Chambers of Commerce NZ

1. Business / Trading Name: New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Incorporated (NZCCI). Commonly referred to as the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce. It is the national umbrella organisation for local Chambers of Commerce in New Zealand.

2. Company Number: 216528 (Incorporated Society register number). (NZCCI is an incorporated society rather than a limited company.)

3. NZBN: 9429042707127 (NZ Business Number for “New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Incorporated”).

4. Entity Type: Incorporated Society (not-for-profit business membership association). (NZCCI is registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 as a non-profit membership organization.)

5. Business Classification: Business and employers’ membership association. (Represents and services member businesses and local chambers; engages in advocacy and networking.)

6. Industry Category: Industry/Trade Association (Chamber of Commerce network). (Operates in the “Professional, Scientific and Technical Services” sector under business association activities.)

7. Year Founded: 1915. (The umbrella Association of NZ Chambers of Commerce was established in 1915, while local chambers date back to the 1850s.)

8. Addresses: Registered Office – Level 28, Majestic Centre, 100 Willis Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. Postal – P.O. Box 47, Auckland 1140, New Zealand. (The official registered address is at the Wellington Employers’ Chamber of Commerce offices in Wellington. while the network’s contact mailing address is in Auckland.)

9. Website URL: New Zealand Chambers of Commerce – https://www.newzealandchambers.co.nz (official site). (Note: The national site provides information on the chamber network, membership benefits, and services.)

10. LinkedIn URL: No dedicated NZCCI LinkedIn page was identified. (However, many local Chambers and their executives (e.g. Auckland Business Chamber) maintain LinkedIn profiles. NZCCI itself appears to use other channels for communications.)

11. Company Hub NZ URL: Not applicable

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb172bb6d21295fe6801&_timestamp=402340048997829 NZ Companies Office (Incorporated Societies Register) – New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Incorporated.

13. Social Media URLs: NZCCI itself has a limited social media presence. Key figures and regional chambers use social media:

• Twitter: The umbrella NZ Chambers does not have a standalone Twitter, but local Chambers (e.g. @AucklandChamber) are active.

• Facebook: Many local Chambers have Facebook pages (e.g. “Greater Wellington Chamber” on Facebook).

• Instagram: Not used by NZCCI centrally; some local chambers utilize it.

(In summary, social media activity is primarily at the local Chamber level rather than a unified NZCCI account.)

14. Ultimate Holding Company: None. NZCCI is not owned by any company; it is a non-profit collective association of chambers. (The organization is governed by its member Chambers rather than a parent company.)

15. Key Shareholders: Not applicable. As an incorporated society, NZCCI has no shareholders. Its “owners” are effectively the member Chambers of Commerce nationwide. (All 30 regional Chambers are members of NZCCI, rather than shareholders in a corporate sense.)

16. Leadership (Current and Past): NZCCI is governed by a Board composed of leaders from major regional Chambers. Current Chair (2024): Chris Hughes (elected January 2024) – a Southland business leader, marking the first time a Southland representative leads the national body. Board Members: By constitution, include the Chief Executives of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Chambers, plus one elected representative from each of the four regional hubs and an additional member elected at the AGM. Notable current board figures include Simon Bridges – CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber and former MP (represents Northern region), Simon Arcus – CEO of Wellington Chamber/Business Central (Central region), Leeann Watson – CEO of Canterbury Employers’ Chamber (Canterbury region), and Mike Collins – CEO of Business South (Otago/Southern region). Past chairs of NZCCI have included John Lindsay (Chair in 2004) and other regional chamber leaders. Historically influential CEOs like Michael Barnett (Auckland Chamber CEO 1991–2022) served on the NZCCI board and helped shape its direction.

17. Staff (Current and Past): NZCCI itself has a small secretariat function (often staffed by personnel of a host Chamber). There is no large dedicated staff solely for NZCCI; instead, it leverages the staff of member Chambers for its activities. For example, policy coordination and administration are often handled by Wellington Chamber (Business Central) or Auckland Chamber staff as needed. Key personnel involved in NZCCI’s work have included policy advisors and managers drawn from member Chambers. Past notable staff: Philip Lewin (former Wellington Chamber CEO, active in NZCCI circa 2004), and Michael Barnett (as Auckland Chamber CEO, also acting in a national advocacy role). The current coordination appears to involve senior Chamber executives (e.g. advocacy managers like Conor Whitten in Wellington working on NZCCI campaigns). Overall, NZCCI’s “staff” are essentially the combined professional staff of the local Chambers working collaboratively.

18. Staff that have held previous government roles: Several individuals in NZCCI’s leadership have government backgrounds, exemplifying the “revolving door” between politics and lobbying:

• Hon. Simon Bridges: Current Auckland Chamber CEO (and thus NZCCI board member) is a former Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition (National Party). Bridges’ move from high public office to a top business lobby role is a prime example of political-to-industry migration.

• Other examples: Past chamber leaders have been appointed to government advisory boards and vice versa. For instance, Michael Barnett (longtime Auckland Chamber CEO) served on government taskforces and advisory panels, though not an elected official.

(In summary, NZCCI’s orbit includes former politicians and officials who leverage their government experience in the Chambers’ advocacy work.)

19. Past Employees: As NZCCI itself has few direct employees, this mainly refers to notable former chamber executives involved in NZCCI:

• Michael Barnett – Former Auckland Chamber CEO (1991–2022) who was a prominent voice of NZCCI nationally.

• John Milford – Former Wellington Chamber CEO (2015–2019), active in NZCCI initiatives, later involved in local government roles.

• Philip Lewin – Former Wellington Chamber Chief Executive in the early 2000s, who led national policy documents for NZCCI.

• Charles Finny – Former Wellington Chamber CEO (earlier in 2000s), who had also been a senior trade negotiator (bridging government and chamber roles).

• John Lindsay – A past NZCCI Chair (2004) from Northland, who as a business leader helped guide the national body.

(These individuals, after leaving their chamber roles, often remained influential in business or public policy circles.)

20. Clients: Not applicable in the traditional sense. NZCCI does not have “clients” as a lobbying firm would; instead it represents its members. Its primary stakeholders are the 30 regional Chambers of Commerce and, by extension, the ~22,000 businesses that those chambers comprise. These member businesses range from small enterprises to some of New Zealand’s largest corporations. In effect, NZCCI’s “clients” are its member chambers and the business community they serve. (NZCCI’s advocacy is on behalf of this broad membership, rather than for fee-paying external clients.)

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: NZCCI represents a broad cross-section of industries. Because its membership includes over twenty thousand businesses of all sizes. virtually every sector of the New Zealand economy is represented – from agriculture and manufacturing to services, retail, trades, and technology. It notably speaks for SMEs as well as major corporations across these sectors. The Chambers’ network is not industry-specific but rather region-based, so collectively they cover all major industries through local membership. (This broad representation gives NZCCI a mandate to comment on general business conditions, rather than niche industry issues.)

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: NZCCI and its member Chambers regularly engage in formal consultations and publish submissions:

• Government Submissions: NZCCI frequently makes submissions to Parliament and government inquiries on economic policy. For example, it submitted to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into services sector productivity (2013) and to MFAT on the NZ–EU Free Trade Agreement (2016). It has also lodged submissions on local government funding (e.g. 2007 Rates Inquiry) and other legislative bills.

• Select Committee Appearances: Representatives of NZCCI or major Chambers have appeared before select committees on matters like employment law reforms and local government legislation (often providing the collective chamber perspective).

• Meetings with Officials/Ministers: While not formally disclosed in a registry, Chambers are known to meet with Ministers and government agencies. (For instance, Auckland Chamber under Michael Barnett worked closely with the Ministry of Social Development during COVID-19 policy rollouts.)

• Public Events and Speeches: NZCCI often hosts political leaders at events (e.g. the Prime Minister or Ministers addressing chamber luncheons), which are publicized. These engagements serve as advocacy opportunities, though framed as business community events.

• Press Releases/Open Letters: The Chambers publicly release statements on policy (archived on Scoop.co.nz and chamber websites), such as welcoming or criticizing budget measures, tax changes, and regulations.

(However, no comprehensive public register of lobbying meetings exists in NZ, so many interactions are not publicly listed, a noted transparency gap.)

23. Affiliations: NZCCI is closely affiliated with both domestic and international bodies:

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): NZCCI is the New Zealand affiliate to the ICC, connecting NZ businesses to the 22,000 chambers worldwide network.

• BusinessNZ: NZCCI maintains a working relationship with BusinessNZ (the national employers’ federation). Many regional Chambers are dual members of NZCCI and regional employers’ associations that compose BusinessNZ. They often coordinate on policy (e.g. jointly opposing certain labor regulations).

• Local Government Business Forum: NZCCI is a member of this forum alongside BusinessNZ, Federated Farmers, and others, advocating for local government reforms.

• New Zealand International Business Forum (NZIBF): NZCCI contributes to broader trade policy coalitions (e.g. input to NZIBF papers on trade agreements).

• Coalitions/Alliances: The Chambers partner with sector groups on specific issues (for instance, teaming with industry associations to lobby on infrastructure or skills). They were part of the Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (EMA) in Northern NZ through joint initiatives historically, and collaborate with groups like ExportNZ (which is often led by chamber executives in regions).

• Regional Economic Development Agencies: Many Chambers have MOUs or informal partnerships with local economic development bodies and city councils, aligning business advocacy efforts.

(These affiliations amplify NZCCI’s voice by aligning it with other powerful business interests, both nationally and globally.)

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: NZCCI and local Chambers engage in sponsorships and collaborative programs:

• Corporate Partnerships: The Chambers have national alliance partners providing member benefits. For example, Bunnings Warehouse is a National Alliance Partner offering discounts to chamber members. Likewise, Z Energy fuel and Westpac banking have partnered with Chambers for member deals.

• 2degrees Collaboration: In 2024, NZCCI partnered with 2degrees (telecom provider) to offer exclusive deals to members – a partnership framed as “fighting for fair” for businesses.

• Events Sponsorship: Annual Chamber awards and conferences often have sponsors (e.g. banks, airlines, professional services firms sponsor national chamber conferences and regional business awards).

• Government Collaboration: NZCCI has collaborated with government agencies on initiatives like Business Mentors NZ, export documentation, and COVID-19 support programs. During the pandemic, Chambers worked with MSD on wage subsidy rollout (as noted). effectively co-delivering support.

• Trade Promotion: The Chambers collaborate with NZ Trade & Enterprise and MFAT for trade delegations and hosting foreign business councils (e.g. Taiwan Trade Development Council, as indicated by chamber board members’ involvement).

(Such sponsorships and collaborations provide funding and extended reach, but also tie the Chambers’ brand to corporate and government partners, raising potential conflict-of-interest questions addressed later.)

25. Events (held or organised by this organisation): The Chamber network is very active in events:

• Annual NZCCI Conference: A national gathering of all Chambers, featuring workshops and often addresses from political leaders. For example, the 2004 NZCCI national conference in Nelson launched a policy manifesto.

• Business Awards: NZCCI endorses various regional business awards nights held by local Chambers to celebrate business excellence.

• Networking and Training Events: Through its members, NZCCI collectively holds hundreds of events annually – from networking breakfasts and after-five mixers to seminars on regulatory changes. (These are often branded under local Chamber names but part of the NZCCI mission of business support.)

• Advocacy Events: “Beehive to Business” series, where Ministers or MPs are hosted by Chambers to speak and hear from businesses (e.g. Wellington Chamber’s Beehive to Business events). Also, election-year political debates or “Meet the Candidates” forums are organised by Chambers.

• International Delegations: NZCCI helps coordinate inbound/outbound trade missions. Chambers host visiting business delegations and lead Kiwi delegations overseas (e.g. a Korea-NZ business roundtable included Chambers’ participation).

• Webinars/Briefings: Recently, national webinars on topics like Fair Pay Agreements or COVID-19 recovery have been conducted under the Chamber network banner to inform and lobby (Chambers jointly presented positions, reflecting NZCCI stance).

(These events serve dual purposes: providing value to members and creating platforms for lobbying and public influence.)

26. Political Donations: None disclosed by NZCCI itself. As a not-for-profit association, NZCCI does not donate to political parties or candidates. Its constitution and role focus on advocacy through policy, not electoral financing. A search of electoral donation records in NZ does not show donations from “New Zealand Chambers of Commerce Inc.” or similar. (It’s possible individual member chambers or businesspeople associated with them donate in personal capacities, but the organisation as a whole does not contribute funds to parties. Instead, it seeks influence via advocacy and dialogue rather than direct political financing.)

27. Controversies: NZCCI generally operates with a low public profile, and few major scandals are recorded. However, some points of contention include:

• Advocacy vs. Public Interest: Critics (especially unions and community groups) have occasionally argued that Chambers’ lobbying – for example against higher minimum wages or mandatory industry-wide employment terms – prioritizes business profits over worker welfare. For instance, the Chambers’ “vocal opposition” to Fair Pay Agreements (collective wage bargaining law) was contentious, putting them at odds with labor organizations.

• Transparency of Influence: Good-government advocates have noted that groups like NZCCI exert substantial behind-the-scenes influence yet are not required to register lobbying activities in NZ (since no mandatory lobbyist register exists). This has been raised as a transparency concern in media and academic discussions of lobbying (a critique of the entire sector rather than NZCCI alone).

• Internal Tensions: On occasion, there have been disagreements within the chamber network – for example, resource allocation between big-city chambers and smaller ones. These rarely spill into media, but a historical example is the mid-2000s review of NZCCI’s structure, when some Chambers questioned the value of the national body. The resolution was a recommitment to collective advocacy (documented in internal minutes but not widely publicized).

• COVID-19 Response Role: While largely praised for assisting businesses, Chambers faced some criticism during COVID for pushing early border reopening and commercial rent relief that some saw as risking health measures. Although not a scandal, it did spark debate on balancing economic and health priorities.

(Overall, NZCCI has managed to avoid major public scandals; controversies are mostly about its policy positions and the quiet nature of its lobbying.)

28. Other Information of Note:

• Statutory Recognition: NZCCI is formally acknowledged in certain laws/regulations as a representative business body. For example, the Standards Council Regulations reserve a seat for a nominee of the NZ Chambers of Commerce Incorporated. indicating its official consultative status in regulatory processes.

• Certificates of Origin Authority: The New Zealand Chambers of Commerce are authorized by government (NZ Customs) to issue certificates of origin for exporters. This quasi-regulatory function underscores the Chambers’ established role in trade facilitation.

• Relationship with Government Agencies: Beyond lobbying, NZCCI (via local Chambers) sometimes delivers government-funded programs (e.g. management capability training vouchers, business mentoring). This dual role as government partner and lobbyist can blur lines but also gives NZCCI inside access to policy implementation discussions.

• Name Variations: NZCCI is sometimes referred to as the “New Zealand Chambers of Commerce & Industry.” Internationally, it’s recognized as the national chamber body for NZ (e.g. listed by the International Labour Organization as the top-level business chamber in NZ).

• Size and Reach: With 30 Chambers and 22,000 member firms, NZCCI’s network employs a significant portion of NZ’s workforce (by one estimate, chambers’ member companies employ over 50% of the private sector workforce, though an exact figure is not confirmed in sources). This reach is often cited in their advocacy to demonstrate legitimacy as the “voice of business.”

• Digital Platforms: NZCCI has supported initiatives like Business Search NZ, an online member directory for networking. It shows the Chambers adapting to digital modes of connecting businesses, extending their influence online as well.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Yes (indirectly). NZCCI’s member Chambers widely benefited from the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy (2020–21), and the Auckland Chamber in particular worked with MSD to ensure businesses got access to subsidies. The NZCCI national office itself had minimal staff and did not publicly report receiving a wage subsidy for its operations. However, many individual Chambers of Commerce (who fund NZCCI) did receive wage subsidies to retain their employees during pandemic lockdowns. For example, large chambers like Auckland and Wellington applied for and obtained the subsidy for their staff (this was noted anecdotally in media). NZCCI’s leadership openly praised the scheme’s effectiveness in saving jobs and acted as an intermediary to expedite payments to members. (In summary, while NZCCI Inc. as an entity isn’t listed as a major subsidy recipient, its constituent chambers utilized the Wage Subsidy, meaning the organisation as a whole was supported by that government assistance during COVID.)

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz