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 →

After a decade of construction, the world’s first “underground” hotel looks set to open its doors The $210 million Shimao Wonderland InterContinental, located 30 kilometres from Shanghai, has been built in an abandoned quarry that plunges 80 metres below ground level. 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 →

Trucking industry managers attending the Women in Road Transport forum held in Auckland this week were presented with a possible solution to the driver shortage problem – more female drivers Four female students who are part of the first intake for the Manukau Institute of Technology’s new programme – the NZ Certificate in Commercial Road (Heavy Vehicle Operator) level 3 – spoke briefly about the experience and their career hopes for the future. 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 →

When showing up for work, going down to the local mall, spending time in a hotel, visiting clients, going to see the doctor… are all those buildings perfectly safe and fit for purpose? Continue →