Importing gas locks NZ into fossil fuels for longer – just as clean energy surges
Jen Purdie,Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainability, University of Otago The government’s announcement that it would move ahead with plans for a new facility to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), potentially as early as next year, was framed as a way to shore up energy security. But the decision instead marks another […]
2026 off to a strong start for manufacturers
From February issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine By Hon Chris Penk, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing As I kick off my first manufacturing column of 2026, I want to pass on my best wishes to manufacturers across the country as you return from a well earned summer break. I […]
Strengthen worker training and safety
WorkSafe’s health and safety inspectors have been carrying out proactive assessments in the wood product manufacturing sector, and early findings show there are clear opportunities for businesses to strengthen worker training and improve the safe use of machinery. Manufacturing continues to be one of WorkSafe’s highest harm sectors. It accounts […]
XPO Exhibitions to launch new trade fair
From February issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine XPO Exhibitions is partnering with Hannover Fairs Australia to launch Logistics Automation New Zealand, powered by CeMAT. This will be held from 10-11 November at the Auckland Showgrounds. The trade fair will bring together world-leading logistics, automation, robotics, intralogistics, warehousing, and supply chain […]
New Zealand Productivity Organisation wants to hear from you
www.nzproductivityorganisation.co.nz www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz/nzproductivityorganisation The New Zealand Productivity Organisation (NZPO) invites all businesses throughout the country to share their views on Productivity […]
The Learning Wave Free 90-minute taster: Accelerate team cohesion and performance in times of change
What happens when frontline teams are truly connected to each other and the business? You see fewer handovers going wrong, safer decisions on the floor, better problem-solving, issues owned and closed out properly, and people who actually speak up when something’s not right. This complimentary 90-minute taster gives manufacturing leaders […]
Manufacturing starts year by shifting up a gear
Hon Chris Penk New data showing New Zealand manufacturing is experiencing its highest level of activity since December 2021 signals a strong start to the year, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk says. The latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) shows the seasonally adjusted PMI for December has risen by […]
How CTEM, AI, and access control redefine OT security in 2026
By Carlos Buenano, Field CTO for OT, Armis As we step into 2026, AI-driven adversaries, supply chain fragility, and relentless digitisation are forcing Operational Technology (OT) security to mature into a force to be reckoned with. Here’s what 2026 looks like: AI-Powered adversaries demand autonomous defence AI is no longer […]
Digital transformation
From February 2026 issue, NZ Manufacturer www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz By Frank Phillips, Director, Fulcrum New Zealand Ltd Automation in manufacturing is a competitive imperative. It’s getting easier and cheaper to do, and able to be applied in situations previously unsuitable. Knowing where to start, identifying the right process to automate, detailing solid […]
The Year in Review – Business Exit Landscape
Mike Warmington, Platform 1 This year has been marked by fluctuations in the business exit landscape. The first quarter saw lots of activity and some deal flow. The middle two quarters saw business owners contemplating transitioning out, more likely to hold off as they endured a tougher sales environment […]
Reflecting on 2025: Circularity, Sustainability and Transformation for Steel Manufacturing
Troy Coyle, CEO, HERA As 2025 draws to a close, it’s clear this has been a year of transformation and momentum for Aotearoa New Zealand’s steel manufacturing industry and for HERA. The national conversation around sustainability and circular design has matured significantly, with steel once again proving itself to be […]
2026, moving forward together: Competenz deepens support for learners and employers
By Toni Christie: Competenz General Manager – Employer and Learner Experience With apprentices and employers across the country navigating an evolving sector, Competenz focused on stability, support and momentum — strengthening learner pathways and employer capability ahead of the 2026 shift to Industry Skills Boards. More than 7,000 apprentices and […]
The Year in Review: A Seconded View of NZ Manufacturing in 2025
-Caliber Design Working inside engineering teams throughout New Zealand gives us a practical view of how the sector is moving. This year we saw steady progress and exciting developments, even with the head winds. Companies continued to advance capital projects, refine equipment, develop new products, and pursue leading edge innovation in emerging fields. While each sector had its own pressures, the overall feel has been one of steady momentum. Manufacturers continued to deal with stretched internal resource, long project lists, the need to keep work moving without disrupting production, and uncertain economic times. Yet across our secondments and conversations, the intent to improve and invest remained consistent, and that intent shaped much of the engineering work carried out this year. Steady improvements in established industries In processing, materials handling, dairy, poultry, and food and beverage sites, we saw ongoing investment in practical upgrades. These were not large transformation programmes, but they mattered. Many involved service layout adjustments, safety improvements, reliability work, and design changes that reduce maintenance effort or improve workflow. This work is almost always carried out in operational environments, which means planning, communication, and sequencing are as important as the technical solution. The projects are varied but typically share a common goal of keeping plants running safely and efficiently while making incremental improvements that compound over time. Emerging technology continued to build momentum At the other end of the spectrum, 2025 saw significant activity in emerging technology. We set a goal to work with seven emerging technology companies this year and ended up partnering with nineteen. That growth is a strong indicator of how much innovation and technical development is happening in New Zealand. Projects spanned aerospace, clean materials, innovative transport, robotics, advanced energy systems, and specialised manufacturing. These companies move quickly, iterate rapidly, and often need targeted […]