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by Sharon Fifield, Chief Executive
Queenstown Business Chamber of Commerce

One of the great privileges of working at the Chamber is having a front-row seat to the pulse of change in our region. The message is clear: confidence is growing. I feel it in conversations with businesses, government, media, and visitors — and I see it on our streets. I read it in the results of our latest confidence survey. And let’s not feel guilty about it — we’ve earned it.

Right now, Queenstown is in an enviable position. When I speak with Chamber colleagues in the north, I don’t always hear the same optimism. Results from our latest Business Confidence survey tell us that half of local businesses believe the Queenstown Lakes districts economy will improve (up from 35% this time last year), and confidence in their own business outlook is even stronger. Looking ahead, most expect activity to increase in the coming months, and 41% anticipate that will translate into higher profits. That’s a strong foundation for success heading into 2026.

Of course, while businesses are great at solving their own challenges, there are times when government needs to help in creating the right conditions for productive growth. The Prime Minister echoed this sentiment during his visit last week, saying government’s role is to create the settings to enable economic success and then let us get on with it. He also highlighted the importance of business – community – government having an adult-to-adult relationship that find solutions together. Hard to disagree with that.

On solutions, our survey also asked what the new council should prioritise to support business outcomes. No surprises here: infrastructure —especially transport, simplifying regulatory processes, and levers to support CBD vitality topped the list. Interestingly, those solutions all go hand in hand.

When local businesses thrive, our whole community feels the lift. Yet we know the strain — social services are stretched, and the cost of living has bitten hard. Change is already here, and more is coming. Whether we welcome it or resist it, growth is happening. The smartest way to protect the place we love is to embrace reality, plan with purpose, and get ahead of it so it strengthens our community, and ensures the future we all care about.

As we close out the year, let’s celebrate the hard graft that got us through these tough past years. The outlook is bright and, if we work together, we can make the most of it.

Have a safe and happy summer season.