Founded by Max Farndale 1947 - 2018
Australian rental company Kennards Hire has continued growing with plans for a new office in Hamilton.
Catering to a vast range of industries as well as the DIY home improvement market, Kennards Hire said the new branch would boast tools and equipment suited to the materials handling, construction, civil and concreting industries, among others.
Tom Kimber, general manager of Kennards Hire New Zealand, said Hamilton was a hub for both construction and agriculture, which was a key motivator in opening a new branch there.
“The opening of the Hamilton branch is great opportunity to say thanks to New Zealand for supporting the growth of Kennards Hire in NZ since we launched the business here just a few years ago,” he said.
“Our new location in Hamilton is a real centre for the construction industry, and it gives us the opportunity to engage with some innovative operators within this space.
“Also, many of our key accounts operate in the agriculture sector, which is another industry that thrives in Hamilton and helps drive its economy.
“We’ll mark the opening with a number of events for industry members as well our broader customer base on site at the new branch.”
The government is ignoring the threat of an environmental disaster off the coast of Kawhia near Waikato despite repeated warnings of an unsafe mooring being used by giant cargo ships, says New Zealand First.
“In June, eye witnesses reported that the dated Taharoa Buoy, in use since 1972, was sinking. This month there are reports of an aborted berthing due to bad weather,” says Conservation Spokesperson Clayton Mitchell.
“The buoy is unstable and not suitable for such massive vessels in rough weather, but commercial pressures are forcing them to use the mooring anyway.
“The government needs to wake up to the dangers of this situation – these ships are parked just 3 kilometres off our pristine shoreline, carrying enough fuel to do a round trip to China.
“Apart from promising there would be a new buoy in November 2016 the Associate Minister of Transport is sitting on his hands and Maritime New Zealand doesn’t seem to know what is going on either.“This is a shemozzle,” says Mr Mitchell.
Low Cost Airline Scoot announces Athens, Greece as its first European destination with flights Scheduled to commence on 20 June 2017 from the Gold Coast.
Travel Weekly reported at the start of the month that Scoot was eyeing Europe, taking travellers on a one-stop hop from the Gold Coast to Europe return.
Scoot’s 787 Dreamliner will operate the new service between Singapore and Athens, the airline’s first long-haul flight between Asia Pacific and Europe, as well as the longest flight operated by a low-cost carrier (LCC) with flight distance exceeding 10,000km.
The commencement of Scoot’s services to Europe is part of the Singapore Airlines (SIA) Group’s strategic move to stimulate passenger traffic between Asia Pacific and Europe, as well as to boost connectivity through the Singapore hub.
Budget Aviation Holdings (BAH) CEO, Mr Lee Lik Hsin, said, “Guests have requested us to fly to Europe for a while, and Scoot is excited to finally oblige! Scoot has devoted much thought to configuring our cabin product and services to elevate and transform the low-cost travel experience, enabled by our world-first all-787 Dreamlliner fleet, and this has positioned us well to mount our first ever long-haul flight between Asia Pacific and Europe.”
Scoot guests can to choose from an extensive range of cabin products and services available for purchase to customise their travels. These include different seat options, a wide selection of drinks, snacks, light meals and hot meals for those who need to satiate the palate during the flight and Scoot’s inflight Wi-Fi plans and in-seat power will provide endless entertainment options and opportunities to keep in touch with loved ones during flights.
To commemorate its foray into Europe, Scoot is offering attractive one-way Economy FLY fares as follows (to and from):
Perth to Athens starting from $369, FlyBag starting from $461, FlyBagEat starting from $526 and $1099 for ScootBiz, inclusive of taxes.Sydney, Melbourne & Gold Coast FLY fares to and from Athens starting from $419, FlyBag starting from $513, FlyBagEat starting from $578 and $1199 for ScootBiz, inclusive of taxes.
For the 10% off selected FLYBAG and FLYBAGEAT fares, enter the promo code GREEKON. This promotion starts now and runs till 11.59pm on 31 August 2016; hurry now and secure your Dreamliner Odyssey!
Forget Japan, head to ChinaKiwi travellers looking for more bang for their buck should pass on Japan, Hong Kong and Brazil and instead head for China, South Korea or Argentina.That’s the suggestion of travel website, Expedia.co.nz, which released its annual Value Tracker today showcasing the best value international destinations for New Zealand travellers.The report is based on the performance of the Kiwi dollar against global currencies combined with the average cost of flights and accommodation booked from New Zealand.The managing director of Expedia Brand for Australia and New Zealand, Georg Ruebensal, says it is a useful guide for Kiwis who want to find the best value-for-money holiday.The top value destination swap suggestions include:1. Japan for ChinaThe New Zealand dollar has seen 13% growth year on year against the Chinese yuan compared to 12% depreciation against the Japanese yen. The average cost of $166 per night for a hotel in China was 13% cheaper than Japan’s $191 average per night rate.2. Hong Kong for South KoreaWith the New Zealand dollar appreciating by 9% against the South Korean won, compared to 5% growth against the Hong Kong dollar, now is the time to visit. Average flight prices from New Zealand to South Korea were also down 28%, to $1056, making a flight 19% cheaper when compared to a flight from New Zealand to Hong Kong at $1306.3. Brazil for ArgentinaThe New Zealand dollar has appreciated a 73% against the Argentine peso when compared to the same time last year. There was also a 36% decline in average flight prices from New Zealand to Argentina at $1309 and a 13% drop in average room rates.
TravelInc Memo
Meet Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s vision of the future of computing. It’s called simply ‘The Machine’. It’s a radical departure from today’s computer architecture that is being developed HPE’s R&D arm, Hewlett Packard Labs, to deal with the conflicting trajectories of computing hardware and software.
Jaap Suermondt, vice president, software and analytics at HPE, who is responsible for The Machine’s software stack and applications, told Computerworld Australia that it was designed to cater for the growing requirement to perform analytics on every-larger datasets at the same time as the annual doubling price/performance in line with Moore’s Law is coming to an end.
“By every indication we are seeing Moore’s Law starting to slow down,” he said. “On the one hand you have data that keeps growing exponentially, and on the other you have computing power that is not keeping up.”
WAUKESHA, WI--(Marketwired - August 15, 2016) - When a near-shore natural gas platform in New Zealand needed to be refurbished on a tight time frame, New Zealand contractor WorleyParsons found the perfect solution on the other side of the world -- in Safway's QuikDeck.
After 10 years of safely delivering up to 40 percent of New Zealand's natural gas supply annually, the Shell-operated Pohokura field in the North Island of the country, needed an offshore refurbishment. This included painting the entire platform and legs situated in 115 feet of water -- safely -- while not impacting the environment, maintaining a secure energy supply and adhering to a tight 100-day schedule.
One of WorleyParsons New Zealand's designers, Harold Balicao, had heard inklings of a new modular suspended access product provided by an American company called Safway. "Our engineers talked to their engineers, and it was apparent to us that we could safely solve one of their bigger problems," said Safway's Jerry Dolly, manager of Safway's Bridge and Special Product Division, which is responsible for the QuikDeck line.
QuikDeck, built around safety, is a modular access system that provides a continuous rigid, flat surface suspended by chains. It has been described as a "factory floor in the air" -- deal for the Pohokura job. Although it took a lot of review and analysis, this dialogue was "the beginning of a journey that ended with finding the perfect solution, backed up by a great engineering team and product," said Steve Walton, the project engineer with WorleyParsons New Zealand, a branch of the Australian engineering giant.
"The engineering teams from both our companies worked well together using the Navis and AutoCAD software. The use of these made it very easy for the WorleyParsons structural team to update and share the 3D model with our construction team and contractors," Walton said.
Shell New Zealand's Maintenance, Engineering and Project Delivery Manager Kerry Willimanson was pleased with the outcome. "Nothing is more important to us than safety and looking after our beautiful New Zealand coastline. We are delighted the Pohokura offshore campaign caused zero harm to people and the environment. The innovative Safway technology played a key role in our environmental management."
The $50 million Pohokura project was completed on time and on budget, while maintaining a constant energy supply to keep New Zealand's economy ticking.
Trade Minister Todd McClay today issued a call for public submissions on the likely impact of Brexit on New Zealand businesses that export goods or services to the United Kingdom, or which have investments in the United Kingdom.
This follows the referendum on 23 June 2016 that saw the UK electorate vote to leave the European Union – a result that is now being implemented by the British Government.
“Although the Brexit process will take a number of years, the New Zealand Government is paying close attention to it - to ensure the interests of New Zealanders are maintained and advanced,” says Mr McClay.
“The first step of this is to build an accurate understanding of New Zealand’s commercial interests in the UK, and hear from exporters and investors how they think Brexit will impact their activities in the UK.”
The submissions received will help inform the Government’s approach to issues that may arise in the course of the UK’s exit from the European Union, and to enable the Government to more effectively work with businesses to safeguard New Zealand’s interests as the process unfolds.
Submissions have already been received on the EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, which is New Zealand’s current trade priority in Europe. This is a separate information-gathering process to better understand the specific of New Zealand-UK trade and how it might be affected by the UK leaving the EU.
More information is available on the MFAT website.
Firefighters serving with New Zealand Fire Service will benefit from improved safety and communication while working in fire grounds through an innovative two-way radio solution.
The new solution from Motorola Solutions and Spark will enable the service’s 10,000 career and volunteer firefighters to stay connected to their colleagues in the field via reliable and robust voice communication.
Having attended around 73,000 incidents in the past year alone, New Zealand Fire Service needs the best tools for the job. The organisation will receive more than 4,500 new radios designed for use in the most severe fire ground environments.
A major feature of the solution is a cornerstone Motorola Solutions innovation, a remote speaker microphone that will be fully integrated within firefighters’ breathing apparatus. This will be combined with the radio’s convenient push-to-talk button, which enables firefighters to communicate easily and safely in the harshest conditions.
Wellington, New Zealand – 16 August 2016 – Firefighters serving with New Zealand Fire Service will benefit from improved safety and communication while working in fire grounds through an innovative two-way radio solution.
The new solution from Motorola Solutions and Spark will enable the service’s 10,000 career and volunteer firefighters to stay connected to their colleagues in the field via reliable and robust voice communication.
Having attended around 73,000 incidents in the past year alone, New Zealand Fire Service needs the best tools for the job. The organisation will receive more than 4,500 new radios designed for use in the most severe fire ground environments.
A major feature of the solution is a cornerstone Motorola Solutions innovation, a remote speaker microphone that will be fully integrated within firefighters’ breathing apparatus. This will be combined with the radio’s convenient push-to-talk button, which enables firefighters to communicate easily and safely in the harshest conditions.
Paul Baxter, Chief Executive & National Commander of the New Zealand Fire Service, said,“Communication is critical to safety on the incident ground, and much of that communication comes from the use of incident ground control (IGC) radio. That’s why we were so exacting in our requirements for these new radios.”
“The radios will help us to resolve radio interface issues with firefighters’ breathing apparatus while also delivering improved noise cancellation and battery life.”
By using a combination of single and multiband radios operating across both VHF and UHF bands, the solution aligns with the fire service’s vision of leading integrated fire and emergency services for a safer New Zealand.
“This radio solution enables us to move away from using a mix of models and frequencies and toward a nationally consistent standard that will make it easier to work with our emergency service partners,” Baxter said.
Murray Mitchell, Director ICT for the New Zealand Fire Service, said, “We wanted a solution that is safe, easy to use and doesn’t distract firefighters from their work during critical incidents.The design features incorporated in these new radios will help our firefighters work more safely and efficiently.”
Spark will provide in-country support including service management and a customer support desk.Spark Digital CEO Tim Miles said: “Radios are life-saving tools for our emergency services, and great team communication can be the difference between a managed incident and a disaster. We are very proud to play a part in improving the on-ground experience for our Kiwi Fire Service heroes.”
Motorola Solutions Managing Director for New Zealand and Australia Steve Crutchfield said the solution drew on his company’s experience in providing tailored, mission-critical communications for public safety agencies all over the world.
“Firefighters depend on reliable and robust voice communications in emergency situations so they can concentrate on the job of protecting our communities and potentially saving lives,” Crutchfield said.The radios are part of a five-year contract, giving New Zealand Fire Service operational and cost certainty throughout the life of the contract.
The contract also provides access provisions for related government agencies wanting to take advantage of the new radio technology.
Prime Minister John Key today introduced a bill to update the legislative framework and improve the transparency of New Zealand’s intelligence and security agencies.
The New Zealand Intelligence and Security Bill 2016 is the Government’s response to the first independent review of intelligence and security presented to Parliament in March 2016 by Sir Michael Cullen and Dame Patsy Reddy.
“At the heart of this Bill is the protection of New Zealanders,” says Mr Key. “We have an obligation to ensure New Zealanders are safe at home and abroad.
“Therefore it is vital our agencies operate under legislation which enables them to be effective in an increasingly complex security environment, where we are confronted by growing numbers of cyber threats and the rise of terrorist groups such as ISIL.
Mr Key says the Government has accepted the majority of recommendations put forward in Sir Michael and Dame Patsy’s independent review.
“The bill is the most significant reform of the agencies’ legislation in our country’s history,” says Mr Key.
“It clearly sets out the agencies’ powers, builds on the robust oversight for the agencies we introduced in 2013 and establishes a new warranting regime.
“At the same time, it protects the privacy and human rights of New Zealanders.”
Key aspects of the legislation include:
“As I have said before, we are keen to get broad political support for this legislation,” says Mr Key.
“The Government takes its national security obligations very seriously. New Zealanders can be assured we are taking careful and responsible steps to protect their safety and security.”
The Bill has been introduced today. The first reading will be on Thursday.
For more information visit https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/ins
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
|
|