The 2024 AmCham - DHL Express Success & Innovation Gala Awards event was held tonight at the Pullman Hotel.
This was the twenty fifth year of the staging of these awards and yet again attendees learned about a group of exceptional New Zealand companies successfully growing trade, investment, education and tourism, links with the USA. Finalists included autonomous vehicles, Agri products, alcohol free drinks, technologies, special cameras, lifting and safety equipment, services, and tourism. AmCham was delighted to welcome The Hon Judith Collins as the keynote speaker at the dinner as well as presenting the exporter and supreme awards. The Supreme winner, Toku Inc, develops tools using AI and retinal photography to enable accessible healthcare for early and accurate diagnosis of health conditions. Born from a son's response to a father’s health challenges, Toku is revolutionizing the field of preventable health early diagnosis. The eye-scanning approach is scientifically proven and highly scalable in a world full of camera phones, the team's go-to-market strategy is clear and highly leveraged, and the ability to bring diagnoses to the masses on a global scale is truly inspiring. This company is doing everything right in the view of the judges and stands on the threshold of world changing success. This is yet another successful company to come out of the Velocity programme at the University of Auckland. Mark Foy, DHL Express Managing Director, New Zealand & Pacific Islands, expressed his pride in being a part of another remarkable AmCham Awards evening, emphasizing the significance of recognizing Kiwi companies that have achieved success in the USA. “Toku represents the epitome of the Kiwi success story, showcasing the entrepreneurial and innovative spirit of businesses that continue to thrive in their trade with the U.S.A. We congratulate Toku and all the other winners of the evening, celebrating their well-deserved achievements." The winners were:
Exporter of the Year to the USA – Technology Innovation- Toku Inc Developers of tools using AI and retinal photography to enable accessible healthcare for early and accurate diagnosis of health conditions.
Exporter of the Year to the USA – Food & Beverage Innovation - Rockit Global LtdGrowers, markets and exporters of a range of one-of-a-kind, perfectly-sized small apples. Exporter of the Year to the USA – Manufacturing Innovation Carac International LtdThe company developed TrackGrip excavator track attachments as a solution to get tracked vehicles in and out of tough situations with ease. Bilateral Connections with the USA- International Working Holidays Ltd The company was formed in 2001 to help people take off for their Big O.E. throughout the world including to Camp America, Au Pair in America, Educare in America and 12 month 5 star resort placements in the USA. Investor of the Year to or from the USA - AgriZeroNZA partnership between the New Zealand government and major agribusiness companies - we're helping farmers reduce emissions while maintaining profitability and productivity.
Contribution to Tourism with the USA - Canuckiwi LtdRepresentation and consulting firm for the travel and tourism industry for Travel Oregon, Utah Office of Tourism, Travel Nevada, Discover New England, Visit Anchorage, Destination D.C and Grapevine, Texas.
Social Impact award - Kara Technologies LtdTechnology company that designs sign language avatars (digital humans), that are responsible for translating a variety of media content such as Video, Audio, or Text into a signed language.
Supreme winner - Toku Inc Stewart Germann Law Office received a Highly Commended certificate for their contribution to bilateral connections with the USA.
Winners of the above awards received an Economy Plus® Round Trip Ticket to the USA from United Airlines. The Supreme winner also received USD 5,000 worth of PR and Marketing Services in the US from SweeneyVesty, key introductions to VC’s, Economic Development agencies, and business leaders in the USA. AmCham’s immediate past president, Jonathan Mason, won the 2024 AmCham Supporter of the Year award.
In addition to AmCham, DHL Express, United Airlines, the awards are supported by ANZ Bank, Auckland International Airport, Insprie Labs, Ironside McDonald Intellectual Property, Lockheed Martin New Zealand and Sweeney Vesty. Media sponsor - The Business. Wine sponsor - Constellation Brands. Water sponsor - Oravida and our event partner Event Revolution.
Optimized pasture management, better animal performance, greater labor savings is at a rancher’s fingertips.
Halter’s virtual fencing technology is now available to U.S. ranchers and dairy farmers. From its origins in New Zealand, Halter has become the world’s leading virtual fence company in revenue and volume of collars sold and is positioned to deliver its technology to the U.S. market.
“Halter technology is a powerful system that helps users precisely manage pasture to lift the performance of the animals grazing it,” says Craig Piggott, Halter Founder and CEO. “For years farmers in New Zealand and Australia have generated significant benefits from utilizing the technology, and we’re excited to bring these same benefits to U.S. cattle ranchers.”
There are 200,000 cattle under Halter’s management in the United States, New Zealand and Australia, making Halter the largest virtual fencing provider by number of cattle. Halter’s U.S. customers are in California, Oregon, Colorado, Texas and Louisiana, with new customers going live in additional states in the coming months. Halter is quickly growing its U.S.-based team and is hiring dozens of people throughout the States in the coming months.
Ranchers can see a heatmap of grazing activity through the Halter app and take advantage of grass growth by moving cattle to optimize the best grazing opportunities. Better pasture management enables better herd management and helps lift productivity through increased live weight gains. Beef producers can achieve precise and flexible grazing (such as strip grazing on cover or stubble crops) and can more effectively graze public lands.
The Halter app allows users to establish virtual fences anywhere on their land. Cows are trained to respond to the collar’s guidance cues as they approach the virtual fence. Users can create new fences from the Halter app on their mobile phone and herd animals into the new pasture area using sound and vibration cues generated through the app.
Halter collars are lightweight and ergonomically designed and powered by two small solar cells at the top of the collar. The collars and the Halter app are connected via solar-powered towers on the ranch. Through this technology, Halter delivers precise farming without the workload.
“Ranchers have real-time, 24/7 access to their cattle and pastures to quickly and easily put cattle where the grass is without moving fences or physically herding cattle, offering unparalleled oversight of their herds in real-time” says Piggott.
By enabling more precise pasture management, virtual fencing can play a significant role in regenerative land management. Ranchers can grow and harvest more grass, better protect soils, increase soil carbon sequestration to reduce net emissions, retire unutilized land without reducing stocking rate, and prevent animals from entering protected waterways.
For more information, visit www.halterhq.com
About Halter:Halter was founded in 2016 by Craig Piggott. Halter's mission is to enable half of the world's habitable landmass to be more productive and sustainable. Halter is one of the world’s fastest growing ag-tech companies.
Media contacts:Ashleigh Gilchrist Communications Lead, Halter Ashleigh.gilchrist@halter.co.nz
A 20-strong Industrial hemp trade and cultural delegation is going to an iHemp workshop at the Global Hemp Innovation Centre (GHIC), Oregon State University (OSU) 12-16 August 2024.
Around 100 attendees (including virtual participants) will be involved in the “Hemp Industrial Materials Supply Chain Workshop” to develop a roadmap for the industry and foster collaboration between New Zealand and the Pacific Northwest. The collaboration was initiated through the New Zealand Product Accelerator, who facilitate industry engagement with the science community.
A trade, investment, research, and cultural delegation of 20 people from New Zealand is heading to Oregon next week, 9 from the research community, including universities and Crown Research Institutes, and 11 from private industry, including 4 Māori businesses involved with industrial hemp and agricultural products. The roadmap will identify innovation barriers and opportunities to uptake hemp fibre as a material ingredient across a range of product categories, including building materials, biopolymers, and packaging.
The 4-day workshop and meetings, including Native American and Māori partners interested in biobased manufacturing, are hosted by Dr Jeff Steiner, Director Global Hemp Innovation Centre at Oregon State University.
Dr Karnika De Silva from the NZ Product Accelerator was instrumental in forging contact with GHIC; her in-person presentation to the faculty at OSU in 2022 began the relationship and facilitated the conversation between the NZHIA and the GHIC.
Dr Steiner says, “After attending the 2023 iHemp Summit in Christchurch, I was impressed seeing the similarities between the Pacific Northwest and Aotearoa New Zealand, including our connections to Māori and Native American Tribe business communities, so it just seems like a natural progression for us to work together and advance the hemp industry.”
Given the forestry and agricultural similarities, industrial hemp (iHemp) fibre is a natural starting point. With support from the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the National Industrial Hemp Council of America, and the OSU College of Forestry, a workshop involving industry experts was planned to identify the gaps and opportunities in the iHemp fibre value and supply chain.
The organising committee Oregon State University, NZ Product Accelerator and NZHIA have been working for months to ensure the facilitated workshop, comes up with a useful road map for integrating iHemp into 4 large economic sectors
· Building Materials · Biopolymers and biocomposites (including plastic) · Paper and packaging · Activated Carbon
We aim to answer the question, What would it take for the established biobased building materials, paper/packaging, activated carbon, and plastics/biocomposites sectors to use industrial hemp in the manufacture of products?
More than 70 in-person and 30 virtual participants from Continental North America, New Zealand, and elsewhere are expected with attendees from private industry, other private organizations, government offices, and researchers coming together to explore cultural, industrial, research and investment collaborations.
With the help from Poutama Trust, 4 Māori industry leaders will be attending a hosted banquet before the conference to meet and form relationships with the Native American tribes working in the iHemp fibre space.
NZHIA Chair Richard Barge says “A road map will help relieve the stigma associated with low THC industrial hemp, it will de-risk the iHemp fibre industry for the regulator and help educate and highlight the potential for investors and industry”.
“It’s all about collaboration and connecting with communities of interest. The information on the supply and value chains in the final roadmap will be useful to join up the industry” he says.
Dr Kirstine Hulse, General Manager of the NZ Product Accelerator says “Initiatives like this showcase the value of engagement between Industry and our research community and lead to tangible collaborations with our trading partners, that help accelerate enterprise innovation. Partnering with industry, academia and government to develop research opportunities that are based on industry needs, as well as the closer trade, investment and cultural collaborations are positive for NZ Inc”.
Starting on farms, the iHemp industry can help revitalise rural communities, providing alternate land use in their rotations and value-added opportunities in the regions.
Understanding the industry needs and barriers, and where there is missing science required to adopt new materials in the supply chain and commercial applications is important. The facilitated road map discussion will be identifying current gaps, researchers and industry can collaborate on, to come up with the evidence, research and development of tech to bridge these gaps and scale up the industry.
The workshop is an opportunity to build cultural and trade relationships between Māori and Native American businesses and the iHemp industry to attract trade and investment for mutual benefit.
The road map brings together the potential with the actual, to showcase what is being done and how sustainable products and resilient supply chains can be created in the future. A relevant and timely road map is needed to raise awareness in the investor sector and bring together the various ministries involved, joining up the government with an exciting new primary industry.
We tick all the right boxes and with support, we can be the next big, good news story to help our regions prosper and thrive, whilst building on our global reputation as a clean green country. While assisting government to achieve their targets such as doubling exports in 10 years and affordable housing.
We also acknowledge the student exchange program between OSU and Lincoln University, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, further student exchange and research collaborations are expected as an outcome of the iHemp fibre workshop.
For more information: NZHIA, Richard Barge (Chair)richard@nzhia.com 021 706 690
Grapevine Texas wrapped up their Australian and New Zealand sales mission last week, with a series of one-on-one meetings and industry events held across Auckland, Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne, and Grapevine’s “sister city” - The Barossa Valley in South Australia. Leading the 12-day sales mission was Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Director of Leisure & International Sales, Heather Egan, joined by Executive Director, Paul W (PW) McCallum, and hosted by Corey Marshall of Canuckiwi - the Australian and New Zealand Press Office for Visit Grapevine.
During their time Downunder, the team met with Australia and New Zealand’s top tour operators, travel advisors and media to learn more about the host of year-round activities while taste-testing the local vintage. The showcase provided an overview of the diversity of Grapevine for an authentic Texan experience, an accessible 15 minute drive from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.
The sales mission was well timed with Fiji Airways’ new announcement, introducing non-stop flights between Fiji - Dallas Fort Worth International Airport from December 2024, and American Airlines’ new direct service from Brisbane from late October 2024, making Texas even more accessible to Australian and New Zealand travellers.
Apart from one-on-one appointments and workshops where product updates and many valuable insider tips were shared, at evening sessions during the sales mission, a blind wine tasting was held over a fun, hands-on charcuterie board creation instruction. Following, guests used their newly acquired knowledge of Grapevine to guess the correct local Texan vintage against other Australian and international wines. A fun, interactive session leaving a lingering taste for Grapevine, Texas.
ABOUT GRAPEVINE, TEXAS Historic Grapevine, Texas, centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the premier go-to destination when planning a getaway or vacation to the United States, providing guests with a sophisticated escape from the big city. Step back in time on Downtown Main Street District and visit the more than 80 charming locally-owned shops, boutiques, jewellery stores, restaurants and art galleries. Guests can unwind at one of the many award-winning winery tasting rooms, and rest easy at one of the city’s exceptional hotels, like Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center or Great Wolf Lodge, which features an indoor water park. Take advantage of recreation on Lake Grapevine as well as over nine miles of wilderness and biking trails. Climb aboard the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and experience late 19th-century farm life at historic Nash Farm. Whether you enjoy indoor or outdoor activities, Grapevine has something for everyone. For more information visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.
Issued by the Visit Grapevine, Texas Australia / New Zealand Press Office. For further information or to obtain high res images please contact: Corey Marshall at Canuckiwi on +64 21 555 463 or email corey@canuckiwi.com
The Royal New Zealand Air Force will operate a total of five C-130Js
MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A new era of tactical airlift capability for New Zealand has officially begun with Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivering the first of five C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters to the New Zealand Ministry of Defence and New Zealand Defence Force during a ceremony at the Lockheed Martin's facility in Marietta, Georgia, on Aug. 8.
For almost six decades, the Royal New Zealand Air Force's (RNZAF) C-130Hs have served as essential first-response resources for New Zealand and the entire Indo-Pacific region. Crews from 40 Squadron located at RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai, will operate the new C-130Js, representing one of the most advanced configurations of the Super Hercules ever produced.
"From supporting humanitarian and disaster relief operations to partnering with allies in military operations, New Zealand's C-130s are truly a global force for good," said Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business. "The RNZAF's new C-130J fleet will continue to support these critical missions while offering New Zealand increased allied alignment, greater reach, enhanced capabilities and proven performance for some of the most demanding tactical airlift operational requirements."
New Zealand officials announced the intent to modernize its existing fleet of five C-130Hs with five C-130J-30 variants in 2020 via a Foreign Military Sale with the U.S. Air Force. A joint project team with personnel from New Zealand's Ministry of Defence and the New Zealand Defence Force have worked alongside the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin to manage the aircraft delivery and training programs.
Always evolving, continually innovating and ready for what's next, the Super Hercules leads the charge by setting standards and shaping the future of tactical airlift missions, offering a multitude of advantages found in no other medium-sized tactical airlifter in production or operation today.
These discriminators include proven operational readiness with the greatest ease of transition, increased reliability, superior tactical airlift and combat airdrop capabilities, certification by more than 20 airworthiness authorities, and enhanced survivability. The C-130J also delivers unmatched interoperability with NATO and global air forces, robust industrial partnerships and verified low life-cycle costs with significant fuel savings resulting in a reduced carbon footprint compared to other medium-sized jet airlifters.
See how and why the C-130J continues to be the worldwide choice in tactical airlift through the newest episode of "Into the Cockpit" on Lockheed Martin's YouTube channel, which offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Super Hercules.
For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/c130.
About Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
The search for a proof-of-concept vaccine that can cut methane emissions in cattle has received a welcome boost.
The Bezos Earth Fund has announced it will fund an international consortium which will build scientific evidence for a vaccine that can reduce the number and activity of methane-producing microbes in a cow’s stomach.
The $USD9.4 million research project will be led by researchers at The Pirbright Institute and the Royal Veterinary College.
AgResearch will add expertise in rumen microbiology and vaccine development to the consortium and receive about a third of the funding allocation.
AgResearch Principal Scientist Neil Wedlock said: “This funding announcement is a welcome boost for methane vaccine research. We are excited to be collaborating with the Pirbright Institute and will provide our research expertise and capability.
“The work will also complement the research we are doing here in New Zealand with the backing of AgriZeroNZ and the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.”
AgriZeroNZ is setting up a new venture in New Zealand to accelerate development of the vaccine, building on more than 15 years of pioneering science led by AgResearch and funded by the New Zealand government, industry and through the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre.
The new venture aims to catalyse more of these types of global collaborations and international funding to accelerate scientific progress and get a vaccine into the hands of farmers sooner.
Dr Wedlock said: “This latest international funding announcement shows how important the work is and what might be achieved with international collaboration.”
The project comprises two key components, each tackling different aspects of the challenge:
Early Development of Immune Response:
Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College, in collaboration with Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), will study how and when methane-producing microbes (methanogens) colonize the digestive tract of calves and how the immune system responds. Advanced techniques such as multi-omics, histology, and immunology will be used to gain insights into these early interactions. They will also develop methanogens with fluorescent markers to track microbial interactions.
Antibody Response and Vaccine Development:
Scientists from the Pirbright Institute and AgResearch will identify and characterise specific antibodies needed to target methanogens effectively. This involves isolating antibodies from immunized cattle and testing their effectiveness in lab conditions. By driving cross-reactive antibody responses and generating panels of antibodies, researchers aim to establish a proof of concept for a methane vaccine.
To read the full press release from the Bezos Earth Fund click here:
About the Bezos Earth Fund
The Bezos Earth Fund is helping transform the fight against climate change with the largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion in this decisive decade to protect nature and address climate change. By providing funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a world where people prosper in harmony with nature.
About AgriZeroNZ
AgriZeroNZ is a world-first public-private joint venture focused on helping farmers cut emissions while maintaining their competitive edge. Established on 1 February 2023, the JV is half owned by the New Zealand government through the Ministry for Primary Industries and the other half owned by private sector companies – The a2 Milk Company, ANZ Bank New Zealand, ANZCO, ASB Bank, BNZ, Fonterra, Rabobank, Ravensdown, Silver Fern Farms and Synlait. Private sector funding is matched by Government, dollar-for-dollar, to provide $191 million over AgriZeroNZ’s first four years.
Click here for more information about our work to accelerate the vaccine development.
Source: AgResearch
Fiji Airways’ new route will connect travellers with an additional 247 destinations through one of the busiest travel hubs in the world.
Fiji Airways has today announced the introduction of the first ever non-stop flights between Nadi, Fiji and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas, USA commencing in December 2024*.
The new non-stop 13-hour service will operate three times per week every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday utilising Fiji Airways’ state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 XWB aircraft. The aircraft will feature 301 economy class seats, which recently won Best Economy Class in Australia and Pacific at the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards 2024, and 33 business class lie-flat, all aisle access, seats.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart on 10th December 2024, with special introductory fares now available for purchase on the Fiji Airways website at fijiairways.com.
Speaking on the new route, Fiji Airways Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen said “Introducing a direct service between Fiji and Dallas is a really exciting milestone for Fiji Airways, as we continue to increase Fiji’s connectivity with the United States and beyond offering our guests more travel options.”
The new service to Dallas will complement various other initiatives announced by the airline recently, including its plans to join the American Airlines’ AAdvantage® loyalty program in the coming year and becoming the 15th full member of the oneworld alliance in 2025.
“The new Fiji-Dallas service is set to bring more than 1,000 passengers a week into Fiji alone, helping to bolster the nation’s tourism industry. The overnight flight will also offer our customers increased connections to North America from the South Pacific and beyond” said Viljoen.
To celebrate the announcement, Fiji Airways has launched special introductory return airfares from Nadi, Fiji to selected points in Texas, starting from just FJD1,699. Fares are now available for purchase on the Fiji Airways website at fijiairways.com (terms and conditions apply – see website for details).
Fijian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Strategic Planning, National Development and Statistics, Hon Professor Biman Prasad, expressed his enthusiasm for the announcement, stating “Fiji Airways’ new direct route to Dallas is an exciting development for Fiji and will help pave the way for expanded opportunities in tourism and trade between our two nations. Dallas has immense potential as a new source market for Fiji’s tourism industry, with DFW International Airport currently ranked the third-busiest airport in the world and the state of Texas home to some of the fastest-growing counties in the United States.”
Dallas will be Fiji Airways' 24th international direct destination and will be the fifth North American port served by the airline, along with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Vancouver.
* Flights to, from or via Dallas are subject to US Government regulatory approvals.
Source: https://www.fijiairways.com/
Respected sailmakers will sit alongside other NTG brands, including North Sails and Southern Spars.
North Technology Group (NTG) continues to expand its family of best-in-class marine brands by adding two of the world’s most respected sailmakers, Doyle Sails and Quantum Sails. As part of NTG’s diverse portfolio of world class businesses operating across the sailing and ocean lifestyle industries, Doyle and Quantum will continue to operate independently, retaining their unique brand identities and competing for market share. Each business will continue to manage its own lofts, sales and marketing teams, and product suites. The NTG ownership structure will provide each brand with the freedom, financial security, and resources to continuously improve and offer better experiences for sailors.
NTG CEO Sam Watson said: “North Technology Group is passionate about the sailing industry, and with big ambitions and a relentless drive we are continuously evolving. We see a real opportunity for growth and development by bringing Doyle Sails and Quantum Sails into the NTG family. We look forward to welcoming their customers and our new colleagues on this journey.”
Quantum Sails President Ed Reynolds said: “At Quantum, we’ve always focused on providing the best-performing products and customer service in sailing. We have a rich history in the industry and our sails have donned some of the most premier boats in sailing. We look forward to working within the NTG family to help sailors at all levels to continue enjoying the sport they love.”
Doyle Sails CEO Mike Sanderson said: “After eight years at the helm, the decision for Doyle Sails to combine forces with NTG was a ‘no-brainer’ for David Duff, Richard Bouzaid and me. It ensures the longevity of the brand we are so committed to; it will keep challenging innovation in sailing, and it brings significant opportunities for our team, sailors, and customers. I could not be more excited about leading Doyle Sails into the next chapter and chasing the next challenge.”
NTG Chairman Peter Dubens said: “NTG are long-term supporters of sailing. We want to grow the sport by investing in skills and innovation, by supporting new technologies in sailmaking, and by committing to accomplishing all this in a sustainable way. In Doyle and Quantum, we have found two brands and businesses that support our values and goals. We’re pleased to be partnering with Mike, Ed, and their teams, as we work together to promote the future of the sport we love so much.”
Quantum Sails will continue to be led by Ed Reynolds and Andrew Scott, and Doug DeVos will remain involved in the business, and as an investor in NTG. Mike Sanderson will continue to lead Doyle Sails.
About NTG North Technology Group (NTG) began its journey in 1957 when Lowell North started North Sails in his San Diego garage. NTG evolved over time as like-minded marine companies were combined into a diverse family of brands serving marine performance and ocean lifestyle markets worldwide. Built on a foundation of advanced performance, superior technology, quality craftsmanship, and exceptional customer service, NTG Brands encompass a wide range of companies including North Sails and Southern Spars.
About Quantum SailsAt Quantum, we’re connected to sailors everywhere through our love of sailing and our belief that facing every challenge head-on is infinitely rewarding. For us, that means challenging convention – especially if that’s what it takes to help our customers and the sailing industry get to new, better places. As a company and as individuals, we embrace every single challenge you bring our way as our own. Since 1996, we have focused on providing the best-performing products in sailing. Today, we’re equally relentless about delivering a higher standard of service, customer care, education, support and mentorship. It’s how we’ll continue to help sailors at all levels pursue their passions and achieve their aspirations. Our commitment starts with our dedicated employees at more than 60 sail lofts around the world and includes hundreds more working behind the scenes to design, build and service Quantum sails. www.quantumsails.com
About Doyle SailsDoyle Sails is widely recognised as the changemaker in sailing, challenging all aspects of conventional sailmaking and continuing to deliver game changing technologies that support growth and progression for all sailors. Renowned for impeccable attention to detail and design, a personal, bespoke approach and world class construction quality, Doyle Sails holds a key role as the preferred sailmaker to many, including some of the world’s most spectacular Superyachts and high-performance Grand Prix campaigns. Doyle Sails is proud to have been supporting sailing and sailors for more than four decades and while the world changes around us, our commitment to sailors who share the same passion for sailing as we do, hasn’t. www.doylesails.com
Source: https://www.northtechnologygroup.com/
Avnet and MACSO Technologies have entered a strategic relationship to accelerate and scale IoT deployments for customers worldwide by advancing artificial intelligence (AI) models on hardware and electronic components through Avnet’s IoTConnect Partner Program.
Auckland based MACSO trains advanced artificial intelligence models that can simultaneously use different types of sensors on Avnet’s components.
“MACSO is making hardware smart by putting AI models on it,” said MACSO founder and CEO Saba Samiei. “It’s like a CCTV camera directly notifying you if an intruder is going up a flight of stairs instead of watching people and requiring a human to go back and watch a video to make decisions. We are trying to make sensors smart.”
In the short term, MACSO’s AI is focusing on audio and air quality. As the platform grows, other capabilities such as vision, temperature and pressure can be added.
“The problem is that unless you have a good technical understanding of AI, creating models is very hard,” Samiei says. “What we are doing is building AI models and licensing them, so we are taking all that heavy lifting off the customer – all they do is subscribe to the AI models and pay for the subscription.”
Avnet is extending the value of distribution to make IoT accessible and scalable for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) by providing hardware, software and engineering/consulting/cloud services.
“Our customers are exploring the use of AI-enabled devices to improve data-driven business outcomes. Our collaboration with MACSO will enable fast deployment of these systems leveraging AI,” said Avnet’s Senior Director, Supplier Technology Enablement, Jennifer Skinner-Gray.
Avnet’s IoTConnect Partner Program enables OEMs and independent design houses (IDHs) to build new solutions and service models for their practice using Avnet’s IoTConnect platform. Avnet’s knowledge of the edge along with the significant investment in cloud, digital and software services coupled with the members of the IoTConnect Partner Program allow Avnet to collaboratively leverage solutions to scale and maximize opportunities.
Story by Dave Crampton https://nzentrepreneur.co.nz/
In what is being called a silent epidemic, New Zealand is inadvertently discouraging expat Kiwis, as well as high-contributing and investment-ready migrants from staying here, a new report by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) shows.
The report called The place where talent does not want to live, has been commissioned and supported by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, the NZUS Council, the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, as well as key individuals, to shine a light on how New Zealand’s international tax requirements are actively working against our migrant attraction policies and programmes – as well as discouraging Kiwis with much needed skills from coming home.
Under New Zealand’s current international tax rules, some expat Kiwis returning to New Zealand as well as other migrants are taxed by New Zealand on the investments they made before coming here. The rules impose New Zealand tax on the paper value of those investments, even if they are still in start-up phase and not making any income. The regime, called the Foreign Investment Fund (“FIF”) rules, is out of step with the rest of the OECD and does not match New Zealand’s aspirations (and need) to attract and retain global talent and investment.
Simon Bridges from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce says: “Immigration and tax are two of the most powerful policy levers available to influence the economic and social progress of a nation. New Zealand has the ability to attract the world’s brightest – we already have evidence of that. But we are shooting ourselves in the foot. The fact that our current international tax regime is working against our immigration settings means we are not getting the full return on investment from all our attraction programmes – and most importantly we are not retaining their skills, talent, investment and innovation.”
Rob Coneybeer, a Managing Director and Founder of US-based early-stage venture capital firm Shasta and himself a migrant, says he hates to see New Zealand hold itself back. “A robust startup tech ecosystem has been the key driver for economic growth in the US and China, and it can do the same for New Zealand. It is the cleanest industry imaginable, and the fact that New Zealand is an amazing place to live represents an enormous untapped advantage for recruiting top tech talent. But that doesn’t work if the New Zealand tax system is discouraging people from staying.”
Peter Wilson from NZIER says the part of the tax system causing issues was designed 40 years ago to protect the domestic tax base from exploitation through the use of tax havens and removing tax-driven incentives to invest offshore rather than at home.
Jonathan Mason from the NZUS Council and the American Chamber of Commerce said “While that policy was right for the time, it is no longer fit for purpose in a more globalised world, where there is fierce and increasing competition to woo talent. It is holding us back as a nation. We are calling for a review of NZ’s international tax requirements to pull them into line with other jurisdictions and make New Zealand the place where talent chooses to live.”
A recent IMF report has also noted that NZ would benefit from a more efficient, equitable, and sustainable tax system. New Zealand already has one of the most efficient goods and services tax systems globally. However, tax policy reforms are needed to promote investment and productivity, and mobilise additional revenue.
Rosalie Nelson, Chief Executive of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, which consists of 500+ New Zealand and international entrepreneurs, says a significant issue for Fellows is the severe negative consequences of the current FIF regime. “It creates an insurmountable unfair burden for the most talented Kiwis to return to New Zealand, as well as for first-time talented migrants who are adding huge value to this country. An obscure bit of taxation law is preventing the type of high contributing, investment-ready immigrants this country says it wants to attract from relocating to New Zealand – and this new report provides the evidence as to why aligning immigration and tax policy will benefit all of New Zealand.”
You can view the full report here: www.nzier.org.nz/publications/the-place-where-talent-does-not-want-to-live
For media queries contact: Kelly Ley-Dahm, 021 539 533, media@ehf.org
Note for journalists:
The double taxation problem arises because the Double Taxation Agreement (“DTA”) between the US and New Zealand focuses on credits for “like-for-like” taxation. Since New Zealand is an outlier with FIF taxation, this means that FIF payments cannot be credited against an eventual capital gains tax bill in the United States. Most OECD countries, such as Australia, do not face this issue.
The NZIER report shows that addressing the issues in the current international tax regime will not have a significant impact on the tax take. An estimate based on publicly-available information shows the annual contribution from the current Foreign Investment Fund tax regime is only around 0.5% to 1.0% of IRD’s total annual revenue. (Noting that without non-public information from the IRD it is not possible to make a reliable estimate.)
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