Items filtered by date: Tuesday, 02 December 2014

Two New Zealand houses, one built and one conceptual, have taken home awards at this year’s World

17 Nov 2017  -  The Reserve Bank today published a consultation paper proposing an enhanced mortgage bond standard aimed at supporting confidence and liquidity in the financial system.  This follows a review of domestic and international mortgage bond collateral standards. When the Reserve Bank lends to banks and other counterparties it does so against ‘eligible collateral’ (usually lower risk financial assets). Mortgage Bonds are a key form of eligible collateral in many countries with the Reserve Bank first accepting them in response to the global financial crisis when its lending to the banking system increased significantly. In New Zealand mortgage bonds are not generally traded. The Bank believes that a more standardised and transparent framework for mortgage bonds would improve their quality and make them more marketable. The Bank has developed a proposed new format for mortgage bonds, called Residential Mortgage Obligations (RMO). The Bank believes the proposed new collateral standard would:    · improve the risk position of the Reserve Bank by promoting the use of higher quality and potentially more liquid, mortgage bonds as collateral in the Bank’s lending operations;    · support New Zealand market lenders by creating an additional funding instrument for residential mortgages; and    · promote a deeper capital market through the availability of simple, comparable and transparent mortgage bond instruments. The proposed standard is consistent with international policy guidelines aimed at promoting simpler and safer secured bonds. The Reserve Bank is seeking feedback on the terms under which it should accept mortgage bonds as collateral and the proposed new RMO standard. The consultation closes at 5.00 pm on 16 February 2018. More information:Review of mortgage bond collateral standards

| A RBNZ release  ||  November 17, 2017   |||

Arabian oil reserves originally identified by New Zealander Major Frank Holmes

17 Nov 2017  - Canada’s indifference to a new Pacific rim customs union scheme can be ascribed in part to more tempting opportunities in the Middle East such as the possibility of the Toronto Stock Exchange becoming the keystone secondary exchange for the flotation of Aramco.  The Toronto exchange is viewed as being the halfway house between the London Stock Exchange and the New York exchange.

Nov 17 2017  -  The annual Directors Sentiment Survey reveals an overwhelming majority of boards (91%) consider stakeholder interests a high priority (up from 86% in 2016). Released by the Institute of Directors (IoD) and ASB, the Director Sentiment Survey takes the pulse of the director community in New Zealand. The survey reveals key challenges for New Zealand boards, including stakeholder interests, leading on organisational ethics, strategy and risk in the age of technological disruption, and access to skills and talent in a tight labour market. The emphasis on stakeholder interests could also be seen in the high number of directors who considered sustainability and social issues as very important to their organisation (69%). IoD Governance Leadership Centre General Manager Felicity Caird says “for boards to succeed in today’s environment, they will need to think beyond compliance in assessing risks and the drivers of business sustainability.” Comprehensive reporting from management to boards on ethics and conduct risk is even more crucial in a business environment with greater stakeholder expectations about corporate behaviour and activities, including their social and environmental impact. “Boards play an important role in setting the tone on ethics and culture for the organisation, and communicating it. In order to hold management to account for ethical risk and conduct, it is essential they receive comprehensive reporting.” The survey also revealed an opportunity for boards to request improved reporting from management to guard against ethics risks. Just under half (44%) of New Zealand company boards have assessed organisational ethics risks, and less than a third (32%) of boards had discussed how they could make whistleblowing and speak-up provisions more effective in their organisations. Capacity constraints remained a key concern in the economic outlook with more than half of directors citing labour capability and quality as a key restraint (54%). This is up from last year, when 46% of directors identified this as one of the top three issues. While the survey indicates business optimism, there is more caution on the economic outlook. ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley says this may be due in part to the survey’s post-election timing, before a government was formed, and also due to perceptions the economy may be past its peak in the current business cycle. “We are continuing to see the impact of the tight labour market register highly in directors’ key challenges,” Mr Tuffley says. “This tightening in labour is due to strong economic performance, which has created a highly competitive market for talent. Directors identified this as a key barrier to business performance and the economy more generally.” Digital leadership within boards and in organisations remains a concern, with just 30% of directors feeling their boards had the expertise to lead their organisation into a digital future. While half of boards were discussing cyber risks, less than half of boards (45%) felt that they received comprehensive reporting on cyber breaches from their management. This year saw a continued increase in the number of directors considering their boards had the capability to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 obligations, up from 51% in 2014 to 76% in 2017. This is a welcome trend but vigilance in the boardroom is still needed, Ms Caird says. “The ability for directors to navigate the rapid changes caused by the digital revolution is a key challenge, and should be a priority for boards. “Social media and the risk of cyber breaches also mean that companies operate in a more complex environment, where comprehensive ethics reporting and risk management is vital to sustainable success”. The survey was conducted in October 2017 by the IoD and involved 934 members of the Institute of Directors. This is the fourth annual Director Sentiment Survey, and the second year the IoD has partnered with ASB on the survey.

| An IOT release  || November 17, 2017   |||

Nov 21 2017  -  An Energy Research Strategy for New Zealand released this week by the National Energy Research Institute (NERI) is an important step toward securing a sustainable future for the country’s energy needs, says Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Provost (Research) Professor Kate McGrath.  NERI is a consortium of research providers and other stakeholders in the energy sector, including Victoria, and works to stimulate, promote, coordinate and support high quality energy research and education in New Zealand.

Its strategy, launched at Victoria Business School by the Hon Dr Megan Woods, Minister of Energy and Resources and of Research, Science and Innovation, was developed in association with over 150 energy stakeholders in research organisations, businesses, industry associations and government agencies, with the aim of providing a framework to develop more detailed research programmes.

“The actions set out in the strategy are all within New Zealand’s grasp, given the necessary commitment and backing,” says Professor McGrath.

“Victoria is proud to be a research member of NERI and myself to be one of its trustees. Academics from across the University, including our computer scientists, Robinson Research Institute, School of Chemical and Physical Sciences and School of Architecture and Design, are conducting ground-breaking research to transform how the country’s energy is produced and used. This strategy gives them, other researchers around the country and those commissioning and funding research an important framework.”

The strategy highlights long-distance transport, both domestic and international, as one of the biggest medium-term issues facing New Zealand’s energy sector, noting that about half the country’s energy is used servicing transport needs and that long-distance transport uses the biggest share of that.

Given our physical isolation and distances to markets, long-distance transport is critical for trade and travel, says the strategy. But because it is fossil fuel intensive, it faces significant risks, with few simple alternative such as the electric vehicles available for short-distance transport.

Food and tourism export earnings are particularly vulnerable, says the strategy, with fossil fuels featuring large in their production and delivery.

However, says the strategy, there are opportunities to manage this risk.

Dr Nick Long, Director of the Robinson Research Institute, explores these and other opportunities in an article for the Newsroom website.

The Robinson Research Institute’s own research includes collaborating with international partners to develop the technology for long-range hybrid-electric aircraft and that for rapid electric vehicle charging.

Alongside transport, other key focus areas in the Energy Research Strategy are in industrial processing, electricity generation and distribution, and the residential sector.

Affordable and clean energy is the seventh of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals to be achieved by 2030.

Victoria was earlier this year the first New Zealand university to sign up to a new international initiative known as the University Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals.

‘Enhancing the resilience and sustainability of our natural heritage and capital’ is one of Victoria’s areas of academic distinctiveness.

| A Victoria University release  ||  November 17,  2017   |||

17 Nov 2017  -  To mark the launch of Deloitte Access Economics in New Zealand, a new report entitled Shaping our slice of heaven: Industries of opportunity was released in Wellington last night.  The report identifies five industries with the greatest opportunity to contribute to New Zealand’s future economic prosperity. The industries lie at the intersection of global growth and national comparative advantage, forming the heart of New Zealand’s “prosperity map”. These industries of opportunity are tourism, agribusiness, food processing, international education and advanced manufacturing.

Each of the five industries is expected to achieve above average global growth over the next twenty years, in a large part due to the rise of the middle class in emerging economies, in particular the Asian powerhouse economies of China and India. Consumers in these countries, and around the world, want many things New Zealand can offer – excellent agricultural and food products, high quality education, the latest health technologies and unique tourism experiences.

Shaping our slice of heaven: Industries of opportunity analyses where global opportunities and New Zealand’s advantages will coincide to create growth opportunities for the economy. Recognising that New Zealand’s prospects are as bright as they were a decade ago is not in itself enough. The report asks how New Zealand companies, industries and government can work together to apply these insights and take a longer-term view around how to ensure future economic prosperity.

Deloitte Access Economics lead partner in New Zealand Linda Meade says the report is a call to action.

“The core message of the report is that while global or domestic opportunity and structural advantages are necessary, they are not sufficient. To ensure success, we need to build on New Zealand’s areas of advantage to maintain and improve performance relative to global competitors,” says Ms Meade.

“We need to seize the day - there are plenty of competitors waiting in the wings if we are complacent,” she warns.

Ms Meade says Deloitte is very pleased to be launching Deloitte Access Economics in New Zealand and she expects strong growth in economic advisory as a key component of Deloitte’s client services.

“Demand for expert knowledge and industry experience in economic advisory services has grown for some years now. Growth has been driven by the pace of business and regulatory change and the value inherent in understanding the economics that drive these changes, at national, state, industry and enterprise levels,” says Ms Meade.

Since forming as Access Economics in 1988, and joining Deloitte in 2011, Deloitte Access Economics has experienced significant growth. They are now a team of 160 professional economists across New Zealand and Australia and are the leading Australian economic advisory practice.

Canberra-based Deloitte Access Economics Lead Partner Stephen Smith says Deloitte Access Economics has deep specialist skills across macroeconomics, microeconomics, health economics and social policy, and competition and regulatory policy, and a strong commitment to delivering client value when it comes to providing insights and advice.

“Our team’s success in combining deep economic rigour with practical commercial advice is helping to shape conversations around any number of social, political and business issues, deliver business insights and inform investment strategy in Australia – and now here in New Zealand,” says Mr Smith.

You can download or read Shaping our slice of heaven: Industries of opportunity at www.deloitte.com/nz/slice-of-heaven.

You can learn more about Deloitte Access Economics in New Zealand at www.deloitte.com/nz/economics.

| A Deloitte release  ||  November 17,  2017   |||

LINCOLN, Neb., Nov. 16, 2017 - Sandhills Publishing announces the launch of CraneTrader, a website and print publication connecting buyers and sellers specifically in the market for cranes and other rigging and lift equipment and parts. CraneTrader leverages Sandhills' presence and longevity in the construction and heavy machinery industry to establish a niche resource for buyers and sellers more specifically interested in cranes, lifts, and other high-value material handling assets.

CraneTrader.com features listings for various types of cranes including tower, crawler, truck mounted, articulated, boom truck and rough terrain cranes, as well as boom, bucket, and scissor lifts. Listings are organized categorically and include specs, photos, videos, machine location, seller information, and contact tools that make it easy for buyers to inquire about listed assets. CraneTrader.com also ties listings cross-posted for lease/rent to RentalYard.com, the leading resource for rental and lease equipment.

The CraneTrader print publication will launch in special editions ahead of the Spring 2018 crane and lift industry trade show circuit, providing focused exposure at the industry's largest events. Regular monthly editions of the CraneTrader magazine will enter circulation in early 2018, reaching active buyers (including contractors and dealers) through direct mail distribution.

The CraneTrader brand is an extension of Machinery Trader, which has been serving buyers and sellers of construction equipment and heavy machinery since the 1970s. "Our products and services benefit both buyers and sellers by providing easy access to an efficient, global marketplace for specific assets, and CraneTrader is no exception," explains Sandhills' Director of New Products Evan Welch. "CraneTrader strategically segments the construction equipment market for targeted, high-value exposure. At the same time, it provides buyers an easy and convenient way to source the specific equipment they need."

CraneTrader joins the ranks of a global product portfolio that includes a number of brands specifically serving construction, plant, and heavy equipment markets. In addition to Machinery Trader and RentalYard, these brands include: Machinery Trader Auction Results, AuctionTime.com, FleetEvaluator, Fast Track, Fast Track Iron, MarketBook, tp-Business.fr, Plant Locator, Resale Weekly, Maquinaria OP, and Cantierissimo Carrellistica. In total, the Sandhills group distributes over five million publications every month to audiences all over the globe, and its websites receive more than 16 million monthly visits. In addition to providing customers direct access to buyers in retail, auction, and wholesale markets, Sandhills also delivers practical tools that simplify sales transactions and internal business operations through the Sandhills Cloud.

For the latest updates on CraneTrader, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Google Plus.

About Sandhills PublishingSandhills Publishing is an information processing company headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska. Our broad range of products and services gather, process, and distribute information in the form of trade publications and corresponding websites that connect buyers and sellers across the trucking, agriculture, construction, heavy equipment, aviation, and technology industries. Our integrated, industry-specific approach to hosted technologies and services offers solutions that help businesses large and small operate efficiently and grow securely, cost-effectively, and successfully. Sandhills Publishing—we are the cloud.

| a Sandhills Publishing release  ||  November 17,  2017   |||

17 Nov 2017  - American Express business customers will be able to then to make “instant, trackable, cross-border payments” to Santander UK accounts.  American financial services giant American Express has announced that it has teamed with Ripple and Santander UK to develop a blockchain-based solution for instant business-to-business cross-border payments between the US and the UK.

In a statement published today, the US revealed that Ripple’s blockchain technology had been integrated into its FX International Payments (FXIP) platform, meaning that payments made by business customers of the service will now be routed through Ripple’s enterprise blockchain network, known as RippleNet.  The project will initially connect American Express’ customers to Santander UK, allowing them to make “instant, trackable, cross-border payments” to accounts in the British bank. However, both companies hinted that the project could be substantially expanded in the future.

This is major development for blockchain technology and particularly Ripple, which has been working with a number of leading banks and financial institutions, including MUFJ, UBS, UniCredit, Bank of America and Standard Chartered.

“We’re taking a huge step forward with American Express and Santander in solving the problems corporate customers experience with global payments,” Ripple’s chief executive officer Brad Garlinghouse said in the statement. “Transfers that used to take days will be completed in real-time, allowing money to move as fast as business today. It is just the beginning, and we look forward to growing this partnership to help other American Express FXIP customers.”

Meanwhile, American Express’ executive vice president and chief information officer Marc Gordon, commented: “This collaboration with Ripple and Santander represents the next step forward on our blockchain journey, evolving the way we move money around the world.”

The Ripple price (XRP/USD) has surged in today’s trading. As of 14:53 GMT, Ripple was trading at $0.249, having gained nearly 20% since the start of the session.

For further information on how to buy and trade Ripple, see our comprehensive Ripple guide.

| A Invezz release  ||  November 17,  2017   |||

17 Nov 2017  -  New Zealand intends to become a leader in the global fight against climate change, Climate Change Minister James Shaw has told a major United Nations climate change conference.

Mr Shaw delivered the New Zealand National Statement at 11.45pm (NZ time) on Thursday at the COP23 conference. Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio is also at COP23.

Overnight, New Zealand also joined an international “Powering Past Coal” alliance committed to phasing out the use of coal for electricity generation, led by Canada and the UK.

“I have set out to the international community our new government’s plans to reduce climate pollution at home and remain actively engaged with the international effort,” said Mr Shaw.

“Our goals and plans for forestry, energy, transport, and agriculture are getting a good reception. People seem really pleased to see the new New Zealand government planning to lead by example.

“We know that the future of our electricity system is in renewables, not coal, so I was delighted we could recognise that formally at this important international meeting.

“New Zealand is a small country and our emissions are less than one percent of global emissions, but size is not an excuse for inaction.

“If you add up all the countries who contribute less than one percent, we collectively contribute almost a quarter of global climate pollution.

“New Zealand officials have been working hard at this COP to get outcomes that are good for us, good for our Pacific neighbours, and good for the world,” said Mr Shaw.

Fiji’s leadership of the COP23 meeting has put the global spotlight on the vulnerability of low-lying Pacific Island nations to increased storms, droughts, and sea level rise caused by climate change.

Mr Shaw said New Zealand is a Pacific country that stands beside its neighbours and will support them.

“The most effective thing we can do for the Pacific is to reduce our climate pollution as much as we can and encourage other countries to do the same.

“We are also committed to supporting our Pacific neighbours to adapt their infrastructure to the changing climate.”

|  A Beehive release  ||  November 16,  2017   |||