The annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders’ talks have taken the cooperation between our two countries forward in a number of areas, Prime Minister Bill English says.
Mr English met with Prime Minister Turnbull in Queenstown today to discuss common approaches to bilateral and international issues, including trade and science and innovation.
Mr English also thanked Mr Turnbull for Australia’s offer of support for those fighting the fires on the Port Hills in Christchurch.
“Australia is our closest friend and ally.
“A friendship is never stronger than in times of need and New Zealand is very appreciative of the understanding Australians have shown those in Christchurch this week.” Mr English says.
The two Prime Ministers also discussed their joint commitment to promoting open markets and removing trade barriers.
“The annual meeting is an opportunity for a wide-ranging discussion and is a reflection of the closeness of trans-Tasman ties,” Mr English says.
“The trans-Tasman trade and economic relationship provides an excellent model for deeper economic integration and we continue to build on that foundation as we engage with other partners.
“We want to help our traders and our consumers take advantage of the opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.”
The Prime Ministers also confirmed that in light of the US decision not to ratify the TPP, Australia and New Zealand will work together as they engage with other TPP members on the way forward for the Agreement.
The Leaders’ meeting included the signing of an agreement that will better integrate Australia and New Zealand’s science, research and innovation agendas by enabling collaboration between researchers and innovative companies on both sides of the Tasman.
The ongoing work towards a Single Economic Market was also on today’s agenda with a strong commitment expressed from both sides to continue to find ways to make it easier to operate across the trans-Tasman market.
Mr English welcomed Prime Minister Turnbull’s announcement of greater flexibilities in the implementation of the pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders who are long-term residents in Australia. The pathway recognises the importance of the bilateral relationship and the strong people links between the two countries.
The Prime Ministers also discussed the current global security environment and reiterated their commitment to working together to respond to regional and international challenges.Related Documents
Joint Statement - Leaders Meeting 17 February 2017 (pdf 108.22 KB)
Human resources consultancy, Dough HR, says small and medium-sized businesses need just as much human resources support and assistance as the big guys. Hence, they’ve recently launched a health check service which is already proving popular.
“We understand that with a growing business, sometimes you need to access HR skills and ideas but can’t justify investing in a part or full-time HR employee. That’s where we can help,” says Dough HR director Diana Barry.
She says workplace litigation is on the rise and inadequate or out-of-date human resources management can result in great risk to businesses, regardless of how positive their employee relationships may seem right now.
“The good news is our Dough HR Health Check enables businesses to quickly get a handle on exactly where they stand with their HR processes and procedures and then mitigate any unnecessary risks.”
The health check steps include Dough HR reviewing businesses’ existing HR processes including the recruitment, induction, and performance management of employees as well as their discipline and exit processes. Current documentation such as employment contracts, job descriptions and policies and procedures will also be reviewed to ensure they meet employers’ legal obligations.
Following the health check, Dough HR will deliver a comprehensive report advising businesses of areas of risk and opportunity. They will also provide a set of practical recommendations and can help businesses implement them immediately.
“We are all about quickly identifying any critical compliance issues, advising businesses on what actions are needed, and ensuring all processes and documents are legally compliant.
“Getting these issues sorted means going forward employees have the certainty and clarity of knowing what is expected of them, while employers have greater peace of mind to concentrate on their core business.”
Diana Barry says for a business wanting to take control of its human resources and mitigate any risk, a Dough HR Health Check is a great first step. For those businesses that are not sure whether their HR standards are up to scratch, Dough HR can be contacted via www.dough.nz
| A dough release | February 19, 2017 ||
The Hutt STEMM Festival, in its third year, educates, inspires and showcases Lower Hutt’s strengths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and manufacturing (STEMM).
This year the festival will run over two weeks, 6-21 May to coincide with Techweek ‘17.
Last year more than 70 local businesses and organisations were involved in organising 42 events aimed at sparking conversations about STEMM and shining a spotlight on existing and future opportunities in Lower Hutt to be part of these exciting sectors.
Expressions of interest are now open for those wanting to run an event at this year’s festival.
Events and activities are sought that will engage business, schools, STEMM professionals and the wider Wellington community.
Council’s General Manager Kim Kelly says the theme of this year’s festival is “Building the Future”.
“The future is being built here in Lower Hutt and the Hutt STEMM Festival is an opportunity to discover the incredible things being created in our city and the innovative ideas being shared.
“We want to showcase our strengths as one of New Zealand’s leading growth centres and capture imaginations, from those who’ve built a career in one or more of the STEMM sectors to families who want to learn and be creative together.
“This year’s festival, with the support of our thriving STEMM community, will be the place to be this May.”
To register interest in running an event or find out more visit huttstemm.nz before 5pm,Friday 10 March.
The Hutt STEMM Festival is brought to the Wellington region by Hutt City Council and supported by Lower Hutt businesses and organisations.
| A Hutt City release | February 18, 2017 ||
Airbnb has snatched up Montreal-based vacation rental company, Luxury Retreats, which has 4000 homes in 100 destinations worldwide, including 14 properties over in New Zealand, although none in Australia yet.
As some of the more major competitors to big disruptors like Airbnb, Luxury Retreats offers high-quality listings, concierge service and a range of amenities to travellers.
Naturally, as Airbnb continues its steep growth, such a business not only complements Airbnb’s existing offerings, but an acquisition ensures competition becomes almost none existent.
Luxury Retreats CEO Joe Poulin will join Airbnb and lead luxury homes, reporting to Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, while the Luxury Retreats team will remain based in Montreal.
In the short-term, Luxury Retreats will continue to operate as a standalone entity, but over time, Luxury Retreats listings will be highlighted and integrated into the Airbnb community.
All of the approximately 250 members of Luxury Retreats team will join the Airbnb global family and continue to focus on bringing more high-quality homes to the Airbnb listings.
“From airbeds in an apartment to castles to villas, Airbnb has always been focused on providing a broad range of amazing experiences and trips,” said Chesky.
“I have spent countless hours with Joe and his team and seen firsthand their passion for delivering amazing hospitality and unforgettable experiences in spectacular places around the world. They share our values and I’m excited to work with the Luxury Retreats team to serve more travelers.
“The incredible energy and talent in these teams will help support our mission and grow our community and I’m confident that we will expand our team in Canada in the months and years ahead.”
“Montreal is known as an innovative city that is looking forward,” said Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. “I’m pleased that a large company like Airbnb has chosen to invest in Montreal by their investment in Luxury Retreats and that its activities will continue to be based here.
“Airbnb has revolutionized global hospitality, connecting a vibrant community of hosts and guests to deliver a tremendous amount of unique travel experiences,” said Luxury Retreats founder and CEO Joe Poulin.
“Brian’s vision, values and approach mirror what Luxury Retreats has been focused on in the luxury market since 1999. We are thrilled to join the Airbnb family with a continued commitment of delivering quality, luxury travel experiences.”
| A TravelWeekly release | February 17, 2017 ||
Unilever on Friday rejected a $143bn (£115bn) takeover offer from US food giant Kraft Heinz, saying that it sees absolutely no “financial or strategic” merit in a tie-up.
Kraft said in a statement earlier in the day that it had “made a comprehensive proposal to Unilever about combining the two groups to create a leading consumer goods company with a mission of long-term growth and sustainable living”.
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Auckland Airport and Tainui Group Holdings have announced an agreement to develop a new 5-star hotel adjacent to Auckland Airport’s international terminal and the existing 4-star Novotel hotel. The new premium 250-room hotel will be operated by AccorHotels under the Pullman brand.
While the additional hotel development has long been a feature of Auckland Airport’s ‘airport of the future’ vision, Mark Thomson, Auckland Airport’s general manager - property, says the timing has been influenced by unprecedented demand for hotel accommodation in Auckland. Building the hotel now also responds directly to strong demand for accommodation that provides easy access to the airport terminals.
“Auckland Airport plays a key role in New Zealand’s growing tourism industry and in connecting Auckland to New Zealand and New Zealand to the world. This hotel, which will benefit from its premium location adjacent to the international terminal and the current Novotel, will provide more choices for travellers looking for high quality accommodation within walking distance of both terminals,” says Mr Thomson.
“Being able to walk to the terminals, rather than drive, has considerable appeal to hotel patrons and will also help reduce vehicle movements on our roads.”
The new hotel will trade as the Pullman Auckland Airport and will be developed in a 50:50 partnership with Tainui Group Holdings. As part of this agreement, Auckland Airport has increased its ownership stake in the Novotel hotel to 50%.
“The partnership with Tainui Group Holdings and AccorHotels has been very successful and we are pleased to be extending this relationship to another hotel project,” says Mr Thomson.
The hotel building will carry the name ‘Te Arikinui’, which is the chiefly title that the Late Maori Queen Te Atairangikaahu chose when she ascended to the Te Wherowhero (throne) at the time of her Coronation. The chiefly associations of Te Arikinui are in keeping with the 5-star premium experience to be offered at the hotel.
Chris Joblin, Chief Executive of Tainui Group Holdings, says that this agreement reflects the strength of the relationship that has been established between Tainui Group Holdings and Auckland Airport.
“This is an exciting project that will result in two complementary assets located in an exceptional position at New Zealand’s main gateway. This creates tremendous scope to create a unique, authentic New Zealand experience for airport visitors and hotel guests including through unique cultural elements incorporated in the design,” says Mr Joblin.
Construction is expected to start by the end of this year, with the hotel scheduled to open by late 2019. By this time, Auckland Airport’s international terminal will have undergone significant expansion and work will already be underway on the domestic section of our future combined domestic and international terminal.
Auckland Airport is currently investing more than $1 million every working day on infrastructure improvements, and expects this level of investment will likely continue into the near future.
Ξ Machinery Market 16 February 2017
Report shows MBIE intends to flout Supreme Court ruling on earthquake prone buildings
Cadbury to close doors on Dunedin factory after 80 years, eliminating 350 jobs
Tax Management NZ (TMNZ) has launched its IRD-approved Flexi Account
Xeikon establishes Australasian support operation
Outright asset purchases may reduce opportunity to grow
Here's where manufacturing jobs have been lost
Tony Alexander's Weekly Overview February 16 2017
Broadband bargain-hunting forces Spark to change tack
An EBSS report ‘Don’t mention the law’, on MBIE’s proposed regulations and methodology for identifying earthquake prone buildings, shows that the Chief Executive, David Smol, intends to flout a landmark Supreme Court decision.
The law provides that the earthquake prone building test is against performance in a defined moderate earthquake. The Supreme Court, in a 2014 decision, ruled that the test earthquake must be a moderate earthquake, and not any more severe event. This ruling has been ignored in the methodology, where the effective test is some undefined severe earthquake.
“This ‘severe earthquake’ test and other manipulations means that buildings can be designated as earthquake prone when they clearly are not”, said Ian Harrison Chair of EBSS. “Engineers were told in their briefing document that assessed seismic ratings should never match the actual capacity of the building”.
The report recommends that engineers be required to sign an attestation that an earthquake prone building meets the specific performance test required by law.
“MBIE’s regime is grossly over engineered,” said Harrison. “There is an issue with unreinforced masonry buildings in more seismically active areas, but the real risks can be addressed quickly and relatively cheaply. We don’t have to do tens of thousands of potentially rigged assessments and then spend billions strengthening reinforced concrete and wooden buildings that are known to perform well in earthquakes”.
MBIE does not know how the regime will work and whether it will deliver consistent results, because it has not been tested. The methodology development process fells well short of minimum testing and validation standards, let alone best practice.
The report shows that the public has been systematically mislead about the real risk of so-called ‘earthquake prone’ buildings.
The New Zealand Society of Earthquake Engineering risk grading system, which is being promoted by MBIE, describes buildings as high risk, and very high risk, when they can be thousands of times safer than everyday activities such as driving or flying.Older reinforced concrete buildings performed as well as modern buildings in the Christchurch earthquake.The Wellington City Council’s website states that earthquake prone buildings can be expected to collapse in a moderate earthquake. Wellington was hit by a moderate earthquake in November 2016, but only two of nearly 700 ‘earthquake prone’ buildings had structural damage, and none collapsed. It was the modern buildings that were the big problem.
EBSS believes that engineers have breached the Fair Trading Act by making misleading statements about the need for services, and making unsubstantiated statements about risk. EBSS will be making a complaint to the Commerce Commission under the Act.
| An EBSS release | February 16, 2017 ||
Xiekon has officially opened its doors for its own sales, service and support operation in Australia and New Zealand.
The Xeikon solutions have been available in Australian for many years, latterly through Absolute Electronics, however when Xeikon was bought by Flint last year the ink giant instigated a strategy of direct operations within the region.
Trevor Crowley, general manager, Xeikon says, “For the market it means they have a direct line to the factory and the technology developers, and it means they have a supplier whose sole focus is Xeikon.”
Xeikon ANZ will be using its own service engineers to support the presses, with parts and consumables located in Sydney and the regional headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, which will also host the regional technology center with both simplex and duplex technology installed. Crowley says, “The service will be at the level that Xeikon users would expect, we recognise the importance of quick response in today’s world. We are investing heavily in factory trained engineers to cover both Australia and New Zealand”
Xeikon is gearing up for a massive six months, first with the launch of the direct operation here, then the Xeikon Café in Belgium next month, which will see more than 20 different applications produced from Xeikon printers and a variety of integrated finishing lines, third is PacPrint in May at which Xeikon has booked a stand for the first time to show what Crowley says is ‘a first first for Australia’, and then LabelExpo which takes place in Brussels in September.
Crowley says, “Xeikon is a proven and real solid alternative in labels, packaging, folding carton and document printing. The systems print at the highest quality, are the only digital printers that are FDA approved for direct dry food contact, hold some of the best light fastness in our industry, and are cost effective.”
The Xeikon presses are aimed at existing digital print business and printers who want to transition from analogue to digital, however, Crowley also sees digital label greenfield installations coming into play. He says, “Xeikon has an extensive portfolio, its printers are flexible and allow user to work in a variety of applications from labels to folding carton to documents to marketing collateral. They have an unmatched flexibility, and are available as either reel to reel or reel to sheet configurations, and can print on almost any media without the need for pre-coat or post-coat.”
The sales operation begins under Xeikon’s auspices today, while the service operation will transition between Absolute and Xeikon from now until March 31.
Tetra Pak building $25m Thai packaging plant forseeing a 30% jump in Asia-Pacific demand for beverage caps, lids
SINGAPORE -- European food-processing and packaging company Tetra Pak announced it will invest 24 million euros ($25 million) to build a plant to produce caps and lids for beverage products in Thailand. The company said it aims to tap growing demand for such packaging in the Asia-Pacific region.
The facility will produce caps and lids for dairy, juice and other beverage products, mainly for customers in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Production capacity will be more than 3 billion units per year.
The factory is expected to open in early 2018 and will be located in the same compound as Tetra Pak's existing Straws and Strips plant in the eastern province of Rayong.
Michael Zacka, Tetra Pak's regional vice president for South Asia, East Asia and Oceania, said in a statement that customers are "increasingly looking for packaging that is functional and convenient." He added that the company's growth outlook for the region is "extremely positive" and that the plant will help "open many new opportunities."
Tetra Pak expects demand for packaging with caps or lids in the region to grow by more than 30% between 2015 and 2018. In November, it announced a 100 million euro investment in a new Vietnamese packaging plant to expand its manufacturing footprint in the region. The same month, it also signed a deal with Dubai-based Binghatti Holding to receive approximately $6.8 million in financing to develop packaging and filling lines at an Abu Dhabi factory.
| A Tetra Pak release | February 16, 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