Trade Minister Todd McClay will visit Japan and Singapore this week to discuss regional trade issues with his ministerial counterparts.
During his visit to Japan, which is the first stop, Mr McClay will meet with the Minister in charge of Economic Revitalization Nobuteru Ishihara.
“Japan is New Zealand’s fifth largest two-way trading partner, a significant source of foreign investment, and a key international partner in our efforts to liberalise trade in the Asia-Pacific region,” Minister McClay says.
“We need to sit down and discuss the future of trade between our two countries and how we can best support regional economic integration and trade liberalisation.”
In Singapore, Mr McClay will meet with Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang.
“Given both Japan and Singapore are Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) signatories, I will take the opportunity to exchange views on the United States’ recent withdrawal from its TPP ratification process.
Minister McClay will also visit Mexico for trade discussions next week.
| A Beehive release | January 6, 2017 ||
Ξ New Zealand Made label is a powerful tool says Andy Millard
Callaghan Innovation Stakeholder Advisory Group reappointments
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Doha service increases trade and travel options
Trade Minister to visit Japan and Singapore
Trade ministers on TPP rescue mission
Workers to lose jobs after ABB factory close
New scheme will get overseas skilled workers to fill gaps in Wellington's tech industry
The stability of a catamaran design has found its way into a new very practical application in the form of a yacht tender with an innovative lightweight design from New Zealand now being represented by Multihull Central.
The Takacat dinghies range from 2.4m to 3.8m with either an open bow or closed tapered bow and are designed to save weight, offer superior stability and are an affordable alternative to the regular cumbersome RIBs currently available for cruisers.
Thanks to the large pontoons on each side, the Takacat doesn’t lean over and become unstable like traditional dinghies and drives well through all conditions due to the floats also providing the hull shape. New technology in inflatable design also means you can have a lightweight floor (bridgedeck) that is both firm when in use, but compact when deflated.
The entire boat can fit into just a couple of small bags, making it ideal to transport or stow onboard for passages and weighing in at half the weight of a aluminum RIB, your performance won’t be compromised either.
Multihull Central will have the range of Takacats available to purchase soon online and are currently on display at our Sydney marina and will be soon on display at the upcoming boat shows including the Gold Coast Marine Expo and Sanctuary Cove Boat Shows.
Load handling equipment provider, Kalmar, will soon deliver two new container straddle carrier models to New Zealand shipping company, Port Otago.
According to Port Otago, the two Kalmar straddle carriers will include its ESC350 and ESC450 models. “Improved economy, performance, reliability, and safety are key facets of this purchasing decision, and the Port welcomes any developments in Straddle Carrier design that reflect genuine safety improvements,” said Bob Smillie, Maintenance Manager, Port Otago.
“The Port is currently conducting a detailed analysis of Kalmar’s HSC350 Hybrid, a design that is expected to be a leading contender for future Straddle Carrier replacement decisions.
“Port Otago Ltd operates in a pristine area of New Zealand, taking pride in environmental conservation while undertaking their operations. Kalmar therefore focuses on providing solutions to support their operations while maintaining environmental sustainability.”
Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler today announced that he will not be seeking a second term as Governor when his current term ends on 26 September this year.
Mr Wheeler said: “It has been a great privilege to serve in this role, and in the remaining eight months I will remain fully focused on the economic challenges and opportunities facing the New Zealand economy. It was my intention, when I was appointed, to serve one term, and then to take on governance roles.”
Mr Wheeler was previously employed at the World Bank from 1997 until 2010, where he was Managing Director Operations (2006-2010), and Vice-President and Treasurer (2001-2006). From 2010 to 2012, he ran his own advisory business in the United States.
Under section 40 of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act, the Governor is appointed for a five-year term by the Minister of Finance, on the recommendation of the Reserve Bank Board.
The Chair of the Reserve Bank Board, Professor Neil Quigley, said the Government has advised the Board that, because of the proximity of the General Election this year, the Board’s recruitment process to identify a successor to Mr Wheeler needs to commence later in the year, and an acting Governor would be appointed to cover the post-election caretaker period.
The Minister of Finance, Steven Joyce, has, on the Board’s recommendation, announced the appointment of Grant Spencer under section 48 of the Reserve Bank Act to act as Governor for a period of six months on the conclusion of Mr Wheeler’s term. Mr Spencer had indicated his intention to retire this year but has agreed to defer in order to fill the acting role.
Mr Spencer is Deputy Governor and Head of Financial Stability, a position he has held since 2007. He serves as chair of the OECD's Committee on Financial Markets, and has held senior management positions at the Bank in economics and financial markets.
In 1995-2004, Mr Spencer was with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, holding senior management roles in treasury and strategy in New Zealand and Australia. He has also served terms with the International Monetary Fund as a Special Advisor, European Department, and as New Zealand’s Alternate Executive Director.
The next-generation 2018 Holden Commodore Sportwagon has been revealed today, thanks to an online reveal of the new model in its European form.
At the same time, Holden has confirmed it will continue the Sportwagon name, rather than introduce the Sports Tourer badge worn by the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia version shown in today’s reveal.
Before today’s virtual unveiling, the new Commodore wagon was unceremoniously revealed in December when an undisguised car was spotted during promotional filming.
Identical to its liftback sedan companion up front, the wagon is set apart not only by the obvious body differences, but also courtesy of a chrome roof trim that runs along the top of the windows and down the D-pillar, terminating inside the deep red LED tail lamps.
The new wagon measures 4986mm long and rides on a 2829mm wheelbase, the latter matching the liftback while the former represents an 87mm stretch.
By comparison, the current Commodore Sportwagon rides on a much longer 2915mm wheelbase, although its overall length is shorter at 4919 to 4939mm (depending on variant).
In the rear cargo area, the Sportwagon claims 520 litres of storage space with the rear seats upright, growing to 1640 litres when laid flat. The new liftback model offers 490 to 1450 litres.
On the convenience front, access to the loading area will be improved through the addition of a powered tailgate operated by foot gesture. A second swipe of the foot beneath the rear bumper will close the tailgate, and an obstruction detection sensor will stop the process if needed.
As with the liftback, the Sport Tourer will be offered with 2.0-litre turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines. Front- and all-wheel drive configurations will also be on offer, depending on the specification.
Australian variants of the new Commodore will also get four-cylinder engines, although a naturally aspirated 230kW/370Nm V6 will also feature at the top end of both the liftback and Sportwagon lines.
GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission – developed together with Ford – will make its local debut in the new Commodore range, while the all-wheel drive system will be the same ‘Twinster’ design that features in the Ford Focus RS, supplied by UK company GKN.
Standout technology in the new Commodore will include IntelliLux LED matrix headlights, autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist with steering correction and lane departure warning, rear-cross traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, adaptive suspension, and a head-up display.
Other features will include massaging seats, rear one-touch folding seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, auto up/down for all windows, and active noise cancellation.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will also feature, operated through an 8.0-inch main display.
A jacked-up Country Tourer model, rivalling the likes of Subaru’s Outback, will also be offered in Europe and, while not confirmed for Australia, the massive popularity of anything vaguely SUV-styled could make this one a shoo-in for our market.
Watch for more on the local version to be revealed in the weeks or months ahead. Expect to see the new Insignia Sports Tourer at next month’s Geneva motor show.
| A CarAdvice release - more images and links | February 7, 2017 ||
Lesson on Danger of Issuing Unenforceable Edicts
New Zealand’s sponsorship of the United Nations resolution condemning Israeli house construction on its occupied territories has had a result opposite to the one intended.
Israel has now launched the construction of sufficient housing in these territories to accommodate the equivalent of a New Zealand city i.e. more than 20,000 people.
In the event New Zealand as a temporary member of the security council was the instrument of a long incubated policy, now turned punitive, of former US president Barack Obama.
President Obama had long been determined to persuade Israel to cease new buildings on the occupied territories—for however brief a period of time.
In 2010 then president Obama promised a bounty of incentives including a flight of the latest fighter aircraft if Israel would cease these new buildings. Also vouched was an undertaking to scotch any moves in the UN to issue any resolution of the type to which New Zealand was co-sponsor at the end of last year.
In the event Israel’s long-running premier Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured), fearful of his coalition crumbling held fast to his construction scheme even though a three month freeze would have been enough to mollify president Obama, under pressure from his liberal wing.
The former president was now on the war path and determined to punish Israel with a condemnatory resolution at United Nations.
To make it remotely effective he had to have among the sponsors a christian anglo saxon nation.
Enter now New Zealand with its modest Jewish lobby and, even if there was any outcry, a pc media reluctant to give any pick up to it.
The New Zealand New York-Washington diplomatic presence meanwhile was listening to the politico-media-entertainment class.
The legations had become convinced that Hillary Clinton was the next president.
By sponsoring the resolution they were assured, they would build points with the incoming president.
They understood that as a ruling family the Clintons remained acutely aware of those who render favours, and those who do not.
Even so, if the New Zealand diplomatic stations had maintained contacts with the FBI, they would have had access to quite a different opinion.
The FBI with its field offices in the United States hinterland was receiving consistent reports of the dissatisfaction with the status quo in general and with the Clinton ascendancy in particular.
In any administrative staff college treatment of any kind of governance whatsoever there is usually one outstanding caution.
It is the danger of issuing an edict that cannot be enforced and that therefore will be flouted.
Worse still, if it is seen to be obviously being ignored, as with the no-building resolution.
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk | Monday 6 February 2017 ||
Argenta, a New Zealand-owned company dedicated to the provision of services to create, develop and manufacture products for the global animal health industry, has entered an agreement to acquire the manufacturing facility and operations of Elanco Animal Health in Dundee, Scotland.
The acquisition is an important step in Argenta’s EU growth strategy and follows the company’s successful expansion into the United States in 2016, with the purchase of a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
Elanco and Argenta have also entered into a manufacturing and supply agreement for select Elanco animal health products. The acquisition is anticipated to close at the beginning of Q2 2017. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Dr. Doug Cleverly, Argenta’s managing director and co-founder, says having a manufacturing presence in the EU will enable the company to better the services it offers clients around the world, and continue its expansion into the European market.
“The Dundee site has a strong focus on quality, as well as excellent capacity and technical capabilities, and will greatly complement our other Argenta facilities. This is critical as all Argenta manufacturing sites are fuelled by the research and development of new animal health products, which keeps the manufacturing portfolio fresh and helps position the Argenta group as a premier, innovation-driven, international Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO),” he says.
The 80,000-square-foot Dundee facility will be Argenta’s third manufacturing site globally, and the company’s first operations in the EU. It encompasses a manufacturing plant, laboratories and warehouse spaces for the production of a broad range of high-quality animal health products, including non-sterile liquids, suspensions, and gels.
There are 118 Elanco employees at the facility in Dundee. As part of the sale of the site, Elanco will follow the UK consultation process and applicable laws governing the transfer of employees to Argenta.
“We recognise and welcome the additional capabilities that the Scottish workforce will bring to the business, and look forward to a seamless transition and joining the Dundee community over the coming months,” says Dr. Cleverly.
| An Argenta release | February 3, 2017 ||
Aluminium extruders from several countries have came together in december 2016 to form a new trade group dedicated to promoting and defending fair trade practices in their industry.
The newly-formed International Fair Trade Alliance (IFTA) was announced via press release on Tuesday. The non-profit organization’s mission is to assemble aluminium extrusion manufacturers and suppliers the world over to promote free trade within their sector. The new alliance is made up of extruders from North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Israel.
“Our alliance believes that a network of market-based aluminium extrusion companies and associations can work together to support, teach, and advocate fair trade practices at a national and international level,” said Jason Weber, director – international market intelligence for Sapa Extrusion North America, and newly-elected chairman of IFTA.
The group was formed to point out and defend against what they see as non-market based economies defeating free enterprise via illegal and unfair trade practices. IFTA says these practices must be confronted both by individual states and by the World Trade Organization.
“We are all seeing illegal and unfair trade tactics from China being exported to other countries,” explained Lewis Saragossi, chairman and managing director of G. James Glass & Aluminum, and representing the Australian Aluminum Extrusion Association on IFTA’s board.
“It is time for our industry to come together as a global community to share data and field intelligence so each of our marketplaces can efficiently and quickly confront these threats,” he went on.
“What we are seeing is the proliferation of Chinese aluminium extrusions throughout South America,” Jochen Münch, commercial director of Ecuadorian extruder Corporación Ecuatoriana de Aluminio Cedal pointed out. “As duties, have been imposed by countries like Australia, Canada, and the US; Chinese extruders are moving into new markets. So, even if you do not feel the threat today, just give it some time and you will.”
IFTA will be managed by The Sanford Organization (TSO) in Chicago. The association management company is led by Jeff Henderson and manages other aluminium advocacy groups, like the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC), and the Aluminum Anodizers Council.
| Coutersy of AluminiumInsider | January 3, 2017 ||
German lightweight construction reasearh institute install a Zwick testing system
During the past decade the Department of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology (SLK) at Chemnitz University of Technology (TU Chemnitz), Gemany, has developed into one of the leading research institutes in the field of lightweight construction. To cover the increasing demand for testing in the ever-growing number of new fields of application for composite materials, the Department of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Technology has opted for an innovative Zwick testing system.
The areas of application for lightweight and composite materials now extend to virtually every industry. This also has consequences for research, as testing applications become ever more varied. The new Zwick testing system allows a range of different tests to be performed on composite materials and components.
The four-column machine (Fmax 250 kN) is equipped with an additional torsion drive (2000 Nm) to enable biaxial testing, for example on CFRP pipes with an outside diameter between 40 and 80 mm. The testing machine can also be used for tensile tests on standard specimens, as well as tensile and compression tests on complete components, and is equipped with two test areas, eliminating the need for fixture changes and ensuring greater repeat accuracy for test results.
To enable maximum accuracy in simulating environmental conditions the testing machine is equipped with a temperature chamber for tests between -80°C and 250°C.
| A Zwick release | February 3, 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