Raglan Business Chamber

08/10/2026

Welcome to the Chamber, Go Eco.

You might know them as the Waikato Environment Centre. They're Waikato's community-led environment hub, working across kai, taiao and para kore. That covers everything from food rescue to predator free projects to zero waste.

The exciting part for our members. Go Eco runs the Climate Resilience Programme, and it's free for small businesses and community organisations.

You get a business audit to find where you can save, your emissions measured and tracked, and a plan built for your business. There are free workshops and one-on-one advice too, and you don't need to know a thing about sustainability to get started.

Places are limited, so if you're keen, email [email protected] or take a look at https://www.goecocrp.app/

04/10/2026

Fabi once set up a clothes rack in the middle of town, sold secondhand clothes, and used the money to fly her kids to Brazil to meet their grandparents.

Katie's response: "That's a businesswoman."

Fabiana Henderson owns Raglan Botanicals. She spent 15 years in São Paulo's jewellery district, worked in New York, and has called Raglan home for almost 22 years.

Also in this ep:
-The travel agency she studied for right as the world locked down
-4am drives to Auckland markets and making product at 1am
-How she built her whole shop in a week (she blames being an Aries)
-The day Kia Ora magazine got in touch with her
-Jewellery that gets welded on so you can't lose it
-Her big dream, which involves an airport

"Give to Gain" is a podcast by the Raglan Business Chamber and it's all about highlighting the women in Raglan. Check out this ep and more; Check out this ep (and the rest) https://open.spotify.com/episode/4Bv8l1dFgc8XzBNvVTNbPX .

Ngā mihi to for supporting the series.

24/09/2026

She built the shop in a week.

Fabi Henderson’s path to building Raglan Botanicals Aromatherapy was definitely not a straight one.

Episode Five of Give to Gain is a good one.

From 4am market starts and making products after midnight to shipping Raglan-made products around the world, Fabi talks about the work behind the shop, taking opportunities before you overthink them, and why Whāingaroa’s businesswomen are stronger when they back each other. 🎙️

Listen to the full ep - https://freefm.org.nz/Programmes/Details.aspx?PID=68965993-4979-4590-8d57-caf208e374e2

A Raglan Business Chamber podcast, proudly supported by OfficeMax New Zealand

22/09/2026

“First lockdown, we bought a boat. Second lockdown, we bought a pub.”

That pretty much sets the tone for our conversation with Fiona Gates.

She came to Whāingaroa with a huge career behind her, bought the Harbour View in the middle of COVID, and has since become one of those people who seems to have a hand in half the things happening around town - including, finally, joining us on the Raglan Business Chamber board.

Give to Gain is about getting to know the women behind some of the businesses, ideas and community mahi shaping Whāingaroa.

Fiona’s story goes a lot further than the pub.

🎧 Have a listen to the full episode - https://freefm.org.nz/Programmes/Details.aspx?PID=68965993-4979-4590-8d57-caf208e374e2

20/09/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our Dunk It for Plunket BA4! ☕

A special thank you to the Raglan & District Museum for having us and providing such a great space to bring our local business community together.

It was lovely to see everyone catching up, making connections and getting behind such a great cause supporting Plunket.

16/09/2026

Raglan Museumwe had the most brilliant time with you all with our Plunket inspired Business After Four.

We are so inspired by your work, your expertise, the exceptional Plunket display you curated in celebration of Dunkit for Plunket. The conversations today were a rich tapestry of history and future.

More photos and videos to come … thanks so much for hosting us in celebration of community and Whānau Āwhina Plunket

14/09/2026

CALLING ALL RAGLAN BUSINESSES!

We’re hosting a special Dunk it for Plunket BA4 at the Raglan & District Museum tomorrow!
Raglan & District Museum
Tomorrow
3:30–5:00pm

Come on down, share a cuppa, have a bikkie, catch up with other local businesses, and help us support a great cause. 💙
We’d love to see you there! RSVP to [email protected]

13/09/2026

There will be x2 community screenings in Raglan Town Hall on Sunday 27th 11am and 4pm (tickets are $15). Angeline Greensill will be a special guest speaker for the 4pm session.

Get behind our friends at Toitu Whaingaroa with Raglan Naturally

Support the success of this screening by printing off a poster for the film and stick it on your staff room table / shop front window ...

"1978 is funny, moving and unmistakably Kiwi — a film for the whole family. With the scheming charm of Home Alone and The Little Rascals, and the small-town, us-against-the-world spirit of Stand By Me and The Goonies, it follows a group of children who refuse to give up without a fight when their local school is threatened with closure. Underneath the mischief lies real heart and history. Set against one of the defining events of New Zealand history — the 1978 occupation and eviction at Bastion Point – one son’s fight for his people’s land drives a wedge through the family he loves"

The film has a local connection, also directly referencing the fight for justice that was occurring here in Whaingaroa in 1978.

13/09/2026

10/09/2026

Behind every good town is a good pub. Behind every good pub is Fiona — who has not stopped moving in years. 🍺

Somehow we pinned her down for a whole hour on the Raglan Business Chamber podcast series, Give to Gain, and after years of nagging, finally got her on our board too. Persistence pays off.

🎧 Have a listen - Link in our bio.
Ngā mihi to our sponsor OfficeMax New Zealand
View Hotel - Raglan. Est 1866