Martinborough Business Association

Cyclone Gabrielle has been a reminder that business continuity is a key business requirement in today’s times.

We are still dealing with the aftershocks of the Covid-19 pandemic with inflation soaring, interest rates “doubling”, fuel challenges and the overall cost of living spiralling all negatively impacting many people and families. Yet along comes a weather event producing the most powerful and destructive forces that we have ever experienced in our lifetimes in New Zealand / Aotearoa turning our lives and businesses upside down again.

Here in Martinborough, we got off lightly but in the wider Wairarapa not so. Our thoughts and support go out to those affected. Supply arrangements were hampered for a couple of days with the main Waihenga bridge being closed due to flooding. However, supplies from the Hawkes Bay and Auckland growers will have a flow effect on our supply chain so be prepared as customers for some shortages.

We throw the word resilience around a lot these days but it’s absolutely a necessity for business owners to ensure continuity and resilience testing for their businesses. In our small community, we can help our providers and community by shopping locally as much as we can and buying only what we need.