Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
7 Nov - With the risk to foreign student export market from potential changes to immigration policy, the government should increase its focus on the little cousin of education exports, edtech, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller says. The education export industry is a $3billion market of which the majority is made up of bringing in foreign students. Today is the launch in Auckland of EdTechNZ, which is focused on growing and nurturing education tech in New Zealand, and is part of the New Zealand Tech Alliance. “While edtech is probably less than a $100 million export market at the moment we are well known internationally for our education system and a number of Kiwi edtech companies are doing very well internationally,” Muller says. “We have some great examples such as Hapara, Matheletics and Wendy Pye Publishing. Another success story is Christchurch based Linewize which developed an education specific internet management tool which competed with the government owned Network for Learning. “Linewize quickly grew an international market with the support of the New Zealand Punakaiki Investment Fund and last month was purchased by Australian stock exchange-listed Family Zone. “The edtech market, while currently small for New Zealand, is forecast to be a $344 billion global market by 2019. More than 140 edtech companies have been identified in New Zealand and a group of them have joined forces to form EdTechNZ to collaborate and support the development of edtech not only for export, but also for the benefit of the local New Zealand education sector.” Digital technologies are rapidly causing changes to work not seen since the industrial revolution. This is a global challenge and, according to the OECD, schools have yet to take advantage of the potential of technology in the classroom in order to give every student the skills they need for today’s connected world. Technology is enabling a transformation of the education system. A shift is occurring from instructional education to a more personalised, self-directed and collaborative learning experience. Increased use of computers in classrooms and increased internet connectivity are impacting on education.Technology is not only helping teachers become more efficient and saving schools money, but it is also helping to improve the quality of education which often still relies heavily on Victorian-era lecturing methods,” Muller says.
“Our studies have found that if New Zealand was to raise its education outcomes over a period of 20 years to a level comparable with Finland it would generate a 204 percent increase in GDP worth an additional US$258 billion,” Muller says, “so education is critical to our nation’s future prosperity.”
| An NZTech release || November 7, 2017 |||
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will travel to Da Nang, Viet Nam to attend the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting 10-11 November. The Prime Minister will then travel to Manila, The Philippines where she will attend the East Asia Summit 12-14 November.
Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, and Trade and Export Growth Minister, David Parker, will accompany the Prime Minister in Viet Nam and attend the APEC Ministers’ meetings. Associate Trade and Export Growth Minister Damian O’Connor will also attend the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial meeting in Manila next week.
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting other regional leaders. At the beginning of my leadership, it’s important that I work to strengthen what are very important relationships.”
In Da Nang, the Prime Minister will meet with a number of political leaders, and will attend both the APEC Leaders’ and TPP Leaders’ meetings. She will also speak at the APEC CEO Summit on ‘Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Growth’.
“This year’s APEC Leaders’ meeting is focused on economic, financial and social inclusion. This responds to a rising concern in the region about the impact of globalisation and the demand for inclusive and sustainable growth,” says Ms Ardern.
“The APEC region is vital for New Zealand’s economic future and my attendance at the meeting will provide a valuable opportunity to promote New Zealand’s commitment to the region. APEC has been a driving force for better connecting the dynamic Asia Pacific region, and the relationships we have developed with our regional partners have helped lay the foundation for several of our regional FTAs.”
In Manila, the Prime Minister will meet with key counterparts in the region and attend the East Asia Summit, at which strategic challenges such as North Korea, will be discussed.
“New Zealand is committed to working with member countries to address the Asia-Pacific region’s most pressing strategic challenges and opportunities.
“New Zealand will continue to support UN Security Council Sanctions and international efforts to send a clear message to North Korea and to support a diplomatic solution to the situation,” Ms Ardern says.
The Prime Minister will also attend a celebration to mark ASEAN’s 50th Anniversary, and will return to New Zealand on 16 November.
| A Beehive release || November 7, 2017 |||
6 Nov 2017- The Worldskills New zealand Team won gold and five medallions of excellence at World International Competition hed during October in Abu Dhabi. Air New Zealand aircraft engineer, Jarrod Wood, won the gold medal in the aircraft maintenance skill competition of the 44th WorldSkills International Competition that was held 15-18 October 2017 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Wood was also awarded Best in Nation, for having the highest marks amongst all Competitors from New Zealand.
Malcolm Harris, CEO of WorldSkills New Zealand, says, “I am thrilled with the performance of the NZITP Skills Team at the recent WorldSkills International competition held in Abu Dhabi Oct 14-18. The team competed in 13 of 51 Skill categories in the competition attended by over 1300 of the world’s finest young skill apprentices.”
He adds that, “A Gold medal won by Jarrod Wood in the Aircraft Maintenance category sealed a very good team performance with another five competitors winning Medallions of Excellence for top scores.”
Wood, for his part, shares his experience on the Competition:“The competition skill of aircraft maintenance was full of professionals. It is a very good reflection of the people in our trade. Everyday was a challenge. But Mike [Naus, the NZ Skill Expert on aircraft maintenance who coached Wood throughout his training] and I took it day by day and that seemed to work well.” “I was so humbled to be standing on the stage next to Finland and Korea. Winning gold was such a shock. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. But I feel privileged and proud to be bringing back NZ’s second ever gold medal. I’m also proud to have been awarded Best in Nation.”
Wood, nonetheless, stresses, “But the whole NZ Team deserved that award. They’re such amazing professionals in their respective trades, and can all be proud of their performance.”
The five Medallions of Excellence won by the New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (NZITP) Skills Team were the following:
1,300 young people from 59 WorldSkills Member countries and regions showcased their talent across 51 skillscompetitions, between 15-18 October. This was the first time that the WorldSkills Competition has been held in the Middle East and North Africa region. At the Closing Ceremony at the du Arena in Abu Dhabi - with around 10,000 international visitors and a global audience more than 825,000 online - watched Competitors discover who had won coveted gold, silver, and bronze WorldSkills medals.
In addition to the presentation of medals, the Closing Ceremony provided an opportunity to reflect on the success of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, the largest WorldSkills Competition to date, which attracted more than 125,000 visitors.
Held in conjunction with the Competition were the WorldSkills Conference 2017 and the first International TVET Youth Forum. These provided a unique opportunity for young professionals, Ministers, and other global policymakers to debate the major issues that the vocational education sector faces.
The Closing Ceremony of WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017 ended with the handover of the WorldSkills flag to the next hosts, WorldSkills Kazan 2019. The 45th WorldSkills Competition will be held on 29 August – 3 September 2019 in Kazan, Russia.
The WorldSkills International Competition occurs every two years and is the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in the world, reflecting global industry practice. Competitors will represent the best of their peers and are selected from skills competitions in 78 WorldSkills Member countries and regions. They demonstrate technical abilities both individually and collectively to execute specific tasks for which they study and/or perform in their workplace. Skills competitions showcase and inspire world-class excellence in skills and introduce the youth to a variety of skilled career options.
One of the main legacies of the WorldSkills Competitions is to give visibility and importance to professional education, as one of the true tools of socioeconomic transformation.
The Competition also provides leaders in industry, government, and education sectors with the opportunity to exchange information and best practices. New ideas and processes inspire school-aged youth to dedicate themselves to technical and technological careers and towards to a better future.
| A WorldSkillsNZ release || October 24, 2017 |||
6 Nov - Living Wage Movement Aotearoa New Zealand welcomes the first ever corporate business as an accredited Living Wage Employer. New Zealand's largest distributor of electricity and gas across the Auckland region, Vector Limited, joins nearly 90 other accredited businesses committed to paying no less than $20.20 to all workers, including contracted cleaners.
The announcement was made at Auckland’s Kai Pasifika restaurant, another Living Wage Employer at midday.
“This is momentous for the Movement and for all New Zealand workers,” says Living Wage Convenor Annie Newman.
“We congratulate Vector for its courage and commitment to a new standard for fair wages, where workers earn enough to live a decent life in NZ,” Annie says.
“The Movement has contacted many of the top NZ firms to invite them to be Living Wage and Vector is the first to embrace the concept. We hope it is just the beginning.”
Vector’s Group Chief Executive Simon Mackenzie says that the business supports a Living Wage because it is the right thing to do.
“Fairness and equity has been a big part of our approach to remuneration for a number of years, and we’re pleased to have this formally recognised through the Living Wage accreditation.
“Vector’s support of a Living Wage is also consistent with our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and in particular the goal to reduce inequalities.
“As a large Kiwi employer with staff up and down the country, paying a Living Wage is one way we can help address inequality of living standards.
“In addition to our own people, we’re now working with our partners and suppliers to try and ensure support for a living wage across our supply chain.”
The inaugural Living Wage Week begins today (Monday) with events around the country bringing communities together to grow the movement for decent wages and celebrate businesses that are taking this fair wage standard seriously.
| A Living Wage Aotearoa release || November 6, 2017 |||
6 Nov 2017 - Top New Zealand CEOs are leading the way in progressing to flexible workplaces and providing a roadmap for other business leaders to follow, thanks to the Champions for Change business group of 56 New Zealand CEOs and Chairs. Champions for Change recently launched a Flexible Working Toolkit that collates CEOs’ insights in developing flexible workplaces to attract and retain top talent,increase productivity, and foster an agile response to changing market needs. The Flexible Working Toolkit provides templates, case studies, and specific suggestions of how flexibility can work for organisations.
With over half of the New Zealand workforce either currently working flexibly or wanting to in the future, a shift in leadership mindset and a plan to transition teams and employees to the “new normal” is critical to managing businesses of the future.
“We are seeing a fundamental transformation in the way we work,” says Alison Andrew, CEO of Transpower and a Champion for Change. “There are some very real challenges to overcome as we adapt from corporate traditions of set hours and locations to flexible hours and the ability to work remotely, whether at home or while travelling.”
New and constantly evolving technology, the 24 hours “open” global village, changing life styles, increased ethnic diversity, talent shortages and growth in female participation in the workforce are all trends driving the need for flexibility in the workforce, said Mark Verbiest, Chair of Spark and a Champion for Change.
“New Zealanders are famous for their ability to adapt and evolve, and having a flexible approach and mindset enables problems to be solved in new ways,” says Mark Verbiest.
Representing more than 100,000 direct employees in New Zealand across 44 leading organisations, Champions for Change is a group of 56 CEOs and Chairs from across the public and private sector who are committed to increasing diversity in the workplace.
The Champions for Change group reinforced that workforce flexibility is a much broader concept than “part time hours for new mums”; it is just as important for men as women. It encompasses caring for family members, embracing cultural commitments, and having the ability to participate in lifestyle activities such as sport, study and travel.
Under existing workplace law, employees have the right to request flexible work arrangements and employers have an obligation to consider the request.
“With the increasing pace of change including legislation that ratifies the importance of flexible work, an agile approach is essential,” says Alison Andrew. “We see flexibility as the biggest enabler for creating diverse and inclusive workplaces – and these businesses will be the most resilient and successful in the future.”
“When managed well, we’ve found that a flexible workplace will reduce staff turnover, lower absenteeism and increase how much satisfaction people get from their work. Plus, giving people flexibility has a real impact on morale,” said Mark Verbiest.
The Flexible Working Toolkit includes videos, info-graphics, fact sheets, templates and links to additional resources for company leaders. It is free to anyone looking for practical advice on how to develop a more flexible and inclusive workforce: http://flexibility.championsforchange.nz
| A Champion for Change release || November 6, 2017 |||
#7 - This panic’s debut can be firmly dated to May 2002 when the BBC exhibited a drama, Fields of Gold which many still believe to have been a documentary on supposedly devastating diseases caused by what suddenly became known as GM. This BBC scare mongering concoction insisted that GM was zoonotic in that the contagion it triggered could jump from animals to humans. The contagion it was dramatized could also jump not only from fauna to humans but also from flora.
The position nowThe panic went through the political class like a prairie fire and cost New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark (pictured) the outright majority she was confident in obtaining in the general election she called for the end of July that year. The BBC drama was rushed onto television here just before the general election election. The timing of the exhibiting here during peak time viewing was underpinned by a sense of urgency and imminence and thus carried
| MSC Newswire Big Frights of Our Times Series #7 || Monday 6 November 2017 |||
6 Nov 2017 - The Tappoo Group of Companies’ unique business strategy and its significant growth in re-exports was recognised during the Prime Minister’s International Business Awards as the company won the Re-Exporter of the Year Award. The Award recognises companies that have utilized Fiji’s strategic location in the Pacific and well established sea and air connections to manifest the country’s position as the true hub of the region. The company must have incorporated innovative business strategies in its growth plan that led to its significant progress both in re-export value and volume.DSC_3224
Established in 1941, the Group continues to strive for excellence and has successfully stamped its mark in the local and regional markets.
“We have recently ventured into re-exporting business and it has shown strong signs of growth. We are targeting the Pacific market together with New Zealand and Australia,” said the Executive Director of the Group, Kamlesh Tappoo.
The Group is the re-exporter of a number beverages to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. Exports to PNG and Vanuatu were under the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) agreement.
“We believe that we have successfully established an export market to PNG. We now aim to expand into other countries in the South Pacific region and subsequently to more develop neighbouring countries,” Mr. Tappoo said.
Investment Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Godo Mueller- Teut applauded the Group’s commitment towards enhancing Fiji’s position as the trading hub of the pacific.
“Re-exporters play a crucial role in the growth of the Fijian economy. They not only bring in wealth for the nation and create employment opportunities, but also make Fiji the centre of trade in the region. In 2016, Fiji’s total re-exports were valued at more than $814m, which represents 42 per cent of total exports.
Fiji has a positive balance of trade with the Pacific Island countries where re-exports were valued at more than $174m or 21 per cent of total re-exports last year,” Mr. Mueller- Teut said.
Mr. Mueller- Teut has urged the local businesses to take advantage of Fiji’s central location in the heart of the Pacific as it presents unique opportunities for them to expand their export footprints, especially in the regional markets.
| A FijiSun release || November 5, 2017 |||
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
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