The Daily News

The Tohu App – how cultural mapping can boost industry growth!

From July issue of NZ Manufacturer magazine www.nzmanufacturer.co.nz By Dr Troy Coyle, HERA CEO Our engineering, construction and manufacturing sectors are struggling to find talent. We need to be far more inclusive so we can unlock the potential of a diverse future workforce and all the benefits they bring to our mahi (work). I have for some time spoken about this based on my own experience, being female. I have fast realised that wāhine Maori are even more under-represented and indeed Māori generally. The reasons as to why women and Māori (and Pacific for that matter) are not attracted to these sectors are varied and complex. However, one key issue is that high school children (and even down to intermediate and primary) are not engaging with STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Mātauranga Māori). They are not aware of the plethora of disciplines in STEMM or the future careers that are available to them. They don’t know how exciting, engaging and rewarding careers in these disciplines can be and how they contribute in so many different ways to inter-generational wellbeing. Importantly, they don’t know what will match with their own individual wants and needs from a future career. For Māori, this requires a matching process where rangatahi (youth) can identify careers that map to their values in a kaupapa Māori way. If there is one thing we have learnt at HERA over our years holding space for Matauranga Māori, it is that Māori need to be engaged in a Māori way. Prevailing career matching tools do not consider cultural differences and they don’t consider a person’s values either. They often simply match a person to a career based on their perceived academic aptitude. This fails so many of our rangatahi and leaves many behind. It also, likely, pushes rangatahi towards […]

The Scope 3 ripple effect

From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine. -Insa Errey In the ever-evolving landscape of regulations, New Zealand manufactures find themselves connected to the regulatory frameworks of key trading partners such as the European Union (EU). The EU has positioned itself as a global leader in climate action, with ambitious targets set under the European Green Deal and the European Climate Law. As part of its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the EU has implemented regulations on Scope 3 emissions reporting through directives such as the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) and the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Understanding the impacts of Scope 3 regulations in these markets is crucial for New Zealand manufacturing. Let’s delve into how regulations in the EU can shape the strategies and operations of New Zealand manufacturers. First what is Scope 3? Scope 3 emissions refer to indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in the value chain of a company, including both upstream and downstream activities. These emissions often result from activities such as the production of purchased goods and services, transportation and distribution, and waste disposal. For any EU customer this may just be your manufacturing sites Scope 1 or 2 emissions. Meaning the emissions your site emits from use of direct combustion (scope 1) or indirect emissions on site from purchased electricity (scope 2). What does this mean for NZ manufacturers? Market Access and compliance pressure to adhere to these standards is required for exporting to the EU which governs Scope 3 emissions disclosure and reduction. Failure to meet these requirements can result in barriers to market entry. In a global market increasingly, prioritising emissions reduction is becoming an advantage, as exporters can face competition from countries with lower carbon footprints. Failure to manage or measure emissions can put NZ manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage and could […]

EMA appoints John Fraser-Mackenzie as new Chief Executive

The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA) has appointed John Fraser-Mackenzie as its new Chief Executive. EMA Board spokesperson David Welsh says the Board is delighted to have appointed someone of Fraser-Mackenzie’s calibre. “John brings significant senior leadership and commercial acumen to the EMA and has the experience we need as we continue to update our systems, processes and services to best support our members,” says Welsh. Fraser-Mackenzie has previously been Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive at Metro Performance Glass, Executive Director at Pacific Harvest Limited, Finance Director at Goodman Fielder, and Head of Finance Eastern Europe at HJ Heinz. During his time at Metro Performance Glass, Fraser-Mackenzie refocussed the business and oversaw an increase in revenue, implemented a new procurement structure and led strategic finance, investor relations and governance through a period of significant business growth. Fraser-Mackenzie says he is excited to have been appointed as the EMA’s new Chief Executive and is looking forward to taking up the role. “The EMA is New Zealand’s largest business association and has a long and proud history supporting businesses in the upper North Island,” says Fraser-Mackenzie. “It’s an honour to have been appointed the new Chief Executive and I am looking forward to getting started and helping build on the work done to date and strongly position the EMA to support and deliver the services businesses need.” Fraser-Mackenzie, who starts the role on 10 June, replaces Brett O’Riley, who is standing down after five and a half years as EMA Chief Executive. Welsh thanked O’Riley for his commitment and service to the EMA. “Brett successfully led the EMA through a period of significant change,” says Welsh. “The past five years have been some of the most challenging the Association has experienced, with a pandemic followed by a major economic downturn. […]

How about a ‘Blue Sky’ innovative vision for manufacturing in New Zealand?

From June issue, NZ Manufacturer magazine. Three weeks ago, Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese announced a $22.7 billion agenda for Future Made in Australia, to meet the challenges facing Australia, which require a big national response. Last week we had the NZ Budget and the prime announcement was tax reductions across the population. A noble effort but money that will continue to be gobbled up by inflation, insurance and vehicle registration increases and more…all applied by companies who know how to extract the last gold filling from the client. As a small economy we dont have lots of money to spare and we need to be smarter. The National Government is easing the puss, putting plasters on sores and trusting that through inflation reducing by the end of the year all will improve. However, we need something similar to Australia. A Future Made in NZ or Build the Future Together is purposeful. To improve the economy, conditions for workers, to cover the cost of living and incentives ( a decent salary, shares) and opportunities for our smart companies to sell their products overseas. We need smart, trained people to be rewarded for effort and not move to Australia. We need to keep on finding markets in this troubled and weird world we live in. We need a Business Council of successful, proactive people who can drive the country forward from their own life experiences and trials and tribulations. Aspirational business people who know ‘how to get there’. Using private and public sector money on projects that will truly make a difference for the better. A regular comment is that ‘if not as much money was invested in property, but into manufacturing, we would be a lot better off’.

Mulcahy Engineering and Epicor comment on EMEX 2024

How did you find EMEX 2024? Kayne Mulcahy, Managing Director, Mulcahy Engineering Graeme Evans, Regional Vice President (ANZ), Epicor Kayne Mulcahy, Managing Director, Mulcahy Engineering: This was our ninth time exhibiting at EMEX, with our first being back in 2007. It is always great to reconnect with existing and potentially new customers, suppliers and business partners directly. Having the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences with industry peers is also an invaluable outcome of the show. Graeme Evans, Regional Vice President (ANZ), Epicor: We support manufacturers across Australasia to optimise their end-to-end operations through enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions that deliver real-time intelligence. EMEX 2024 was a terrific opportunity for us and a wide variety of individuals and organisations to collaborate around the themes of engineering, manufacturing technology and electronics. As the largest trade show of its kind in New Zealand, it is integral for cultivating relationships and fostering a culture of innovation and growth, driving the entire sector forward. Was the energy positive, potential for sales? Mulcahy: There was a really positive energy amongst both exhibitors and attendees at this years show, which is pleasing considering the current economic conditions faced by many. A real sense that businesses are feeling that we may be past the bottom of the cycle and are looking forward to the climb back up to a more favourable trading environment. Evans: EMEX has now been in operation for more than 40 years – an incredible milestone. There were more than 200 exhibitors and an estimated 5,000 buyers in attendance. Naturally, there is always potential to drive sales at EMEX, but Epicor’s priority for the three-day event was to meet with our existing customers and establish new relationships with organisations that we can empower in the short and long term. How are you finding present […]

Tightening purse strings hit NZ SME manufacturers

The recession is taking a bite out of New Zealand manufacturers’ sales revenue, according to new data from inventory management software brand, Unleashed. Unleashed’s first Manufacturing Health Index since New Zealand officially entered a recession found sales revenue dropped by 7% in the first quarter of this year, but is still up 18% year-on-year, aided by superb growth in the Energy, Medical Supplies, and Personal Care subsectors. The report looks behind the curtains of SME manufacturers in New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, across 12 subsectors. Unleashed head of product Jarrod Adam says high interest rates will continue to put downward pressure on firms, but the data shows the sector is able to respond positively to these headwinds. “The beginning of the year has been a speed bump for Kiwi manufacturers, but we need to keep in mind that overall revenue is actually up on the same period as last year. These companies are nothing if not dynamic, and in this current environment it is crucial to react to the cards you are dealt,” said Adam. “One really positive sign in the data is the much lower lead times, which will help these businesses be as productive as possible when conditions change for the better.” The report notes that firms have drastically improved their lead days to just 14 to begin the year, from 30 days in the final quarter of 2023, and 37 in the same quarter of last year. Lead time improvements are both a sign of normalising supply chains globally and the knock-on effect of New Zealand business’ laser focus on logistics over the past three years. Tough times continue for Food and Beverage At the pointy end of the disposable income problem, local Kiwi Food and Beverage producers have been confronted with difficult times with little reprieve on […]

Kiwi aeronautical firm Inks multi-million dollar export deal with Royal Thai Air Force

New Zealand’s aeronautical sector is set for a multi-million dollar export boost following the signing of an agreement to supply Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd (TAI) who provide aircraft maintenance for the Royal Thai Air Force. A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd (TAI), a leading maintenance, repair, and operations organisation (MRO) in Thailand and, NZAero, New Zealand’s only commercial aircraft manufacturer, will provide for the exclusive supply of parts as well as collaborating to expand TAI’s MRO capability for the service and repair of Government aircraft in Thailand. The agreement was signed during a seven-day mission led by Rt Hon Prime Minister Christopher Luxon with an accompanying business delegation to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. The diplomatic visit is designed to strengthen bilateral ties in the region, diversify trade and promote New Zealand’s strong expertise and innovation across key sectors including manufacturing and technology. Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, said: “New Zealand has a serious ambition to lift our relationships with this region in ways that deliver real benefits and that advance our shared security and economic interests. The MOU signed by NZAero in Thailand is a great outcome on all fronts and I would like to congratulate NZAero on its success in South East Asia.” Stephen Burrows, CEO of NZAero, says Thailand’s government has launched plans to create a world-class aviation hub for the Asia-Pacific region. He says Thailand has the second-largest economy in ASEAN and an annual defence budget of over $10bn. “The new multi-year agreement signed between Thai Aviation Industries Co., Ltd and NZAero is set to triple the value of parts and maintenance exports to that market and help strengthen our relationship so that as their existing fleets are phased out, our new utility aircraft are seen as a viable […]

Dave Pham_Senior Solutions Architect at Yubico

Tips to maximise your consumer-facing passkey implementation

Dave Pham, Senior Solutions Architect, Yubico Passkeys have taken the online security world by storm since their inception in mid-2022, even if the underlying technology can technically be traced back to FIDO2 and its breakthrough onto the world stage in 2018. Popularity has no doubt exploded due to their widespread adoption by the world’s largest tech companies – who also happen to be the most used identity providers collectively – as millions of users begin to make the shift. They are seemingly heading towards becoming the new de facto standard of secure authentication for both apps and websites alike. This is a massive leap forward for account security considering the underlying fundamentals are grounded in cryptography, which makes them extremely resilient to hackers and represents an approach that is magnitudes more secure than the traditional password. Although the distinction between passkey and FIDO2 credentials is extremely subtle, and many will often use the terms interchangeably, it should be clarified that passkey can refer to both classic FIDO2 credentials that are strictly device-bound (such as with hardware security keys) or syncable credentials that reside across multiple devices, generally via a cloud service or identity provider. But regardless of whether or not they are device-bound or syncable, passkeys are still a relatively new concept, and many software developers and security experts are scrambling to understand how to best integrate them into existing services and products (especially for those transitioning from password-based implementations). The nuances and best practices that lead to an optimised flow within a robust passkey implementation are still being fine tuned, and the most seamless UX possible may not yet be fully realised. While the passkey landscape is nebulous and still evolving, the aim of this post is to highlight a few staple considerations to get the most out of any consumer-facing passkey implementation and guide […]

2023 – The Year in Review

-Adam Sharman, Senior Partner, Dsifer For many New Zealand organisations, 2023 has been a year of navigating multiple headwinds, including increased cost of materials driven by exchange rate pressure and high levels of inflation, weakening demand from China as their domestic economy slows, and weakening consumer demand in some sectors. All of which has seen the NZ manufacturing sector contract across 2023. These challenges appear to have been particularly acute across the food processing sectors. Staffing continues to be a challenge for New Zealand manufacturers, particularly in the operational workforce. However, we are starting to see an easing in the market and, as the number of jobs being advertised drops and the number of applicants per job advert increase organisations are finding it easier to attract talent. There is a paradox to this however, as our clients frequently report that staff absenteeism is one of their biggest challenges and has a major impact on their ability to achieve potential performance. It is not all doom and gloom, however, and 2023 has been another standout year for New Zealand organisations in terms of innovation, creativity, and growth. In particular, developments in aerospace, agritech and health tech have seen Kiwi companies make significant impacts on the world stage as New Zealand continues to be recognised for its innovation in these areas. Increasingly, we are working with organisations who have recognised that security is a strategic asset for New Zealand and our organisation, and we have seen multiple examples of New Zealand based organisations winning work away from Asia, due to their ability to provide products that are trusted as secure. This is particularly true in the electrical component manufacturing sector, as for example, European car producers are willing to pay a premium for data security in the manufacture of their components. New […]

Is 2024 “the” year?

-Ian Walsh, Partner, Argon & Co I was reflecting, as you do at this time of year, on what were the highlights and key achievements of 2023. The key highlight is primarily that supply chains are starting to settle down, business is starting to return to normal, and we are starting to see some positivity. This has been a slow hard grind, and the job is not done. The recovery has been slower than expected, exacerbated by extreme weather events, a cost-of-living crisis, a labour shortfall as we ramped up and the gates were not open, and Kiwis leaving on their OE. Net a myriad of never-ending obstacles to overcome. In addition, many businesses learned in 2022 and 2023 just how fragile their supply chains were and how dependent NZ is on shipping lines. Many have and are investing in additional warehousing to buffer their supply chains and many products that have been offshored are suddenly viable, in this new light, to be manufactured locally. The research continues to reflect our slide down the OECD with the grim reality that we are 30-40% less productive than our nearest neighbours and key trading partners and significantly worse versus the Irish and Scandinavian countries. While this may seem remote, it is a key indicator of our future economic prosperity and ability to keep pace, retain talent, and provide the lifestyles and outcomes we desire for our children and future generations. So, given all this, here are my top 5 drivers for 2024: The labour crunch will continue, and many businesses are leveraged so capital options may not be as attractive or possible. This will drive a few key initiatives. Supply chain fragility will continue to drive boards to look at business continuity planning and risk mitigation strategies. Procurement and strategic sourcing will […]

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