Dec 5, 2017 - The grounding of one of the world’s biggest container ships off Southampton was caused by pilot error, an investigation has concluded. In a report, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch found standards of navigation, communication and use of electronic charting aids “did not meet the expectations of the port or the company”.
The 399m Vasco de Gama, at the time the largest ship under a UK flag, ran aground in August 2016 as it attempted a tricky turn to enter Southampton docks.
Continue here to read the full article || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - New Zealand will develop a close relationship with China, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Tuesday, putting to rest fears that his protectionist campaign rhetoric would fuel tension with a key trading partner. The 40-year political veteran played a decisive role in bringing the centre-left Labour Party to power in October after an inconclusive election left his nationalist New Zealand First party holding the balance of power.
But many in China see New Zealand as a model for the Asian giant's relationship with Western countries, with President Xi Jinping last year calling the depth of the bond "unprecedented".
"Our record of trade and economic firsts is dramatic," Peters, who is also deputy prime minister, told academics and diplomats in Wellington, setting out his stance on China for the first time since taking office.
"New Zealand will continue to seek closer cooperation with China as both countries focus on sustainable economic development and the wellbeing of our peoples," Peters said, giving a complimentary account of 45 years of diplomatic ties.
Continue here to read the full article on investing.com || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - Auckland Airport advises passengers travelling internationally in December 2017 and January 2018 to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey through the terminal building.
The top-ten 10 busiest days at Auckland Airport’s international terminal building during this summer peak season are expected to be:
| An Air New Zealand release || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - Auckland Airport advises passengers travelling internationally in December 2017 and January 2018 to allow an extra 30 minutes for their journey through the terminal building. Anil Varma, Auckland Airport’s acting general manager – aeronautical operations, says, “December and January are the busiest months of the year at our international terminal. Known as the summer peak, this year we are expecting around 162 international flights every day, with international passenger numbers expected to be approximately 6% higher than last summer. We are also expecting an average of around 37,500 passengers to use the international terminal on each of our ten busiest days this summer.”
“Many of us have a standard routine when departing or arriving Auckland Airport. Just like last year, we recommend everyone allows an extra 30 minutes for travel through the international terminal over the next couple of months. This will help ensure they have a more relaxed journey. They should also give themselves extra time to travel to and from the airport, given the high level of roadworks happening around the Auckland region again this summer.”
“Auckland Airport has worked extensively with stakeholders at the airport, including both the airlines and joint border agencies, to ensure the airport can operate efficiently and effectively during the busy summer period.”
Throughout the year Auckland Airport has invested more than $1 million every working day to make improvements to help support the growth in international passengers and aircraft, including building:
· a new outbound border processing and security screening area, and a new space for departing international passengers to repack and relax after security screening;
· a new gate lounge with two airbridges on Pier B of the international terminal – Gate 17 – to accommodate a large B787 or A380 aircraft, or two smaller aircraft. This new gate lounge increases the capacity of our western Pier B by 50%;
· the first half of our exciting new international passenger lounge and its retail hub;
· new toilet facilities in the international departure area;
· a new Strata Lounge – a comfortable and relaxed space for travellers who do not belong to an airline lounge programme plus 14 airlines that choose to use the lounge to accommodate their premium passengers prior to boarding;
· an upgraded bus lounge on Pier B to further improve journeys for travellers transferring between the terminal and an aircraft parked on remote airfield stands; and
· a new fully-serviced remote airfield stand to accommodate international aircraft.
In preparation for this summer we have also:
· reconfigured the international check-in area to provide seven more service counters – an 8% increase;
· invested in 15 more mobile international self-service check-in kiosks – increasing the total number of available mobile check-in kiosks to 60;
· purchased two new Aviramps to provide a safer and better boarding or disembarking experience for passengers whose aircraft is parked on a remote airfield stand; and
· recruited extra staff, including 70 Passenger Experience Assistants, to help passengers at the airport.
We have also continued to work closely with the New Zealand Aviation Security Service, Customs New Zealand and the Ministry for Primary Industries. The New Zealand Aviation Security Service has installed four new state of the art security screening machines in the international departure area to increase passenger processing times. Customs New Zealand has increased the eligibility for their eGates to include Chinese passport holders, and more nationalities are expected to be delivered throughout the summer period. Auckland Airport has built a new Green Lane for use by pre-selected New Zealand and Australian passport holders who are arriving in the country and have no biosecurity items to declare to the Ministry for Primary Industries.
We have also been working on a number of initiatives to improve the transport network around the inner airport roads, and working with the New Zealand Transport Agency and Auckland Transport to help improve traffic flows and reduce travel times to and from the airport. These initiatives include:
· a new slip lane and free left-turn as part of NZTA’s upgrade of the SH20A / Verrisimo Drive intersection;
· improving access to the domestic terminal forecourt for passengers, commercial transport operators and buses;
· completion of the first stage of an upgrade of Nixon Road to provide a new route from the south-east to Auckland Airport’s Park&Ride on Verissimo Drive that avoids the need to use Tom Pearce Drive and George Bolt Memorial Drive;
· an outbound bus and T2 lane on Tom Pearce Drive;
· increasing the frequency of Auckland Transport’s Airporter 380 bus service to every 15 minutes during peak periods; and
· Auckland Airport staff located within the Auckland Transport Operation Centre on peak days to assist with the proactive management of traffic light phasings for Auckland Airport’s network.
Passengers can play their part to help keep things moving at the international terminal this summer by:
· booking a car park online, well ahead of their day of travel to maximise their choice of location and to secure a better deal;
· allowing 30 minutes extra for their journeys through the international terminal building;
· ensuring their hand luggage meets airline requirements;
· completing their international departure card before reaching Customs;
· ensuring any liquid, aerosol and gel containers in their hand luggage are not larger than 100ml, and are all placed in one re-sealable, transparent plastic bag (20cm x 20cm or smaller) and put in an easily accessible location;
· following airline advice for recommended check-in times for passengers travelling to North America, due to additional security requirements for these flights;
· asking the person who is picking them up to park in The Wait Zone, until they receive a text or phone call saying you are ready for collection; and
· checking the Auckland Airport website and App for the latest flight and travel information.
“We thank everyone in advance for their understanding and support during our busiest time of the year,” says Mr Varma.
| An Auckland Airport release || December 5, 2017 |||
DEc 5, 2017 - Inflation in New Zealand and world-wide has been persistently low since the 2008 global financial crisis, partly because of factors such as globalisation, the growth of China, the rise of the digital economy, and low inflation expectations. In a speech today to the Institute of Directors, in Auckland, Reserve Bank Governor Grant Spencer said that persistently low inflation has prompted the Reserve Bank to think about whether it needs to tweak it’s approach to monetary policy. Mr Spencer explained a number of significant changes over the past decade have affected the outlook for inflation: · Globalisation over the past 10 years has led to outsourcing of labour-intensive production to cheaper locations, which has lowered the price consumers pay for a wide range of goods and also placed downward pressure on wages for lower-skilled jobs in advanced economies. · The scale and growth of China’s economy has also had a profound effect. China has become the largest exporting nation in the world and its expansion of capacity has restrained the prices of industrial materials and a wide range of manufactured goods. · New digital distribution channels and falling prices for ICT equipment have lowered import prices and reduced barriers to entry across a range of markets. Online competition in retailing, financial services, travel services, education and health has significantly altered the competitive landscape and put downward pressure on prices. · The domestic economy has become more integrated with global markets, resulting in greater competition in traditionally sheltered sectors. Increased international labour mobility has been an important driver. · Low inflation expectations have influenced the way businesses set prices and wages, adding further momentum to low inflation. These global trends appear to be changing the nature of the price formation process in New Zealand. “These factors may be reducing the leverage monetary policy has over inflation, although their persistence and impact on inflation in New Zealand remain uncertain,” Mr Spencer said. Monetary policy has less than fully offset the weakness in imported inflation which was not expected to be so persistent and has been overlaid with uncertain commodity price movements. The on-going shock has resulted in CPI inflation running below the 2% target mid-point. The policy response has been consistent with our flexible inflation targeting framework. More recently we have been assuming greater persistence in low global inflation and this is contributing to our current flat track for future OCR levels. “The changes in domestic pricing behaviour are causing our flexible inflation targeting approach to become more flexible. In pursuing our long term price stability objective, relatively more weight is being attached to output, employment and financial stability. However, this can only be sustained if monetary policy’s long term price stability credentials are maintained” Mr Spencer said. Read the speech: Low inflation and its implications for monetary policy
| A RBNZ release || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - Fujifilm is introducing the Fujifilm X-T2, a compact mirrorless camera with 24 megapixels and 4K HD video that can do the hard yards for any adrenaline junkie with a photographer’s streak. Photographers will find the X-T2 is made of sterner stuff, with a solid magnesium alloy body that is both highly durable and lightweight to ensure it can be taken into any situation. Weather-sealed to keep salt spray and drizzle at bay, and combined with one of Fujifilm’s extensive range of Fujinon XF lenses, the X-T2 will be ever-reliable through each step of the adventure.
For those that might find themselves in a tight spot (whether shooting in a cave or from the passenger seat of a helicopter), the X-T2’s tilting LCD screen can help set up those adventure shots, when looking through the viewfinder isn’t an option.
New macro lens
Fujifilm is also announcing the FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro Lens, now available in New Zealand joining a massive XF lens line-up bringing the first 1.0x magnification mid-telephoto macro lens for X-Series mirrorless cameras.
The new macro lens achieves high resolving power at the focus point and beautiful bokeh, making it optimal for shooting flowers and insects. Combine this lens with Fujifilm’s unique Film Simulations, such as Velvia, for truly stunning close up photographs.
New Zealand X-Series specialist Craig Robertson says the new 80mm lens will be another great addition to the FUJINON line-up, already renowned for their outstanding image quality.
“This lens is going to enable people shooting X-Series to be able to take their photography to new levels of detail and create quality, close-up images in true 1 to 1 reproduction,” says Robertson.
The FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 features a focal length equivalent to 122mm (on a 35mm format), a maximum aperture of F2.8, and 1.0x magnification factor.
Designed to be versatile and to suit all photography styles, users can shoot on a tripod or hand-held with the help of the Optical Image Stabilizer system suppressing shift shake*. The lens also provides fast and silent Auto Focus with a clever system of linear motors.
Suitable for use in a wide range of outdoor shooting conditions, the FUJINON XF80mmF2.8 can operate in temperatures as low as -10°C. and is weather and dust resistant.
The exterior design is luxurious yet robust for a premium feel. The aperture and focusing rings have been designed for maximum comfort and usability.
Robertson notes that photographers shooting with older X-Series cameras will also be able to enjoy the new lens.
“The latest free firmware update ensures previous X-Series models are ready to go with the Auto Focus system of XF80mm as Fujifilm is dedicated to continuing to support our older cameras,” says Robertson.
The new FUJINON XF80mm Macro Lens retails for RRP$1999.
Dec 5, 2017 - Residential building activity volumes rose 4.1 percent in the September 2017 quarter, following a relatively flat period in the first half of the calendar year, Stats NZ said today. This figure excludes the effects of higher construction costs and typical seasonal patterns. Non-residential building work, from office blocks to factories, also picked up, rising a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent, following falls in the previous two quarters.
Combined, total building activity volumes rose 2.7 percent in the September 2017 quarter compared with the June 2017 quarter.
Percent changeResidential and non-residential building work put in place, seasonally adjusted percentagechange in quarterly volumesResidential buildingsNon-residential buildingsSep-15Dec-15Mar-16Jun-16Sep-16Dec-16Mar-17Jun-17Sep-17-505-1010Stats NZJun-16● Non-residential buildings: 4.6
“Residential building activity is at a record high, while non-residential activity peaked in late 2016,” construction statistics manager Melissa McKenzie said.
“While the volume of residential building activity is at a record high, the number of new homes consented was higher in the mid-1970s and 2004. This may reflect that homes and alterations being built now are often bigger, more complex, and subject to different regulations.”
These quarterly statistics are a measure of past building activity, whereas building consents issued, which showed a decrease in the October 2017 month, is an indicator for the pipeline of upcoming building work.
| A StatsNZ release || December 5, 20127 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - New Zealand based health and safety technology start up Safe365 has confirmed entry into the Canadian market on the back of a strong initial 12 months in New Zealand since launch. Canadian businesses of all sizes and industries will be able to access Safe365’s ground breaking web application that assesses, diagnoses and supports continuous improvement in health and safety capability from 5 December 2017. For Safe365, it means entry into the lucrative North American market and the capacity to scale product uptake rapidly.
Safe365’s Country Director – Canada, Michael Matthews said “as an experienced health and safety professional, having reviewed a large number of solutions in the market internationally, when I came across Safe365 I just wanted to get involved and make it available to Canadian businesses.” Mr Matthews is a well-known figure in the Canadian health and safety sector having performed executive roles in the energy sector, Coca-Cola and founded the HSE Job Hunter group on LinkedIN with over 130,000 members. “It was great being down-under with the Safe365 team in New Zealand recently and seeing first hand the impact the product is having with their clients there. I’m really excited to be able to bring the product to Canada and support improvements in our health and safety performance as a country” says Matthews.
Safe365’s kiwi co-founders Nathan Hight and Mark Kidd are very pleased their solution will add value beyond New Zealand’s shores. “We have users in 8 countries now using the NZ edition of Safe365, however this is our first targeted offshore market with a product specifically aligned to meet the needs of the Canadian market” says Kidd. “This is a really significant step forward in the journey we are on with Safe365 to take a world class solution to the global market that saves lives and improves business” says Hight.
Safe365’s early stage success has been built on the back of its innovative diagnostic platform that allows businesses to purchase the product online, use it “out of the box” and within 60 minutes have clarity on the status of the businesses health and safety capability. The product then provides nearly 300 specific solutions to support continuous improvement through a simple, easy and intuitive interface. “These philosophies and features are very strong differentiators from other tech based health and safety solutions currently in market” says Hight.
Customers purchase a Safe365 subscription for the business ($999 annually or $99 monthly) which enables them to access the software through their web browser on any internet enabled device. With minimal barriers to entry, the product is proving extremely popular with businesses wanting to do the right thing when it comes to workforce health and safety.
Safe365’s customers range from small contracting businesses and farming operations through to some of New Zealand’s largest entities and government departments. The product enables businesses to share their health and safety capability at the click of a button reflecting the modern work environment where multiple entities are responsible for worker health and safety.
“Over 500 businesses in New Zealand have benefited from the power of Safe365 in our first year being live, so we are thrilled that we are able to extend this significantly through our partnership with Mr Matthews in Canada” says Kidd.
| A safe365 release || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - High profile businessman and social entrepreneur, Tenby Powell, who chaired the government appointed Small Business Development Group for five years, is leading a call for the new Government to establish an Institute for Small Business.
The idea for a step-up from government in support of small business is resonating in New Zealand and farther afield says Powell who also represents New Zealand on the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “New Zealand needs to do much more to support our small business ecosystem. Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) account for 97 percent of all enterprises and are the engines of growth and innovation in the APEC region. For these companies to make an even bigger impact on the economy we need a dedicated Government entity focused on better understanding and supporting small business owners,” says Powell.
Early next year, coinciding with the first ABAC meeting for 2018 to be held in Auckland, he is gathering 100 top thinkers, business owners and entrepreneurs together to plan a road-map to future value creation for SMEs. Discussion at what’s being called The SME LEAP (Leading Enterprise Acceleration & Productivity) will include how an Institute of Small Businesss could work in New Zealand. High profile keynote speakers from other APEC nations will also share deep-seated knowledge citing examples from other APEC economies.
Small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) employ over half the workforce across APEC economies and contribute significantly to economic growth, with GDP contributions ranging from 20 to 50 percent in the majority of APEC economies; New Zealand is circa 28 percent. However, according to Powell they only account for less than 35 percent of the direct exports, “New Zealand SMEs are particularly affected by this.”
Powell believes New Zealand is perfectly positioned to lift our SME performance and capture the value that will come from the recently signed Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership; the agreement signed by eleven APEC leaders, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in Da Nang last month.
“New Zealand’s physical Internet infrastructure is world class, following the rollout of the Ultra-Fast Broadband network and the continuation of the Rural Broadband Initiative. This positions us amongst the best network infrastructures in the developed world, and it’s an important enabler for small business to compete in overseas markets under the CP-TPP.”
Powell says the ABAC SME & Entrepreneurial Working Group which he co-chairs is a work stream with a high profile within APEC. “It is more socioeconomic than just economic per se. It acts as a superset for the subsets of cross-border liberalization, market access and the removal of non-tariff barriers for SMEs, financing for business expansion and capability development, integrating green SMEs into the global value chain, leveraging the digital economy, and greater support for women-in-business.”Powell believes establishing a Government Institute is the sort of big thinking required to ensure the Government better understands and delivers support to small business owners.
“An entity focused on delivering value to small business would be charged with developing well researched policy advice aimed at enhancing the ecosystem and environment in they operate, facilitating education for owner-managers, making access to the digital platforms more accessible, and working with banks to develop ways to fund SMEs without mortgaging the family home.”
Support for the idea has come from far and wide, including from business leaders from the Maori, Asian, Indian and New Zealand European economies.
Billy Te Kahika, Cultural Ambassador for Kingitanga says, “This is exactly what Maori small business owners have needed for some time. While larger Maori business can develop relationships with big overseas players, like Chinese funding partners, it’s the SME business owner who needs greater support and recognition. A well led government Institute has the ability to empower this support.”
Oceania Silk Road Network’s, William Zhao and Jerry He, agree. Mr He, who served on the Small Business Development Group with Powell says, “Chinese business owners who have made New Zealand their home are committed to the country’s development and see many opportunities under the new multi-lateral free trade agreement, the CP-TPP, signed in Da Nang.”
Founder and CEO of Indian radio network Tarana, Robert Khan who also served on the Small Business Development Group, is another avid supporter. “The Indian community will fully support any initiative that enables SME business owners to grow domestically and as exporters. It is as though an idea and its time has come together and we welcome discussion on the establishment of a Government Institute for SMEs.”
High profile Chinese business woman, Diane Wang, founder and CEO of DHgate, is speaking at the Summit. Wang, who represents ABAC China will travel to Auckland ahead of ABAC 1 and deliver a keynote address that Powell says will “resonate with any small business owner and particularly with women who are disadvantaged in terms of access to finance and global supply networks.”
Other speakers include incoming ABAC Chair, David Toua, who will coordinate the 21 nation ABAC agenda for 2018, and leading Malaysian business woman, Dato Rohana Mahmoud, Chair and Founder of RM Capital Partners.
Powell says, “Malaysia is an example of targeted resources in action to support small business through a government entity called the SME Corporation. The SME Corp is a central coordinating agency under the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade and Industry that formulates policies and strategies, and coordinates the implementation of SME development programmes across all related Ministries and Agencies. A similar entity, in the form of a government Institution, would work in New Zealand.”
| A Hunter Powell release || December 5, 2017 |||
Dec 5, 2017 - Millennials are taking more expensive holidays because they believe saving enough money to buy a house is unrealistic, a travel expert has said. Holiday firm Contiki reported a 10% increase in the average amount of money people aged 18 to 35 are spending on trips this year compared with 2016.
It found that young travellers are taking more adventurous and so-called bucket list trips, with increased year-on-year demand for destinations such as New Zealand (up 83%), South America (up 71%), Bali (up 56%) and Vietnam (up 50%).
With a typical first-time home buyer in the UK aged 30, Contiki sales and marketing director Donna Jeavons has noticed a trend in young people prioritising experiences including travel over getting on the property ladder.
She said: "With housing being so expensive, many young people are opting to live in the moment and pursue other goals first, knowing that buying a house could be a little further down the line than it was for previous generations.
"Saving a bit here and there isn't really scratching the surface for millennials, so many are choosing to have the best holiday they can afford instead."
The average age of Contiki customers is 26 and earlier this year the firm introduced specially themed trips to Canada for "avid Instagrammers".
This was in response to research which showed that a section of the youth market is drawn to destinations from where they can upload popular social media posts.
Several other companies have also started selling products aimed at younger travellers.
U by Uniworld will be Europe's first river cruise brand exclusively for young people when it launches in April 2018 with craft beers, mixology classes, street art tours and vintage motor bike rides.
The firm's chief executive Ellen Bettridge said: "We are targeting an active traveller between the ages of 21 and 45, with everything from the decor, dining and cocktail service to the land activities thoughtfully curated to meet the needs of this audience."
Air France's new subsidiary airline aimed at young people, Joon, began operating from Paris on Friday.
It is "designed for our millennial customers" with features such as the ability to stream movies and television shows using smartphones and tablets, crew uniforms with a "chic sportswear look" and a partnership with travel site Airbnb Experiences.
Dominique Wood, an executive vice president at Air France, said: "With Joon, we have created a young and connected brand that will give the group a new impetus."
| An Evening Standard release || December 5, 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