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| A Solar gard sponsored article || Monday 19 June 2017 |||
Risk dimension is for the very few only insists New Zealand innovator
Lance Lissette is often considered in New Zealand the longest continuously operating figure in electronics, telecommunications, and information technology. In the past he has been willing to talk in public only about his numerous sporting activities. Now, though, he focuses on his commercial career and answers our Five Questions......
You are one of the last, perhaps even the last, of the electronics entrepreneurs from the 1970s-80s era still operational today. How did you get your start?
For many years I was associated as a dealer with radio pioneer Angus Tait. In 1983 I sold my dealership business to Philips. So you could say that I had the good fortune to start pretty much where I intended to finish up, which is with the major league.
This was the era of two-way radio and you are remembered, not surprisingly, as a vocal supporter of two-way.
I was. To some degree I still am. There is such a thing as negative progress. Two way radio was clear cut. It was easily managed by depot control. In contrast the cell phone with all its increasingly numerous options can easily lead to confusion and information overload. Two-way was dedicated to the business at hand. Cellular by definition handles many threads. A piece of entrepreneurial trade craft though is levering off a fading technology and into the new one- which we accomplished as we made the transition into the wider sphere of IT.
You convinced Telecom of the virtues of two-way at a time when cellular was already making inroads?
I did. I went into partnership with Telecom, as it was then known, under the banner of Telecom Fleetlink, and for many years the clarity and uncluttered efficiency of two way radio was there for everyone to see in terms of the freight and parcels delivery industry. Then we went over fully to cellular and we did so and in a rather spectacular way. We went into a joint venture with the Allen Corporation of the United States to install Telecom’s cellular infrastructure. Allen later bought us out and the joint venture became the basis of their cellular infrastructure work in both New Zealand and Australia.
You are known to have firm views on the role in society, at all levels, of the entrepreneur?
Thank you for asking. I most certainly do. I am horrified by the government for example calling for more people to be entrepreneurs. I believe it is shameful for people who are supposed to be in a position of responsibility such as at universities touting courses and education programmes for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. Most people sensibly do not want to become entrepreneurs. I never recommend what I do to anyone at all. Why? Because an entrepreneur at any given moment can lose everything they have. The lot.
What are you doing now?
Creating jobs across New Zealand and North America with a simple yet basic product line that at this stage I have no intention to reveal to you. Why am I still out there, and at my stage of life? Because my long experience tells me that I have an essential attribute without which any other skills that I may possess are insufficient to bring anything to fruition. I am talking of luck.
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.|| Monday 19 June 2017 |||
New Zealanders will get access to more ‘open data’, with $7.2 million earmarked for the next three years to speed its release, Statistics Minister Scott Simpson announced today.
“Open data helps businesses, councils, community and charitable groups as well as other data users make faster, better-informed decisions and help solve complex problems. High quality data makes it easier for businesses to innovate and grow,” Mr Simpson says.
“Open data is good for an open democracy. More open data will also help everyone see how their tax dollars are being spent and how effective that spending is.
“The Government is committed to making sure the data we collect is increasingly freely available in easy to use formats. This will help any business, not-for-profit group or individual who wants to use it. Open data is de-identified and does not include personal information such as names or addresses.
‘Examples of how government data is being used more widely include Homes.co.nz online tool to help homeowners search for free property data and global mapping company, HERE Maps, helping to launch self-driving cars around the world.
“Working towards an ‘open by default’ approach in government requires a significant culture change and we continue to invest resources into new ways of working with data.”
New Zealand is one of the early adopters of open data and currently ranks 7th in the world out of 115 countries in the Open Data Barometer.
Open data can also be used to improve how we access healthcare services, discover cures for diseases more efficiently, understand our government better, and help us travel to places more easily. It is crucial to help New Zealand meet its Business Growth Agenda objectives by 2025 and its commitments under the Open Government Partnership. Opening up government data and helping others to use it means a much greater return-on-investment for the data the government collects.
| A Beehive release || June 19, 2017 |||
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his visit to Washington for high-level trade talks with the Trump Administration has been a success and that the U.S. has indicated it is open to a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand when the time is right.
Mr McClay met with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, newly appointed U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Congressman David Reichert, Special Advisors to the President and members of the US Chamber of Commerce.
Mr McClay says Secretary Ross has indicated that he is open to a trade deal with New Zealand and did not see any major issues, as our relationship was in good shape.
"It's clear the U.S. will take time considering its trade strategy. They're likely to have a considerable workload over next couple of years with NAFTA renegotiations and some big bilateral deals to do. However, I've welcomed their interest in an FTA as a demonstration of the good shape our trading relationship is in," Mr McClay says.
"Trade Agenda 2030 sets an ambitious target of 90 per cent of our goods trade being covered by FTAs by 2030. The U.S. will be an important part of achieving this goal and my discussions this week in Washington are encouraging."
USTR Robert Lighthizer also told Mr McClay he was keen to work with New Zealand on international trade policy issues.
"This was my 3rd meeting with Ambassador Lighthizer since his confirmation just over a month ago. I have a great deal of respect for Robert and believe that New Zealand will be able to work closely with him on trade."
Mr McClay says there is significant interest in New Zealand's approach to trade policy. Congressman Reichert and members of the U.S. business community said they had admiration for how we had opened our markets and made the most of the opportunities in the Asia Pacific region.
"They recognise we are number one in ‘ease of doing business' and were impressed with the strong performance of our economy,” Mr McClay says
Mr McClay says there is considerable scope to grow trade and investment with the U.S.
"Two-way trade with the U.S. reached $16 billion in 2016. This is an incredibly wealthy market with huge opportunity for New Zealand businesses. Trade Agenda 2030 means the Government will increase efforts to help New Zealanders do more in countries like the U.S.," Mr McClay says.
| A Beehive release || June 19, 2017 |||
A new industrial manufacturing facility has won the Supreme Award in the prestigious Property Council New Zealand Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards 2017.
The Sistema manufacturing facility received the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award, after being awarded the ‘Best in Category’ for the Yardi – Industrial Property Award at the annual black-tie gala dinner at Spark Arena in Auckland on 16 June.
The state-of-the-art 55,000-square meter manufacturing facility, located in Mangere, Auckland, is also home to Sistema’s international headquarters.
Featuring a strong operational focus, the buildings design was a stand-out for Chief Judge Andrew Evans due to the attention given to all aspects of work flow, future flexibility, divisibility, and expansion.
“The functionality of the design ensures a smooth and logical flow of materials, people, and resources through the production process, facilitating the efficient operation of a world-class business,” he said.
These standout attributes were also recognised by Newell Brands, a US Fortune 500 company that recently acquired the Sistema plastics business, and in the process signed a long-term lease for the continued occupation of the building.
Mr Evans added, “The project is world class and demonstrated a high level of consultation and collaboration between the design teams, builder, and occupier.
“I am also delighted to see the Supreme Award go to an industrial development that is pushing the boundaries in design and functionality, delivering the most significant industrial building in New Zealand.
“This building displays the innovation and attitude that has made Sistema Plastics a world leader.”
Over 1,500 property professionals from around New Zealand attended the Rider Levett Bucknall Property Industry Awards.
A former New Zealand trade negotiator has been appointed the Government's key adviser for securing trade deals with countries outside the European Union.
Crawford Falconer, who has previously described Brexit as a "enormous opportunity", will work with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox to draw up deals ready to go as the UK leaves the EU.
A former vice minister for international trade and foreign affairs and ambassador to the World Trade Organisation, the academic is currently a trade professor at Lincoln University.
It comes as Mr Fox prepares to visit Washington on Monday for talks about future trade links between the UK and the US after Brexit.
He said: "Britain is a great global trading nation and, as we leave the EU, we will embrace the world and seek to build an outward-looking Britain that is confident on the world stage.
"We're attracting the very best global talent to the Department for International Trade and as an international economic department Crawford brings extensive experience of trade negotiation and foreign affairs and will play a key leadership role, with ministers and the first permanent secretary as we further build our trade capability."
The government has faced criticism that it does not have the skills and manpower needed to carry out complex deals for the country's future after Brexit.
In his role as chief trade negotiation adviser and second permanent secretary at the Department for International Trade (DIT), Mr Falconer will be responsible for boosting the negotiating skills in the team as well as developing free trade agreements and market access deals outside the EU.
Officials said more than 3,000 people now work for the department.
Speaking earlier this year at the Legatum Institute think tank, Mr Falconer said Brexit was a "potential game changer" and countries like Australia, New Zealand and Mexico would want to work with the UK.
"It's a bit like somebody who has woken up after a long sleep. They don't quite realise that they are the sleeping giant," he said.
"I think there is a dawning realisation that there's a huge strategic opportunity."
Speaking about his appointment, Mr Falconer, who holds dual New Zealand/ British nationality, said: "As the UK prepares to leave the EU, it will be top of the Government's agenda to turn the enormous new opportunities opening up for the UK into win-win agreements with our trading partners around the globe.
"That will bring tangible new gains to us at home, and it will bring gains to those trading partners that join us.
"As the world's fifth largest economic power, the UK will bring much needed leadership to the international trade agenda. I am absolutely delighted to join this hugely exciting new journey."
| An AOL release || June 17, 2017 |||
An article published today in the Reserve Bank Bulletin provides an overview of the importance of benchmarks, which are used to price, value and evaluate financial market transactions.
The Bulletin article notes the need for financial market benchmarks to be reliably measured, transparent and supported by strong governance arrangements. The article also explores the way that regulators worldwide are implementing reforms for interest rate benchmarking systems and processes. This follows the erosion in trust in benchmarks that occurred after the LIBOR scandal, where a number of international banks in London were found to have manipulated the LIBOR benchmark interest rates.
Significant work has been undertaken in recent years to improve the reliability, transparency, and governance in New Zealand’s key short-term interest rate benchmark, known as BKBM. The New Zealand Financial Markets Association has carried out this work and has generally brought BKBM in line with guiding principles published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions and Financial Stability Board.
The Bulletin article notes that significant declines in volumes traded during the BKBM rate set in recent years have raised concerns about the reliability of the BKBM as a benchmark rate. The Bulletin article discusses this trend as well as potential solutions for a recovery in the efficiency and liquidity of the New Zealand bank bill market.
More information: Developments in financial market benchmarks
| A RBNZ release || June 16, 2017 |||
The latest growth figures from Statistics New Zealand and the latest OECD report review of our economy, published yesterday, show that while our economy keeps growing, we’re lacking in areas that can really make us a wealthier nation, say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association.
NZMEA Chief Executive Dieter Adam said, “Our GDP is rising, but on a per capita measure, it is much less impressive – we need to harness our potential and work on growing our high-value productive industries to improve this. Real GDP per capita growth in New Zealand is currently below the OECD average, and remains well below what we achieved for the 20 years up to 2007, as the latest OECD figures show.
“Productivity improvement is the key to improving our economic growth, incomes and wealth over time, however, it continues to lag in New Zealand. For example, the OECD report highlights labour productivity in terms of GDP per hour worked falling consistently behind Australia and the United States over the last 20 years.
“The thing is – as Sir Paul Callaghan told us many times before his untimely death in 2012 – we’re not going to grow the value of what we create every hour from having more tourists and more cows in the country; hence the title of his last book “Get off the Grass”.
“To really grow our economy, we need to produce and export more high-value goods and services, and we need to do so more efficiently, increasing productivity. Manufacturing and ICT, two sectors growing more and more intertwined as digital technologies penetrate our manufacturing businesses, already are key contributors to our economy, and they primarily are the ones to turn to when we look for more high-value products and services.
“The key to growth in manufacturing and ICT is innovation, and in the case of manufacturing, process innovation. There is a raft of new digital technologies coming to manufacturing, often referred to as Industry 4.0 or the Industrial Internet of Things. New Zealand needs to embrace these technologies, while at the same time investing in new and smarter products, services and business models.
“The OECD report provides us with some pointers for how to achieve more innovation and productivity. For example, we need to increase non-residential investment, an area we are low at by international comparison, and we need to invest more in innovation activities - again an area we fare poorly compared to the rest of the OECD.
“The report recommends “More fiscal support for business research and development” – we believe that is best achieved through a general R&D tax credit replacing the cumbersome current grant scheme. But the report also points out that our corporate tax rate still is higher than most of our competitors – again a disincentive for more private investment in R&D.
“It will be interesting to see whether the Government takes any note of the sobering figures and sensible recommendations contained in this OECD report. Let us hope we’re not going to squander another opportunity to really put our economy on a stronger footing.” Said Dieter.
| An NZMEA release || June 16, 2017 |||
For the second year running, Ports of Auckland has been selected as a finalist for the Best Seaport in Oceania, the only New Zealand port to make it through to the finals.
Ports of Auckland was voted into the finals of Asia Cargo News' Asian Freight, Logistics and Supply Chain (AFLAS) Awards by industry peers and customers.
In 2016, Auckland's port beat out three major Australian ports to win the category.
"It is fantastic to be chosen as one of the best seaports in the region by our industry peers for another year. Our people have been working hard for our customers, building strong relationships and ensuring we're doing our best to deliver the utmost value for them. This is well-deserved recognition for our team" said Ports of Auckland Chief Executive Tony Gibson.
This year, thousands of Asia Cargo News readers cast votes across award categories such as Best Seaport, Best Container Terminal and Best Airport; the latter counts fellow Kiwis, Auckland Airport, as a finalist. Asia Cargo News reported votes in the thousands – a record number of votes were submitted this year.
Like last year, Ports of Auckland is up against three major Australian ports to retain the award; Port of Brisbane, Port of Melbourne and Sydney Harbour. The awards will be held on June 29 in Singapore.
| A Ports of Auckland release ||| June 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