United Airlines will resume its summer route between San Francisco and Christchurch in December. Some of United’s top brass sat down with Stuff Travel in Auckland to discuss the airline’s future plans.
In December 2023, United Airlines opened up the US to the South Island - and vice versa.
Launching direct flights between Christchurch and San Francisco, the seasonal service is the only one that allows South Islanders to fly direct to the US.
Coming back for a second season in December, the airline will fly the route three times a week, in addition to the daily service to San Francisco from Auckland from October 27, meaning it will operate 10 flights a week to the US hub. United has more combined flights between the US and New Zealand/Australia than any other carrier in the world.
“There’s a lot of interest particularly on the west coast of the US, folks wanting to travel here and see different places so it’s been very positive for us ,” said Doreen Burse, United’s SVP of Worldwide Sales.
“The great thing about San Francisco being one of our biggest hubs is the connectivity we have in getting folks to San Francisco, and then travelling onwards. There’s no particular state off the top of my head that comes to mind but in particular in the west, the western side of the US tends to be the most popular.”
Earlier this year United suspended its Auckland to Los Angeles route, which it had launched at the end of October 2023 with three weekly flights. Now it remains focused on the San Francisco routes to Auckland and Christchurch. Burse said looking ahead to summer, demand on the Christchurch service is “solid”.
“We were happy with the first season performance and are excited to be returning for a second season, with strong bookings trending,” said Burse.
Since the pandemic, United has grown its connections in the Asia Pacific region and is now 10% bigger than in 2019. Burse said New Zealand remains a key market for them.
“Even when you look at New Zealand and Australia together, we’re over 30% larger than in 2019. The region is very exciting if you consider that China hasn’t come all the way back. We’re the largest US carrier transpacifically. It's an incredibly important market to us and we’re going to continue to evaluate where is the demand, where are the places we can travel to that actually help folks, through our Star Alliance partners, get to other places beyond too.”
United’s country manager for Australia, NZ and Tahiti Tim Wallis said NZ’s great outdoors tends to be the key drawcard for Americans travelling here.
“Our peak season for capacity is our summer and that's the season for vineyards, for hiking, for water sports, so all of those activities they've been the reason for people to come down and will continue to be so I think.”
Wallis said while the recent increase to the tourist tax for visitors to NZ is high, it won’t be a deterrent for most US travellers.
“That’s a significant cost of course, but I think New Zealand has so many wonderful experiences and choices for passengers and I think it will always be a bucket list destination.
“And I think a cost like that gets packaged into that total cost of journey, and the reason people are coming down here is the great outdoors, the vineyards, the hiking, the list goes on and I know that that won’t stop them from visiting.”
The San Francisco routes will be flown with a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. United expects to take delivery of about 100 new planes every year for the next five years as part of their United Next growth plan - that’s a new aircraft roughly every three days. Those new aircraft will be about 20% more fuel efficient.
United is the largest purchaser of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and was one of the first airlines to commit to becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
This month the airline announced an agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed wi-fi to the airline’s mainline and regional aircraft fleet for free. That means passengers will be able to stream video while in the sky, watch live TV, download/upload documents and play live games.
Testing begins in early 2025 with the first passenger flights expected later that year. It’ll be available on passengers’ seat back screens, as the airline plans to retrofit existing aircraft to include a 10-inch screen in every economy seat, or 16-inch HD touch screen in every business class seat.
The new interiors will also include Bluetooth, power and plugs in every seat, bigger overhead bins, and LED lighting.
Burse said they’re always thinking about the traveller experience and how to remove friction from travel.
“It’ll be a gamechanger, I can’t imagine being able to stream and being able to do the things I can currently do at home in the air.”
Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/
One of the coldest, hottest, and most powerful superconductor electric rocket thrusters ever to be tested in space is being built in a hi-tech shed at the bottom of Wainuiomata Hill.
Next stop for the local tech is America, then the International Space Station - then maybe, one day, Mars.
The superconductor magnet and its accompanying thruster is being assembled in Seaview, Lower Hutt. It will be checked in Houston, launched in Florida, and installed on the space station, where it must take its turn to get tested in space for the first time.
"We're going to have [to] turn off during space walks to ensure we don't interfere with the astronauts' equipment if they're in the area," Randy Pollock, the mission's American chief scientist and engineer, says.
"If someone gets close, it could tug on things ... we don't want to pull on the tools or their spacesuits."
But the vagaries of "magnet tug" in the zero gravity of space are eclipsed by the opportunities.
"It has the potential to be a much more flexible system for spacecraft operators."
In the humming Seaview shed, Pollock is supervising the assembly of a superconductor magnet that runs at minus 200 degrees, outside of a core thruster that runs at a blue-hot 1000 degrees. All of it can just about be held in your two hands.
"The group here has a unique knowledge of superconductors," he says.
"We're the only group in the world that is both building our magnets and building our thrusters and operating them, frankly, in the same room.
"The magnets were built over here behind me, the system for the space station is being assembled there, and in the back of the room is the test facility for our thruster."
The thruster tester is a shining stainless steel vacuum tube the size of a car, nicknamed Geraldine - 'Gigantic and Extremely Radical Atmospheric-Lacking Device for Interesting and Novel Experimentation'. ("Engineer humour," someone comments.)
Two years of work on the 'Hēki' experiment has come down to an intense six-to-seven weeks of testing and assembly by three researchers in blue smocks and masks in a clear plastic booth like a quarantine unit, bolting bits together, religiously recording every single step.
Then to Texas, for more tests. Then, to space, for more again.
The aim, eventually, to come up with an electric rocket engine way more efficient than those in use now - which are already sending Nasa spacecraft to the asteroid belt - that with wee squirts of argon (it shoots out of the thruster in tests at 10-20 kilometres per second) could push a rocket to Mars.
"If you ran a chemical rocket, you might fire for tens of seconds or even maybe tens of minutes," Pollock says.
"This you will run for weeks or months or years ... so it enables a class of missions that just wouldn't be practical because of the amount of fuel you would normally have to carry."
What sort of missions?
"If you want to move large amounts of cargo to the moon to Mars."
None of this would be taking place in New Zealand if not for Nick Long.
The country's grandfather of superconductors, Long has spent three decades helping crack the puzzle that makes them usable in experiments like Hēki.
"When they were first discovered people thought, 'Oh, this is great, we're gonna have wires, you know, before we know it,'" Professor Long, the director of the Paihau-Robinson Research Institute at Victoria University, says.
"And actually, it turned out to be incredibly difficult."
Now, though, the crystals for superconductors can be grown into 100-metre lengths and bought off the shelf, to wrap into the dense coils at the heart of the magnets.
Hēki presents a milestone for Long and his team to see the impact in space in a new way - if they can only get past the nerve-wracking countdown to a February launch on a SpaceX rocket from Florida.
"It's your baby you're sending up there and it has to work, right?" Long says.
"You can't go up and fiddle with it.
"I mean, I'm a laboratory experimentalist and I always like to fiddle with things. They never work first time.
"Luckily, we've got people here who know about sending things into space and making sure they'll work up there, when we, you know, can't get in there with a screwdriver."
Randy Pollock is one of those people, and he has already been to Mars, in a sense: A rock sniffer he made for Nasa's jet propulsion lab in California is currently on the front of the Perseverance rover as it seeks signs of ancient life on the red planet.
But unlike the rover that never returns, New Zealand's landmark superconductor thruster will.
"It goes out an airlock and will spend several months operating on the outside of the space station," Pollock says.
"At the end of that time, it actually comes back in and for the first time in my career, I will actually get the hardware back at the end of a mission.
"Usually it's a one-way trip." Source: https://www.rnz.co.nz/
DENVER - The City and County of Denver and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited’s GridAKL, Auckland's startup hub fostering technology, innovation and entrepreneurship communities, have signed a City2City agreement. This partnership paves the way for business exchange and collaborative innovation between the two cities, positioning Denver as a prominent technology hub on the global stage.
“Denver businesses are the best in the world and deserve avenues to expand and thrive at home while also leading on the global stage,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This new partnership will benefit both cities for years to come by supporting companies as they explore exciting global opportunities, connecting our entrepreneurial ecosystems, fostering innovation, and creating lasting benefits for Denver and Auckland businesses and communities alike."
This City2City agreement was established through Denver Economic Development & Opportunity’s (DEDO) Global Business Development. Under this agreement, eligible businesses from both Denver and Auckland will receive support, including connections to local networks and access to free or discounted workspaces for up to 90 days. Companies looking to scale will benefit from the resources needed to expand successfully, gaining access to co-working spaces, talent, incentives, events, and grants in both markets. These agreements also pave the way for expanded foreign direct investment opportunities.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited is Auckland’s economic and cultural agency and Chief Executive Nick Hill said this agreement “will help technology businesses explore opportunities in both Auckland and Denver, helping them expand their market reach, and get greater access to local resources.”
Denver has signed City2City agreements with London; Brest, France; the State of New South Wales, Australia; Guadalajara, Mexico and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through these partnerships, Denver is strengthening its position as an innovative leader in a global network that is creating supportive environments for companies to find success in foreign markets.
“As a city, we aim to both attract foreign companies to establish their U.S. operations in our vibrant city and create resources and pathways for Denver’s local businesses and economy to thrive, making this City2City collaboration invaluable in positioning Denver as a global city,” said Adeeb Khan, Executive Director of DEDO. “Denver was recently recognized by ADP Research as having the top job market in the nation, out of 55 metro areas. We are proud to be an entrepreneurial and innovation hub for businesses to access assistance, programs, and networking opportunities.”
In addition to the City2City agreement, Denver is home to a stellar and growing community of New Zealand businesses and government representatives that contribute to the local economy. Through this bilateral agreement, Denver hopes to further support and expand this community, while also showcasing Auckland and its region as an exciting market for Denver companies to explore.
________________
About Denver Economic Development & Opportunity Denver Economic Development & Opportunity is creating an economy that works for everyone. Learn more at denvergov.org/economicdevelopment.
About Tātaki Auckland UnlimitedTātaki Auckland Unlimited is Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economic and cultural agency committed to making the region a desirable place to live, work, visit, invest and do business. Learn more at www.aucklandunlimited.com
New Zealand’s Lanaco has signed a major deal with Unilever-owned air purifier manufacturer Blueair for its world-leading New Zealand, natural, renewable woollen air filter.
The company has hailed the new partnership as a truly significant step in the commercialisation of its Ecostatic® wool filters and a boost for the air purifier market that has previously relied on synthetic air filters.
Lanaco’s Ecostatic® wool filters have made it into outer space on NASA rockets for Moon and Mars missions, and were part of the facemasks that kept the New Zealand team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics free of COVID. Now they have found a home on Earth.
Lanaco founder and chief executive Nick Davenport says the new partnership with Blueair, a leading Swedish air wellness pioneer, represents a step-change in the global air filtration market. Blueair is the first to integrate Lanaco’s natural, renewable New Zealand wool fibre-based EcoStatic® technology into its range of portable air purifiers.
“Blueair's dedication to innovation, sustainability and quality resonates with our core values at Lanaco,” Nick Davenport says.
“Our company has developed wool-based filter media because wool provides both the basis for true performance and the best sustainability credentials. We are thrilled that our partnership with Blueair captures this capability whilst also recognising the environmental benefits of woollen filters as well.
“Just as Icebreaker did for wool clothing, Lanaco is bringing its branded New Zealand wool technology to the global filtration market by partnering with one of Europe’s greatest consumer goods companies.”
Blueair chief executive Andy Lu says partnering with Lanaco to produce the industry's first woollen, biodegradable filter is not just a milestone for Blueair, “but a transformative moment for the entire air purification industry”.
Lanaco’s EcoStatic® electrostatic filter technology is uniquely supported by the established Ovis Global™ Astino® sheep breeding programme, which , which is pivotal in its success as wool with superior filtration performance is being bred for. This initiative presents a long-term growth opportunity for the farming sector, with thousands of tonnes of New Zealand wool potentially benefiting from this scientifically sophisticated application of wool as a novel biomaterial.
Targeting a global filter media market valued at over $US8 billion, Lanaco says the Unilever partnership is the first of several high volume market opportunities that Lanaco is presently progressing to full commercialisation.
About Lanaco
Lanaco is an Auckland-based, predominantly New Zealand-owned company that manufactures woollen-based, natural and renewable materials for use in air filtration. Focused on the principles of sustainability, performance and innovation, Lanaco’s Ecostatic® product range provides superior, natural solutions for use in air conditioning, appliance safety and healthcare products, which all share the principal function of delivering clean air for people to breathe.
The technology is underpinned by extensive wool science and a bespoke New Zealand sheep breeding programme called Astino®, providing the unique data and knowledge of fibre performance, which make its output wool increasingly relevant to Lanaco’s customer needs.
EcoStatic® is a non-woven, natural, wool-rich fibre material which possesses a strong electrostatic charge enabling it to remove the tiniest particles from the air. Filters from this are being used in space by NASA in its trials of vehicles to go to the Moon and Mars.
About Blueair
Founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1996, Blueair is a world-leading producer of air purification solutions for home and professional use., Blueair delivers innovative, best-in-class, energy-efficient products and services sold in more than 60 countries. The company became a part of the Unilever family of brands in 2016.
www.lanaco.co.nz
Shutterspeed has been selected for investment by leading global pre-seed venture capital firm, Techstars. Out of the 4,400 companies that have worked with Techstars, it is only the third New Zealand company to be backed by the US global startup network and it’s US$116B portfolio market cap.
Shutterspeed is developing a cutting-edge AI-powered business assistant for content creators and creative professionals. This investment highlights the growing recognition of New Zealand as a hub of technology innovation.
“Henry and I have deep, specialist industry knowledge in production, and an equally large understanding of the struggles that owners in the space have,” says Freddie McKenzie, Co-founder, Shutterspeed. “Production companies need to a better way to understand how time is spent, who is spending it on what, what resources are in use, and what client needs to be billed for it all, so we decided to build Shutterspeed.”
Shutterspeed’s selection for this year’s highly competitive cohort marks a significant win for New Zealand technology on the global stage.
The first tool of its kind Co-founders Freddie Mckenzie and Henry Collinson designed Shutterspeed with a desire to help content creators and creative professionals remove the burden of administrative tasks and focus on what they do best: creating.
Shutterspeed is the first performance metrics tool that automatically tracks time across different stages of the production process without any manual input from users. It was developed to accommodate the unique and volatile workflows of modern digital creators.
Powered by Contextual Conversational AI, Shutterspeed allows creative professionals to see real-time data on their project timelines, profit margins and productivity, empowering efficient project management.
Key features include:
Automatic time tracking: Tracks production, post-production and revision time seamlessly.
Real-time budget tracking: Provides live updates on production budgets, ensuring creators never go over their allocated costs.
Deadline management: Helps professionals meet project deadlines across all projects with real-time notifications and dashboard tracking.
Specifically developed for creative professionals, Shutterspeed integrates with popular industry-standard tools like Adobe After Effects, Premiere Pro and Audition. More integrations will be available soon for Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom and more.
Empowering creatives with data Shutterspeed demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation within New Zealand’s growing technology sector.
Mckenzie and Collison, who were originally neighbours, bonded over their shared passion for technology and innovation, which eventually led to the development of Shutterspeed. Born out of an existing Auckland-based production company called VIVID Creative, Shutterspeed was officially launched in early 2023 under the fitting company name Nextdoor Technologies.
“Creativity thrives on instinct, but when powered by data, it charts a clear pathway to success. We’ve all under quoted and underestimated a project before, and eating into your own profit margin is never nice. With Shutterspeed being fully automatic, you can simply set and forget the tracker and focus on your creative endeavours,” says Henry Collison.
“We designed Shutterspeed to streamline workflows and improve pricing strategy for creative professionals and content creators. It’s a great honour to be selected by Techstars, and it’s an exciting moment for Kiwi tech startups to be recognised on the global stage. Our country is fast becoming a hub of innovation, and Shutterspeed is proud to be part of that movement.”
Shutterspeed is now in its pre-alpha stage. Creative professionals are invited to book free demo sessions at https://shutterspeed.io/book-a-demo to explore Shutterspeed’s capabilities firsthand.
About Shutterspeed Shutterspeed is an AI-driven tool designed to help creatives manage their projects more efficiently. By automatically tracking time, budgets and deadlines without manual input, Shutterspeed provides real-time insights into project performance and profitability. Integrated with industry-standard creative tools, Shutterspeed empowers users to focus on creativity while optimising project management. Visit www.shutterspeed.io or follow us onLinkedIn and Instagram.
Americarna and Steam Incorporated are excited to announce the addition of a heritage rail experience for Americarna 2025.
A festival first for Americarna, this unique opportunity will provide visitors with a novel travel opportunity as part of this annual celebration of American car-culture. Steam Inc. will operate a special train journey from Wellington to Taranaki in February, offering a nostalgic rail experience alongside the 2025 Americarna event, and the many other stand-out community events and celebrations taking place over the four-day event, 19th - 22nd February.
Departing 20th February 2025, the train will take passengers through the heart of the North Island, allowing them to soak in the scenery before arriving in Taranaki for a weekend of classic American cars, street parades, and lively festivities.
In addition to out-of-region visitors, Taranaki locals will also get the chance to ride the heritage train on the Saturday of the Festival, with short trips departing from New Plymouth’s iconic Wind Wand throughout the day. This provides a unique opportunity for the community to experience vintage rail travel right in their backyard.
John Rae, who founded Americarna in 2007, is extremely pleased that Steam Incorporated is bringing this additional experience to Supercheap Auto Americarna 2025, and says, "Bringing additional people to our region via the rail experience as well as giving locals the opportunity to join in on Americarna is unique. Ride the train Friday, down to Stratford and Hāwera, returning to New Plymouth for the Friday night cruising in the CBD. Locals having the chance to ride the train Saturday morning is a first, I believe this will be hugely popular so do book your Supercheap Auto Americarna 2025 unique rail experience thanks to Steam Incorporated and Venture Taranaki".
"We’re thrilled to see Americarna continuing to evolve its event offering, and thinking of unique and interesting ways to develop their event for locals, and visitors alike. Encouraging out-of-town visitation is important for our region, bringing much-needed support to our accommodation, hospitality, and retail sectors, so we’re thrilled to see the addition of this heritage rail experience, and look forward to welcoming its passengers in February 2025," added Brylee Flutey, General Manager Destination at Venture Taranaki.
"This also serves as a reminder that we’re in for a busy summer, with an influx of visitors across multiple major events like Te Matatini, which kicks off right after Americarna. We encourage locals and businesses to seize this exciting opportunity-be open, stock up, staff up, and showcase the Taranaki manaakitanga we’re famous for," says Flutey.
"Americarna serves as a fantastically unique addition to our excursion programme for 2025," Steam Incorporated’s Tommy Secker said. "We are proud to be bringing our train north as part of the Americarna festival, and to also showcase Taranaki as a region. It is an untapped part of our rail network, and we are excited at the offerings available for the Taranaki community and those coming from other parts of the country."
Key Details of the Americarna Rail Journey:
Dates: February 20th - 23rd, 2025
Departure: From Paraparaumu, with stops in Levin, Palmerston North, and Whanganui en route to Taranaki
Tour Bookings: Contact Steam Inc. at 0800 783 264 or email admin@steaminc.org.nz
More information:
https://www.steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/the-americarna-rail-experience/
https://www.steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/taranaki-like-no-other-rail-experience/
Bookings for short train trips from the Wind Wand on Saturday 22 February will be available from late October.
About Americarna: Americarna is New Zealand’s premier celebration of American car culture, drawing hundreds of classic, vintage, and custom vehicles to the streets of Taranaki every year. Held annually since 2007, the festival attracts car enthusiasts from across the country and beyond. In 2025, Americarna will again run in Taranaki, 19-22 February, with a series of events around the mountain showcasing the manaakitanga of our communities big and small. www.americarna.com
About Steam Incorporated: Steam Incorporated operates heritage train tours throughout New Zealand, offering passengers the chance to experience the golden age of rail travel on vintage locomotives and carriages that are restored inhouse at their Paekakariki workshops. Led by a passionate team, driven by the desire to share NZ’s rail history with the general public.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the first-ever Americarna heritage rail adventure. Secure your seats now for an unforgettable journey to Taranaki.
For more information and to book your place on the train heading to Taranaki, visit www.steaminc.org.nz
Defence Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the first of five new C-130J-30 Hercules to arrive in New Zealand at a ceremony at the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Base Auckland, Whenuapai.
“This is an historic day for our New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) and our nation. The new Hercules fleet is a significant Government investment in our ability to respond to national and international events, anytime and anywhere,” Ms Collins says.
“In an increasingly volatile world, where NZDF will be called upon more often, it is essential the next generation of personnel is equipped to keep New Zealanders safe, using modern, efficient and fit-for-purpose assets.
“The new Hercules will be a mission critical capability for NZDF and a national asset. It can fly further and faster than its predecessor, and can carry more combat capable personnel, equipment and life-saving aid to communities, whether they be in New Zealand, the Pacific or further afield.”
The remainder of the fleet of five aircraft is scheduled to touchdown in New Zealand by the end of the year. They replace the existing fleet of C-130H Hercules, which have collectively conducted more than 97,000 flights since first being deployed in the 1960s.
“Much like its predecessor, the new Hercules will be the workhorse of the NZDF, regularly deploying combat capable personnel on operations, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions, and search and rescue deployments.”
The C-130H fleet will be retired early next year after nearly 60 years’ service. In recent years it has been involved in numerous major NZDF operations, such as the evacuation of hundreds of people from Kabul, Afghanistan, the delivery of aid and equipment to communities affected by Cyclone Gabrielle, and the transport of troops and military aid to the United Kingdom in support of Ukraine.
“The new fleet ensures our ongoing interoperability with international partners. Many of our partners use this aircraft for similar transport missions, including our ally Australia, and partners such as the United States, Canada, France and Germany,” Ms Collins says.
“New Zealand crews have spent the past 18 months in the United States learning how to operate and maintain the Hercules.
“This intensive training programme has further strengthened our relationship with the United States Air Force.”
The new fleet will be operated by the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s No. 40 Squadron and be based at Base Auckland, Whenuapai.
Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
Checkmate, the fast-growing provider of comprehensive pre-employment screening solutions, is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its Seed funding round, securing over $1.6 million USD from Wavemaker Partners, Southeast Asia’s leading early-stage VC investing in B2B, Deep Tech, and Sustainability startups. This investment marks a pivotal moment in Checkmate’s journey, enabling the company to expand into new markets and enhance its platform, delivering even greater value to its clients.
Founded in 2019, Checkmate tackles critical challenges in HR and recruitment, including lengthy and inefficient hiring processes, high-risk hiring decisions, and the complex compliance requirements of various legal standards.
The company has positioned itself as a leader in HR tech by seamlessly aggregating all pre-employment background checks and reference verifications into a single, fast, and simple experience for all stakeholders.
“At Checkmate, we’ve made it our mission to turn what is typically an unenjoyable and cumbersome task, such as police vetting, into a streamlined and efficient process,” said Scott Inglis, CEO and Founder of Checkmate. “Our solution significantly reduces the time-to-hire and enhances the candidate experience, ultimately helping businesses acquire top talent more effectively.”
Andy Hwang, General Partner at Wavemaker Partners, said: “Checkmate is advancing the HR industry with a platform that integrates pre-employment screening, compliance checks, onboarding, and AI-driven reference checking. This comprehensive solution accelerates hiring, reducing time-to-hire from weeks to a mere three days, while also enhancing compliance and fraud prevention. Additionally, by leveraging referral data for personalized onboarding, Checkmate improves the overall candidate experience–an often overlooked aspect of the process. With over 500 enterprise clients across nine countries, Checkmate enables HR teams to focus on strategic priorities. We are pleased to support the company as they continue to expand to more markets.”
The Seed funding will be used to fuel Checkmate’s expansion into existing and new markets, including Australia, as well as US and Southeast Asia. The funds will also support improvements in the company’s technological capabilities and user experience as more organisations seek reliable and efficient pre-employment screening.
“We are excited to have secured this funding from Wavemaker,” said Inglis. “They have been incredibly supportive of our vision, and this investment enables us to continue building a solution that our clients love. With Wavemaker’s backing, we are poised to scale our operations, deepen our impact, and continue innovating to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”
Source: https://www.checkmate.tech/
An Amazon MGM Studios production is coming to Aotearoa, with Auckland announced as the primary shooting location for the star-studded project.
The Wrecking Crew will be directed by award-winning film-maker Ángel Manuel Soto and feature an impressive cast including Aquaman’s Jason Momoa, Guardians of the Galaxy’s Dave Bautista, and New Zealand’s own Temuera Morrison and Frankie Adams.
The production will carry a significant economic impact, says Tātaki Auckland Unlimited chief executive Nick Hill, with more than 1400 local cast, crew and extras expected to be employed. As well as contributing to Auckland’s $1.7 billion screen sector, the project will inject a healthy boost into local businesses, including in sectors such as accommodation, hospitality, construction and transportation.
The action-comedy will see Momoa and Bautista star as two half-brothers - one a loose-cannon cop (Momoa) and the other a disciplined Navy Seal (Bautista). After 20-odd years of bad blood, they must work together to unravel the conspiracy behind their father’s murder in Hawaii.
Speaking to the Herald, Hill says he believes the production will be the largest to come to Aotearoa’s shores since Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
“I’m thrilled. It’s setting an extremely strong pipeline for international film productions here in New Zealand,” he says. “Post-Covid and its impacts on tourism, hospitality, the film industry and local business, these opportunities and investment are a real shot in the arm.”
Filming is expected to begin around the Auckland region from October and will take at least a “couple of months”, say Hill.
It’s currently uncertain whether filming will take place in other regions across Aotearoa, with Hill stressing the project will primarily be based in Auckland’s CBD and locations outside of the city.
“The Wrecking Crew will be filmed in iconic locations around the region, transforming public spaces, roads and tunnels into cinematic backdrops,” says Hill.
“Auckland has become an A-grade destination for film-making and this project will highlight its iconic places - people want to go to the locations they see in movies, making this really valuable for Auckland tourism. It really drives the profile of the city.”
The impact of the project on local economy will be “meaningful”, Hill adds, injecting a significant boost not only into the region’s growing screen sector, but local accommodation; an industry that has struggled due to the seasonal drop in tourists. Location costs and services will also benefit local businesses such as hospitality venues, transportation providers, and construction.
“It’s really meaningful,” he says. “Auckland’s film industry is growing - it’s now valued at $1.7b and employs around 8400 people. It’s injecting money into the region, employing people, and is really valuable for the city’s profile.”
Screen Auckland, the region’s film office and a division of Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, says it will provide support throughout filming by facilitating film permits and ensuring smooth operations for the production, local businesses and community organisations.
As the project will not be filmed in-studio, there may be some disruption to the public; however, Hill stresses a number of measures will be taken to minimise any disturbances, including communication with potentially affected businesses.
“We look forward to welcoming Amazon MGM Studios and the entire production to Tāmaki Makaurau, and to ensuring they have a special and memorable experience in our vibrant and thriving region.”
The imminent arrival of the project comes three years after Amazon decided to move production of future seasons of The Lord of the Rings to the United Kingdom, cutting thousands of jobs and raising concerns about the impacts on local economy and tourism. An earlier document released under the Official Information Act had warned the franchise would potentially leave New Zealand “should another destination ‘closer to home’ (for example the UK) deliver the same value proposition”, despite Aotearoa’s long-standing reputation as the “home of Middle-earth”.
The news was seen as a nightmare scenario for Aotearoa’s tourism industry, with officials at the time warning the decades of investment funnelled into The Lord of the Rings could evaporate if another country became associated with the franchise.
Meanwhile, Momoa has become something of an “ambassador” for Aotearoa, Hill says, with the action hero often speaking of his love for the country. In April, the Aquaman star shared a heartwarming tribute to New Zealand after filming wrapped for the upcoming Minecraft movie, writing on Instagram: “I love this country. Aotearoa New Zealand, you are magical. Mahalo for letting me film here.”
Momoa had been spotted at various spots across the country earlier this year, popping into Rotorua’s Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa in March and taking co-star Jack Black for dinner at Tanuki’s Cave in Auckland.
Last month, Momoa had a successful gig at Auckland venue the Tuning Fork with his band Oof Tatata, comprising Momoa himself and long-time friends Mike Hayes and Kenny Dale. The band’s merch was stocked at Ponsonby Rd vintage outlet Search and Destroy, a store Momoa called his “favourite place in Aotearoa” on Instagram.
Momoa later announced on the platform that Oof Tatata will be back to play at least nine shows throughout New Zealand later this year, with the gigs slated for weekends off from filming The Wrecking Crew.
The upcoming production marks Momoa’s third in New Zealand in recent years, beginning with the Apple TV+ series Chief of War in 2023 and A Minecraft Movie, alongside Jack Black, last summer.
Frankie Adams, who has been filming the live-action version of the Disney movie Moana in Atlanta alongside fellow Kiwis Rena Owen and John Tui, told her Instagram followers she was grateful to be joining the project, while Once Were Warriors star Temuera Morrison has recently wrapped filming the swashbuckler action drama The Bluff with Priyanka Chopra and Karl Urban on the Gold Coast.
Ángel Manuel Soto, a Puerto Rican filmmaker, is best known for directing the 2023 American superhero flick Blue Beetle, the 14th film in the DC extended universe.
Earlier this year, Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega and a cast of extras were spotted being directed by New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi for the upcoming science-fiction film, Klara and the Sun, on High St in Auckland’s CBD. Filming had initially taken place in the Queenstown area, according to reports, while several local businesses told the Herald the filming process was smooth and disruption was minimal.
Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Technology companies are among the startups which will benefit from increases to current thresholds of exempt employee share schemes, Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Revenue Minister Simon Watts say.
Tax exempt thresholds for the schemes are increasing as part of the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Bill, which has had its first reading in Parliament.
The Bill proposes increasing the thresholds relating to exempt employee share schemes to recognise the effect of past inflation and to provide a buffer against future inflation.
“The changes adjust for inflation and lift the tax exempt thresholds of these schemes, which could boost recruitment and help early-stage companies, including startups, to succeed,” Ms Collins says.
“This is the first step towards meeting our commitment of supporting startups by looking at changes to the tax system.
“We are committed to rebuilding the economy, and this is one of the many levers we will use to achieve that.”
New Zealand’s tech sector contributed $22.56 billion to GDP in 2023, employing nearly 119,500 people in 25,500-plus businesses.
“The Bill proposes lifting the maximum value of shares offered to employees under the scheme from $5000 to $7500 a year, and raising the maximum discount an employer can provide on the market value of those shares from $2000 to $3000,” Mr Watts says.
Employee share schemes are arrangements where shares in an employer company are provided in whole or in part in return for services.
They are a tool employers use, particularly in the startup and tech sector, to align employees’ work incentives with the economic goals of their employers.
“We are also looking into aspects of the Foreign Investment Funds regime as we work to grow economic investment and productivity. Public feedback on this will be considered as the Government reviews the Tax and Social Policy Work Programme,” Mr Watts says.
Notes to Editors:
Exempt Employee Share Schemes allow employers to provide exempt benefits to employees. Strict eligibility criteria under section CW 26C of the Income Tax Act 2007 includes, among other things, the following conditions:
In recognition of the impact of inflation since the thresholds were last set, and to provide a buffer against future inflation, the proposed amendments in the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2024-25, Emergency Response, and Remedial Measures) Bill would increase:
The proposed amendment would be effective for offers of shares made under exempt employee share schemes on and after 1 April 2025.
© American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand Inc • Site by HighlandCreative.com.au
