Author Rachel Loo
Landlords feel the pinch
Renters are, on average, $1400 better off per year than they were this time last year as national weekly rental prices continue to trend down. Continue →
Auckland Council has completed a region-wide study to map landslide susceptibility, The maps provide information to planners, infrastructure authorities, owners, developers, and engineers so that they can understand and manage the risks from landslides. The study is an assessment of which factors may pre-dispose particular land to becoming unstable. These maps do not describe hazard or risk. This means that they do not show how many, or how often, landslides will occur (the hazard), or what the consequences could be (the risk).
You can now claim 20 percent deductions for the costs of new (or new to New Zealand) business assets that you bought – or finished constructing – on or after 22 May 2025. “Bringing new technology, tools and equipment into a business bolsters productivity, which raises incomes and fuels ongoing reinvestment. This is how we build resilience,” says Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Chris Penk. Inland Revenue has more information, including examples of what it means for businesses.
Researchers made the discovery while studying nurse sharks. Like humans, the marine predators rely on the pancreas to control blood sugar and produce digestive enzymes. But they also use it to make antibodies and fine-tune certain white blood cells against microbial threats, according to a study published last month in The Journal of Immunology. Sharks may not be the only animals to enlist the pancreas for defence, the study implies, and other organs could take on unexpected immune functions.
Smart Cuts, Not Deep Cuts: Why flexible workspaces are the office solution for tough economic times
As economic conditions continue to tighten across New Zealand, businesses of all sizes are closely examining their cost structures. Continue →
The modern apprenticeship model shatters outdated perceptions that limited such programs to entry-level, lower-paying positions in manual labour industries. Today’s apprenticeships span diverse sectors including IT, healthcare, engineering and accounting, offering specialised expertise and pathways to leadership roles. A recent report from the US is a long (52 page) read but parallels needs in New Zealand and offers sound advice on what is needed to meet contemporary workforce needs.
According to Science Adviser President Donald Trump’s administration is shuttering a network of centres funded by the National Institutes of Health that aims to prevent future pandemics. The research is “unsafe,” NIH has concluded.
Internal corrosion breakthroughDry and pre-action fire sprinkler systems face unique challenges from internal corrosion which can compromise their performance and service life. While high-purity nitrogen has long been used to mitigate these effects, Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors (VCIs) are showing convincing results in tests in fire protection systems. In April General Air Products picked up the 2025 Corrosion Innovation of the Year Award with the Vapor Pipe Shield, a delivery system of Vapor phase Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI®)
The recent flurry around the release of CV values for Auckland based on data more than 12-months old appears to have prompted leading information provider Cotality to join the fray of up to the minute value suppliers with an interactive tool Mapping the Market . The June 2025 edition shows stand-alone houses are beginning to regain ground in many suburbs while growth across townhouses and flats has remained more subdued and uneven.
Plenty of real time options available
The recent flurry around the release of CV values for Auckland based on data more than 12-months old appears to have prompted leading information provider Cotality to join the fray of up to the minute value suppliers with an interactive tool Mapping the Market . Continue →
A strategic solution for composite safety and compliance
Composite structures are the unsung heroes of modern infrastructure — delivering strength, efficiency, and durability by combining the best properties of two materials. Continue →
“Hey Siri, choose my medical expert.” How far would you trust AI to make important decisions?
From tailored Netflix recommendations to personalised Facebook feeds, artificial intelligence (AI) adeptly serves content that matches our preferences and past behaviours. Continue →
What promises to be an authoritative webinar panel next week with Envirosuite and Josh Rembusch, Vice President of the Colorado Chapter of SWANA and VP at Byers Scientific. This session will dive into the evolving landscape of methane regulations and explore innovative, real-world strategies for managing landfill emissions and odour. This session brings together two industry leaders to discuss proactive approaches to monitoring, odour control, and the future of methane management in solid waste operations. Register here
You are training your sales teams on products, features, and competitors. You build videos, courses, and role-plays when suddenly a new regulatory change takes place and the competitive situation changes. An AI-native learning platform would upload and update the new regulations along with a learning platform, build a virtual coach and answer questions like “what is the impact of this regulatory change on our sales message?”
McKinsey talks to the chairman of Ecolab who believes that businesses can help solve the global water crisis if they engineer water circularity into their processes. Ecolab has 48,000 staff and provides water management services to more than 170 countries. It recently expanded its services to data centres where it provides chip-cooling solutions that minimise water use.
Countless studies have concluded that welding fume is a major carcinogenic yet few provide practical guidance on how to effectively control welding fume exposure. A survey of 1300 welders across Australia conducted by the Central University of Queensland examined product control methods such as on-gun fume extraction, hooded capture extraction and welding helmets with a powered air purifying respirator and compares their effectiveness in Australian and New Zealand settings.
Robinson Research Institute, a pioneer in high-temperature superconductivity (HTS) research, has received funding of $71million towards setting up and hosting an advanced technology platform in Future Magnetic and Materials Technologies.
New Zealanders will now be able to get into houses sooner and at less cost. So claims Building Consent Approvals (BCA) – the country’s first fully independent residential building consent authority. The privately-owned company will operate nationally and promises to issue building consents within a week and a half for eligible residential projects.
Tired of council consent delays
The country’s first accredited independent building consents provider has set ambitious performance targets for itself, including a 10 day or less timeframe for consents when applications meet requirements – far quicker than many current processes. Continue →