Good Things Are Happening
Signs of Hope In Aotearoa
🌿 Good News Aotearoa – Edition 21st August 2025
If you’ve glanced at the headlines lately, you’ll know they’ve been full of worry - costs rising, political squabbles, international uncertainty. It’s easy to feel as though New Zealand is weighed down by problems. But just beneath that surface, in the places where community spirit meets small-business determination and scientific imagination, there’s a very different story being written. It’s a story of momentum, resilience and fresh possibility.
SMEs Leaning Into Capability
Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of our economy and despite pressure, they’re showing they’re not lying down. The Regional Business Partner Network has just reported a record level of engagement – nearly 4,500 SMEs sought support in 2024/25, up 7% on last year and more than 13% above 2022/23. That’s not a picture of businesses giving up. It’s the opposite: owners are leaning into advice, training and networks to build capability. Every workshop attended, every mentor conversation, is a step towards stronger local jobs and more resilient regions.
At the policy level, the Electricity Authority has moved to level the playing field between big gentailers and smaller independents. For small manufacturers, tech firms, or chilled-storage businesses whose biggest line item is power, fairer access and sharper competition isn’t a technicality - it’s breathing room. These regulatory tweaks could free up margins for businesses that have been battling cost inflation.
Meanwhile, the government’s updated national AI strategy has signalled serious investment in future capability – $213 million in tuition and training subsidies and a further $64 million tagged for STEM education. For SMEs, this matters. It means that tomorrow’s workforce will arrive better equipped to handle both the risks and opportunities of AI. From smarter logistics to personalised customer service, Kiwi businesses will have more tools to innovate without being left behind.
Communities Investing in Themselves
One of the brightest notes of the week comes from the Western Bay of Plenty. The Acorn Foundation has distributed a record $5.1 million in community funding this year, reaching grassroots charities and volunteer groups that keep communities thriving. In a time when many households are stretched, it’s reassuring to know that local philanthropy is not just steady but growing.
Across the motu, practical initiatives are multiplying. South Auckland is pushing ahead with more community gardens, turning vacant ground into kai security and connection points. In Tararua District, contestable funds remain open for groups working on projects that bring neighbours together. Christchurch has its Creative Communities round open for grassroots arts projects. Even nationally, the Age Friendly Fund is available to support projects that help older New Zealanders stay connected and valued.
Each of these funds may look modest in isolation, but together they paint a picture - local government, charities and citizens pulling in the same direction, making sure that support doesn’t just flow top-down but is designed and delivered in the very communities that need it.
Science and Health - Investing in Lives
In Wellington, the Malaghan Institute has secured $7.4 million over the next five years to advance cancer immunotherapy research. It’s hard to overstate what that means. A Kiwi lab working on the frontier of global science is a direct line from Aotearoa to better cancer outcomes for families here and abroad.
At the University of Auckland, researchers are leading a $5 million project to tackle breast-cancer inequity for Māori women, who face higher mortality rates. This is science tuned not just to discovery but to justice – ensuring the benefits of research flow fairly across our population.
These are not overnight wins, but they are long-term investments in wellbeing, the kind that will quietly change futures long after today’s political noise is forgotten.
Business Turning Points
On the retail front, a small but telling signal came from Baby Bunting, which has reported positive earnings in New Zealand after a tough 2024. Retailers in thin-margin sectors are often the first to feel pain and the last to bounce back. Seeing them turn a corner suggests that household spending, while still cautious, is stabilising. For suppliers and employees, that’s good news.
Looking ahead, fresh opportunities are opening for groups with ideas. Nelson’s Community Investment Fund small grants are live, with $2,000–$5,000 available for local projects. National Day of Reflection Community Fund grants close at the end of the month, supporting organisations that create space for healing and connection. These aren’t headlines that will lead the six-o-clock news, but for every school group, arts collective, or volunteer organisation, they are a reminder that resources are out there, waiting to be used for good.
The Flip Side of the Story
Put together, what do these developments show? At one level, they’re simply announcements – funding rounds, grants, policy tweaks, company results. But step back and you see the shape of something bigger.
While one part of the national conversation frets about decline, another part is actively building resilience. SMEs are doubling down on skills and capability. Communities are investing in each other through gardens, arts and funds. Scientists are attacking inequity and disease with world-class research. Even in retail, green shoots are appearing after a harsh season.
The flip side of the negative news is not denial – no one is pretending the challenges aren’t real. It’s balance. It’s remembering that alongside the loud headlines of division or difficulty, thousands of quiet, constructive acts are happening in our towns, labs, businesses and marae every day.
As New Zealanders, we often downplay good news, preferring modesty to trumpets. But maybe it’s time we allowed ourselves a little optimism. Because in between the lines of gloom, a more hopeful story is unfolding – and it’s ours to celebrate.
If you’d like a confidential, free of charge, free of obligation conversation about your business, here’s how to get me.
📞 Phone +64 275 665 682 ✉️ Email john.luxton@regenerationhq.co.nz 🌐 Contact Form www.regenerationhq.co.nz/contact
If you’d like to read more RegenerationHQ thinking on SME business and other things, go here – www.regenerationhq.co.nz/articlesoverview
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