Dec 8, 2017 - Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) has announced its product plan for 2018, following the end of General Motors manufacturing in Australia, and it doesn’t include any hot imported Commodores. However, the good news for rear-wheel drive V8 muscle-car fans is the 2018 HSV range will be headlined by the Chevrolet Camaro SS coupe, although it will be $20,000 pricier than Ford’s equivalent Mustang GT at up to $80K.
Before HSV begins right-hand drive Camaro conversions in July, it will start RHD production of the Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD pick-up in April, followed by the even heavier-duty Silverado 3500HD by mid-year.
In a move that GM denies marks the first step in Holden being rebranded as Chevrolet, the Chevy brand will be established in selected HSV dealers in Australia and New Zealand to sell both the Camaro and Silverado.
The first cab off HSV’s 2018 rank will be the Colorado SportsCat ute, which enters production in late January and will become the only HSV-branded model available once stocks of the Commodore-based MY17 models are sold.
Copntinue here to read the full article with images on Motoring || December 8, 2017 |||
Dec 8, 2017 - Photos of one of Air New Zealand's Boeing 787 Dreamliner engines which failed this week in-flight show damage to multiple turbine blades, at the rear, suggesting a part broke off and travelled through the engine. That engine, on Tuesday morning's flight NZ99 bound for Tokyo with 282 people on board had to be shut down when it caused the aircraft to shake violently.
Passengers heard clunking sounds and electrical power went out temporarily after takeoff from Auckland airport. The plane concerned, which was the first of the airline's nine Dreamliners to go into service, has since been grounded.
On Wednesday another Dreamliner bound for Buenos Aires also had to turn back to Auckland when problems arose with an engine. That engine did not have to be shut down in flight.
Air New Zealand told Newsroom last night it was "extremely surprised by the two issues experienced this week".
Provided with the photos taken of the NZ99 engine after it landed back in Auckland, a spokeswoman said: "The cause of these incidents is yet to be determined and this is the role of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. But the damage sustained on Tuesday suggests an engine part has travelled through the engine."
Continue here to read Tim Murphy's full article with images on NewsRoom || December 7, 2017 |||
Local Government Commission Instead Should be encouraging Collaboration
Dec 7, 2017 - The Lions service organisation called on management consultant Derek Williams, a specialist in mergers, to become a platform participant in its community forum programme designed to achieve a wider understanding among voters of the pending referendum on the amalgamation of local bodies in the Wairarapa.
Dec 7, 2017 - A damning report on the state of New Zealand’s drinking water has called for mandatory treatment of the country’s water supply — but a battle is looming over the cost of making that a reality. The previous Government launched a two-stage inquiry into drinking water in September 2016, following an outbreak of gastroenteritis in Havelock North linked to contaminated drinking water which made over 5000 people sick.
A report from the second stage of the inquiry, released yesterday, highlighted “a widespread systemic failure” to supply safe drinking water to the country, with 20 percent of Kiwis supplied water that was not “demonstrably safe” to drink.
It said there were up to 100,000 cases of waterborne illness in New Zealand each year — although some thought the real number could be higher — while there was a degree of complacency from those tasked with managing the water supply system.
The inquiry had received a number of submissions and evidence indicating untreated drinking water was “unacceptably risky in today’s circumstances”, and recommended making it mandatory for drinking water to be treated.
It also recommended the creation of an independent drinking water regulator to monitor supplies around the country and crack down on offenders.
The report estimated the cost of replacing the country’s deteriorating water pipelines, some of which were at risk of collapse, at $2.2 billion.
Councils responsible for water - Parker
Speaking after the report’s release, Attorney-General David Parker said the inquiry had made a clear case for mandatory water treatment.
Continue here to read the full article by Sam Sachdeva on NewsRoom || December 7, 2017 |||
Dec 7, 2017 - An article published today in the Reserve Bank Bulletin reviewed the policy responses by overseas central banks to house-price collapses. It was originally written by a contracted researcher, Maitland MacFarlan, as part of the Bank’s general consideration of risks around housing markets. The article considers several episodes of house price collapses around the globe over the last 30 years, a period that encompasses the Nordic financial crises that began in the late 1980s, the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s, and the more recent global financial crisis (GFC). The paper focuses on the policy responses to these problems and lessons that current policy makers can derive from these experiences. The article observes a strong association between housing busts and banking crises, while noting that not all housing busts lead to a more generalised financial crisis, and not all financial crises are accompanied by house price collapses. Housing market crashes have highlighted the need for borrowers and lenders to take more forward-looking, longer-term perspectives on their exposure to market developments. Read the article: House price collapses: policy responses and lessons learned
| A RBNZ release || December 7, 2017 |||
Dec 7, 2017 - A new arrangement signed recently will simplify New Zealand's meat product exports to Egypt, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said today. Under the new arrangement, Egyptian authorities will no longer have to visit each individual meat premise that wishes to export to Egypt.
The arrangement was signed by MPI Director-General Martyn Dunne and Egyptian Deputy Minister for Agriculture Dr Mona Mehrez in Wellington.
"This the first time Egypt has agreed this type of arrangement with any country, and is a clear demonstration of the strength of New Zealand's meat regulatory programme and our good relationship with Egypt that has developed through years of export, engagement and audit," says Mr Dunne.
"It's pleasing New Zealand's meat regulatory programme meets the expectations of the Egyptian Government. New Zealand has a world class meat regulatory programme, and signing of the arrangement with Egypt further reinforces this"
The signing was part of a visit by Dr Mehrez and a delegation of senior Egyptian veterinarians to learn about New Zealand's meat regulatory programme and explore opportunities for collaboration.
This arrangement will make it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the important Egypt market for New Zealand meat products. In the year to 30 June 2017, we exported about $52 million worth of meat products to Egypt.
"New Zealand is proud of its long history of agricultural exports to Egypt," says Mr Dunne. "We are committed to growing this important trade, a key part of which is through simplifying exporting processes. This arrangement is a great example"
"Both New Zealand and Egypt have committed to working together to identify areas we can cooperate in, particularly in animal health and husbandry," says Mr Dunne.
"We look forward to deepening New Zealand's trading relationship with Egypt even further through sharing our respective knowledge and experience"
|n MPI release || December 7, 2017 |||
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