Editorial

Cyber security no longer an IT problem

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine It’s a reputation risk manufacturers can’t ignore With corporate cyber breaches in the spotlight increasingly, NZ Manufacturer magazine advisor and Impact PR director Mark Devlin looks at how firms can protect their brand in the event of an incident. For years, cyber security sat comfortably in the IT bucket. It was treated as a technical risk to be managed through software, consultants and compliance exercises, largely removed from day-to-day operational and commercial decision-making. That separation might once have worked. It no longer does. For New Zealand manufacturers, cyber security has become a frontline business risk, one that increasingly plays out in public. When incidents occur, the damage is rarely limited to systems or data. It shows up in halted production, delayed orders, disrupted supply chains and, critically, lost trust. The reputational consequences often outlast the technical ones. That reality has been reinforced by the way cyber incidents are now covered in the media. Stories that once appeared in specialist technology columns are increasingly leading business news. Journalists are less interested in the mechanics of a breach and far more focused on impact: what stopped, who was affected and how leadership responded. In that environment, cyber security is no longer just about prevention. It is about preparedness, judgement and communication under pressure. Why cyber incidents hit manufacturers harder than most Manufacturers are particularly exposed. They operate at the intersection of physical production and digital infrastructure, where disruption in one area quickly cascades into others. Production lines, logistics platforms, inventory systems, payroll and supplier portals are deeply interconnected. A cyber incident does not just inconvenience office staff. It can shut down machinery, breach contracts and place long-standing customer relationships under strain. Unlike many service businesses, manufacturers cannot simply work around the problem while systems are restored. […]

From data to decisions: getting more value from sustainability measurement

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine The way manufacturers measure sustainability is changing rapidly. New tools, improved data and AI-enabled platforms mean businesses can now measure far more than they could a few years ago. Carbon, circularity, risk and supply chains — the list keeps growing. For manufacturers, this often shows up as long lists of metrics across plants, products and suppliers. Energy and fuel use on the factory floor, raw materials, packaging, transport and supplier emissions are all in scope. Without clear priorities, teams can spend months collecting data without clarity on what to act on first. Measuring everything is rarely practical, and it is not the goal. What matters is measuring the right things, at the right level of detail, to support decisions that reduce risk and create value. As Jeff Vickers, Technical Director at sustainability firm thinkstep-anz, puts it plainly: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” He also cautions that “we need to focus our efforts on measuring what matters most so that we don’t get lost in the detail.” Why focused measurement leads to better outcomes More data does not automatically mean better decisions. The real value comes from measuring what matters and using it well. A focused approach to measurement helps organisations: Keep priorities clear: A small set of meaningful metrics makes it easier to see what matters most and act with confidence. Put effort where it counts: Time and budget are spent on data that actually changes decisions, rather than information that sits unused. Protect credibility: Reported numbers are understood, can be explained and are clearly linked to actions being taken. Meet expectations: Measurement focuses on the issues regulators and investors care about most, reducing the risk of blind spots. This approach avoids the risks of over-measurement while strengthening insight, trust, and performance. […]

Election Year Excuses? Why Manufacturers Can’t Afford Them

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine David Altena is Head of Growth & Partnerships at SmartSpace.ai & C0-Founder & Host of The Better SMB Podcast. david@altena.solutions We are entering a familiar three yearly cycle of hesitation. As we flip into another election year, a subtle but pervasive “hush” descends over factories from Penrose to Invercargill. Business cases for new CNC machinery get shuffled to the bottom of the pile. Recruitment for that much needed engineer is “put on hold until we know who is running the Beehive.” Election years tempt businesses to pause, waiting for policy clarity. But in manufacturing, hesitation is costly. Whoever wins, the fundamentals won’t change. Capability, capital confidence and innovation still matter. Waiting is the real risk. We have been waiting for the miracle decisions every three years for decades. It is no surprise that the MBIE and Foreign Affairs Long Term Insights Briefing released in December 2025 still describes New Zealand as being stuck in a low-productivity rut. Another report to feed the lack of progress on this subject over the last 40-years. “Wait and see” is not a strategy, it’s slow-motion surrender. (Ab0ve)Rob Bull is Director of The New Zealand Lean Academy. rob@nzla.nz Myth Busting: The “Pause Button” Election-year uncertainty is the ultimate security blanket. It’s the perfect, explainable excuse for inaction, but let’s look at the reality of the productivity gap. New Zealand has struggled with a tail of underperformance compared to our OECD peers[1] and according to The Economist, New Zealand’s economic performance is now ranked 33rd (of 37) in 2024[2] (we were as high as 3rd in the 1950’s!). That gap doesn’t take a holiday because there are billboards on the side of the road and policy ideas thrown about like a lolly scramble. The truth is sitting there right […]

Productivity and baby boomer business owners

From March issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine By Mike Warmington, Platform 1 For many SME baby boomer business owners last year, the economy forced them to think more of productivity and how to do things smarter. Some made strong gains however these were generally the larger SME sized businesses and above. Smaller businesses with long term owners often struggled to pivot to using technology or Ai as an enabler to be more productive. Bringing in a consultant is perhaps an option and there are a multitude of companies running courses and programmes on Ai in social media promising to upskill people 15 min a day for 30 days. But is it helpful to just be a generalist on all the productivity uses in your business ? You can’t do everything and it comes down to ensuring you execute on your critical biggest productivity bottlenecks. Many owners know where their bottlenecks are and it’s not the skills but the willingness to embrace emerging technologies to improve these bottlenecks that is the challenge. Learning something new and foreign later in life can be daunting, when what you want to do, and deserve to do is to slow down. Another option is to find a technology and Ai savvy potential Business Partner to work in your business, using their experience and knowledge to help enable technology and Ai for productivity gains. With planning skills honed in much larger organisations that have training budgets and resources they will work with you to identify bottlenecks and implement productivity solutions. They acquire skin in the game over time to a structured managed plan and you exit with more wealth, as your business becomes more productive and profitable. A business we worked with did over 4000 specialised scheduled preventative maintenance jobs a month managed on an Access database and a […]

Backing Capability: Lessons from Fi Innovations and the Future of NZ Manufacturing

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine New Zealand’s manufacturing sector has always relied on one core strength: capability. Not scale or low-cost production, but the practical skill, judgement, and adaptability of the people who make things here. In a recent podcast, Caliber founder Jonathan Prince spoke with Gareth Dykes and Derek Manson from Fi innovations about how that capability is built over time. Their story is a reminder that sustained engineering know-how, not quick wins, is what underpins resilient manufacturing in New Zealand. Fi Innovations is a Southland business with deep roots. What began as a specialist plaster and fibreglass shop has expanded into composites, industrial flooring, moulding, and now advanced additive manufacturing. They have diversified far beyond their original customer base and invested early in technologies that many companies were still evaluating. Their journey illustrates what it takes for a regional manufacturer to build resilience and stay relevant in a changing industry. One of the strongest themes in the discussion was the role of persistence. Fi Innovations focused on building long-term relationships by showing up, solving real problems, and delivering consistently. Some of their most significant customer partnerships began with small, speculative jobs. Steady effort turned these into ongoing programmes of work. This is a familiar pattern across much of New Zealand industry where trust, reliability, and follow-through often matter more than formal processes. Another theme is the value of people. Gareth and Derek were clear that the strength of their business lies in the capability of their team. Their growth into new materials and technologies was made possible by people who were willing to learn, experiment, and solve problems in practical ways. This emphasis on people aligns with what many manufacturers know: technology investment only works when capability grows alongside it. “We’re not here to make CAD models. […]

Before the robots arrive: How Formthotics prepared its staff for the changes ahead

From February issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine Adam Harvey, Business Performance Partner – Manufacturing, The Learning Wave Running a manufacturing business right now can feel like standing on a moving walkway. If you don’t step forward, you fall behind. Customers want more for less, and Boards are pushing for efficiency, growth, and operational certainty. Automation and digital tools promise speed and scale, and on paper, the investment stacks up. But then you look across the floor, and the harder question sets in: “Are our people actually ready for this yet?” That was the question facing Formthotics when they first reached out in early 2025. An established manufacturer of custom orthotics, Formthotics was investing heavily in its future. New machinery, its first robot nearing commissioning, new digital tools queued for rollout, a refreshed brand and ambitious growth targets. The strategy was clear, and the investment significant. But the leadership team, led by Shane Heenan, alongside Amanda Gault and Carolina Santa, could also see the risk. “We knew the processes which had gotten us this far simply wouldn’t scale ahead for growth. A SIRI assessment confirmed it; paper-based processes and limited experience with digital tools.” shared Shane. They had seen similar stories play out elsewhere. Formthotics had watched the Argus journey closely. They saw what was possible when leaders recognised a simple truth: technology doesn’t run a factory, people do. So they made a deliberate choice. Before pushing harder on lean, digital, and automation, they chose to prepare their people. Choosing readiness over speed Rather than waiting for resistance to show up later, Formthotics invested early in building the mindset, confidence and communication skills of its 17 factory and supply chain operators. That decision led to Owning My Future, a learning journey designed to build the foundations the business knew it would need […]

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 know many of you will already be back into the swing of things, but I hope the warmer weather is still bringing some enjoyment outside of busy working hours. I am genuinely delighted to see large parts of our manufacturing sector entering the new year with real momentum, supported by the strongest activity levels recorded since 2021. The latest BNZ BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index shows December 2025 activity rising 4.4 points from the previous month to 56.1. This is a very encouraging signal. New Zealand’s PMI has now shown expansion for six consecutive months and in December it outperformed manufacturing activity in the United States, China, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia. For an economy of our size, that is a result worthy of recognition. Businesses also reported improved confidence, stronger export and forward orders, and benefits flowing through from increased infrastructure activity. This strong start echoes many of the themes that defined 2025. Manufacturers faced sustained cost pressures throughout the year, yet continued to adapt, innovate and deliver solid export performance. Food and beverage producers, advanced manufacturers and precision engineering firms all showed resilience in the face of challenging conditions. While 2025 was about regaining stability, early indicators suggest 2026 has the potential to deliver stronger forward momentum. Across the wider economy, several trends are beginning to move in a positive direction. GDP rose 1.1 percent in the September 2025 quarter, supported by a 2.2 percent increase in manufacturing and reinforcing how important the sector is to New […]

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 management solutions under one roof. A new era for logistics innovation in New Zealand XPO’s Managing Director Brent Spillane says that with the rapid growth of high-tech logistics and automation, the time is right to give the sector its own dedicated platform. “We are seeing a transformational technology expansion and growth of products delivering Robotics, Automation, Intralogistics, Warehousing, Supply Chain Management and Materials Handling. This cutting-edge technology is changing rapidly, yet it’s becoming more accessible and affordable for industry to bolt-on products and enjoy instant gains in productivity.” CeMAT is a world-renowned leader of exhibitions in this space, with deep relationships across the biggest brands whose R&D is redefining logistics automation across the globe. As Mike Nissen Commercial Director of Hannover Fairs Australia explains “This Joint Venture partnership, introduces new international brands into New Zealand. Brands that loyally participate across CeMAT exhibitions in Germany, North America, Australia and Asia Pacific. “That international participation creates buzz and more value for domestic exhibiting brands – something we are evidencing in other markets we are entering.” XPO have traditionally served the Materials Handling & Logistics NZ sector most notably alongside Foodtech Packtech, and while that industry (food manufacturing) have been early adopters, XPO’s Managing Director Brent Spillane says the time has come to broaden the scope to all industries where automation can play a pivotal role in streamlining processes, driving efficiencies, and improving health and safety practices. He adds, “Logistics Automation New Zealand, powered by CeMAT brings together a far wider attendance of […]

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 and how they are finding current business conditions. Your company may be doing well or not quite reaching the mark you are aiming for. The economy in 2026 seems to be picking up and the better than expected PMI figures are welcome and a sign of better things around the corner. For each company it will be different, the level of Productivity. Share with us how the tools and methods you are using, the technology and expert advice, showing the way to a better future and just how you are planning ahead. Your story can appear jn the NZ Manufacturer magazine or on the media platform. Please visit NZPO at the above address.

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 a practical look at how that connection is built. Not through posters, slogans, or another toolbox talk, but through deliberate capability building where the work actually happens. In this session, we unpack what “connection” really means in an operational environment. You’ll see how trust, communication, confidence, and shared ownership show up in everyday behaviours that directly impact safety, quality, downtime, and productivity. We’ll share real examples of how frontline teams move from just turning up and completing tasks to thinking, contributing, and taking responsibility for outcomes. This is not theory and it’s not leadership jargon. It’s grounded in real manufacturing sites, real people, and real constraints like shift patterns, production pressure, and literacy challenges. If you’re an operational leader grappling with engagement, ownership, or change fatigue on the floor, this session will give you practical insight into what actually works, why it works, and how learning becomes the engine for performance, not a distraction from it. What you’ll experience in 90 Minutes: Across the 90 minutes, you’ll experience practical frameworks we use to accelerate team performance. You’ll explore a simple roadmap to identify where your team is at today and what it takes to move them forward, uncover how individual strengths build trust on the floor, and learn a clear, practical model for strengthening trust, accountability, and psychological safety. No cost. No fluff. Just insight that translates to performance. Click here to secure your spot: https://thelearningwave.com/free-taster-session-connecting-together-24th-feb-2026/ DATE: Tuesday 24th February, 2pm – 4pm VENUE: Level 3, 9 Hargreaves Street, Freeman’s […]

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