Author Rachel Loo
More continuous professional development and improved education in the construction sector are required before a self-certification scheme can be trusted to solve homebuilding woes says the Institute of Building Surveyors. It is wary of the government’s proposed changes to allowing trusted building professionals and accredited businesses to carry out low-risk building work. The government says “it’s about placing the requirements of the system and the resources to where they’re most needed… rather than having that regulation for regulation’s sake.”
Inc Australia reports on a management guide that is targeted at small business. The guide lists four savvy insights including sleeping on the job that anyone can use to grow a business. The insights come from a survey of marketing and creative consultants which asked top earners what they did right to make the big money. It is produced by HoneyBook is a client management platform that helps small businesses streamline projects, contracts and payments
The Yeah, Nah Awards is an only just tongue-in-cheek look at businesses and services “that have been especially disappointing” to Consumer NZ and its readers. To be a contender you must meet criteria such as failing a standard, stinging customers with hidden charges, using false claims or broken promises and using unclear messaging that causes consumer confusion, frustration or just plain outrage.
Restrictions on the use of weedkiller
The NZ EPA has placed by red alert restrictions on the use of products containing the chemical
herbicide Chlorthal-dimethyl, used to control broad leaf weeds and grasses in horticulture. Continue →
The New Zealand Chemical Industry Association , Responsible Care NZ, is advising members of an EPA red alert relating to the use of DCPA weedkiller (chlorthal-dimethyl). The EPA permits only restricted use of products containing this chemical, subject to strict conditions. It warns of the possible risk to foetal development from exposure of pregnant individuals or individuals who may be pregnant.
Administration costs account for about 25 percent of the money spent on healthcare in the US according to a recent McKinsey report — it is probably more in New Zealand. The healthcare sector here is facing government pressure to cut frontline costs while hospitals are under pressure to improve consumer experiences. Advancements in AI could transform the industry, boosting operational efficiencies across internal and customer-facing operations.
The online resource is designed to enhance road connectivity for rural and remote communities across Australia and New Zealand. Where there are few road options to communities, these are known as lifeline routes which ensure communities remain connected when alternative routes are cut-off due to natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes. Investing in lifeline routes does not always stack up using a traditional cost- benefit analysis but is vital for the resilience of remote communities and to support the freight industry in times of crisis.
When the pandemic hit, QR codes were suddenly everywhere, providing a fast, contact-free way to access websites with important health information. Inc Australia reports that today code there’s a chance that the website to which you are redirected could be a fake log-in page that harvests data or a link that automatically downloads malware. Cybersecurity companies have responded by updating malware scanners but criminals have evolved as well, developing new methods to evade those systems.
In conversations about mental health, spiritual health is often an overlooked aspect. According to the McKinsey Health Institute, spiritual health—meaning in life, connection to something larger, and a strong sense of purpose—is not merely a “nice to have” but a core health dimension. Individuals reporting poor spiritual health were up to about four times less likely to say they had good or very good mental health than those reporting neutral or good spiritual health.
While reducing emissions is crucial, reaching net-zero goals will also require substantial carbon removal initiatives. Innovation in every sector, including waste management, is essential to mitigate climate change effectively. The world is currently emitting ca. 60 gigatons of CO2 equivalent GHG emissions. The current carbon budget is estimated to be 500 and 1200 Gt CO2 equivalent GHG emissions for the 1.5°C and 2°C limit, respectively. Meaning the 1.5°C limit will be reached in less than one decade and the 2°C limit within two decades.
Dave Segal found himself onstage at the Edison Awards, the annual Oscars of innovation. Attendees included elite scientists and executives from every corner of tech, from adhesives to robotics. About 10 years ago Segal asked himself if thought control was even real? What if I can create a novel neural interface that would allow somebody to command, control, and navigate computers, phones, wheelchairs, smart homes, IoT, robotics, AI—in a hands-free, voice-free, and sometimes even screen-free manner?
You could be forgiven for thinking this report is about the acute GP shortage in New Zealand. But no, physician shortages in the US and the reasons behind them are hauntingly familiar. This McKinsey Report talks of the increasingly difficult task of attracting and retaining doctors in the US, the high median age of our current crop of physicians, a lack of involvement in decision making and being burdened with delegable tasks that have little to do with patient care.
Multinational companies have been looking around Christchurch for greater operational stability in the face of expected transport pressures between the North and South Islands through 2025, according to Savill which operates in 70 cities around the globe. The group’s Christchurch office reports signs of construction associated with anchor projects in Christchurch supporting an anticipated shift by investors from fixed interest investments to higher-yield options which is expected to bolster the city’s industrial sector.
Bentley Systems is a global leader in infrastructure engineering software ecosystems used for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, mining, and industrial facilities in 194 countries. It announced new support services and the winners of the comprehensive Going Digital Awards at a conference in Vancouver.
PDL by Schneider Electric has launched Clipsal Solis, a new range of light switches and sockets that is designed specifically for the high-end residential market. The company says power points and light switches may sit in a wall for up to 30 years, so it's important that they are built to withstand New Zealand conditions with design themes that are consistent across decades
Find out the top-voted answer in a Reddit post asking for corporate jargon that makes you cringe. Inc Australia’s Suzanne Lucas says if you’re guilty of saying this, know that you’re annoying. But you probably also know that it does help get a crowd to pay attention. Is it worth having the attention of a room full of people who find you annoying?
As the global energy transition enters a new phase, the McKinsey Global Energy Perspective presents a data-driven view of the possible road ahead. The report offers a detailed demand outlook for 68 sectors and 78 fuels across a 1.5° pathway, as set out in the Paris Agreement, as well as three bottom-up energy transition scenarios.
AkzoNobel’s latest can coating Accelshield 300 has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is compliant with current and future EU regulations restricting the presence of intentionally added bisphenols, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol F (BPF). See white paper on the transition to a bisphenol-free world.
