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…

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 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…

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…

Dec 22, 2017 - Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway today announced the minimum wage will rise 75 cents to $16.50 per hour on April 1. The 4.8 percent increase will directly benefit 164,000 people, and will increase wages throughout the economy by $129 million per year, Lees-Galloway said in a statement.

Dec 21, 2017  -  The BusinessNZ Planning Forecast for the December 2017 quarter shows strength in many parts of the economy although with some risk from business sentiment and future wage pressures. The manufacturing and services sectors are performing strongly and consumer confidence is high, BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope said.  "Business confidence took a recent hit, although it has recovered somewhat since the election."Key indicators such as net debt levels are forecast to remain at relatively low levels by international standards. "On the international scene a general recovery is underway, with accelerating growth in Europe, Japan, China and the…

Dec 21, 2017  -  By AAP | 21.12.2017 08:05 AM | ANZ has had the sale of its New-Zealand finance business UDC Finance to Chinese logistics company HNA Group blocked by a regulatory body. The lender says New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office had declined HNA's application to buy the business for $NZ660 million ($A626 million), and unless HNA can get the decision overturned the sale will not proceed. ANZ will assess its options for the UDC business but says there is no urgency given the strength of the lender's current capital position following the recent sale of its life insurance…

Dec 20, 2017  -  VALLEY CENTER, Calif., Dec. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Concierge Technologies, Inc. (OTC Ticker: CNCG) today announced that their wholly owned California subsidiary Kahnalytics, Inc. has acquired all of the assets and business of Original Sprout LLC, a California Limited Liability Company ("OS"). As of today, Kahnalytics has commenced operations under the fictitious business name "Original Sprout" from its location in San Clemente, CA. Original Sprout, a manufacturer and distributor of clean, non-toxic, all-natural hair care and skin products, was founded in 2003 by master hair stylist Inga Tritt. Since that time the company's distribution has grown…

Dec 20, 2017  - Justice Robert Dobson and Professor Martin Richardson drew a line between online content aggregators and distributors such as Facebook and Google and news organisations Fairfax New Zealand and NZME in rejecting the publishers' appeal to merge. Among Justice Dobson and Professor Richardson's findings in the 100-page High Court judgment, they backed the Commerce Commission's decision to turn down a proposed merger of NZME and Fairfax NZ, which was touted as the only way the country's dominant newspaper publishers could stand up to the likes of Facebook and Google eating into their online advertising revenue. The publishers…