Obesity, undernutrition, and climate change represent three of the gravest threats to human health, the environment and our planet, highlights the latest Lancet Report The distinguished medical journal identifies the three pandemics affecting human health as “the global syndemic”. Continue →

NZTech has launched New Zealand’s first formal digital identity organisation Digital Identity NZ, a group of organisations and government agencies, has been set up to connect everyone in New Zealand that cares about digital identity. Continue →

Despite promises of ‘record investment’ and a ‘year of action’ from the Government, poor visibility over new projects coming to market was starting to have a serious impact, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock Short-term gaps in the infrastructure pipeline are causing long-term headaches for the country’s civil infrastructure contractors, who have criticised a vague forward work programme that sees roading projects down nearly three billion dollars in the next two years. Continue →

There are several simple steps that New Zealand could implement to achieve the goal of a low-emission economy, says Toyota New Zealand CEO Alistair Davis   The Productivity Commission’s draft on the move to a low carbon emission economy through a Zero Carbon Act is a sound report on what lies ahead. Continue →

Recently, Wintec’s Design Factory NZ took part in The Rat Relay with a team of students, staff and other motivated people who wanted the experience of solving a variety of global challenges The Design Factory NZ team that took part in the RAT Relay The Rat Relay is a Design Factory Global Network annual event, a global design-thinking ‘hackathon’. Continue →

Long overdue reform of the water sector has created the opportunity for a first principles discussion of what local government can and should do and with what resources, says Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Stephen Selwood “Operating infrastructure networks is a technical activity demanding flexible use of capital and strong asset management capability,” he explains. Continue →

In the final quarter of 2018, following the landmark eight-week trial of the four-day week and analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data from it, the Perpetual Guardian board signed off on the four-day week across the business Andrew Barnes views the trial and its successful outcomes as being much bigger than just the future of work at Perpetual Guardian. Continue →

KiwiRail has posted improved revenue for the half year to December 2018 with overall revenue 12% up on the previous year Good progress in domestic freight (30%), forestry (15%) and bulk freight (8%) revenue to December was bolstered by an 8% increase in tourism revenue on the Great Journeys of New Zealand rail and ferry services. Continue →

With many areas of Australia facing severe drought – some the worst in 400 years – great importance is being placed on water pipeline construction, maintenance and elimination of leakages over local, regional and far-reaching networks The Australian government has acknowledged the scale of the challenge with a $12.9 million Water for the Future plan focussed on more efficient water infrastructure and refurbishment of older pipes and systems. Continue →

The announcement that the Government will establish the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission – Te Waihanga – to perform strategy and procurement functions and vest it with sufficient independence to have mana and influence is very strongly welcomed by the infrastructure industry, says CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand Stephen Selwood “The new Commission will help ensure we are making the best decisions about infrastructure investment to improve the long-term economic performance and social wellbeing of our country,” Shane Jones said during the announcement. Continue →