The Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce’s April 2026 Business Confidence Survey shows a mixed picture for the region’s business community.
Current confidence and recent business performance improved since the previous survey, but revenue expectations for the next six months have weakened – 27% expect revenue to fall.
The survey received 117 responses from Hawke’s Bay businesses across a range of sectors, pointing to both resilience and ongoing pressure.
Compared with October 2025, businesses reported stronger confidence in Hawke’s Bay, with positive ratings rising from 18% to 24%. The share of businesses reporting performance above expectations increased from 14% to 22%, while those reporting below expectations declined from 38% to 32%.
On the other hand, the forward outlook is more cautious. The proportion of businesses expecting revenue to increase over the next six months fell from 43% to 35%, while those expecting revenue to decline rose from 17% to 27%.
That’s actually startling optimism from these HB respondents, as latest national surveys show plummeting business confidence. The latest NZIER survey reports the lowest confidence since 2024. Just a net 1% of firms expect general economic conditions to improve in the coming months, down from a net 39% in the December quarter, with the construction industry being the most pessimistic.
The ANZ Business Outlook survey for March reported a net 33% of respondents expected general business conditions to improve in the next 12 months, a sharp drop from 59% in pre-war February.
HB Chamber Chief Executive Karla Lee commented: “There are encouraging signs that some businesses are feeling more stable than they were late last year. But the drop in revenue expectations tells us caution is still very real across the region.
The survey found the top pressures on businesses were consumer demand and market confidence (60%), fuel costs and shortages (38%), and inflationary pressure (38%).
Energy also emerged as a clear priority for business support. Respondents identified the most useful areas for discussion and guidance as planning for future electricity demand, energy affordability, understanding energy options, practical case studies from Hawke’s Bay businesses, and managing energy use and efficiency.
For businesses with direct fossil fuel exposure, energy transition remains a significant operational and financial issue. Energy prices, gas availability and reliability, equipment replacement timing, and access to capital were all identified as major factors influencing business decisions.
These themes will be addressed at a Chamber of Commerce Energy Summit on 9 June 2026 at Toitoi in Hastings. The summit will focus on the region’s energy future, including affordability, resilience, infrastructure readiness, business transition needs, and the practical steps needed to support growth.
Ms Lee said: “Businesses need practical help to understand their options, what infrastructure will be available, what connection timeframes look like, and how to manage affordability. If we want businesses to invest with confidence, we need clearer pathways, better information and a stronger focus on the real-world challenges they are facing now.”
