Business South chief executive Mike Collins said many business people had been looking for the election to bring change and he expected the result would generate some renewed business confidence.
The business sector would be keen to engage with the new government about policy settings and partnership approaches, and play its part in a productive and sustainable economy, he said.
The shape of the next government has yet to be determined, but National Party leader Christopher Luxon is set to be prime minister and discussions will be held with preferred support partner Act New Zealand.
Special votes will be tallied in the coming weeks and the implications might yet necessitate a role for New Zealand First.
Invest South chief executive Prue Halstead said important issues needed to be tackled by the next government.
They included getting the balance right for resource management and compliance, and assisting progress in fields such as aquaculture and hydrogen technology.
"What Southlanders need is confidence to invest in our future," she said.
"We need our leaders to be focusing on working with us."
Invest South operates mainly in Southland, Fiordland and Queenstown Lakes.
Ms Halstead advocated for empowerment for regions, arguing this could generate better results than hearing from Wellington officials about "what they think is right for us".
Nidd Realty director Liz Nidd said she expected more activity in the housing market, although she was wary of predicting price increases.
There was a likelihood of more property investors coming back into the market, she said.
Ms Nidd said property listings in Dunedin had tightened up before the election, as they normally did.
This had eased just lately, she said.
"We are seeing quite a lot of buyers."
