New technology challenges traditional workplace practices

The rapid development of new communications technology is challenging the old ways of doing things in today's workplaces, says David Lowe, Employment Services Manager for the Employers & Manufacturers Association. "New technology such as smart phones and finger scanning are doing away with traditional work records, timesheets and other data entry," ... read more

Trades academy to open in Hawke’s Bay

One of ten that will open around New Zealand in 2012, the trades academy will provide practical skills training for secondary school students while allowing them to study for NCEA credits and tertiary qualifications. As lead provider for the trades academy covering the HawkeÕs Bay and Tair?whiti regions, EIT will partner ... read more

Strategic metals hunt commences

Strategic Elements Ltd is involved in an aggressive program of field work on the West Coast of New Zealand. The West Coast field work marks the start of a wider program aimed at discovering large new sources of valuable strategic and precious metals. Results will be reported from each prospect as ... read more

Minister to open Christchurch rebuild event

Minister of Building and Construction Maurice Williamson will open and attend a forum for Christchurch’s building and property professionals on 29 February. The event - Steel: the proven performer for a new Christchurch – aims to make the case for structural steel to play a leading role in the rebuilding ... read more

Joint productivity study welcomed

BusinessNZ and the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum have welcomed the announcement of joint work by the Productivity Commissions of New Zealand and Australia. An agreement of the joint cabinet meeting of the New Zealand and Australian Governments in Melbourne will see the two commissions working to develop options for ... read more

Service sector crease bound?

The service sector returned to a more subdued level of expansion in December, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Services Index (PSI). The PSI for December was 50.6. This was down 5.6 points from 56.2 in November, and 0.2 points lower than the October result. A PSI reading above ... read more

Pace required on economic plan

Economic directions signalled by the Prime Minister in his first major speech of the year will be welcomed by enterprise, says BusinessNZ - and now they need to be acted on. Chief Executive Phil O’Reilly says relying on a few major reforms to turn the economy around is not realistic and ... read more

RBNZ must respond to quantitative easing and lower interest rates elsewhere

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) needs to respond to unorthodox monetary policy implemented elsewhere if we are to see an export lead recovery this year say the New Zealand Manufacturers and Exporters Association (NZMEA). This morning the Reserve Bank announced an unchanged Official Cash Rate and no plans to ... read more

‘Clustering’ to become a global ‘brain economy’

David McConnell, chair of ATEED (left) chats to Prof Torger Reve By Kevin Kevany Could this be 'the dawning of the Age of Competitiveness' for New Zealand? The omens are good at year-end 2011, with all of the right signals suddenly lighting up and a passionate advocate of the need for a ... read more

Brighter end to the year for manufacturers

Manufacturing activity improved enough over December to be back in positive territory, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI). The seasonally adjusted PMI for December was 51.9 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was ... read more