Author Rachel Loo
New Zealand office employees consider benefits an important part of their remuneration package. More than three-quarters of them are planning to negotiate for enhanced offerings according to a survey by specialised recruiter Robert Half. An agreed bonus coupled with remote working options and flexible working arrangements top the list. Workers in finance, accounting, IT and technology worked for SME, large private sector and publicly-listed companies plus public sector organisations.
A problem which affects the personal and workplace wellbeing of half the world’s population is finally gaining attention. Study of the female reproductive system has long been set back by societal stigma — but also by the fact that most laboratory animals don’t menstruate. Now, researchers have engineered mice that can get a period. They would be used to study reproductive health conditions and treat heavy menstrual bleeding.
If you are smart and part (or all) of a small- or medium-sized enterprise in the construction industry, set aside an hour on 13 November and register now for a webinar in which MATES unpacks advice learned from its 2025 Industry Well-being Survey. Almost half of the workers surveyed live with a physical or mental health challenge — twice the national average. Stronger cultures and early intervention protects people and productivity.
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.
