The best business leader networks in New Zealand

Running a business is not for the faint-hearted. We know that behind every one of the 546,000 SMEs in New Zealand is a business owner that has big goals and faces equally big challenges.

That’s why it can help to make connections with others in the same boat – no one understands business leaders better than other business leaders. Networks are a great way to make important connections that can help you and your business, and luckily, there’s no shortage of them across New Zealand.

We’ve collected some of the best business leader networks in New Zealand for you to check out. Many of these networks boast a varied membership and lots of different events – don’t worry, they’re not all the standard 5pm drinks and canapes mixers. There’s also a ton of opportunities for learning and upskilling, if you’re interested in that too.

National business networks

There are a few large-scale business networks with chapters all over the country. If you’re looking to tap into a network with members all over New Zealand, these places are a great place to start.

The Networkers

The Networkers has 43 groups and 603 members across New Zealand, and facilitates regular meetings between business professionals. They pride themselves on ‘light-hearted, interactive, local business networking’ and host both in-person and virtual meetings. The majority of their groups are based in the lower North Island and South Island.

Their meetings follow a particular format, starting with introductions, general sharing as a group and a speaker presentation or business activity. This is then followed by the meeting breaking into small groups, where members are encouraged to share about the successes and challenges that they are experiencing. To join, start with a free visit to one of their meetings. You can register your interest via their website.

The Networking Group

The Networking Group (TNG) is a networking organisation that connects Trades, Services and Professionals in New Zealand. They have over 30 networking groups based largely in the North Island, and are expanding into the South Island.

TNG promotes the power of ‘word of mouth’ marketing in their organisation. Meetings are held fortnightly and are designed to be relaxed and informal, where everyone is able to promote their business.

BNI New Zealand

Business Network International (BNI) is a global networking organisation with 10,640 chapters around the world and more than 125 in New Zealand. It’s one of the more structured organisations in this list – while you can attend events as a visitor, becoming a member of a chapter takes additional steps.

The chapters can be quite exclusive – for example, you’re invited to apply after attending a BNI meeting and they only take one person per professional classification for each chapter. This means that chapters are generally quite diverse in their expertise, as while they’re all business leaders, they’re representing different industries and professions.

Small Business NZ

Small Business NZ is a support and networking organisation, with events, discounted B2B services, online resources and training. It’s designed for 97% of New Zealand businesses that qualify as ‘small’ – wherever in the country they’re based.

They offer lifetime memberships for those interested in accessing all their services. However, some of their events and workshops are open to non-members too, so you can try before you commit.

Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association

The Employers’ and Manufacturers’ Association (EMA) has over 7000 members in the country and claims to be New Zealand’s largest business association. They offer support, advice and training for New Zealand businesses, as well as regular events held both in-person and online. If you’re keen on the in-person events, it’s worth noting that at the moment, many of their events are largely held in the upper half of the North Island.

If you’re interested in joining, membership rates are based on your business’ total gross payroll. Membership comes with additional rewards and benefits beyond access to their training and workshops.

Sustainable Business Network

While the impact of a tough economy has put a lot of New Zealand businesses in survival mode, the importance of sustainability isn’t going away anytime soon. If you’re interested in making your business more sustainable and in reducing your carbon emissions, the Sustainable Business Network could be a group for you.

There are almost 500 organisations that have joined the network, which holds regular informal meetups, events and courses. Members also get access to free sustainability workshops and a directory of resources and sustainable supplier details. Annual membership costs are related to your business turnover.

Callaghan Innovation

If your business is bringing something innovative and new to your industry, linking up with Callaghan Innovation could bring opportunities through the door. Asa government agency designed to support entrepreneurs, it boasts some extensive networks across a number of industries.

They hold a number of events and workshops across the country. These are generally available without any membership, although some have entry fees.

Regional business networks in the North Island

Despite being frequently forgotten on world maps, New Zealand is not a small country by any means. What works for a business in Otago could be a completely different story for one based in the Bay of Plenty. With that in mind, you might prefer local business networks, led by organisations that are wholly focused on your region.

Here are some of the biggest ones in the North Island…

Auckland Business Chamber

Auckland Business Chamber has loads of services for business leaders in the region, from training to networking events. Recent events include the Ethnic Business Symposium as well as a meeting with Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Hon Brooke van Velden on health and safety. They also host regular members’ evenings in a relaxed, after-work environment.

Waikato Chamber of Commerce

The Waikato Chamber of Commerce offers events, advocacy and training, as well as exclusive members’ deals. Recent events include a midday masterclass on effective performance management, as well as a guest talk from ex All Black Richie McCaw on leadership and resilience. As their website points out, joining the Chamber costs less than the price of a glass of wine per week – an appealing way to frame it!

Rotorua Business Chamber

The Rotorua Business Chamber works with all business organisations and agencies by providing advocacy, support services and networking. Recent events include ‘Business after 5’ talks with local business leaders, and the launch of a Women in Business series.

Tauranga Business Chamber

For business leaders in the Western Bay of Plenty, Tauranga Business Chamber offers networks and connections in all industries. They regularly host casual networking lunches, fun workshops (like one that teaches agile strategy through building Lego aeroplanes) and local business tours.

Taranaki Chamber of Commerce

Taranaki Chamber of Commerce links business leaders in the region with networking events, business savings, support and advice. Recent workshops range from advice on how to capture winning business imagery with just your smartphone to the basics of tech security.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce

The Wellington Chamber of Commerce supports business leaders with general business support, networking, learning and development and advice on international trade. They regularly host events with influential speakers and run member briefings twice a year, covering the economy and the employment relations space. As you’d expect from an organisation based in the capital, they also have plenty of events covering the latest employment updates from the government.

Regional business networks in the South Island

For those south of the Tasman, we’ve got a few suggestions for some great networks in the South Island that could help you and your business…

Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce

If you’re based in the top of the mainland, the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce is a good place to look for business events and support. Some of their upcoming events include free seminars on exporting products and managing risk, as well as complete courses on business topics like effective leadership and marketing basics.

Business Canterbury

Business Canterbury covers a huge region – the bulk of Canterbury and the West Coast – and they have a membership to match, with over 2500 business and non-profit organisations in their ranks. They host an extensive range of events so there’s something for every business leader, including an upcoming Prime Minister’s Lunch, get-togethers specifically for new members and breakfast seminars.

Business South

Business South covers the Otago and Southland regions and has more than 1300 members from a vast range of industries. They have regular networking events, including their Beer ‘n’ Yarn meetings and a women in business meetup called Wāhine Connection. There’s also loads of training on offer, from business basics to advanced leadership skills.

How to make the most of networking opportunities

Not everyone is a natural networker. If the idea of walking into a room of strangers and starting conversations makes you want to board the next flight out of the country, we’ve got some good news for you – networking is a skill, not an ability you’re born with. Anyone can learn networking skills and build strong connections if they commit to it.

We’ve got a complete guide to nailing networking here, including acing those first introductions and a list of interesting conversation starters. The key takeaways? Set realistic expectations for yourself, spend a little time preparing, try out a variety of events and don’t forget to follow up with those new connections after the first meeting.

Employment Hero – we’re here to help business leaders in New Zealand

While you’re making new connections and growing your business, why not take some admin off your plate? Employment Hero helps you manage all aspects of employment, from finding employees in New Zealand (and beyond), to creating a strong company culture both in and out of the office, and ensuring an engaged team who look forward to coming to work.

Using Employment Hero also gives you access to our suite of HR and payroll features, from sending out workplace policies for digital acknowledgement to automated IRD payday filing. Get rid of all those manual tasks that eat up the day with one easy solution.

Just ask the business leaders who use our platform – 85% agree that Employment Hero makes managing employment easier. Businesses who implement Employment Hero also experience a 338% return on investment by the end of their first three years.

To find out more about Employment Hero, book a demo with one of our team today.