News Ticker

Kiwi businesses need to feel the love

Almost 1000 New Zealand-owned and operated businesses have signed on to the ShopKiwi campaign, which today launched a new website. With Kiwi manufacturers reopening safely, the ShopKiwi website has provided them with an avenue to sell products directly to consumers online. These businesses have stock ready to leave their doors under Alert Level 2. ShopKiwi manager Dane Ambler says now is the time for New Zealanders to act on calls to support locally owned and operated companies as they start to reopen. “Without support, some of these businesses simply will not make it through the Covid-19 fallout. Buying from these businesses will keep the economy rolling and most importantly keep Kiwis in jobs while employment ticks towards record highs. “As the wage subsidy comes to an end, the most important thing for these businesses will be getting money into the till from customers. “A recent survey of more than 1300 Kiwis indicated they are more likely to shop locally once the lockdown is lifted, now is the time to translate that thought into action.”

New Zealand’s pandemic budget is all about saving and creating jobs. Now the hard work begins

Jonathan Boston, Professor of Public Policy, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington Budget 2020’s focus on “jobs, jobs and jobs” is understandable, commendable and vital. COVID-19 poses the largest threat to paid employment since the Great Depression almost 90 years ago. The number of people receiving Job Seeker Support (Work Ready) – the main benefit available for the unemployed – rose almost 50% between February and early May, from about 80,000 to 120,000. That is a crisis in anyone’s language. Paid employment is not only important economically, it is about social and psychological health. This is reflected in a long-standing cross-party commitment to high employment levels and a high labour market participation rate. Significant and protracted unemployment serves no good purpose. To combat this, the budget aims to protect existing jobs where possible, generate new jobs through targeted public investments, and ultimately create the conditions for a return to sustainable job growth. But worse is still to come. Treasury is forecasting an unemployment rate of close to 10% before year’s end. Given the unprecedented impact of the pandemic, however, all such forecasts are highly conditional. So can the 2020 budget help avoid mass unemployment? Are the measures announced sufficient to address the scale and distinctive aspects of the current crisis? A little context helps in answering such questions. New Zealand started from a good position By OECD standards, New Zealand entered the pandemic with a relatively low unemployment rate. In March 2020 the official unemployment rate was about 4.2%, slightly up on 4.0% in December 2019. This compared with pre-pandemic unemployment rates of around 4.0% in the UK, 5.2% in Australia and 7.4% in the Euro zone. Fortunately, too, the government’s comprehensive wage subsidy scheme has so far limited the spike in unemployment. By contrast, the US unemployment rate rose dramatically from 4.4% in […]

Balance about right in Rebuilding Together budget

The EMA says the Government’s budget amidst COVID-19 was always going to have to strike the right balance between spending and debt levels to regenerate the economy for the benefit of all. Chief Executive Brett O’Riley believes it does provide a first step in doing this, but is keen to continue to work together with the Government on long term economic recovery and additional sector-specific plans. “We are particularly pleased with the $4 billion business support package, the $3b for shovel-ready infrastructure projects, and the focus on innovation and digitisation and vocational education and training,” he says. “For businesses who have suffered a 50 per cent downturn since this time last year the extension of the wage subsidy by eight weeks will be welcome news, and for SMEs $10m target for them to improve their e-commerce offering and additional incentives and grants to encourage e-commerce adoption will be crucial.” The EMA says the combination of immediate and ongoing support, especially in the digital space, does help especially in the short term. “We know it’s hard for businesses, especially SMEs to look at innovation when they’re struggling to stay solvent, but now is the time to capitalise on the things they’ve had to do differently and use the Government’s support to do things better into the future,” says Mr O’Riley. The EMA believes that increased support for R&D including the short-term temporary loan scheme to incentivise businesses to continue with plans, with the help of one-off finance administered by Callaghan Innovation, is the key for many to be able to pivot and regenerate. “We’re also pleased to see the $216m boost to NZTE to expand its scope of support to businesses, particularly with digital services,” says Mr O’Riley. And although positive economic indicators are set to take a plunge in the […]

Covid – 19 and Peter Beck

Rocket Lab is a private American aerospace manufacturer and smallsat launch service provider with a wholly owned New Zealand subsidiary. Rocket Lab has received almost $2.9 million in wage subsidies from the Government for 412 staff. So Peter Beck saying that the small businesses in danger of falling over at this time should be allowed to do just that is a bit rich. Peter needs to remember that the economical situation these businesses find themselves in are to some extent the result of the Government putting the country into an economic lockdown. Maybe some businesses before the virus were not wrapped in finance – like Rocket Lab – but they have been around for a long time and celebrated some level of economic success.

Fast-track consents necessary for Covid 19 recovery

Fast-tracking resource consents for critical infrastructure and development projects is a pragmatic and welcome government response to assisting the Covid 19 recovery process says Resource Reform NZ- (RRNZ), a coalition of business and environmental interests. The Minister for the Environment David Parker has today announced fast-track amendments to the Resource Management Act to better enable economic recovery from Covid-19. The temporary amendments to the Act will be made in June. RRNZ supports key elements in the proposed amendment bill which include rapid approvals for selected public and private sector projects and a commitment to retain environmental bottom lines. Often lengthy public consultation processes will also be put on temporary hold while the amendments place Central Government requirements for the economic rebuild as a main driver for consents. RRNZ says the Minister’s announcement recognises the need to remove some of the structural issues in the RMA, that the Group identified in its work programme since 2016, which have proved incompatible to the need to provide a faster infrastructure response to accommodate previous rapid growth. “They are the same issues that would prevent a rapid start to the Government’s programme to accelerate shovel-ready and other infrastructure projects as it seeks to ramp up activity and employment in the infrastructure sector post Covid 19,” the RRNZ Group says. Under the proposed amendments selected public or private projects will go through a bespoke approvals process with the Minister acting as gatekeeper. The RRNZ group says it looks forward to seeing the criteria he must apply as these will be critical to ensure projects are transformational, provide the necessary high levels of employment and meet longer term strategies and goals for infrastructure provision in New Zealand – three waters projects are one example. The commitment to retain environmental bottom lines is also critical as many […]

Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce - Chief Executive Leeann Watson

Government package to support immediate cashflow needs of small business

The Government’s announcement today of interest free loans for a year to small businesses impacted by Covid-19, together with the tax reforms providing more than $3 billion in tax relief will provide much needed support for small business, which has been a focus for advocacy over the last few weeks, says Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Leeann Watson. The Small Business Cashflow Loan Scheme will provide assistance of up to $100,000 to firms employing 50 or fewer full time equivalent employees. The scheme will provide $10,000 to every firm and in addition $1800 per equivalent full time employee. Loans will be interest free if they are paid back within a year. The interest rate will be three per cent for a maximum term of five years. Repayments are not required for the first two years. “These announcements will provide welcome relief to many businesses across all sectors. It shows that central Government is receptive to the needs of businesses during this incredibly challenging time, with tax and cashflow both key concerns for businesses. “Crucially, the urgency in which these packages have been developed and passed through Parliament is important to ensure businesses are supported when they really need it. “We know that the cost of compliance is significant for small business and in addition to covering their existing overheads they now face increased costs of meeting strict health and safety requirements under COVID-19. “Cashflow has always been a pain point for businesses, particularly small businesses, which has been compressed by the significant reduction in trade for most businesses during lockdown and during Alert Level 3. By increasing their access to cash, the Government is greatly increasing their ability to not only survive but thrive. “We applaud the Government for demonstrating bold, decisive leadership to support businesses during this […]

Time for economy to move to Alert Level 2

The EMA says the economy needs a return to Alert Level 2 on May 12 to get business back to work and kick-start the country’s economic engine. Chief Executive Brett O’Riley says what this week at Alert Level 3 has shown is that the vast majority of businesses are taking a responsible approach to health and safety practices in the workplace and we can expect that to continue under Level 2. “Unless there’s a compelling reason not to, the Government should announce on May 11 that we are moving immediately from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2,” says Mr O’Riley. He says that any extra time at Alert Level 3 will sink a number of businesses that have only just been holding on, with further detrimental flow-on effects for their people and the economy. “We’ve already seen a number of businesses going to the wall and a significant jump in the numbers of unemployed – we know that more businesses are certain to fold.” “With no sign yet of any cashflow assistance package from the government we’ll see many more SMEs and some larger companies make the tough decision to close if there is a further extension of Alert Level 3 restrictions, says Mr O’Riley. “The health arguments have rightly and understandably held sway in beating back this virus and businesses have complied well with Levels 4 and 3. It’s now time to trust them to continue work within Level 2 guidelines, allowing the bulk of the economy to get back underway while maintaining the required vigilance under the health guidelines.” “But it’s time for business to start recovering its health.” A quick online survey of EMA members showed that only eight per cent of those who took part did not have a health and safety plan in place […]

OnRobot Soft Gripper highly flexible

The new OnRobot food-grade Soft Gripper is able to pick a wide array of irregular shapes and delicate items in food and beverage, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals production, as well as manufacturing or packaging Automation just got easier for food and beverage and other “clean” applications such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals that need to handle items from eggs to fruit, to bottles or irregular-shaped containers. The flexible OnRobot Soft Gripper uses three interchangeable silicon-moulded cups in star and four-finger configurations to pick up almost any small object under 2.2kg with a delicate, precise touch. The electric Soft Gripper is food-grade certified (complies with FDA 21 CFR for non-fatty items and EC 1935/2004) and unlike traditional vacuum grippers, it requires no external air supply, so it can reduce both cost and complexity. “Our new Soft Gripper is challenging existing solutions for picking hard-to-grasp, delicate and odd-sized items,” says CEO of OnRobot, Enrico Krog Iversen. “Unlike proprietary solutions, the Soft Gripper offers seamless integration with most collaborative robots and light industrial robots through our One System Solution.” OnRobot’s award-winning One System Solution is a platform that provides a unified mechanical and electrical interface between leading robot arms and any OnRobot end-of-arm tooling (EoAT). The One System Solution has been newly expanded to include integration with robots from ABB Robotics and Hanwha Precision Machinery. Now, users of those robots can take advantage of the unified mechanical and electrical interface of any OnRobot product, for easier integration and faster ROI. While the Soft Gripper is ideal for food and beverage applications, it also provides flexible, delicate gripping for manufacturing and packaging. Soft Gripper Features: Up to 2.2kg payload based on shape, softness and friction of items to be handled Grip dimensions ranging from 10mm-118mm depending on cup used FDA certification Flexible, interchangeable silicon cups Ideal […]

Forklift of the future

Hyster’s new H16-18XD series big truck Leading materials handling equipment provider, Hyster, is introducing a new big truck with a series of cabin upgrades for enhanced user comfort and visibility. Hyster’s new H16-18XD series big trucks can efficiently handle up to 16t or 18t, depending on the model, and is backed by the outstanding quality of the Hyster® brand and its network of dealers that provide fast, reliable service. “The new range is cost-efficient and hard-working, but with industry-leading levels of user comfort, visibility and control, to make the operator’s job as efficient as possible,” says Hyster-Yale Vice President, Big Trucks and Solutions, JAPIC, Mr Tony Fagg. The new H16-18XD series of Hyster big trucks – which is being introduced to Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific this month as part of a global launch – is one of the first ranges to feature the new XD cabin, which is designed to provide a boost to productivity and comfort for operators in industries such as, materials handling, ports, logistics, food and beverage, automotive, paper, wood and metals. Advanced new cabin Hyster’s new cabin provides a ‘cockpit-style’ workplace by positioning all truck information and controls at the operator’s fingertips. It includes a high-quality interior finish with a seven-inch touchscreen display, rotary button controls on the armrest and outstanding soundproofing to minimise cabin noise and assist with operator concentration. The cabin has heating and climate control, ample floor space and a range of features designed for user comfort. Hyster developed the new cabin because the company understands that a comfortable operator is a productive operator. The new cabin is designed for excellent all-round operator visibility with curved, scratch-resistant front and rear windows, armoured glass top window and toughened glass doors, with a slimline steel frame. With the new cabin, operators can lift high […]

Movac invests in Revolution Fibres to scale global growth

Auckland-based Revolution Fibres has raised $6m in a Series A funding round led by Movac, New Zealand’s most experienced technology investment firm. Founded in 2009 by Iain Hosie, Simon Feasey and Michael Perrett, Revolution Fibres has developed a unique technology to produce electro-spun nanofibres for use in a wide range of applications, such as filtration, skincare, sound absorption and composite reinforcement. Revolution Fibres has 15 employees and achieved early sales traction in several markets. Movac Partner David Beard comments “We have been targeting an IP-based business for Fund 4 for some time, and we were compelled to invest in Revolution Fibres because it had made a significant transition from R&D into scale volume manufacturing. With its applications spanning a diverse set of industries, it can adjust quickly and take advantage of a rapidly changing environment. We are delighted to have led this round which has included a diverse set of investors from NZ, US and Asia.” Revolution Fibres Chairman Andrew Turnbull comments “Iain and the team at Revolution Fibres have built a fantastic platform technology which is now ready, with the right team and funding, to be scaled. We’re very focussed on what we want to do with the business and sought an investor who understands what it takes to build a global deep tech business from New Zealand. Movac’s investment style and their experience in helping to grow value in companies with deep intellectual property meant a lot to us. Most importantly, there’s also a strong fit in terms of approach and aspiration.” The funding will be used to accelerate commercial opportunities in key offshore markets, and to invest further in production capability. Mr Beard will join the Revolution Fibres board. Phil McCaw, Movac Managing Partner commented, “We’re excited to have the opportunity to work with the Revolution Fibres […]

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