Opinion: Backing a Shared South Island Plan

Kylie Cornelius | Executive Officer | Marlborough Chamber of Commerce

Published in the Marlborough Weekend Express Sat 8 August.

One of the most important roles of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce is making sure the voice of Marlborough business is heard, whether that's advocating locally, in Wellington, or alongside other Chambers so regional New Zealand isn't overlooked.

 

That collaboration has been particularly strong these past few months. All eight South Island Chambers of Commerce, led by Business Canterbury, have come together for the first time around a single policy platform ahead of this year's election. It will be shared with political leaders ahead of the South Island Election Conference on 14 August at Te Pae in Christchurch, where business leaders from across Te Waipounamu will engage directly with party leaders on the issues shaping our economy ahead of the 2026 General Election.

 

The Chamber is, and always will be, politically neutral. Our job isn't to tell people who to vote for. It's to make sure decision makers understand what businesses need to succeed.

 

Marlborough already contributes significantly to that picture, and with the right settings we can contribute more. We're internationally recognised for our wine industry, seeing real growth in aquaculture and marine farming, and our manufacturers and tourism operators compete on the world stage. Add our strong primary industries and the small businesses keeping our communities thriving, and it's clear this region has a part to play in the platform's shared goal: lifting South Island GDP per capita to at least $130,000 by 2035.

 

But there are pressure points. I've had plenty of conversations with members about finding skilled staff, navigating rising compliance, dealing with rising costs, maintaining reliable transport links, and having the confidence to invest for the future. None of that is unique to Marlborough. It's being felt across a South Island economy worth around $100 billion, home to the 7,000 businesses this manifesto speaks for.

 

Rather than just listing the challenges, practical solutions are put forward built from what Chambers hear every day from those businesses: infrastructure, transport and energy security, workforce, immigration and vocational education, investment, exports, and cutting unnecessary compliance. All of it aimed at giving businesses the confidence to invest, employ people and grow, not just for this election cycle but for years to come.

 

For Marlborough, connectivity is where a lot of this hits closest to home. Reliable regional air services, resilient Cook Strait connections, efficient freight routes and strong digital infrastructure underpin almost everything we do, from getting exports to market to welcoming visitors, and that only works if it's planned ahead of demand rather than fixed once it's already holding us back.

 

South Island businesses aren't asking for special treatment. They're asking for practical, consistent policy that recognises the contribution regional New Zealand makes to the country's success. That's exactly what this manifesto sets out to achieve, and I hope whoever forms the next Government gives it the consideration it deserves.

You can read the full document on our website www.marlboroughchamber.nz/advocacy