There is no doubt that 2025 was a tough year on this side of the Tasman. Often trading conditions across NZ and Australia follow a similar trajectory, however, in 2025 they diverged significantly as our economy struggled to find its feet, and businesses and consumers hunkered down to weather the economic storm.
To move things along, the Reserve Bank of NZ took an aggressive stance by making several drops in the Official Cash Rate in a bid to stimulate demand and increase both household and business spending, and we are hopeful that this has now paid off. Certainly, business indicators pre-Christmas showed the lowest level of concern in the economy, and so we trust that 2026 is the start of the fix for NZ.
And so, as we all (well most of us) head back to our desks after having had a couple of weeks to recharge the batteries, it is a good opportunity to remind everyone of what we have planned for 2026, and what we want to achieve this year.
Our role in promoting print will take centre stage as we put the finishing touches to our new marketing campaign, which is focused on reminding people that if they want results, they should “Use Print”. This is a new addition to our ongoing crusade to make sure that the people making the decisions about purchasing print understand the effectiveness and sustainability of print. We need to ensure that everyone understands the visibility, engagement, trust and attention that print brings to a product, as well as the role it plays in providing information and promoting success. There will be new, bold collateral available for our members to use and, while we have done the heavy lifting, it will be up to everyone in the industry to get this information out into the world.
Training is also a big focus for 2026 as it remains paramount to the success of our industry. As the economic cycle improves, we need to ensure that we can attract and retain people to our industry, and that means offering them career paths and reinforcing their value to your business by providing them the opportunity not only to expand and develop their skills, but to have that formally recognised.
Apprenticeships remain a core training programme for the industry. While machinery continues to evolve and becomes more digital, we still need skilled operators that understand the printing process so that they can get the best from these highly specified machines. A printer will still need to understand the printing process, substrates, colour management pre-press, and post-press in order to be able to produce the best results and an apprenticeship will provide that knowledge.
Following a two-year review and rewrite programme, we are excited to launch our updated print qualifications in 2026. This will include the addition of newly developed ‘micro- credentials’, which are shorter training programmes focusing on a particular topic. The first three are Print Industry Foundation Knowledge, Guillotining, and Machine Assistant. These will be useful in recognising a specific niche set of skills, as well as providing a taste of work-based training before embarking on a bigger qualification.
In Q1, we will host a seminar series around the country, getting in front of members to explain the many changes to employment legislation that have, or are about to come into law. The changes have been coming thick and fast, with more on the horizon, in particular, the major revamp of the Holidays Act. It is important members understand the implications of these changes and the steps they need to put in place to ensure they remain compliant.
On the event front the big one for the year, The Pride In Print Awards, is set to take place in Christchurch so put a big circle in your diary around 26 June where we will celebrate not only the work our industry produces, but also the people. We build up to the Apprentice of the Year Awards through our Training Graduation events, Top 10 and Top 5, and name the overall winner at the Awards.
As well as our flagship event, we will host the Print & Packaging Forum, Women In Print, golf days, signage workshops, team leadership, and other events as opportunities arise. Connection is such an important part of a community, and these events all provide a platform to mix and mingle with the broader print industry.
Finally, in amongst these major events is the day-to-day work we do with members, lobbying, providing information, assistance, advice and connections – this is the heart of our organisation and remains our raison d'être.
And what do we want to achieve through all of this? We want the industry to stay visible, vibrant, and the best it can be. PrintNZ is committed to the industry, to our members, and to the people that make up those businesses. Your success is our success.
May 2026 be merry and bright.