Author Rachel Loo
Researchers have designed a wearable detector for the specific kind of longwave ultraviolet radiation that causes sunburn, says Science Adviser. The devices could connect with a smartphone or smartwatch to alert the user when they have received 80 percent of the UVA dose likely to cause a sunburn based on their skin type. Though the solution may sound like a quick fix, it’s important to maintain usual sun protection like sunscreen or covering layers
Kiwis looking to buy a property in zone for the country’s top state schools can expect to pay a premium of more than 89 percent according to data from realestate.co.nz. Top of the list was Auckland’s Epsom Girls’ Grammar, where in-zone homes commanded an average asking price of $2.45m, compared to out-of-zone properties which fetched an average asking price of $1.29m. Auckland Grammar zone followed.
Safety tech saves lives and spurs workplace Innovation
A US National Safety Council survey reports on the success of safety technologies, from risk management software and artificial intelligence to robotics, wearables and extended reality. Continue →
The Zero Carbon Act commits New Zealand to cut methane emissions between 24 and 47 percent below 2017 levels by 2050. The government has weakened the target to 14-24 percent, saying it is investing to speed up the development and rollout of methane-cutting tools, which seems more a reason for keeping the targets
Researchers have created new viruses using AI. The hope is that the tech can be used to create targeted phages ** — that take out problematic bacteria — selectively killing an antibiotic-resistant strain infecting a person, for instance. However, “there is no sugarcoating the risks,” Tal and Jonathan Feldman wrote in The Washington Post
AI designs a virus
Researchers have created new viruses using AI. The hope is that the tech can be used to create targeted phages ** — that take out problematic bacteria — selectively killing an antibiotic-resistant strain infecting a person, for instance. Continue →
Josh Gullery from the Waikato region took out the top spot at the 2025 Master Builders Apprentice of the Year competition. Second place went to Caleb Stuart from the Bay of Plenty and Central Plateau with Jade Murray from the Central North Island region taking out third
Te Huia’s five-year trial ends on 30 June next year. What needs to happen to make this vital rail link between Hamilton and Auckland a permanent part of New Zealand’s public transport system?. Darren Davis says we need to buckle up for a bumpy ride through all of the steps needed between now and then.
The EU-funded RECLAIM project has deployed a revolutionary portable Material Recovery Facility on the Greek island of Kefalonia, achieving 98 percent waste classification accuracy with AI-powered robotics. This breakthrough technology is transforming the economics of decentralised material recovery for remote communities worldwide.
A survey by The Urban Advisory finds that Kiwis are looking for more housing choices including options for co-housing, rent-to-buy, residential co-operatives, community land trusts and shared ownership models. Unaffordability remains a key issue.
If you are worried AI tools are too complex or risky for your business, the latest edition of Business.govt has an excellent You Tube presentation for those nervous about using this generative AI tool. From writing letters and creating headlines to answering questions and offering feedback, ChatGPT is a versatile tool that you can use to create great writing.
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has spent much of his time in office bemoaning the interference of the government in Auckland plans says Greater Auckland which was established in 2015 to provide evidence-based commentary on transport and other issues. But he happily handed over control of the city’s transport future, labelling it a “major victory for the people of Auckland”.
Has the world’s next big electrical engine been in front of our noses all the time. It’s possible, according to new research published in Nature Materials which says that despite 10 percent of the Earth’s surface being covered by it, ice power remains untapped
A new McKinsey report says investors, operators, and governments will need to alter their approaches to funding, construction and maintenance as the definition of infrastructure expands. Traditionally, infrastructure has been synonymous with assets such as power grids, roads, ports, and bridges. Advances in technology mean that newer assets such as fibre-optic networks, hyperscale data centres, and electric-vehicle charging stations are increasingly vital.
This Austroads report highlights several key benefits in the use of mobile point-to-point (MP2P) speed camera systems. The report provides a summary of best practice guidelines in the use of MP2P speed camera enforcement and includes information, the types of technology and equipment available, operational factors and deployment options and considerations.
Comprehensive data on the frequency of AI failures may be lacking but existing evidence makes clear that tragic and ill-informed incidents caused by AI are not isolated instances. The parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, for example, filed the first known wrongful death lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming ChatGPT contributed to their son’s suicide by advising him on methods and offering to write his suicide note.
Russell King reckons there is about to be a golden opportunity to transform public transport in New Zealand, to make it the preferred choice of 10 times as many people as it is today. This article is abridged from a talk which the transport guru and editor of the Transport Leader Newsletter gave to participants at the 2025 Public Transport Australia and New Zealand conference in Auckland
Construction continues to lead New Zealand’s insolvency statistics with 187 cases recorded in Q2 2025. Business services also saw a sharp rise in insolvencies, jumping 56 percent from Q1 to Q2. Retail trade followed with a 26 percent increase, while food and beverage, manufacturing, and property sectors saw modest declines
