09 Nov: 1133  |  Customers travelling in Business Class between Auckland and Beijing are eligible for complimentary chauffeur service in Beijing when travelling on Air China.  Check out the details with your travel advisor.

09 Nov: 1044  |  LGNZ supports the Government’s proposal to wind back a number of Resource Management Act changes that excluded public consultation requirements, a move councils strongly opposed when they were introduced in 2017. The changes, outlined in a recent cabinet paper, would reduce the complexity of the Act, remove regulation making powers and override provisions, restore public participation provisions and financial contributions. “Local government raised a red flag around the RMA changes in 2017, knowing they would threaten the public’s ability to have a say, create problems for infrastructure providers and hinder councils’ ability to give effect to updated standards without needing to go through long and cumbersome processes,” says LGNZ President Dave Cull. Change to the broad regulation-making powers that enabled the Minister for the Environment to override councils has also been proposed, who will still retain some national direction powers via National Environmental Standards and National Policy Statements. “Local government supports a collaborative approach with the Ministry for the Environment, through clear communication and engagement. The 2017 changes were a ham-fisted way to try and achieve this, and we’re pleased to see that the government has faith in a more effective process.” “LGNZ will be working with the government on this reform package to ensure they can be easily implemented. We are also keen to work on the signalled changes to the role of the EPA in enforcement activities, as we are not convinced they are the best way to achieve the outcomes sought.”

Strengthening and extending our trading relationships and discussing the critical security issues in our region will be priorities for Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern when she attends the annual East Asia Summit and APEC leaders meeting next week.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters formally opened New Zealand’s new embassy in Stockholm today.

You can expect a strong presence from New Zealand fintech companies at the upcoming Singapore Fintech Week 2018, with 12 confirmed to attend the world’s largest Fintech festival.

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will come into force on the 30th December.

An innovative software company that shows the world how to understand what lies beneath the land and the oceans has won the Supreme Award at the 2018 New Zealand International Business Awards.

The World Economic Forum picked nine plants to serve as beacons of a new hope for Industry 4.0 success.

Air New Zealand and aircraft manufacturer ATR have signed an agreement to explore the role new propulsion technologies could play in the future of the regional aircraft ecosystem.

Textainer has placed a 1,000-unit order for the PrimeLINE ONE™ refrigerated container by Carrier Transicold and Singamas Container Holdings Limited, making it the first major container leasing company to acquire the new refrigerated container.