Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
New chocolate factory in Waikato
HydroWorks Provides 5 Mini Hydro Turbines For Melbourne Water
New West Coast Research Institute announced 
Prospecting company uncovers high grade gold deposit
Skilled staff constraint highest since 2008 say NZMEA
New Zealand again ‘a standout nation’ in digital evolution rankings
The worlds first sideways elevator by Thyssen Krupp
ROTA tanks, manufactured locally by Rotomould (Solomons) Ltd, are the first and only water tanks in the Solomon Islands to be certified to international quality standards – the ISO Type 5: AS/NZS 4766 standards.
In a statement on Tuesday Rotomould Group of Companies Managing Director, Prakash Chand said the company has always been absolutely committed to providing high quality products for customers.
“Receiving this international certification and quality mark is a formal recognition of the high quality standards we adhere to,” Mr Chand said.
AS/NZS 4766 is an Australian and New Zealand Standard for polyethylene water tanks, to ensure tanks have been properly designed and manufactured to last the length of their warranty life.
Certification to AS/NZS4766 provides independent assurance of a manufacturer's claim that their products comply with this standard.
Leisa Donlan, CEO of the Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia (ARMA) said that it is important to note that not every manufacturer chooses to certify their products.
“The commitment being shown by Rotomould (Solomons) Ltd to meeting this standard exhibits global leadership in ensuring high quality products are available, made locally and meeting the most stringent requirements in the world,” he said.
For a polyethylene tank manufacturer to receive certification for AS/NZS 4766, tanks are put through a rigid set of tests to ensure that they comply.
As a finite resource, water has to be valued more significantly.
The government spends a considerable amount of money on accessing water supplies and the installation of water storage systems to help supply clean drinking water to the population.
Mr Chand said the Solomon Islands government has financed these projects because water is the single most precious building block to development.
“We cannot sustain life without it; we cannot sustain communities without it. But when communities have ample water, they thrive.
“Their health, their farming, their economy all can steadily improve when water is readily available,” he said.
Rotomould (Solomons) Ltd (RSL) is a local company which manufactures polyethylene water tanks under the brand name of Rota Tanks in sizes ranging from 500 liters to 10,200 liters capacities using rotational moulding technology.
This is the latest technology in the water tank manufacturing process widely used in the developed nations of the world.
Established in 2005, RSL was one of the first companies to introduce rotational moulding technology in the Pacific through its subsidiary companies in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, and Vanuatu.
| A Solomon Star release || July 12, 2017 |||
Climate scientists will be able to more accurately study Earth’s temperature changes, thanks to a global database compiled with the help of a Victoria University of Wellington and GNS Science researcher.
The database has been released today in the Nature Scientific Data journal by a large international team of scientists, including Associate Professor Nancy Bertler. Associate Professor Bertler says the database—which expands on a version released in 2013—provides a rigorously assessed compilation of temperature reconstructions for the past 2,000 years. “The database gathers information on past temperature based on evidence from a number of sources including tree rings, corals, glacier ice, and marine and lake sediments. “It’s the most comprehensive collection of information on global temperature change ever, and has taken over three years to pull together.” This database is important because it provides much-needed information on regional temperature patterns and trends, says Associate Professor Bertler. “It enables us to critically assess and improve earth system models used to provide future projections. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s analysis of future change will include investigating the past 2,000 years, before looking into the future. How well they capture those past trends provides a tool to assess how realistic a model is, and helps to identify where improvements are necessary. This is the only tool to independently test and verify climate models beyond the past forty years.” The database gathers close to 700 records from 648 locations, compiled by 98 regional experts from 22 countries. It was coordinated by the Past Global Changes (PAGES) network of international paleoclimate scientists. Data for the Antarctic region was contributed by Associate Professor Bertler. “We contributed three ice core records from the Ross Sea region, a particularly climate-sensitive area of the Antarctic. We collected those ice cores over the past decade,” says Associate Professor Bertler. “Our reconstructions provided a detailed view of the region during the past 100 to 1,000 years, including ocean and air temperature, sea ice extent, atmospheric circulation pattern and ocean productivity. A particular focus of our work is to understand when and how quickly West Antarctica could collapse, leading to rapid increase in global sea level.” Associate Professor Bertler is an ice core scientist jointly appointed by Victoria’s Antarctic Research Centre and GNS Science. She manages the National Ice Core Research Facility at GNS Science—one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world—and leads Antarctic field deployments for ice core research. PAGES has released the database as an open resource, allowing anyone to download and use the data.
| A Victoria University release || July 12, 2017 |||
Air New Zealand has teamed up with American actors Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr. for its latest safety video A Fantastical Journey. The video is an Alice in Wonderland inspired adventure featuring a number of iconic locations throughout New Zealand including the Southern Alps, Otago – including Dunedin and the Moeraki Boulders, the Conway River in Canterbury, Wellington, Mt Taranaki, Waitomo Caves, Rotorua, Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel, Tolaga Bay north of Gisborne, White Island and the Auckland Harbour Bridge. New Zealand singer and songwriter Gin Wigmore has also recorded her own unique version of the song ‘My Little Corner of the World’ as the backing track for A Fantastical Journey. Katie Holmes says it’s been fun working alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. and the Air New Zealand crew to produce A Fantastical Journey. “I was really excited to be a part of this project – the safety video is creative, magical and funny. The scenery is also beautiful and makes me want to get down to New Zealand!” Cuba Gooding Jr. says he wanted to get involved in Air New Zealand’s latest safety video as he does a lot of travelling and loves the fun and different approach. “They make you laugh, smile and pay a little bit more attention. I’ve also enjoyed working with Katie Holmes and Kiwi artist Gin Wigmore – her voice is enchanting and soothing, exactly what you need for safety video!” Air New Zealand General Manager of Global Brand and Content Marketing Jodi Williams says A Fantastical Journey will put all eyes on New Zealand by showcasing some of the best the country has to offer. “With the help of Hollywood stars Katie Holmes and Cuba Gooding Jr. our latest safety video takes viewers on a journey taking in New Zealand’s stunning beauty, incredible culture, friendly people and amazing flora and fauna, while also sharing the airline’s key safety messages. “We’ve taken a different approach creatively with our latest safety video, working closely with our creative agency True, and Auckland-based production company Assembly throughout the process on the special effects to help take people on a magical tour of the country.” Gin Wigmore says she’s loved teaming up with Air New Zealand again after first working with the company on its first creative safety video the ‘Bare Essentials’ in 2009 which featured the hit ‘Under My Skin’ from her first album and then again more recently to record a version of the track ‘Tomorrow’ from the movie Annie for the airline’s Where To Next? campaign. “I feel privileged to record my own version of ‘My Little Corner of the World’ as it’s always a good challenge to re-produce a song, especially when it’s already so great. It’s also fantastic to see this track feature amongst some stunning New Zealand scenery, including my little corner of the world – the Coromandel.” Air New Zealand’s safety videos have collectively generated more than 108 million views online to date along with significant international media exposure including the likes of CNN, BBC and the Daily Mail. A Fantastical Journey will be rolled out across the airline’s fleet from today and can be viewed online here.
The Commerce Commission has received a clearance application from Trade Me Limited (Trade Me) to acquire up to 100% of the shares in Limelight Software Limited, trading as Motorcentral.
Trade Me is an online marketplace and classified advertising platform, based in New Zealand. Relevant to the acquisition, Trade Me operates the "Trade Me Motors" business division, which includes: Trade Me Motors' provision of online vehicle classified advertising; AutoBase (an online vehicle classified advertising website); DealerBase (aggregator software for motor vehicle dealers); and MotorWeb (a provider of motor vehicle information and reports).
Motorcentral supplies software and websites to motor vehicle dealers. Motorcentral's primary business is the provision of dealer management system software
A public version of the clearance application will be available shortly on the Commission’s Clearances Register.
| A Commerce Commision release || July 12, 2017 |||
Engineering, IT and sales are just three of the skills sought by the 48% of employers in New Zealand who say they’ll increase permanent staff levels in the year ahead.
According to recruiting experts Hays, vacancy activity will also be evident in operational management, construction, marketing, human resources and office support.
“Improved market conditions across New Zealand are leading to increasing vacancy activity,” says Jason Walker, Managing Director of Hays in New Zealand. “The industrial and construction sectors are major drivers thanks to large infrastructure projects, while general business confidence and a strong economic trading environment are seeing market growth and associated job creation.
“As a result, candidates with skills in demand are now in short supply. While candidates are available, it is highly skilled and experienced professionals who are needed.
“With increased vacancy activity, natural attrition has risen. We’re also seeing more new roles created as headcounts grow.”
These findings were revealed in the recruiter’s annual Hays Salary Guide, and are supported by its latest Hays Quarterly Report, covering the July to September 2017 quarter and released today, which shows demand for a wide range of skills. These include:
For more on the skills in demand, please see the Hays Quarterly Report at www.hays.net.nz/report
The Reserve Bank has developed a short video to help the public identify the ‘real deal’ Brighter Money banknote. The video explores the banknote’s sophisticated security features, showing the public how to identify a genuine banknote by the ‘look, feel and tilt’ sensory approach used by other central banks to identify a counterfeit. “Being able to identify a real New Zealand Series 7 Brighter Money banknote is important to maintaining New Zealand’s low counterfeit rate,” says Reserve Bank Head of Currency, Property and Security Steve Gordon. "New Zealand has a low counterfeit rate by international standards and the Bank wants to keep it that way. One of the ways we can do this is by ensuring the public know how to identify the security features on our banknotes. Use the video’s three prompts - look, feel and tilt, to make sure your banknotes are the genuine article.” In addition to the new video, the notes and coins pages of the banknotes have been updated to make them easier to read, navigate and find information. The video is available in English and Te Reo Māori. More information
| A RBNZ release || July 12, 2017 |||
New changes to update kiwifruit regulations and help future-proof the industry will come into force on 1 August 2017, Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy has announced today.
“These changes were announced last year and will help ensure the industry is best structured for future growth,” says Mr Guy.
New amendments to the Kiwifruit Export Regulations will:
“These changes will give Zespri more options for promoting the ownership of its shares by active kiwifruit growers.
“They will give Zespri greater certainty for investing in activities such as research and development and in the marketing of New Zealand-grown kiwifruit, and ensuring that Kiwifruit New Zealand has the skill sets it needs to robustly consider collaborative marketing applications.
“These amendments won’t change the industry’s ‘single desk’ export framework, but will provide more certainty for Zespri’s shareholders and growers.
“These regulatory updates are the Government’s response to the industry’s self-review of its performance through the Kiwifruit Industry Strategy Project.”
Kiwifruit sales from New Zealand have reached record levels with 137.7 million trays sold in the year to March 2017, worth over $2 billion in export revenue. Global sales revenues are forecast to reach $4.5 billion by 2025.
| A Beehive release || July 11, 2017 |||
New Zealand is a long way from the rest of the world. It takes three to four hours to fly from Auckland to the big eastern Australian cities; over half a day to reach the US West Coast or Southeast Asia; and most of a day to reach Europe.
Our geographic isolation has advantages – for instance, it’s easier to manage biosecurity controls to protect our local environment and agricultural exports – but also many economic costs. As the gravity model of trade predicts, countries that are further away from each other tend to trade less. In other words, our distance means that we aren’t selling as many goods and services to Europeans, Asians, Americans, and other people in general as we could, given New Zealanders’ relatively high skill and education levels, propensity to innovate given the right incentives, and generally reasonable policy settings. And, equally, we’re not buying as much from them as we could.
There are two reasons why this is a bad thing for our living standards:
First, exporting less means that there are fewer opportunities for New Zealand companies to ‘scale up’, which limits their productivity and their ability to successfully innovate. Result: Lower levels of economic productivity and lower incomes. Second, importing less means that many New Zealand businesses operate in ‘niches’ with little competition, which limits the pressure they face to lower prices or improve processes. Result: Higher prices that reduce what we can buy with our lower incomes.
We can’t do much about the physical distance – although . . .
| Continue reading the full article with images and supporting material on Greater Auckland || July 12, 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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