Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
The Spectrim platform, a state-of-the-art technology developed by Compac sorts and grades fresh produce by analysing up to 500 images of each individual fruit. This reduces fruit contamination and ensures that the very best produce reaches consumers. Compac and Spectrim make up 90 percent of New Zealand’s fruit grading technology, over 60 percent of North America’s and it’s continuing to expand in other areas including Europe and China.
Regal blended with power
New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade stands out as the obvious and logical destination for Winston Peters MP in the country’s pending new Parliament.
It combines for Mr Peters the correct blend of high office and of practical power that he requires in the current Parliamentary re-shuffling.
Under New Zealand’s proportional representation system the mix of seats and percentage vote share that his New Zealand First Party achieved leave him as the make-weight in the practical outcome of the general election..
There are two key factors that make MFAT (pronounced M-Fat) as the ministry is rather clumsily described the obvious choice.
The current minister Gerry Brownlee MP holds is essentially as a caretaker whose trouble shooter role has now been amply discharged.
Mr Brownlee will not complain if he is reassigned.
Then there is there is the sharp end of this ministry – the trade one.
Mr Peters believes that it is over focussed on the East, and notably the Middle East, and to the exclusion of markets in the NATO zone.
It is this trade aspect that dovetails neatly into his recent championing of the New Zealand farmer.
His Farmer First positioning was characteristically aimed at his own base.
New Zealand First votes come from traditional National Party supporters who become exasperated with National’s constant tempering of its policies to accommodate the ideological wing of the Labour Party, and only to a slightly lesser extent, the Greens.
The wisdom of Mr Peter’s pro-farmer stance was based on the confusion National has sown with its stance over water.
The National government allowed the whole vexed picture to become hopelessly muddied between the proven danger of agribusiness effluent intruding into potable water at one end; and on the other the vogueish clamour against the export of water in any form.
Mr Peters will not be an entirely welcome figure at the helm of MFAT.
On its diplomatic side, the department listened to the wrong people in the matter of the outcome of the United States presidential race.
It failed to give guidance correctly over the outcome with some embarrassing results.
Among these in practical terms was the New Zealand temporary contingent on the UN Security Council backing the censuring of Israel, a step that alienated National’s staunch support among urban fundamentalists.
Mr Peters is at home with protocol and is familiar with the Foreign Ministry.
Such a role would allocate him the prestige he seeks along with the exposure to ensure that everyone sees that he has it.
He will not wish to get himself tied down in one of the nuts and bolts ministerial departments of the type that will be required to implement several of his high profile announced policies.
These include the referendum on the existence or otherwise of the Maori seats.
Also the broader-based one on trimming the volume of members of parliament which are often viewed as proliferating.
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk || Sunday 24 September 2017 |||
Alien
[eyl-yuh n, ey-lee-uh n]
Ever walked into a lecture room and have sets of eyes follow you as if you’ve just landed from a distant galaxy? Or maybe on your first day at work you were tiptoed around as if you were going to kidnap someone and fly away in your flying saucer? Now let’s not get too carried away (pun intended) but as a woman in STEM, at some point in time, you’ve likely been treated like you’re a little out of this world (pun definitely intended).
This month, we would like to honour a successful woman in STEM. We had a chat with Jenna (Tut) Baldock, an Additive Manufacturing Engineer at Rocket Lab (seemingly fitting for us aliens). She shares her experiences of being a woman in a male-dominated field.
Tut studied Design Engineering at Massey, first in Wellington, and then moved up to Albany to finish her degree. She went on to study a Master’s in Applied Physics at RMIT, Melbourne. At RMIT, she worked a project with 3D printing and lasers. She then returned to New Zealand and has been working at Rocket Lab for 2 years now. Tut is part of the Propulsion team that is responsible for designing and manufacturing rocket engines. Specifically, she uses 3D printers to manufacture components for the rocket engines, as well as aiding in the design process and post machining.
Tut is an Additive Manufacturing Engineer. This new, sustainable type of manufacturing technique involves adding layer after layer of material (powder in this case) to parts rather than traditional machining (subtractive machining) which involves cutting away from bigger pieces of material.
1.What inspired you to get involved in engineering and STEM?My dad is an engineer, so it was the logical choice! I grew up in his workshop, helping out with woodwork, welding, and assembling things. At school, I was good at maths and enjoyed science. So engineering it was.
2. What do you like about being a woman in STEM?I like that it always seems to surprise people. You’re usually always the underdog, but if you work hard you can always prove your worth.
3. Have you ever felt that as a woman in STEM, you have been put at a disadvantage?Yes of course! I mean do I even have to elaborate? *laughs*. But I’ve learnt, it’s nice when some people expect a lot from you because of your skills, not because of your gender.
4. Do you regret your chosen field of study?Nope! Not at all! I love what I do, and I love what I studied!
5. Did you ever fail? Be it at uni, a project, at work? How did you overcome that failure?Well, I was a bit of a nerd, I worked hard, and so I never failed as such. At work, I sort of introduced 3D printing for components, and although we did have minor fails along the way, but I guess you have to learn how to use failure to your advantage. Learn from your mistakes and become better at what you do.
6. Do you think people have certain misconceptions about STEM? How do you shut down the haters?I think the older generation, not to stereotype, have an outdated perspective about engineering. An engineer, to them, is an engine mechanic with greasy hands. Today, we have come so far from that idea – engineering is such a broad and diverse field. As for shutting down the haters, the most important thing is to explain. Sometimes, the best way to help others expand their perspective is to logically explain the maths and science behind it.
7. Why do you think women are still so underrepresented in the industry?I would say they might be put off by the idea of being a minority, and that can be really overwhelming.! Many girls just aren’t given the resources to change the notions of it being a man’s job. It is also considered a hard industry to get into, and that can put a lot of women off.
8. How would you encourage girls to get involved in STEM?It’s definitely important to prove your self-worth. Be confident about your skills, but don’t boast about it. Show the world that there is a strong female presence, be it in science, manufacturing, IT, engineering, or anything. Strive hard to be a role model for other girls, and show the future generations that diversity in the workplace is essential for success.
9. What is your recipe for success in a still very male-dominated industry?As the underdog, which no doubt, you will be, you will often find that people don’t really appreciate your skills. You have to work hard to prove yourself. Show that you’re not only good at what you do, you are the best. Work hard, and you will earn the respect you deserve.
10.What are your personal goals for the future?I’m happy where I am at, right now, with my career. I do want to focus on improving personally though/ I am good at what I do, but I don’t let it get to me. I always work to improve and try to succeed in other areas.
We would like to thank Tut for sharing her incredible insights with us. We hope that Tut’s experiences have inspired you to jump on a rocket and embrace the alien you are. As women in STEM, we are definitely treated as invaders in foreign territory. So to all the haters, we say: yes we are aliens, and yes we are ready to take over!
P.S. sorry for all the puns, I did not planet!
By: Zainab Manasawala
Interviewed by: Zainab Manasawala and Sreenidhi Roshin.
| An AUT STEM Woman release || September 21, 2017 |||
The NZMEA signals an even stronger focus on supporting globally competitive manufacturers with the launch of a new nameWith the changing face of manufacturing and the increasing global opportunities advanced technologies offer, the NZMEA has introduced a new and simply stated name supported by a strong logo that reflects where it wants to take the industry into the future - The Manufacturers’ Network.
“We are hugely proud of our history, having supported manufacturers and manufacturing since 1879. But today the industry is different. With a global reach and growth opportunities relying more and more on collaboration, strong networks and an indepth knowledge of future trends, it was time our name reflected these values, clearly and simply, says Mr Dieter Adam, CE, The Maufacturers’ Network.
Today, manufacturing in New Zealand faces many challenges. Manufacturers need to hold their own and want to grow their business in an increasingly interconnected and highly competitive global environment. Whether it’s through exporting or competing with imports, it’s all about remaining globally competitive. To achieve that, manufacturers need support now more than ever.
“Manufacturers need a champion and an expert immersed in trends and opportunities who they trust so they can get on with running their businesses as competitively as possible, knowing we have en eye on the future. That’s where we fit in, says Adam.
“The Manufacturers’ Network represents the best of our collaborative spirit and smarts. We are a Network because we know that working together, and collaborating locally, allows us to compete globally, to stay up with - if not ahead - of trends, and to remain agile and efficient.
“We have deliberately chosen to use THE ahead of Manufacturers’ Network as it shows strength in what we do. Our focus is narrow and deep. We are THE Manufacturers’ Network, focused on supporting New Zealand manufacturers — the people behind the industry,” says Adam.
Manufacturing is the second highest contributor to GDP and we know that making a difference to this sector will make a difference to New Zealand and New Zealanders. Given this, the focus of The Manufacturers’ Network will be that of a specialist support network.
“I have recently returned from Hanover Fair, Germany, and built relationships there which will be invaluable going forward. Our networks aren’t just amongst the New Zealand industry but globally too.
‘There was a gap and we have made a commitment to filling it. As The Manufacturers’ Network, we are the experts in manufacturing,” says Adam.
| A Manufacturers Network release || September 22, 2017 |||
The New Zealand economy continued to grow solidly in the June quarter, posting a 0.8 per cent increase in GDP, taking New Zealand's growth rate for the year to 2.7 per cent, Finance Minister Steven Joyce says.
“Our economy continues to outperform many developed nations, underpinned by strong export and domestic demand,” Mr Joyce says. “It is still a challenging international environment, which is why we need to continue with an economic plan that is working for New Zealand.”
New Zealand’s growth over the last year has exceeded that of Australia, the United Kingdom, the USA, the Euro area, Japan, and the average across the whole OECD.
Growth in the quarter was across 11 of 16 industries, including:
Exports rose 5.2 per cent, with exports of goods posting its biggest quarterly increase in 20 years. Overall growth in the quarter was partially offset by the construction sector, which contracted 1.1 per cent in the quarter but up 6.4 per cent from June 2016.
Today’s GDP figures followed on from the release of New Zealand's external accounts yesterday, which showed a current account deficit of 2.8 per cent for the June year.
"This week’s economic growth statistics show that the Government’s consistent economic plan is encouraging businesses to invest and grow more jobs for New Zealanders. It is important to maintain and support business confidence if we are to continue our progress in the years ahead."
| A Beehive release || September 21, 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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