Rena business impacts sought

Meetings are being held this week where businesses affected by the Rena exclusions zones, ramp closures and oil clean-up can tell someone how much it is costing them.

The Tauranga Chamber of Commerce is being asked for the information by the government says its chief executive, Max Mason.


'We have met over the weekend with the commercial fishing operators and some of the recreational clubs, the game fishing club, the fish and dive club,” says Max.

Meetings are being held this week at Classic Flyers at 5pm Tuesday and Thursday for anyone else whose livelihood has been affected.

'We'll be speaking to the operators at the meetings about what we will do and give a bit of overview about potentially what will happen about how the oil incident will impact them and their businesses,” says Max.

'The government has asked the chamber to help them create a model of how many businesses have bee affected by Rena.

'Also, what it will look at will be how many businesses, how many employees are affected, and the affect of Rena on those businesses so the government can go ahead and put some support package together.

'While we don't know what that will look like, it is our role to put together a picture of our industry here in Tauranga.”

The chamber is developing a model of the industries affected, which Max says fall into three broad categories at present: commercial fishing, the visitor/tourism industry, and recreational marine/watersports.

'For example, some of the fishing tournaments are revenue generators for the fishing clubs,” says Max.

'So what we are doing is we are basically developing a model of the activities and attractions.

'Many of our visitor based and commercial fishing businesses have already been hit hard by the Rena incident, and will need support if they are to survive. Suppliers to these industries also need to be factored in.

'We will be working with Tourism Bay of Plenty and representatives from the commercial fishing industry to develop recommendations on how government can assist them.”

Further developments in relation to the amount of oil spilled and the likely clean up time will also need to be factored in, says Max.

Other support available through the Chamber includes:

  • A website for the business community to keep up to date with information and resources – www.bizactionBOP.org.nz
  • A helpline for business recovery advice – 0800 BAYBIZ (229 249)
  • An 88 page Crisis Recovery Manual (from Canterbury Employers Chamber of Commerce) on the above website
  • Free training courses on crisis planning and management, scenario planning, financial restructuring and cash flow management, insurance issues post crisis, new revenue generation strategies, managing stress post crisis, and managing crisis based employment issues
  • Experienced mentors are available to support SMEs
  • Business advisors can provide crisis recovery advice to back up the training courses

The many offers of support from organisations who have offered to assist, will be coordinated so the right people receive the right help.

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2 comments

Ok as long as no taxpayer handout

Posted on 17-10-2011 15:08 | By JSmithington

Isn't it strange how we're told that business benefits everyone and that's why taxes and rates should go towards economic development. If business benefits everyone, then a disaster like this also affects everyone. So either we're all compensated or nobody's compensated. A bad as this disaster is, it's not the govt's role to dish out tax dollars to help business. Unless they help all businesses suffering from any kind of problems.


Gimme Gimme Gimme

Posted on 18-10-2011 14:15 | By Kin

I don't see businesses offering to pay more taxes when the economy is booming. No, then it's into the back pocket after avoiding tax as much as possible. All this is is John Key and his cronies buying votes and looking after their rich friends using OUR money. Scandulous.


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