber of Commerce network. Its CEO serves on the national Chamber board, ensuring the region’s voice is included in national chamber activities.
• Local & Industry Networks: Business South is intertwined with various regional bodies. It has a memorandum of understanding with the Southland Chamber of Commerce (established in mid-2000s to cooperate on shared services and events). It also partners with sector-specific groups like the Otago Southland Engineering Collective (SOREC) and ExportNZ/Manufacturers’ Network via BusinessNZ.
• Community & Iwi organisations: It lists partnerships with groups like KUMA (Southern Māori Business Network) and Aukaha (iwi consultancy), reflecting outreach to Māori business and community entities (though these appear to be project-based affiliations).
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations:
• Public-Private Partnerships: Business South collaborates extensively with local government and agencies. It works with Dunedin City Council, Otago Regional Council, and neighboring district councils on economic development initiatives. It jointly delivers programmes like Workforce Central Dunedin (a jobs and skills hub) in conjunction with Ministry of Social Development and education bodies.
• Corporate Partnerships: The organisation maintains a roster of corporate sponsors and “Enterprise Partners.” For example, Westpac, Air New Zealand, Noel Leeming, NZME, and others are listed as key funding or event partners. The biennial Business Awards are title-sponsored by Grand Casino (whose CEO chairs Business South), a fact that underscores close ties between the organisation’s leadership and its sponsors.
• Collaboration with Southland Chamber: As noted, an MoU allowed shared offices and joint events with Southland Chamber from 2004 onwards. This cooperative model extended some Business South/OSEA training and services into Southland even while the Southland Chamber remained separate.
• Educational & Training Collaborations: Business South partners with Otago Polytechnic/Te Pūkenga and the University of Otago Business School on training programs and internships. It also runs the Young Enterprise Scheme in Otago (with local schools) and a regional Business Mentors program, requiring collaboration with educational and nonprofit sectors.
25. Events (held or organised by this organisation):
• The Grand Business South Awards: A high-profile biennial business awards program celebrating regional business excellence. These awards (resuming the legacy of the Chamber’s business awards) attract wide participation and are accompanied by sponsored publications and gala dinners.
• Networking Functions: Regular networking events such as “BA5 – Business After 5” gatherings in Dunedin and Central Otago, and business breakfasts with guest speakers (often including local MPs, mayors, or industry leaders). These events serve as informal lobbying and influence opportunities, connecting members with decision-makers.
• Training Workshops & Seminars: Business South runs frequent professional development trainings and business seminars. Recent examples include sessions on the new Incorporated Societies Act compliance and Fair Pay Agreements webinars (with BusinessNZ experts) – events that implicitly lobby by educating members on how to respond to new regulations.
• Conferences and Industry Summits: In 2022, Business South (with SOREC) hosted a Regional Engineering Summit that drew 160 industry delegates and even the Minister for Regional Development. It also convenes an annual Dunedin Business Forum and supports events like CareerFest with other regional partners. Such events bolster its influence by positioning Business South as the convener of public discourse on economic issues in the South.
26. Political Donations: Data Not Found. A search of public donations registers shows no direct political donations by Business South or its predecessor organisations. As a membership-funded incorporated society, it generally does not donate to political parties. (Any political giving likely occurs via individual members or board members privately. No evidence of Business South itself financing political campaigns could be located.)
27. Controversies:
• Opposition to “Business South” Expansion: The launch of Business South stirred concern in Southland. In 2020, Southland’s economic development agency (Great South) publicly warned that the name “Business South” could cause confusion and undermine Southland’s own business support services. Great South, along with the Southland Chamber of Commerce, questioned whether the new entity might encroach on Southland territory and dilute Southland’s distinct voice at national level. This dispute exposed regional tensions; Business South later clarified its name as “Otago Chamber and Southern Employers” to avoid overstepping.
• Central Otago Splinter Talk: During merger discussions, some Central Otago business stakeholders (Queenstown and Wanaka chambers) indicated a desire to break away rather than be absorbed. This was a minor controversy highlighting not all local business communities welcomed a single southern mega-chamber. Business South had to assuage fears by promising collaboration and autonomy for those areas (e.g. maintaining separate Queenstown/Wanaka chambers).
• Perceived Conflict of Interest – Media: Critics have noted the potential conflict in having the CEO of Allied Press (publisher of the Otago Daily Times) on Business South’s board. While no specific scandal arose, this relationship raised eyebrows about whether the region’s largest newspaper might temper criticism of Business South or its agenda due to the direct involvement of its executive.
• Transparency Gaps: An ongoing point of criticism (not tied to a single incident) is the lack of transparency in Business South’s lobbying. As with other business lobbies, there is no requirement to disclose private meetings with officials. Good-government advocates have raised concerns that Business South’s influence on policy – particularly when it quietly coordinates with BusinessNZ against reforms like Fair Pay Agreements – happens out of public view.
28. Other information of note:
• Influence in Education Governance: Business South’s predecessors managed to secure representation in public institutions. Notably, an OSEA-nominated representative (Stuart McLauchlan) sat on the University of Otago Council for over a decade, advocating employer perspectives in the governance of the region’s largest tertiary institution. This unusual arrangement (BusinessNZ/Business South appointing a university council member) underscores the extent of institutional influence the group has had.
• Role in KiwiSaver Development: In 2005, an OSEA/Business South leader (Andrew Leys) was appointed to a six-person government working group on workplace savings. The outcome of that group was the design of New Zealand’s KiwiSaver scheme. This historical footnote reveals that the organisation contributed to major national policy well beyond its region – effectively helping shape retirement savings policy while ostensibly just a regional business body.
• Integration of Services: Business South doubles as a service provider. It administers the Regional Business Partner (RBP) programme in Otago, connecting local firms with government-funded innovation and mentoring grants (in partnership with NZTE and Callaghan Innovation). It also runs the “My Next Move” youth employment brokerage for the Ministry of Social Development. These quasi-public roles, funded by government, position Business South in a hybrid space – simultaneously lobbying government while delivering government initiatives, which is noteworthy when assessing its incentives and influence.
• Values and Rebranding: The new entity has deliberately rebranded with Māori language and sustainability values (“Tūhono. Whakatere. Whakamana – Connect. Navigate. Empower.”). Publicly, Business South champions sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Observers note this is part of a modern “integrity washing” trend among lobby groups – adopting community-oriented values and CSR rhetoric, even as their core mission remains advocating for business interests. How deeply these values influence its actions (versus being marketing) remains a point of discussion in the community.
29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Data Not Found. Neither Business South nor its predecessors openly disclosed receiving the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy in 2020–21. However, the pandemic did impact their operations, causing loss of event and training revenue. It is likely the prior organisations (OCC/OSEA) qualified for wage subsidies during the 2020 lockdowns (many membership-based organisations did), but specific records are not readily available. No mention of wage subsidy support appears in Business South’s 2021–2022 financial statements, suggesting any government support at that time was minimal or not separately itemised.
Sources:
[1] Our Story (Timeline), Business South Inc., https://business-south.org.nz/about/our-story/
[2] Our Story – New Legal Entity & Launch, Business South Inc., https://business-south.org.nz/about/our-story/
[3] Better than three-quarters majority of chamber voting members back merger, Otago Daily Times, https://www.odt.co.nz/business/better-three-quarters-majority-chamber-voting-members-back-merger
[4] Great South concerned with proposed ‘Business South’ name, Great South (Regional Development Agency), https://greatsouth.nz/news/great-south-concerned-with-proposed-business-south-name
[5] Mike Collins named Business South CEO, Otago Daily Times, https://www.odt.co.nz/business/mike-collins-named-business-south-ceo
[6] Pair made life members of group (OSEA final AGM), Otago Daily Times, https://www.odt.co.nz/business/pair-made-life-members-group
[7] Business South confirms its official name, Business South (press release via Scoop News), https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU2109/S00448/business-south-confirms-its-official-name.htm
[8] Business South Annual Report 2024 – Directory Page, Business South Inc., (PDF) https://business-south.org.nz/assets/Uploads/BSI-Annual-Report-2024.pdf
[9] Business South Inc submission – DCC Annual Plan 2023/24, Dunedin City Council (public document), (PDF) https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/965639/Business-South-Inc-submission-DCC-Annual-Plan-2023-24-FINAL.pdf
[10] Business South Inc submission – Otago Regional Policy Statement 2021, Otago Regional Council (public document), (PDF) https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/10619/business-south-inc-rps21_0408.pdf
[11] LinkedIn – Business South page (About), LinkedIn, https://nz.linkedin.com/company/businesssouthnz
[12] Business South Annual Report 2022 – Board Chair Report, Business South Inc., (PDF) https://business-south.org.nz/assets/Documents/Business-South-Annual-Report-2022.pdf
[13] Our People – Business South Team, Business South Inc., https://business-south.org.nz/about/our-people/
[14] McGowan – chief exec role a ‘great ride’, Otago Daily Times (The Star), https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/mcgowan-%E2%80%94-chief-exec-role-%E2%80%98great-ride%E2%80%99
[15] Sorec initiative partners with Business South, Otago Daily Times, https://www.odt.co.nz/business/sorec-initiative-partners-business-south
[16] Fair Pay Agreements – information and support, Business South Inc., https://business-south.org.nz/news/fair-pay-agreements-information-and-support (Note: indicates BusinessNZ stance on FPAs)
[17] What business is lobbying government for (Political Roundup), Bryce Edwards, NZ Herald/Democracy Project, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/what-business-is-lobbying-government-for-bryce-edwards-political-roundup/JN5ONDVFPRFGVMMRET3NF7FBYQ/ (analysis of business lobby influence)
[18] Newsroom: Shock as Govt offers no rent relief for SMEs, Newsroom.co.nz, (Referenced in ODT) https://newsroom.co.nz/2020/04/15/shock-as-govt-offers-no-rent-relief-for-smes/
[19] New Zealand Parliament – Select Committee submissions list, (reference to joint ExportNZ/NZIBF submission including Business South), via Democracy Project, https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/what-business-is-lobbying-government (Comments section)
[20] Business South Inc – Companies Office Register Entry, Companies Office (Incorporated Societies Register), (Referenced) – Incorporated Society Number: 2683791, NZBN 9429049261219 (registration 1 Oct 2021).
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz