Jan 15, 2018  -  Mercury NZ has selected Tesla as the provider for a scalable national grid-connected battery trial after a tender process launched last September.  A direct grid-connected battery is a large-scale battery able to take, store and return energy directly to the national grid, making it possible to provide energy when usage is high or supply is disrupted.

Jan 15, 2018  -  The Consumer Technology Association has identified the 13 most innovation countries.  The Association is an American standards and trade organisation that represents the $351 billion U.S. consumer technology industry.

Jan 15, 2018 - When trying to come up with a new idea, untangle an existing one or solve a problem we all have times when we get stuck. But according to research by behavioral and learning scientist Marily Oppezzo, getting up and going for a walk might be all it takes to get your creative juices flowing. In this fun, fast talk, she explains how walking is not just for your physical well-being but a mental resource. 

Jan 11, 2018 - Nelson-based power retailer NextGen Energy announces it is now accepting Bitcoin for payment of electricity bills. The social enterprise company operates as a not-for-profit, uniquely donating all net profits to local schools and charities.  “NextGen Energy is creating disruptive opportunities within the NZ electricity sector, and actively pursues the adoption of new technologies.” says Tom Wheatley, CEO, “NextGen is already supplying power to a number of crypto-currency mining operations, and the ability to pay for the power in Bitcoin simply makes sense. We are now extending this option to all our customers.”

Jan 12, 2018 - People are spending more online to rent a taxi, or a house for a night, and less on in-car satellite navigation and DVDs, Stats NZ said today. As a result of these changes in technology, the consumers price index (CPI) basket of goods and services used to measure inflation is changing after a three-yearly review.

"More people are going online to buy shared ride services, such as Uber, and shared accommodation services, like home-rental operators Airbnb and BookaBach," prices senior manager Jason Attewell said.

"We’re introducing the sharing economy to the CPI to keep it relevant for New Zealand."

"People are changing what they buy to keep up with changes in technology, and as a result, we’re removing several items from the CPI basket. These items are still available to buy, but New Zealanders just don’t spend as much on them."

As a result of the 2017 CPI review:

• in-car satellite navigation systems have been removed (they were added to the basket in 2008)
• DVDs and Blu-ray discs have gone (added to the basket in 2006 and 2011, respectively) along with the hire of DVDs, set-top boxes, and external computer drives
• MP3 players are out (they were added to the basket in 2006).

"At the same time, we’re seeing increased spending on technology accessories like headsets and cellphone cases. We’ve added these items to the CPI basket as part of the latest review."

"The CPI basket is really a reflection of New Zealand society and how it has changed over time," Mr Attewell said.

"We added the electric lightbulb to the basket in the 1920s, televisions and record players in the 1960s, microwaves and car stereos in the 1980s, and MP3 players and digital cameras in the 2000s. As these items go out of fashion they are removed from the basket."

Housing and food remain the most important items in the basket, accounting for almost half of people’s spending. Housing includes rent, new builds, and other house improvements.

Craft beer and massages join the inflation brew

People are also spending more on craft beer and massages, so these are joining the CPI basket too.

"New Zealand used to be called a country of rugby, racing, and beer – but spending patterns are changing and Kiwis are increasingly keen on craft beer, body massages at beauty spas, and football club memberships," Mr Attewell said.

At the same time, sewing machines are out of the inflation basket, but clothing alterations are now in.

"People don’t have as much time to do things themselves, and are prepared to pay others to do jobs for them," Mr Attewell said.

Stats NZ reviews the CPI basket of goods and services every three years to ensure it remains relevant. This is done by surveying people to find out what they spend their money on.

See Consumers price index review: 2017

View our Consumers price index review: 2017 video.

| A StatsNZ release  ||  January 12, 2018   |||

Jan 11, 2018  -  ‘Big data’ and ‘Business Intelligence (BI)’ are more than just buzzwords. They are here to stay. Across the board, organisations can’t stop thinking about the promise of big data and BI to drive success in everything, from operations to communications.

Jan 11, 2018  -  New Zealand tech stars are leading a global team in launching the world’s first ever blockchain platform for the multi-billion-dollar global online ratings and review industry. Kiwi tech business experts including 2017 New Zealand chief executive of the year award winner Leigh Flounders and NZTech and FintechNZ chair Mitchell Pham are at the forefront of the launch of Lina.review which is ground-breaking and disrupting the online review world.

Jan 11, 2018  -  The Ministry for Primary Industries has introduced new treatment requirements to stop brown marmorated stink bug arriving into New Zealand in sea containers from Italy.  All sea containers from Italy now require treatment for the invasive pest before arriving in New Zealand or on arrival.

Jan 10, 2018  -  Kiwi businesses are having to substantially change how they operate with the rapid arrival of the digital age, a leading New Zealand business expert says.  Ian Christie, a former head of Saatchi and Saatchi New Zealand and a member of WPP's global leadership team in the UK, says it’s now a matter of survival now for New Zealand companies and organisations on how they change their modus operandi.

“Large or small, every part of all business operations has been touched by digitisation, says Christie, who is now chief executive of the software company Boma, in Auckland.“It’s not just the customer being able to purchase goods and services online, but all through the supply chain, from raw material sourcing to manufacturing, to distribution and sales. No part of business is escaping the digital disruption.“The good news is that this revolution is bringing down costs dramatically in some areas, but on the other side, is driving business owners to completely rethink about the way they interact with customers, suppliers and stakeholders.“Making things accessible that previously cost a lot or required specialist skills will benefit the New Zealand public. That’s our aim is to make things better for Kiwis, through what we are good at.“At Boma we harness this technology and thinking to provide high quality messages that previously one needed an agency or various experts to do for companies and organisations. Boma does the lot now.“Changing the way we think in business, going forward, is the biggest challenge. In the past an owner had to think about being more efficient within a well-defined scope of operation. These days an owner can completely customise their operation based on any core dimension - geography, cost, speed to market, customer care. There are apps for all of that.“We can and want to help businesses by simply and regularly communicating with their customer base without the time and expense of old-school type agencies. What companies are seeking to create in business this year must be unrivalled and unprecedented.“Companies can now use machine learning and artificial intelligence to create something that was firstly very manual - even if created on a computer by someone - and who’s quality and impact was directly proportional to how much a business owner was spending. “The big difference in 2018 is the removal of market barriers. They have gone. Digital software has provided the tools to create a business online. You no longer need to be huge to run a successful business you just need the right attitude. Customers now go to the web to search for a product or service online. To succeed, businesses need to be found, liked, shared and engaged with.”Christie says he started Boma to give small to medium enterprises access to technology as a democratising force and the opportunity to harness that was too good to pass up.

| A MakeLemonade release  ||  January 10, 2018   |||

Jan 8, 2018  - CERTNZ advises that researchers have found multiple vulnerabilities in computer processors which may allow attackers to extract information from affected systems, including passwords and other sensitive data.

The technical details of these vulnerabilities can be found at meltdownattack.com and spectreattack.com.

CERT NZ is not currently aware of any attacks that are actively exploiting these vulnerabilities, however we strongly recommend you protect yourself with the advice provided below as soon as practicable.What's happeningSystems affected - Processors from Intel, AMD, and ARM have been confirmed to be affected. Due to the complex nature of the vulnerabilities, it is safest to work on the basis that all systems may be affected. As this is a hardware vulnerability, this may affect any device, from computers to smart phones, tablets, routers, and smart devices such as TVs.

What this meansAll computers and personal devices such as cell phones will need to be updated to protect against attacks which use these vulnerabilities to steal sensitive information such as passwords

What to look for | How to tell if you're at risk

If you are using a device which uses a processor from Intel, AMD, or ARM - you may be at risk. This represents the vast majority of end user devices.

What to doMitigation - Ensure that all software on all your devices is up to date. Some updates have been released, and more are expected to be released over the coming weeks and months as manufacturers and vendors respond to these vulnerabilities.

In particular, ensure your operating system and browser are updated. If you have a device which is no longer receiving updates, you should consider upgrading or replacing it, to ensure you can get the latest security updates.

CERT NZ’s advice on End-of-Life Devices - Updates have been issued (or will soon be issued) for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, Chrome browser and Firefox. A more comprehensive list may be found at https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA18-004A External Link .

More informationIf you require more information or further support, submit a report on the CERTNZ website or contact them on 0800 CERTNZ.

Report an incident to CERT NZ  

| A CERTNZ release  ||  January 8, 2018   |||