Feb 2, 2018  - The BusinessNZ Energy Council (BEC) is delighted with the appointment of Bennet Tucker from Transpower, a member of the New Zealand Young Energy Professionals Network, to the WEC board for global future energy leaders, the FEL-100.BEC Chair Hon David Caygill says the appointment to this exclusive group of 100 future global energy leaders is in recognition of Bennet’s outstanding contribution since his appointment to the FEL-100 last year and the value of New Zealand’s contribution to the WEC and its work programme.

TAURANGA: February 1, 2018: Leading avocado export supply group AVOCO has welcomed this week’s announcement that New Zealand market access to China has been granted for the 2018-19 export season. AVOCO exports New Zealand avocados to various Asian markets under its AVANZA brand and the company has been preparing for access to China for some time. Preliminary planning has included the development of a market-specific brand name designed to be the exemplar brand from New Zealand for China.

feb 1, 2018  -  Some of the top cutting-edge tech companies, academics and leading tech chief executives will unleash all the latest information and how AI (artificial intelligence) is impacting on New Zealanders’ lives at a major event in Auckland in March. AI Day 2018 in Auckland on March 28 will be the biggest AI event ever to be held in New Zealand. The conference is being organised by NewZealand.AI and the AI Forum NZ, which is part of the NZ Tech Alliance, bringing together 14 tech communities, over 500 organisations and more than 100,000 employees to help create a more prosperous New Zealand underpinned by technology. New Zealand’s trail-blazing AI event will showcase the major steps AI has made in recent times and is starting to have impacts across the country, AI Forum New Zealand executive director Ben Reid says. Some of the trail-blazing pioneers of AI at the event include Steven Guggenheimer, corporate vice president, AI business, at Microsoft; Dawie Olivier, chief information officer for Westpac NZ; Kathryn Hempstalk, head of data and insights at Trade Me; David Leach, chief executive at Qrious; Eduard Liebenberger, chief tech officer at Jade; Kurt Janssen, chief executive at Orbica; Mahmood Hikmet , data scientist, at Ohmio and Angie Judge, chief executive, at Dexibit. “This event is about building New Zealand's AI community and helping kiwi businesses better serve their customers with AI, as well as emphasising the benefits of AI for people and society” Reid says. “Last year saw an explosion of machine learning in production use - AI technologies have moved beyond experimentation and are now being leveraged for practical applications in every domain thinkable. “Real world applications of AI are everywhere and out in the open these days. From Siri, Cortana and Google Assistant on your smartphone to the intelligent computer vision that enables Amazon’s new cashier-less grocery stores, there are plenty of examples of AI making our lives easier and more productive. “In fact, most people use or interact with AI every day, but seldom recognise it. When AI is done well, it usually becomes invisible. No one actively thinks of Amazon product recommendations or Netflix's 'Recommended for you' list as Artificial Intelligence, yet machine learning algorithms power these systems. “There are exciting developments applying AI to environmental goals – for example the Cacophony Project is using AI to radically improve trapping and accelerate us towards a pest free New Zealand. "There are incredible opportunities at the intersection of AI with people and society - initiatives such as the international Partnership on AI and Microsoft's AI for Good programme are just some examples of how AI can be used to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world. “Investment in the right skills is important. Demand for data scientists will surpass demand for engineers. According to IBM, demand for data scientists will increase to 2.7 million by 2020. China has recently stated that AI related courses will be added into the curriculum of primary and secondary schools – what are we doing in New Zealand to keep up? “AI Day is an opportunity for leaders and innovators to come together and start engaging with AI now to secure a prosperous and thriving future for New Zealand.”

| A MakeLemonade release  ||  February 1, 2018   |||

Jan 31, 2018  - The Household Labour Force Survey is used to produce official estimates of the numbers of employed and unemployed people, those not in the labour force, and the official unemployment rate for New Zealand.

Continue to full article here on STATSNZ   ||  January 31, 2018

Jan 31, 2018  -  “A concerted Government effort to strengthen the export capability of the country’s manufacturing sector is urgently needed to compensate for the likely impact of climate change on the agricultural sector,” says Mr Dieter Adam, CE of The Manufacturers’ Network.

Jan 31, 2018  -  The meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) being held from 1-4 February in Auckland will seek to advance sustainable and inclusive growth.

Jan 30, 2018  -  Both exports and imports reached new highs in 2017, as New Zealand earned more from agricultural products and bought more cars and computers, Stats NZ said today.

Jan 30, 2018 - Exports of milk powder, butter, and cheese lifted total exports to a record $5.6 billion in December 2017, Stats NZ said today. Monthly exports were $1.1 billion higher than in December 2016.

Jan 30, 2018  -New Zealand must continue to seek to increase our access to protected pastoral markets, but international trade deals come at a cost, writes economist Brian Easton

Jan 30, 2018  -  The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Iain Lees-Galloway today announced the establishment of a Film Industry Working Group, facilitated by Linda Clark, to find a fit-for purpose way to restore workers’ rights in the screen industry.

“This Government is determined that all New Zealand workers get a fair go, including film workers,” says Mr Lees-Galloway.

“The 2010 ‘Hobbit law’ meant film production workers were treated as independent contractors, unless they are party to a written employment agreement that states they are employees. This effectively denied them rights enjoyed by other workers in New Zealand. Contractors do not have the right to bargain collectively under the Employment Relations Act.

“New Zealand must have a highly skilled and innovative economy that provides well-paid, decent jobs, and delivers on economic growth and productivity,” says Mr Lees-Galloway. “To achieve these outcomes, working people need a voice in their workplace through collective bargaining.

“The industry has agreed to work collaboratively to find a durable solution to restore collective bargaining rights for film production workers, without necessarily changing the status of those who wish to continue working as independent contractors.”

The Minister says the Working Group is made up of key industry players, as well as BusinessNZ and the Council of Trade Unions.

“I’ve been very impressed so far with the collegiality and progressive thinking across the sector as we seek a solution that is fit for the needs of the screen industry. The Working Group will examine how we can reach the right balance for workers and producers.

“I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Linda Clark as facilitator for the Working Group. I am confident Ms Clark will effectively support the Working Group to achieve its task.”

The group’s recommendations will help ensure the continued growth of New Zealand’s vibrant, strong and world-leading film industry.

The group will meet over the next six months, with its recommendations to the Minister expected by mid-2018.

Members of the Film Industry Working Group

Linda Clark, Facilitator. Ms Clark is a special counsel at law firm Kensington Swan. Prior to her legal career, Ms Clark was a leading political journalist. Melissa Ansell-Bridges, Equity New Zealand Michael Brook, Regional Film Offices New Zealand Craig Dunn, Stunt Guild Richard Fletcher, Screen Production and Development Association Brendan Keys, Weta Digital Alex Lee, Film Auckland Sioux Macdonald, Screen Industry Guild Paul Mackay, BusinessNZ Barrie Osborne, Producer Tui Ruwhiu, Directors and Editors Guild Alice Shearman, New Zealand Writers Guild Erina Tamepo, Ngā Aho Whakaari Richard Wagstaff, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions

For more information, click here  

| A beehive release  ||  january 29,  2018   |||