Business News

-Doug Green, Publisher Every now and again we step outside the square and have a good, long look at what we are doing. So it should be with manufacturing. Specifically, to enhance the awareness of just what it is the modern New Zealand manufacturer does. Part of that, of course, is to recognise the contribution manufacturing brings to the New Zealand economy. The design, original concept processes that add so much to what is eventually made and finds its way on overseas markets. Manufacturers are modernising their technologies, equipment, systems and infrastructure consistently and applying that sophistication to their materials and production in an effort to create jobs and reduce energy costs. The jobs themselves are changing too. New, modern ways of manufacturing require highly-skilled workers. The current Government, to this end, needs to sought out what kind of ITOs will be in place to skill the workforce to play a key role in competitiveness on local and world markets. Developing talent is a real challenge and the changing nature of manufacturing is making it harder for talent to keep up. Government needs to invest more in manufacturers, their suppliers and interested stakeholders to create workforce development programs that train and equip workers with the right skills to remain competitive.

With the closure of the six week vocational education sector consultation period, a key industry leader has called the process inadequate with dire consequences for the economy. The Government’s proposed changes include the replacement of regional polytechnics with a new, national tertiary training organisation – the NZ Institute of Skills and Technology. The responsibility for the arrangement of training and work-based learning, such as trade apprenticeships, would no longer be delivered by industry owned Industry Training Organisations. Garry Fissenden CEO of The Skills Organisation, New Zealand’s largest Industry Training Organisation (ITO) which represents 22 industries, 4,400 employers and over 10,000 apprentices, is critical not just of the proposed changes but the length of the consultation process offered to employers and the trade education sector. “The Government is currently spending longer consulting on raising the proportion of egg in imported mayonnaise and reviewing the current import standards for Asian zoo elephants coming in from Australia and Sri Lanka than on its total overhaul to the vocational education system! “We are concerned that so little time has been dedicated to better understanding industry needs and reservations about the proposed changes – which would have a dramatic effect on the career prospects of the next generation of young New Zealanders as well as having an immediate impact on business. “Despite seeing the results of research from more than 900 employers which found the majority say they will hire fewer apprentices if the proposal to move the managing of apprentices away from ITOs is implemented, the Government remains resolute in its desire to fast track this reform through,” he says. According to latest statistics, apprenticeships are a key employment pathway for Maori – who make up around 17% of all industry apprentices/trainees. In contrast, Maori make up just under 15% of the general population […]

Hideaways Bins is the winner of a prestigious international Red Dot design award for its innovative kitchen bin design. Their winning product, called Concelo, is a kitchen waste bin designed to overcome common issues – including grime and odours – associated with the most-used but least-thought-about kitchen appliance. The New Zealand-designed and manufactured Concelo bin was one of more than 6,300 entries submitted from 59 countries for the highly-regarded international design competition based in Essen, Germany. Entries are judged by an international jury panel of 40 experts who only award the sought-after Red Dot seal of quality to products that feature an outstanding design. Past jurors include noted shoe designer Jimmy Choo. The Silverdale-based Hideaway Bins, run by daughter and father team Jamie and Allen Bertelsen, won a coveted Red Dot Award in the Product Design category for household appliances and household accessories. The recognition for Hideaway Bins puts it in good company – other notable New Zealand winners have included Air New Zealand for their SkyCouch design and Fisher & Paykel for their Gas on Glass cooktop and its 60cm Built-In oven. International brands who have received Red Dot awards include Apple, Bulgari, Porsche, Volkswagen, Montblanc, Sony and 3M. Jamie says the goal was to design the best bin possible for the home owner. “We set about this task after applying for and receiving a Callaghan Innovation grant towards research and development costs. It took seven years of research, development and testing but the result is a paradigm shift for a kitchen appliance that is used 20 to 30 times a day on average.” The company’s investment in R&D has been a crucial part of their success. “We couldn’t have made this fabulous design without the hard work and commitment of our small R&D team. We also used a […]