Author Rachel Loo
Experts call the launch of the Government’s five-year “whole-of-government” approach to preventing suicide in New Zealand as a good start but highlight a lack of detail.
New Zealand continues to face stubbornly high suicide rates, says the Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey. Continue →
Even in the countries with the most developed senior-housing markets, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States, only around five percent of seniors currently live in dedicated senior housing. McKinsey consultant Sam O’Gorman examines approaches in how operators can expand into the retrofit market and innovate with cutting-edge technology. He outlines approaches that could make senior housing more appealing, expand its reach, and enable better and more affordable care.
CBRE Research estimates that 74 percent of AsiaPacific hotel supply between now and 2030 will be aligned with one of the top eight listed hotel companies – a significant increase over the currently operational market share of 18 percent. With hotel brand penetration still relatively low compared to the US and Europe, the AsiaPacific has become a key growth market. The report analyses the current state of the hotel brand landscape, and explores the brand strategies that owners and operators are pursuing to adapt to ever-changing market dynamics.
The tyre recycling industry across the ditch is experiencing a significant transformation as companies embrace advanced sustainable recycling technology to meet growing environmental demands. In a new report from ISWA (The International Solid Waste Association, an international network of waste professionals and experts) RPM Automotive Group, a leading Australian automotive parts distributor, has partnered with Fornnax to revolutionise its waste processing capabilities through innovative shredding solutions.
Genetically modified cells known as chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have become potent cancer fighters, and scientists are now studying them as treatments for autoimmune diseases and other illnesses. But making them involves harvesting and transforming a person’s immune cells — a process that can take so long that patients sometimes die before the therapy is ready. A new approach induces the patient’s body to produce its own CAR-T cells, relying on the same messenger RNA (mRNA) technology that was instrumental for some COVID-19 vaccines.
Body creates its own cure
Genetically modified cells known as chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells have become potent cancer fighters, and scientists are now studying them as treatments for autoimmune diseases and other illnesses. Continue →
Renters are, on average, $1400 better off per year than they were this time last year as national weekly rental prices continue to trend down. New data from realestate.co.nz shows the national average rent in May 2025 fell to $633 per week, a drop of $27 per week, or 4.1 percent, compared to the same time last year.
Auckland Council has completed a region-wide study to map landslide susceptibility, The maps provide information to planners, infrastructure authorities, owners, developers, and engineers so that they can understand and manage the risks from landslides. The study is an assessment of which factors may pre-dispose particular land to becoming unstable. These maps do not describe hazard or risk. This means that they do not show how many, or how often, landslides will occur (the hazard), or what the consequences could be (the risk).
You can now claim 20 percent deductions for the costs of new (or new to New Zealand) business assets that you bought – or finished constructing – on or after 22 May 2025. “Bringing new technology, tools and equipment into a business bolsters productivity, which raises incomes and fuels ongoing reinvestment. This is how we build resilience,” says Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Chris Penk. Inland Revenue has more information, including examples of what it means for businesses.
Researchers made the discovery while studying nurse sharks. Like humans, the marine predators rely on the pancreas to control blood sugar and produce digestive enzymes. But they also use it to make antibodies and fine-tune certain white blood cells against microbial threats, according to a study published last month in The Journal of Immunology. Sharks may not be the only animals to enlist the pancreas for defence, the study implies, and other organs could take on unexpected immune functions.
Sharks attack pathogens
Researchers made the discovery while studying nurse sharks. Like humans, the marine predators rely on the pancreas to control blood sugar and produce digestive enzymes. Continue →
Employee stress Is a business risk — not an HR problem
Workplace stress has been treated by many organisations as a personal issue instead of a business-critical risk that merits executive oversight according to a new report from Walking on Earth and published in the Harvard Business Review. Continue →
The modern apprenticeship model shatters outdated perceptions that limited such programs to entry-level, lower-paying positions in manual labour industries. Today’s apprenticeships span diverse sectors including IT, healthcare, engineering and accounting, offering specialised expertise and pathways to leadership roles. A recent report from the US is a long (52 page) read but parallels needs in New Zealand and offers sound advice on what is needed to meet contemporary workforce needs.
According to Science Adviser President Donald Trump’s administration is shuttering a network of centres funded by the National Institutes of Health that aims to prevent future pandemics. The research is “unsafe,” NIH has concluded.
Pandemic vaccine research canned
President Donald Trump’s administration is shuttering a network of centres funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that aims to prevent future pandemics. Continue →
Dry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems face unique challenges from internal corrosion which can compromise their performance and service life. While high-purity nitrogen has long been used to mitigate these effects, Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) are showing convincing results in tests in fire protection systems. In April General Air Products picked up the 2025 Corrosion Innovation of the Year Award with the Vapor Pipe Shield, a delivery system of Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI®)
Internal corrosion breakthrough
Dry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems face unique challenges from internal corrosion, which can compromise their performance and service life. Continue →
The recent flurry around the release of CV values for Auckland based on data more than 12-months old appears to have prompted leading information provider Cotality to join the fray of up to the minute value suppliers with an interactive tool Mapping the Market . The June 2025 edition shows stand-alone houses are beginning to regain ground in many suburbs while growth across townhouses and flats has remained more subdued and uneven.
“Hey Siri, choose my medical expert.” How far would you trust AI to make important decisions?
From tailored Netflix recommendations to personalised Facebook feeds, artificial intelligence (AI) adeptly serves content that matches our preferences and past behaviours. Continue →