A 10-year plan to address health risks in New Zealand’s workplaces was launched on the 10th of aust 2016 in Wellington by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon Michael Woodhouse.
WorkSafe New Zealand’s strategic plan for work-related health, ‘Healthy Work’, outlines the approach WorkSafe will take over the coming ten years to support and enable businesses to better manage work-related health risks. Each year, these risks kill 600-900 people and lead to a further 30,000 New Zealand workers developing serious, but non-fatal, work-related health conditions.
“Each one of those figures is a real person who has died or has become unwell as a result of their work and for too long we’ve put work-related health in the ‘too hard basket’,” Mr Woodhouse said.
“We can’t fix the issues arising from past exposures, but with strong leadership from across the health and safety system, and everyone demonstrating greater accountability for managing work-related health risks, we can significantly improve health outcomes in our workplaces for the future,” he said.
The plan focuses on enabling greater leadership across the health and safety system by raising awareness of harm and risks, encouraging collaboration, minimising risks at source and influencing the education system to improve understanding of risks. It also guides WorkSafe’s approach to building the capability of its inspectors, improving data and intelligence, providing guidance and education resources, and enhancing the regulatory framework.
“We will address prioritised risks through a series of targeted intervention programmes so that we achieve a step change in performance,” the Chair of WorkSafe, Professor Gregor Coster, said.
“Beyond the high human cost to individuals, their families, whanau and communities, work-related diseases cost this country an estimated $2.4 billion per year. The human and financial costs are simply unacceptable,” he said.
Businesses looking for tips on how to succeed in today’s age of authenticity can learn from brand leaders at a one day conference in Auckland on 31 August.
Communicating in an Age of Authenticity, run by the Sustainable Business Network, will help businesses understand the two vital elements to authentic communication – purpose and proof.
“People now want to know the good being done by the businesses they buy from, work for and invest in. To succeed, your business will need a positive purpose at its core. You have to be able to prove it. And you must be able to express it in everything you do,” says Rachel Brown, CEO of the Sustainable Business Network.
“During this conference attendees will learn how to meet this challenge from business leaders in pioneering NZ and overseas companies. They’ll identify the enormous opportunities it creates, and they’ll work with you to help you make it happen in your organisation.”
The speakers are some of the top sustainability thinkers and business leaders from New Zealand and overseas. They include:
· Christopher Davis, The Body Shop International’s head of Corporate Social Responsibility (UK, by video);· Dom Thurbon, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of fast-growing multinational business Karrikins Group (Australia);· Josh Page, Global Brand Manager of NZ success story Blunt Umbrellas;· Jacqueline Farman, Founder of The Purpose Business, and creator of the Colmar Brunton Better Business reports;· Avram Deitch, Global Marketing Manager of multi award-winning Yealands Wine Group;· Associate Professor Niki Harré, Author of Psychology for a Better World from The University of Auckland;· Matt Dagger, General Manager of Kaibosh Food Rescue;· Lucy Kebbell, Chair of CommonSense Organics;· Dean Easterbrook, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Borderless;· Dave Williams, aiming to be the first in the world to climb the highest peak on every continent from sea level.
“The conference is relevant for any business looking to succeed in this age of authenticity. You’ll learn, collaborate and come back to work with a head full of fresh ideas to implement in your organisation,” says Rachel.
What: Conference: Communicating in an Age of AuthenticityWhen: Wednesday 31 August, 8.30am-5.30pmWhere: AUT Business School, AucklandCost: SBN members: $400; non-members $1100Find out more: www.sustainable.org.nz/conference2016
Food Price Index: July 2016: Food prices decreased 1.3 percent in the year to July 2016, Statistics New Zealand said today. This follows a decrease of 0.5 percent in the year to June 2016.
Grocery food prices decreased 2.9 percent in the year, influenced by all the main dairy products decreasing in price:
cheese (down 11 percent)fresh milk (down 3.2 percent)yoghurt (down 9.7 percent)butter (down 11 percent).
“The price of cheese has continued to fall in the year to July 2016, to its lowest price since October 2009," consumer prices manager Matt Haigh said. "The average price of a kilo block of the cheapest available mild cheddar cheese was $7.39 in July 2016, down from $9.07 in July 2015.”
Statement by Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler:
The Reserve Bank today reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 25 basis points to 2.0 percent.
Global growth is below trend despite being supported by unprecedented levels of monetary stimulus. Significant surplus capacity remains across many economies and, along with low commodity prices, is suppressing global inflation. Some central banks have eased policy further since the June Monetary Policy Statement, and long-term interest rates are at record lows. The prospects for global growth and commodity prices remain uncertain. Political risks are also heightened.
Weak global conditions and low interest rates relative to New Zealand are placing upward pressure on the New Zealand dollar exchange rate. The trade-weighted exchange rate is significantly higher than assumed in the June Statement. The high exchange rate is adding further pressure to the export and import-competing sectors and, together with low global inflation, is causing negative inflation in the tradables sector. This makes it difficult for the Bank to meet its inflation objective. A decline in the exchange rate is needed.
Domestic growth is expected to remain supported by strong inward migration, construction activity, tourism, and accommodative monetary policy. However, low dairy prices are depressing incomes in the dairy sector and reducing farm spending and investment. High net immigration is supporting strong growth in labour supply and limiting wage pressure.
House price inflation remains excessive and has become more broad-based across the regions, adding to concerns about financial stability. The Bank is consulting on stronger macro-prudential measures that should help to mitigate financial system risks arising from the rapid escalation in house prices.
Headline inflation is being held below the target band by continuing negative tradables inflation. Annual CPI inflation is expected to weaken in the September quarter, reflecting lower fuel prices and cuts in ACC levies. Annual inflation is expected to rise from the December quarter, reflecting the policy stimulus to date, the strength of the domestic economy, reduced drag from tradables inflation, and rising non-tradables inflation. Although long-term inflation expectations are well-anchored at 2 percent, the sustained weakness in headline inflation risks further declines in inflation expectations.
Monetary policy will continue to be accommodative. Our current projections and assumptions indicate that further policy easing will be required to ensure that future inflation settles near the middle of the target range. We will continue to watch closely the emerging economic data.
View the Monetary Policy Statement: http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/monetary-policy/monetary-policy-statementWatch the Monetary Policy Statement media conference live-stream at NZT10am: http://www.rbnz.govt.nz/research-and-publications/webcasts
Why you can have confidence in Solar Gard the trusted name in window films
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A huge contract for hundreds of new trains described as the “biggest investment in the railways since the Victorian era” has secured 1,000 British engineering jobs. Operator Abellio has been awarded the East Anglia rail franchise and has ordered more than 1,000 new carriages and engines to run on the line as part of a £1.4bn investment.
The deal will see Bombardier build 660 carriages at its Derby factory, guaranteeing jobs there for the next decade.
Two major motorway projects in Christchurch are a step closer following the New Zealand Transport Agency’s announcement today that the construction contracts have been let, Transport Minister Simon Bridges says.
The new Christchurch Northern Corridor and stage two of the Christchurch Southern Motorway are the final two projects to be built under the Government’s Roads of National Significance programme.
“The awarding of contracts to build these two Christchurch motorways represent a combined $435 million investment by the Government in Christchurch’s transport network.
“These are critical for improving travel times for commuters, and to support growth and development in Christchurch.”
Once the second stage is built, the Southern Motorway will have double the existing traffic capacity, providing better access between Christchurch and Rolleston.
Combined with the new Western Belfast Bypass (SH1), which is due to open early 2018, the Christchurch Northern Corridor will provide better and more predictable travel times in and out of Christchurch and along the existing routes – Main North Road and Marshland Road.
“As home to New Zealand’s second largest airport and second busiest export port, Christchurch plays a critical role in the economic development of the whole South Island,” Mr Bridges says.
“It is the transport gateway for tourism and business, making access to the city, its freight hubs and export markets critical for the economic success of the whole country.”
Construction for both projects is expected to get underway in October.
Once the rollout is completed, iPass customers will be able to use United Airlines’ Wi-Fi network across 700 aircraft.
iPass customers will be able to connect to the United Airlines Wi-Fi network, after it announced a partnership with the airline.
iPass, which enables subscribers to automatically connect to local hotspots, claims to be the largest Wi-Fi network in the world, with over 57 million hotspots across a wide variety of locations. The agreement means that many iPass customers flying on United will have a seamless Wi-Fi experience as they move from the terminal to the aircraft. The rollout will begin later this year and it will eventually be available on over 700 aircraft.
“United is dedicated to giving our customers the choice to be productive, relaxed or entertained in-flight,” said Scott Wilson, United’s Vice President of Merchandising and eCommerce. “Working with iPass enables us to further deliver on that promise for our customers, who will benefit from faster logins and greater ease of connection.”
“In an increasingly connected world, ubiquitous, reliable and secure connectivity has become a requirement for mobile professionals,” said iPass CEO Gary Griffiths.
“In-flight is a critical venue for keeping United Airlines and iPass customers connected, and United Airlines is an essential addition to our in-flight offering. We are delighted to enter into this partnership with United Airlines.”
A catalogue of Solar Gard products and their problem solving applications. Here you can view a selection of case studies showing the problem and the process that Solar Gard and the client went through to come up with the solution. For Solar Gard New Zealand product and installation information contact Ross Eathorne, principal of SWF Distribution, based in Auckland. He can be reached on 09 441 0440 and by email on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.solargard.co.nz
Solar Gard Case Study #24
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242