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40 million to support NZ businesses a welcome relief

Minister for Economic Development Phil Twyford and Minister for Small Business Stuart announced a further $40 million will be invested in the Regional Business Partner programme (RBP) today. This is a welcome relief for businesses trying to plot a path back to a thriving business after the Covid-19 pandemic says the EMA Chief Executive Brett O’Riley. “Financial support via the wage subsidy and small loan scheme helped businesses stay afloat, but what is going to get them back to profitability long term is good advice and mentoring around changing the way they operate,” said Brett. The RBP offers eligible businesses help with HR, health and wellbeing, business continuity, cashflow and finance management, strategy and digital capability. In the announcement today a further $10 million of funding for tourism businesses will also be channeled through the RBP. “One of the sectors that was hit as far back as January by COVID-19 was tourism. They were feeling the effects of dwindling tourist numbers, the China tourist ban and accommodation, hospitality, tourism, and tourism related retail were all on the decline. “Six months later and with border closures still in place they are in desperate need of the type of support the RBP offers.” Brett said. The fund is open to registered New Zealand businesses with fewer than 100 full time equivalent employees and provides access to up to $5000 of expert advice and support. The RBP is a partnership between NZTE and Callaghan Innovation. Businesses looking to register should call the Business Helpline on 0800 500 362 in the North Island or 0800 505 096 in the South Island.

Where are we going, how are we getting there?

-Doug Green, Publisher, NZ Manufacturer Business people have been thinking it, they have done it. The statement released today by Sir Peter Gluckman, former Prime Minister Helen Clark and former Air New Zealand chief Rob Fyfe is long overdue. Not necessarily by just them, but by New Zealanders concerned about the economy…and our going forward. Or by the 94% of SME’s who wonder what tomorrow is going to bring. They are saying – what many businesspeople are thinking – that Government does not have a plan for the difficult journey we all face. Maybe because its an election year Government is not sharing its plans for the economy until closer to September? In the meantime, however, business owners are looking for the way ahead. One example, Fletcher’s laid off 1,000 workers in New Zealand as the economy closed down. They abided by the decisionmaking process of ‘the Team of 5m’ to play their part in making the country safer through the time of the virus. What we need is a Business Council – bringing together representatives from key business sectors like EMA, the chambers of commerce, BusinessNZ to make the financial decisions to move the economy forward. Soon we will learn National’s and the coalition’s plans. Pity its an election year, the parties will put forward ideas that will not necessarily start immediately, but make them look good. Think the ‘Shovels Ready’ projects. The shovels are not ready yet.

Soul Machines and Florence to assist tobacco users quit during Covid-19

Soul Machines has joined the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Access Initiative (AI) for Quitting Tobacco to help share WHO’s life-saving information during the Covid-19 pandemic, combat misinformation, reduce the risk of Covid-19 and help over one billion tobacco users quit. Florence, the WHO’s first digital health worker, was created using Soul Machines technology and WHO technical guidance, with support from Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud. Florence will help provide clarity and expel damaging myths around Covid-19 and will specifically address smoking and its consequences – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory diseases – all of which are comorbidities with Covid-19. With Florence, smokers can engage with a digital health worker to develop a quit plan and rely on a trusted source anytime and anyplace, to help them feel confident to reach their quit goals. Initially available in English, Florence will, over time, be available in all six official UN languages. Smokers are more exposed to the Covid-19 virus and are at greater risk of having severe disease complications. Although around 60% of the 1.3 billion tobacco users globally want to quit, only 30% of them have access to tools that can help them quit. As a digital health worker for WHO, Florence will help give the increasing numbers of people globally who have a desire to quit smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic a new, safe, easily accessible and engaging channel. Florence can scale seamlessly and to talk to many individual people around the world and is available 24/7 with no wait times, as a simple video stream from the cloud to any device. This frees up critical people resources and provides a user-friendly solution to an overwhelming demand for clear, concise information that can be relied on. Florence will always be available when needed and ready to engage to […]

NZAS terminates electricity contract, to wind-down operations following strategic review

Melbourne: Rio Tinto will start planning for the wind-down of operations and the eventual closure of New Zealand Aluminium Smelters (NZAS) following the conclusion of its strategic review which has shown the business is no longer viable given high energy costs and a challenging outlook for the Aluminum industry. As a result, NZAS has given Meridian Energy notice to terminate the power contract, which will end in August 2021, when the wind-down of operations is expected to complete. The strategic review concluded that the smelter, which has made Rio Tinto an underlying loss of NZ$46m in 2019, is not economically viable due to energy costs that are some of the highest in the industry globally, coupled with a challenging short to medium term aluminum outlook. Extensive discussions with a wide range of interested parties have failed to secure a power contract that will enable the operation to become both competitive and profitable. During the next 14 months, NZAS and Rio Tinto will work closely with partners as detailed planning is undertaken to wind-down operations, and eventually close the smelter. Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said “We recognise the decision to wind-down operations at NZAS will have a significant impact on employees, the community and our customers. “It is not a decision we have made lightly and without significant careful consideration. It is very unfortunate we could not find a solution with our partners to secure a power price reduction aimed at making NZAS a financially viable business. We will therefore terminate the power contract and move to close the operation. “We are committed to working with our partners as we progress through detailed planning towards closure and we will do all we can together with the government to find ways to support the Southland community.” NZAS is a […]

BusinessNZ welcomes investment in apprenticeships and trades training

Apprenticeship and trades training support will help firms get the skills they need and position New Zealand well for the future, says BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope. “The suite of trades training initiatives supports a range of different models to help people get the skills they need. The Budget package provides a real opportunity for companies and education providers to work together to find ways to turbo charge the skills development New Zealand needs. “A skilled and adaptive workforce will be an important part of the economic recovery, and position New Zealand well for the future. Being able to get the people and skills they need to thrive is critical for New Zealand businesses. It is good to see the Government acknowledge the critical role that industry leadership needs to play in our skills system.” As well, the Government will provide a more than $200 million boost to NZ Trade and Enterprise to expand the scope and intensity of support provided to firms. In addition, a $10 million fund is being set up to provide incentives and grants to encourage e-commerce, train more digital advisors and provide information and support for SMEs wanting to incorporate e-commerce into their business models. Budget 2020 also sets aside $80 million to encourage entrepreneurs and businesses to develop new products by enabling them to claim tax deductions for unsuccessful or abandoned assets. BusinessNZ chief executive Kirk Hope says small to medium-sized businesses are the lifeblood of New Zealand’s economy. “We are glad to see the Government provide further support to small businesses and encourage entrepreneurship. “New Zealand might be small, but we have proven it can produce strong global companies and with the right support the next Xero, Pushpay or Rocket Lab can emerge.” In addition, the Government has put aside $150 million for […]

Closed borders demand more investment in local workforce

With the number of migrants to New Zealand likely to significantly reduce in the next few years, employers will have to look to other diverse groups in our workforce to ensure their business thrives. Massey University’s Distinguished Professor Paul Spoonley says the Covid-19 crisis means the supply of temporary and permanent migrant workers to New Zealand is currently turned off. “And it might remain turned off, depending on the visa category, for between 12 months to three years,” he says. Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit says this means businesses who have relied on immigration to fill labour and skills shortages will have to look at different ways to bolster their workforce. “We would like to see New Zealand organisations more engaged with the older generation in the workforce. Employers should be talking to their wisdom workers to find out how they can retain their skills and institutional knowledge while still accommodating the different ways they may want or need to work as they age,” she says. Fewer migrants will also mean that businesses need to more actively reach out to our younger New Zealanders. “If our economy slows down, there is a risk we could end up with more NEETs (young people not in education, employment, or training),” Smit says. “Forward-thinking leaders should be planning now to invest in those young people and bring them into their organisations to create the workforce they need for future success.” Spoonley has been leading the team analysing data from the 2020 New Zealand Workplace Diversity Survey. The survey report will be made public on Wednesday, 6 May but initial findings suggest ageing and employment transition for younger staff do not appear to be important considerations for employers. But he believes that, for some industries at least, they will become increasingly […]

ACC levy freeze relief for businesses

The EMA is pleased with the Government’s announcement today that it is freezing ACC levies, paid by businesses, the self-employed and motorists to cover the costs of accidents, for two years. Manager Employments Relations and Safety, Paul Jarvie, says it will provide certainty for businesses that will help them with their budgeting. “We want to see more of these kinds of decisions from the Government that will make a real difference to all businesses post-COVID-19, and to the overall economy’s regeneration,” he says. Mr Jarvie cautions though that any gains made from freezing the levies for the next two years cannot come back as hikes when the freeze finishes. “We appreciate it’s very difficult, but we hope that ACC will also be very conscious of managing medical costs over the next two years so businesses aren’t hit with additional costs in the end.”

Infrastructure spend good start for regions

The shovel ready projects infrastructure programme will inject almost $1 billion dollars into the EMA’s region in the Upper North Island, and generate important employment opportunities. Funds allocated for as yet un-named projects will see $970 million for projects from Taupo to the Far North with the Auckland region receiving around $500 million, but EMA CEO Brett O’Riley says he expects some areas will still be disappointed as their projects have missed out. “Over 1900 projects were submitted by Councils and groups around the country and that list has been whittled down to around 150 so naturally there will be some feeling left out,” says Mr O’Riley. “At this stage there are also no large-scale nation-building type projects and that will also surprise some. “But we have seen first-hand how relatively small-scale injections of capital into projects in smaller centres such as Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki can significantly raise business and community confidence, boosting jobs across the wider region.” Mr O’Riley said the projects identified in today’s list had an emphasis more on social infrastructure and rejuvenation rather than large-scale horizontal infrastructure such as major rail, road or building programmes. “Town centre rejuvenation projects in Taupo and Whangarei are designed to give those areas a lift and make them better spaces for residents and tourist when they return, while the roading projects announced around SH30 and interchanges in Rotorua open up access to Ngati Whakaue’s planned 1,100 home affordable housing project. “The $22 million allocated to Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround facility is another with social wellbeing at its heart addressing the homeless challenge in Tamaki Makaurau. It also provides significant employment during the construction phase and ongoing operation.” Just under $700 million of the $2.6 billion allocated today is for social and community-based projects with just over $700 million allocated […]

Unless we improve the law, history shows rushing shovel-ready projects comes with real risk

Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, so too is the road to economic recovery if we don’t get it right. The Covid-19 Recovery (Fast Track Consenting) Bill, currently rushing through the parliamentary process, certainly has noble aims. In simple terms, the new law is designed to green light a number of projects that would normally take much longer to be approved under the Resource Management Act. In the process, its architects argue, it will boost employment and kickstart economic recovery. The trick will be balancing those aims with the law’s other lofty ambition “to promote the sustainable management of natural and physical resources”. History shows this is not always the way it goes. The past should guide us Governments often pass laws with vast powers during emergencies to drive economic recovery. The law of unintended consequences can take a lot longer to repeal. During the great depression in the 1930s, new laws to deal with mass unemployment were often degrading in practice. Unemployed people were sent far and wide from their homes to perform sometimes useless tasks. In the late 1970s, the National government of Robert Muldoon tried to reduce the country’s dependence on imports with so-called “Think Big” projects. Special laws were passed to circumvent normal planning mechanisms and we are still dealing with their economic and environmental consequences. The Clyde Dam, fast-tracked as part of the Think Big policy in the 1970s but with long-lasting problems. More recently, the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes have pushed dozens of laws to one side. This resulted in citizens and communities struggling to be heard, be treated fairly and have their rights protected under the emergency recovery process. We are now inviting the same risks with the proposed fast-track consenting law. It will be the most radical shake-up of environmental regulation in […]

What is Generative Design?

At a high-level, Generative Design is relatively simple. It is a capability of CAD applications that autonomously generates a number of design alternatives given a set number of constraints. This can be done without an engineer’s guidance or interaction, freeing them up for other tasks. Once complete, the engineers can choose which designs they want to explore more completely. In all, this accelerates the design process without detailed attention from the engineer. Related Products Generative Design Tools in Solid Edge Innovation Through Generative Design Generative Design ebook PDF Download How Generative Design and Additive Manufacturing Work Together Mother Nature’s Inspiration in Generative Design Projects Generative Design in NX Generative Design and topology optimisation Generative Design supports key capabilities for performing structural simulation and removing load-weight from empty area in materials. Siemens NX 12 generative design software embeds topology optimisation powered by convergent technology which enables unified 3D modelling capability on combinations of Facet and B-rep data. This results in lighter components without sacrificing design intent or integrity. Empowering engineers with Generative Design and facet modelling Generative Design is an cad engineering software function in which a designer collaborates with artificial intelligence algorithms to generate and evaluate hundreds of potential designs for a product idea. The Generative Design process starts with defining the goals and constraints of the project. These include, but are not limited to, design parameters such as: ⦁ product size or geometric dimensions ⦁ permissible loads and operating conditions ⦁ target weight ⦁ materials ⦁ manufacturing methods ⦁ cost per unit Benefits of building with Generative Design process By using Generative Design, engineers can create and simulate thousands of designs (many of which they may not have envisioned on their own) in a fraction of the time it would normally take. As additional benefit, the Generative Design process can yield highly […]

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