NZ’s largest industrial landowner set to invest $110m in rooftop solar
New Zealand’s largest industrial landowner is set to invest over $110 million in a rooftop solar and battery storage rollout it says will lower production costs for local and export firms while reducing pressure on the national electricity grid at peak times. Over the next decade, the initiative will see […]
Stop managing outcomes, start managing behaviour
Your culture is the operating system driving those results — whether you measure it or not Ask a room of manufacturing leaders whether culture matters and every hand goes up. Ask them how they measure it, or when they last deliberately intervened in it — and the hands come down. […]
Profile: Green Gorilla tells sustainability story that matches its impact
Green Gorilla has spent more than a decade challenging the idea that waste should simply be hauled away and buried. Since 2010, the 100% New Zealand-owned business has grown into a major waste and resource recovery operator, helping customers recover more materials, reduce landfill and take a more practical approach […]
Manufacturing’s automation moment is here – now comes the workforce challenge
Jo Verry, Senior Key Account Manager at industry training organisation, Competenz You lock up your warehouse at night, switch off the lights and press play on an autonomous drone. By morning, it has flown the aisles, scanned barcodes, completed stocktakes and delivered real-time inventory data before the first staff member […]
Why the most valuable asset in your plant isn’t on the balance sheet
-Mike Warmington, Director, Platform 1 As the owner you can be the most valuable asset in the business. Manufacturing companies focus on equipment, inventory, capacity, and productivity. All are very important to success, however what is often overlooked is that a key asset is the systemisation and transferability of the […]
New Zealand talks about productivity, but does not build the capability to deliver it
From July 2026 issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine.We invite readers to feedback to us on this excellent article. How do you see things? How is Productivity in your workplace? Ian Walsh, Partner, Argon & Co New Zealand does not have a shortage of productivity commentary. We have reports, benchmarks, speeches, and […]
Pressure equipment in practice – Pressure Equipment Workshop 2026
4th September 2026 – Novotel Lakeside, Rotorua New Zealand’s manufacturing and engineering sectors are operating in a period of rapid change, where productivity, compliance, skills, and technology are all moving at once. For many businesses, the challenge is not simply keeping pace, but making sound decisions in an environment where […]
Connecting the dots
David Altena has 30 years of tech industry experience and is a founding director of The Better SMB Limited. david@altena.solutions Rob Bull, Director of the New Zealand Lean Academy rob@nzla.nz Connecting The Dots Everyone’s busy, capable and pulling in different directions Most manufacturers […]
Keeping Southland Opportunity in Southland Hands
As Southland attracts increasing investment and larger projects begin to emerge across the region, Southland-based agency Naked Creative is encouraging businesses to consider whether they are positioned to capitalise on the opportunities ahead. Here comes Tender Ready! The agency, which has long championed regional development and the success of Southland […]
Science reform: The missing link in NZ’s manufacturing productivity puzzle ?
The Problem We Have Been Ignoring By Sean Doherty, Manufacturing Commentator | NZ Industry Trends Ask any manufacturer about their biggest constraints and the answers are familiar: energy costs, skilled labour, margin pressure, and global competition from economies with far greater scale. What rarely comes up is New Zealand’s persistent […]
Strong quarter as manufacturing leads growth
New Zealand’s manufacturing sector was the single biggest driver of economic growth in the March 2026 quarter, growing 1.9 percent and powering the country’s start to 2026, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Cameron Brewer says. “Manufacturing was the largest contributor to economic growth in the March quarter. That tells you […]
Sustainability: Digital product passports and the MCI – a practical guide for manufacturers
From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine Manufacturers are being asked to answer harder questions about their products: What are they made from? Where did the materials come from? Can they be repaired, reused or recycled? And can those claims be verified? Digital product passports (DPPs) are emerging as a practical […]
Last month massive for the Manufacturing sector
-Hon. Cameron Brewer, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing I had the opportunity to attend and speak at the Hutt Valley Manufacturing and Innovation Expo, where I saw first-hand the breadth of activity and innovation underway in the region. Following this, visiting EMEX 2026 (Pictured)and speaking directly with exhibitors reinforced a clear message: high value added, innovative manufacturing is happening right across the country. Not just in the main centres, but in places like Bluff, Gisborne and everywhere in between. A particular highlight for me was the second Minister for Manufacturing Awards. It was a great opportunity to celebrate success and recognise the high standards being set across the sector. This year’s finalists and winners showed the innovation and strong execution needed for the sector to stay competitive and grow its $22 billion contribution to the economy. The awards showcased what excellence looks like in practice, with businesses investing in their people, improving processes, and adopting new technologies to lift productivity and performance. One of the new categories this year, the Manufacturing Lifetime and Legacy Award, recognises sustained leadership and impact. Jeff Douglas of Douglas Pharmaceuticals was a highly deserving recipient. Over three decades, he has led the transformation of the business, choosing to anchor high value research and development and specialised manufacturing in New Zealand rather than following the global trend of offshoring. That kind of long-term commitment is exactly what strengthens our manufacturing base. For my part, this Government is committed to backing manufacturing by getting the basics right. That means supporting investment, strengthening skills, enabling innovation and improving access to markets so businesses can grow, compete and succeed. The 2026 Budget, released in late May, delivers a number of measures that will support the sector to remain competitive and resilient in a changing operating environment. These respond […]