Ka nui te mihi kia koutou.
Ka mihi ki te mana whenua ko Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.
Kia ora and good morning everyone.
Thank you Fran and Simon for inviting me here today, and importantly your leadership of this forum over several years now.
I want to acknowledge David Gehrenbeck, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy. Thank you for the work you and your team do, each and every day, for the US–New Zealand relationship.
I also want to acknowledge Jonathan Mason, the Chair of the NZ–US Council, and Mike Hearn from AmCham, both wonderful champions for the business relationship.
It’s great to see Todd McClay here, too. The hardest working Trade Minister in the world is making one of his rare appearances here in New Zealand!
One of the things that excites me most about the US is the extraordinary well of energy and innovation that exists in the American business community. That energy, that innovation, is something I passionately believe we can be doing more to tap into.
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming together this morning. I intend to talk, first, about the role of the United States in the world and, second, about what my Government is doing to re-energise our relationship with Washington DC. Then, I know Fran wants me to take your questions.
I want to speak candidly about the vital role the United States plays in the world, as there are few countries that matter more to our security and prosperity.
In a world that is more contested and more complicated, New Zealand’s interests are best served by an America that is strongly engaged. A world where the US acts as a force for stability. A world where the US economy, which accounts for over a quarter of global GDP, continues to act as an engine room for growth. A world where the US acts as the standard-bearer for democratic institutions, for the rule of law, and the power of markets.
Perhaps because we were living in more benign times, previous New Zealand governments have not said enough about the importance of the stabilising security role of the US in the Indo-Pacific. During my travel this year, I’ve seen the US furnishing security on several occasions.
It was starkly apparent when I visited Korea and the Demilitarised Zone, accompanied by an American General who commands tens of thousands of US soldiers, sailors and aviators in South Korea.
On one side of the DMZ is one of the world’s poorest countries, a country organised to serve its autocratic leadership’s ambitions. Then, on the side of the Korean border, where I stood, there’s a thriving democracy, the world’s 14th-largest economy, the home of world-beating technology firms, and the source of a cultural phenomenon called K-Pop. The difference could not be more marked.
But it was a salutary reminder. South Korea would not be the vibrant economy that it is today were it not for the security partnership on the Korean Peninsula. Something furnished by American forces. Supported by other countries too, including New Zealand, but heavily outnumbered by our US friends.
My visit to the DMZ between North and South Korea in September was a clear illustration to me that there is no prosperity without security. A stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific is not just in the interests of the US and New Zealand. Security is also in your interests as businesses: our exporters depend on safe and secure trade lanes; and your companies succeed best when economies are growing rather than fretting about instability.
In contrast, Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine, now supported by North Korean munitions and North Korean troops on the frontline, is an example of where conflict has caused higher inflation and significant economic suffering for people all around the world – unbelievably high energy prices in Western Europe, high grain prices in Africa, and high rice prices in the Asia-Pacific.
Ladies and gentlemen, with many old certainties shifting, the United States remains an indispensable economic partner. America is an extraordinary economic machine. It remains the world’s largest economy by quite some distance. And it is an exceptional source of ideas, of innovation, and of investment.
Those who know me will know there is little that energises me more than the vibrancy and inventiveness of American business. With US firms one of our largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment, those businesses are injecting real vibrancy into the New Zealand economy. Whether it's building data centres, as Microsoft has here in Auckland, or Hollywood studios whose productions have created the ecosystem from which the vibrant Kiwi film industry has sprung, or West Coast venture capitalists, enabling frontier firms like Sir Peter Beck’s RocketLab to do extraordinary things on the Mahia Peninsula, or even iconic American firms, like McDonalds, that are responsible for so many Kiwis’ first jobs – including mine!
American businesses are integral to our society and the functioning of our economy, generating prosperity for us here in New Zealand, and paying dividends for America.
I now want to focus on my Government’s ambitions for the US relationship.
You will no doubt all have been waiting for me to comment on the US election and what it means for New Zealand. The bottom line is our relationship is strong and enduring, and will continue to be so, irrespective of changing administrations.
I have the greatest of respect for the Biden Administration’s achievements. At APEC, I thanked the outgoing President for his 50 years of public service and leadership, and for the contribution he made to the relationship with New Zealand.
I was also delighted to speak to President-elect Trump ten days ago, now. What came through loud and clear in that call was his fondness for New Zealand. We spoke about world affairs, but we also discussed the need to build on the very deep foundations of our relationship.
Whoever is in office, whether Democrat or Republican, my Government’s job is to pursue New Zealand’s interests, to fully harness what our two countries offer one other, and ensure the relationship is at its best.
So, you can expect my Government to bring action and urgency across three inter-connected lines of effort with the United States:
Growing both countries’ prosperity;
Strengthening our security; and
Deepening our relationship.
I will address each in turn.
The US recently eclipsed Australia to become our second-largest export market. And it’s growing exceptionally well: two-way trade is 36 percent higher this year than before the pandemic, with a trend towards value over volume. We offer American exporters open access to our market, with the main driver of growth in our exports being the strength and relative openness of their economy.
Our primary sector remains a mainstay, with nearly $6 billion of safe, sustainable and premium agricultural products sold – exports that often compliment US agriculture producers.
We have also seen phenomenal growth in services trade, with tourism and recreation now a bigger export category than beef.
As a company like RocketLab illustrates, the US is also a rapidly growing market for Kiwi entrepreneurs that specialise in technology and other innovative exports. And our products support a range of critical US supply chains and jobs.
My Government will continue to work with colleagues in Washington DC to sustain that trade and, where possible, to increase it, by tackling the non-tariff barriers that snarl up exporters’ trade. We will also work with the Administration to build our economic security agenda.
I am determined that we attract more, quality US Foreign Direct Investment. The US is already our third-largest investment partner. But my Government will improve our regulatory settings to attract more US investment flow. And we are pitching directly to American investors. When I was in the US in July, I met a series of them. And I intend to bring a select group of investors to New Zealand in 2025 to showcase what we have to offer.
As I said earlier, there can be no prosperity without security. Besides Australia, the United States is our most important defence and security partner.
We benefit from that partnership, whether that’s the US role in supporting a stable Indo-Pacific, sharing intelligence, or busting the organised criminal gangs that prey on our communities.
New Zealand, too, is an active partner making a difference for our friends in Washington DC. New Zealand personnel join the US in operations and exercises from the Middle-East to the Indo-Pacific.
I talked earlier about what we do on the Korean Peninsula. We also cooperate with the US (and other partners) to uphold freedom of navigation, whether in the Red Sea or the South China Sea. These are freedoms crucial for ensuring New Zealand’s trade can flow unimpeded.
And our joint membership of the Five Eyes directly contributes to protecting New Zealand’s national security interests.
New Zealand welcomes the step-up in US commitment in the Pacific. We will continue to work with Washington DC as a constructive partner for our region.
New Zealand must also remain a credible strategic partner. That’s why my Government tasked Defence to complete a capability plan. One that ensures the NZDF is fit for purpose and builds on its capability for tomorrow. That is going to take money, and we all know the economic environment is challenging. So, the Government will need to be careful and thoughtful as we come up with the Defence Capability Plan. In coming months, though, we will announce capability priorities out to 2040.
Ladies and gentlemen, with the Trump Administration coming to power, you can and you should expect us to be investing in building connections. Indeed, that is a focus right now. In addition to talking with the President-elect last week, I used my July visit to build connections with influential Republicans on the Hill and elsewhere in Washington DC. Winston Peters has been doing the same and, as the new Administration unfolds, other ministers will be connecting with their new counterparts, too.
I know from my personal experience just how important those relationships are. They enable us to find new areas of opportunity and they also create the bandwidth to deal with areas of disagreement. There will always be areas of difference between Wellington and Washington DC – whoever occupies the White House. Just as we have things on which we do not see eye to eye with Australia, that is true with the US, too. But these differences are dwarfed by our common interests, and so the relationships we build will enable us to manage those differences sensibly
New Zealanders feel they know the US well – whether through tourism, media, popular culture, sports, business, or education. After living and working for many years in the US, I worry that New Zealanders assume too much about America.
It’s imperative that our emerging and future leaders, our entrepreneurs, our scientists, Māori, and people from other walks of life familiarise themselves with what the United States is really about. A young country with one of the fastest growing populations in the OECD, it’s not a monolithic place. Rather its layered with sub-cultures and sub-geographies.
America is growing steadily more ethnically diverse, with the population of a State like California now more than 40 percent Hispanic - even while others on the East Coast remain predominantly White. This is a country where the average resident of Mississippi earns significantly less than half as much as a New Yorker. It’s a country that can embrace the Olympic phenomenon that is Simone Biles, while at the same time sitting at the feet of the Sage of Omaha, Warren Buffett.
And, in a similar vein, we need to increase the number of influential leaders in the US who know New Zealand better and understand our priorities, too.
Ladies and gentlemen, my Government’s focus continues to be on growing New Zealand’s economy and easing the cost of living. That doesn’t happen by looking inward.
The strength of the New Zealand economy depends on the success of our world-leading goods and services exporters – many of you are here today.
Access to foreign markets remains the key to growing our exports. And, yet, the environment in which we operate is more turbulent than it has been for the past thirty years:
Enthusiasm for trade liberalisation has waned.
Efficiency is giving way to caution, resilience and protectionism.
And global stability and security underpinned by international law is fraying.
New Zealand is not unique in wrestling with these changes. Working with friends and partners is key to protect and promote our interests. I am passionate about the United States. But, through our foreign policy reset, we are bringing new energy and new activism to all our partnerships in other parts of the Indo-Pacific, too, whether Southeast Asia, Japan, or India. These are all consequential relations for our security and our prosperity, too. Just as is China, with President Xi Jinping and I agreeing last week on the importance of sustaining our already strong NZ–China relationship, one where we continue to capitalise on areas of cooperation, while not shying away from areas of difference, which we will discuss in a predictable and consistent manner.
Today’s focus is the US, which is and will remain a critical relationship for New Zealand. My Government is primed and ready to work with the incoming US Administration to create new opportunities for both of our countries to benefit. To build the stability and resilience in our region that we both need to safeguard our people, our prosperity, and our freedom of action.
I, for one, am looking forward to that work. Thank you.
Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/
As global competition in the film industry intensifies, the New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) welcomes the direction of the government’s new draft creative and cultural strategy, Amplify. This strategy aims to grow New Zealand’s creative sector's contribution and aligns with NZFC’s ambitions for our film industry.
Graeme Mason, Chair of the Film Commission, says a delegation of 30 Kiwi businesspeople will visit the United States to promote New Zealand as a world-class destination for screen production. At the same time, an NZFC representative will attend the NFDC Film Bazaarin India to promote New Zealand films, projects and filmmaking talent, as well as co-production and inbound production and post-production opportunities with New Zealand.
“New Zealand should be as well known for its creative and technological innovations as we are for our dairy exports and world-class tourism. There is no better industry than our vibrant film industry for showcasing that on the world stage.”
The upcoming trip to Los Angeles called KIA ORA LA, delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will facilitate events and meetings for screen sector leaders and assist marketing multi-million-dollar infrastructure facilities.
NZFC’s work with international clients supports, private-sector businesses who rely on attracting offshore production to sustain their operations. The Australian, United Kingdom, and Irish national screen agencies maintain a permanent presence in Los Angeles and compete directly with New Zealand for productions.
NZFC Chief Executive Annie Murray says New Zealand needs to do everything it can to encourage multi-million-dollar film, television and streaming projects to choose to film and/or post-produce here.
“The NZ screen industry contributes over $1 billion annually to the economy, and we are working hard to grow this. New Zealand must remain at the heart of international conversations on the most successful locations for basing film and television productions.”
Murray says NZFC’s upcoming visit to South Asia's premier film market in India also provides compelling opportunities.
“New Zealand has so much to offer the Indian film industry. The major Bollywood film Kannappa wrapped up filming in the Bay of Plenty last year. A local producer supported the production, with significant accommodation and catering contracts also boosting the regional economy. We’re confident this visit will spark interest among other Indian filmmakers in picking New Zealand as their next backdrop.”
© Scoop Media https://www.scoop.co.nz/
The NZUS Council looks forward to farewelling our 2024 cohort of congressional interns as they head to Washington DC to take part in the NZUS Council Mike Moore Congressional Internship Programme.
NZUS Council Chairman Jonathan Mason said “the internship programme provides a rare opportunity for New Zealand university students to gain firsthand experience of American politics. It is designed to help the next generation of New Zealand leaders build a deeper understanding of the USA through working in Congress as well as gaining a deeper appreciation of the value of the bilateral relationship. It fits very well with our goal of providing platforms for New Zealand and US engagement and fostering close bilateral connections.”
The internship programme is named in honour of former New Zealand Ambassador to the USA, Rt. Hon Mike Moore, who established the programme after the Christchurch earthquakes in 2010-11. Through the programme, exemplary students from across New Zealand are selected to work in the offices of US Members of Congress. Since 2012, 40 students from New Zealand Universities have undertaken internships for up to ten weeks in the offices of various Members of Congress.
This year the Council’s programme partners are the University of Canterbury Law School and the University of Auckland Law School and with support from Air New Zealand and the New Zealand Embassy in Washington DC. This year’s intake are Benjamin Christy (University of Auckland), Isellah Gordon (University of Canterbury, Jessica Wratt (University of Canterbury) and Silas Zhang (University of Canterbury).
“The opportunity to observe the US law making process from the inside, and to build their understanding of America’s politics and culture, is very special for these students” said University of Canterbury Dean of the School of Law, Professor Petra Butler. “It is a unique opportunity that enhances the development of our students and helps prepare them for their careers and making a difference in the world.”
Auckland University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Strategic Engagement, Dr Erik Lithander, said “This year’s internship programme takes place at a historic moment during the transition from one US Presidency to the next. The interns will gain invaluable insights and forge meaningful connections with Members of Congress and their staff”.
The interns depart in two groups, on 9th and 14th November.
For more information, contact Fiona Cooper, NZUS Council Executive Director: fiona@nzuscouncil.org | +64 21 934 466
New maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities for the GTF engine expected in 2026
Pratt & Whitney, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, and Air New Zealand today hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a US$150 million, 14,000 square meter expansion of its Christchurch Engine Centre. The expansion will add maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capabilities for the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine in New Zealand, with capacity for up to 140 GTF engine overhauls planned annually by 2032.
Construction of the facility expansion begins this month, and the first GTF engine overhaul is expected in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Christchurch Engine Centre was founded in 1948 by Air New Zealand. In 2001, the airline and Pratt & Whitney partnered to develop the joint venture, focusing on the maintenance, repair and overhaul of JT8D then V2500 engines.
Today, the Christchurch Engine Centre employs more than 400 highly skilled staff and has overhauled more than 1,500 IAE International Aero Engines AG V2500 engines.
“This project between Air New Zealand and global aviation leader Pratt & Whitney marks a significant investment to New Zealand’s economy, helps expand our aviation industrial capability, and adds 200 high-value jobs into the Canterbury region,” said Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand.
“The Christchurch Engine Centre has a proven track record of delivering exceptional performance and quality with a highly capable workforce,” said Shane Eddy, president, Pratt & Whitney. “With the Asia-Pacific region projected to experience the highest aviation growth globally over the next 20 years, it is a strategic imperative for us to invest here and partner with Air New Zealand as we continue to expand the GTF MRO network in support of the growing fleet.”
The GTF engine is the most fuel-efficient and sustainable engine for single aisle aircraft available today. GTF engines lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions up to 20% relative to previous generation aircraft and have a 75% smaller noise footprint. Around the world, GTF engines have saved airlines 2 billion gallons of fuel and 20 million metric tons of carbon emissions since entry into service in 2016.
Air New Zealand Chair Dame Therese Walsh said the 14,000 square meter expansion will allow the airline to service its V2500 engines powering the A320ceo aircraft and PW1100G-JM GTF engines on the A320/A321neo aircraft right here in Aotearoa.
“The introduction of new GTF repair capability will be completed in 2026, and the Christchurch Engine Centre will maintain, repair or overhaul both the V2500 and PW1100G-JM engines for many years to come,” said Walsh.
“As our fleet of Airbus aircraft continues to grow, with another four expected to arrive over the next three years, the importance of this facility to our airline also grows allowing us to continue to deliver on our purpose of connecting Kiwis with each other and the world.”
“The investment is a real vote of confidence in the Christchurch Engine Centre and our city. The creation of 200 new jobs is great news for our local economy and further positions Christchurch as a world-class technology and aerospace hub,” said Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger. “I can’t wait to see the new facility take off.”
Christchurch Engine Centre is committed to Pratt & Whitney’s sustainability vision to protect the environment along with the health and safety of its employees and the community around it. The expansion of the facility will continue the journey of this commitment as well as bring in innovations and new initiatives for a greener business and greener world.
Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, announced today the expansion of CyberFit Nation into New Zealand. CyberFit Nation is a free online educational programme that addresses the unique cybersecurity learning needs of key stakeholder groups, from board directors to school children, to make each day safer and more secure than the one before.
Education and awareness of our digital safety and well-being have never been more important. The National Cyber security Centre (NCSC) reported New Zealanders lost $6.8 million to cybercrime in the second quarter of 2024, with the amount lost from incidents involving “unauthorised access” increasing to a cost of $3.6 million.
CyberFit Nation is Palo Alto Networks’ comprehensive education portfolio that aims to make cybersecurity education accessible to all. It features a range of masterclasses and clinics to augment and close gaps in education for a range of audiences, from boards of directors, startups and SMEs to workplace professionals, end users and children.
The educational sessions include:
Board of Directors: Cybersecurity Masterclass is targeted at board members, directors and C-level executives and examines the new requirements under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018, including the element that requires directors to attest to a company’s risk management practices. The course is designed to lift the proficiency of directors in the field of cybersecurity.
Enterprise and Government: Recent experiences have underscored the need for modern enterprise and government entities to be agile and swiftly adjust their security strategies. In a world where cyber security is paramount, uplifting cyber security programs, controls, and technologies is crucial. This online workshop provides a practical approach to assist enterprise and government entities in bolstering their cyber resilience. Elevate your cybersecurity defences and embrace a safer digital environment today.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for SMEs & Startups: Online workshops to help owners, operators and managers implement pragmatic cybersecurity strategies to mitigate risks.
Cyber Safe Kids for Parents & Children: A 30-minute interactive online session that provides children aged between five and 10 with the practical skills needed to protect themselves and others, and what it means to be a good digital citizen.
“As technologies advance and cyber threats become more sophisticated, we aim to empower New Zealanders with the skills to stay safe online,” said Misti Landtroop, Managing Director for Palo Alto Networks New Zealand.
“Digital connectivity comes with its risks and vulnerabilities, and our National Cyber Security Centre stated the most commonly reported incidents are phishing and credential harvesting. In response, our CyberFit Nation programme is free and accessible from anywhere, designed to close knowledge gaps so that everyone has the power to be digitally safe. Workshops are tailored to suit everyone from board directors to school children, enhancing the cyber safety and security skills of all New Zealanders is critical to adapting to the rapidly changing digital landscape,” she finished.
This initiative follows Palo Alto Networks recent partnership with Network for Learning (N4L) to deliver Managed Network services to schools and Kura across Aotearoa New Zealand. Palo Alto Networks delivers on-premise firewalls, along with advanced cybersecurity and web filtering services, enabling N4L to better support schools’ evolving digital needs.
About Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks is the global cybersecurity leader, committed to making each day safer than the one before with industry-leading, AI-powered solutions in network security, cloud security and security operations. Powered by Precision AI, our technologies deliver precise threat detection and swift response, minimising false positives and enhancing security effectiveness. Our platformisation approach integrates diverse security solutions into a unified, scalable platform, streamlining management and providing operational efficiencies with comprehensive protection. From defending network perimeters to safeguarding cloud environments and ensuring rapid incident response, Palo Alto Networks empowers businesses to achieve Zero Trust security and confidently embrace digital transformation in an ever-evolving threat landscape. This unwavering commitment to security and innovation makes us the cybersecurity partner of choice.
At Palo Alto Networks, we're committed to bringing together the very best people in service of our mission, so we're also proud to be the cybersecurity workplace of choice, recognised among Newsweek's Most Loved Workplaces (2021-2024), with a score of 100 on the Disability Equality Index (2024, 2023, 2022), and HRC Best Places for LGBTQ+ Equality (2022).
A New Zealand-based agritech company is showcasing its autonomous, multi-use, hybrid vehicle in the United States this week.
Robotics Plus was at FIRA USA, a three-day event for autonomous farming and agricultural robotics solutions, held in Woodland - Sacramento, California.
The agritech company was there to promote Prospr, a vehicle designed to carry out a variety of orchard and vineyard crop tasks more efficiently and sustainably while reducing reliance on labour.
Prospr was launched last year at FIRA and Robotics Plus said it was already transforming orchard and vineyard operations in the US, Australia and New Zealand.
Steve Saunders, co-founder and chief executive officer at Robotics Plus, said the challenge for growers globally was how to produce more food sustainably while reducing their environmental impact.
“That’s why we developed Prospr, a robust autonomous vehicle with unique modular architecture and all-day running that empowers growers to adapt to the jobs they need to do in an ever-evolving agricultural landscape.”
Saunders said Prospr’s design centred on utilisation and flexibility, adapting to different tools for various crop types, growing formats and heights, and applications year-round.
He said Prospr decreased emissions, lowering fuel consumption by 70% with its hybrid diesel-electric system, and also reduced inputs, which enhanced environmental sustainability, cost, and reliance on “increasingly hard-to-find” machine operators.
“It’s great to see Prospr already working in orchards and vineyards globally to elevate operations.”
More about Prospr
Intelligent and targeted spraying
Saunders said Prospr included automated intelligent spraying.
This allows growers to deploy a range of spray configurations, with tower sprayers for grapes, apples, or tree crops already available.
Spray rates and air speed are dynamic and controlled in zones or by individual fans to maximise spray efficacy and enable a more targeted application than traditional sprayers.
The fine mist and turbulent air produced by the sprayers put spray on the backs of leaves; all of this results in superior droplet formation and spray deposition.
Robitics Plus said other attachments were under development and would be released over time.
AI-powered navigation, safety and precision
Prospr houses an advanced AI (artificial intelligence) system, to maximise efficiency, safety, and operational uptime in demanding orchard and vineyard environments.
It has a collision avoidance system, integrating light detection and ranging, (LiDAR) and cameras to detect and identify obstacles.
This allows Prospr to autonomously adjust its speed, avoid obstacles, and stop when necessary, maintaining high operational speeds while ensuring safety.
Intuitive user interface (UI)
Prospr’s intuitive user interface (UI) lets operators manage and monitor tasks remotely and efficiently.
Operators can manage and organise the day’s jobs for multiple machines from a single location, track job status in real-time, remotely and maintain a detailed record of active and completed jobs.
Prospr also has safety and environmental controls, and vehicle stats allow operators to monitor what is happening.
The vehicle can also switch between manual and autonomous functions.
Source: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Deel, the leading all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams, announces the expansion of its immigration support services. Effective immediately, Deel's visa assistance will be available to everyone, not just current customers. This includes individuals seeking digital nomad visas and workers hired by companies through their own entities.
With this expansion, companies can now manage visa support for all their workers—whether employed through Deel or their own entities—on a single, intuitive platform. This streamlined approach simplifies immigration processes between global offices, offering a user-friendly experience refined through processing thousands of visas for clients' employees.
"For many people, securing a visa and moving countries is a life-changing experience. It can be complicated, stressful, and even scary. We want to make that process simpler, and to help connect talent with opportunity, no matter where it is," said Todd Heine, Founder of Legalpad (now Deel Immigration).
"Deel is committed to breaking down barriers to global employment. By expanding our immigration support services, we're making it easier for individuals and companies to navigate complex visa processes, fostering a more connected and mobile workforce."
Global Visa Support
Deel Immigration now supports digital nomad visas in nine countries: Portugal, Spain, Greece, Canada, Japan, Argentina, Colombia, Italy, and the UAE. Additionally, options for permanent residency are available, including the R Visa in Colombia and EB-1A and EB-2 NIW visas in the US.
Key Features
Expert guidance: Access Deel's in-house immigration team, available 24/7 to assist at every step.
Comprehensive documentation: Centralize all required documents on one platform, ensuring applications are complete and accurate.
Real-time updates: Track visa progress with live updates and notes from a dedicated case manager.
Centralized information: Easily access all related application information—from form submission and costs to timelines and case manager updates—in one place. Schedule meetings with the case manager in one click, ensuring support is always just minutes away. Once the visa is approved, securely store it on the platform for easy access and stay compliant with automated renewal reminders.
Immigration support for employees hired through companies’ own entities
Having successfully processed thousands of visas across 50 countries, including recent expansions into India, Argentina, and Uruguay, Deel is now extending its immigration services to support employees hired directly through companies’ own entities (not just Deel’s) in 20 countries. This expansion enables Deel clients using Deel HR or Deel Global Payroll products to manage their team’s relocation across all entities on a single, unified platform, providing a seamless experience for their global workforce.
End-to-end US visa applications, now digitally streamlined on the Deel platform
Until now, applying for a US visa has been manual, requiring multiple touchpoints and off-platform interactions. Deel has integrated the Legalpad app and process into its native platform, adding over 10 US visas and creating the most comprehensive HR, payroll, and immigration software solution available. With this integration, the entire US visa journey is now fully digital and managed within the Deel platform, from eligibility checks to application tracking.
Introducing new mobility partnerships with Heart Relocation and The Build Fellowship
Deel believes that the immigration journey doesn’t end with a visa. The relocation process can be complex and stressful for employees, so Deel has partnered with Heart Relocation to offer a comprehensive solution. With global coverage in over 110 countries, Heart Relocation helps manage every stage of the move—from furniture and home search to school placement and tax support.
The US H-1B lottery has become more competitive in recent years. In 2024, the success rate on the March H-1B lottery dropped to just 11%, making securing visas for skilled international talent harder. To address this, Deel is partnering with The Build Fellowship to offer a cap-exempt H-1B program with a 99% approval rate. This allows new hires to start within 8-12 weeks, smoothly transitioning into full-time roles quickly.
For more information about Deel's expanded immigration support services, visit deel.com/immigration.
About Deel
Deel is the leading global payroll and compliance platform. With Deel, businesses can hire anyone, anywhere, in a simple and compliant manner. Deel's platform offers unmatched payroll, benefits, and compliance capabilities in over 150 countries, providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for both businesses and their international teams.
After several years commercializing its technology, Australia-based hydrometallurgical processing company Mint Innovation is getting ready to build its first U.S. facility, which will provide an outlet for various grades of circuit boards.
Will Barker, CEO and co-founder, launched the company in 2016 with a goal to recover gold and other metals from waste streams or mining residues, not through smelting but through the use of various solvents.
“Very quickly, we realized that applied quite nicely to e-waste in particular and so started scaling the technology with that in mind,” Barker said.
It began proving out its concept with a pilot plant, which raised the capital to fund a demonstration plant in Auckland, New Zealand, that opened in 2019. That, in turn, raised enough capital to build a commercial prototype plant in Sydney, Australia, which completed construction and was commissioned last year.
Mint has been ramping up production there throughout 2024, currently at 3,000 metric tons per year of capacity, and now it’s gearing up for North America.
“We’ve learned a lot of lessons needed to start deploying that elsewhere,” Barker said. “And we are now ready to pull the trigger on the next deployment, which is going to be the U.S. in the not-too-distant future.”
Process produces ‘low-carbon metals’
Mint employs a hydrometallurgical process with a solvent that can go into a dissolved metal solution and act as a sort of sponge, Barker said, to selectively concentrate gold from waste streams that contain many different metals.
“The whole point of the technology is that we are able to downscale to the size where we can actually deploy regionally,” Barker said. He envisions small Mint facilities capable of serving a region of 300 to 600 miles, providing a small-footprint alternative to shipping materials out of the country for commodity recovery.
“What that enables is you’re able to serve businesses locally, you’re able to return metals back into the local economy, so proper, actual circularity,” Barker said. “And you’re able to compete with the smelters in a transparent and local way.”
Mint’s hydrometallurgical process would take in the same materials that would otherwise go for smelting. It dissolves the metals, uses a patented biotechnology to recover the gold and other precious metals, and uses conventional electrochemical processing to recover copper, tin, silver and other base metals.
At its current plant in Sydney, Mint sells the output metals locally. Barker noted one selling point for Mint’s metals is that they are processed with low-carbon technology.
“There is potential for selling them at a premium,” he said. “Our vision is that they are truly circular, so they are going back into the same electronics from whence they came. We’re working with a number of OEMs as to how to get them back into their supply chains.”
Multiple US facilities planned in near future
Barker anticipates building multiple U.S. plants that are similar or slightly larger in scale compared to the Sydney facility, at 4,000 or 5,000 tons per year, since “it’s a bigger market,” he said.
Barker likened the appearance of a Mint facility to a microbrewery, with various holding tanks, pumps, pipes and filter presses throughout. A 4,000-ton-per-year plant will be housed in a roughly 50,000- to 60,000-square-foot warehouse, he said. That small footprint is important given the company’s goal to do local processing.
“The waste streams are produced in urban environments, so we want to slide our plants into those same urban environments and recover the value locally,” he said. “That means you basically have to slide it into an existing warehouse in a city.”
Location details are not finalized yet, but he floated the possibility of building three to five U.S. facilities “in the near term.” Barker said he hopes to announce the first U.S. location before the end of this year, to develop that facility throughout next year, and to have it be operational by the end of 2025.
As part of the growth strategy, Mint in August hired Jason Price as chief operating officer. Price brings significant experience in the e-scrap and ITAD sectors, previously holding positions at Sims and Synergy Electronics Recycling, as well as at Camston Wrather, a company also working on hydrometallurgical e-scrap metals recovery.
In an interview, Price said several points about Mint’s process drew him to the company, including the traceability inherent to Mint’s technology. The company processes circuit boards in 3,000- to 4,000-pound batches, he explained, and Mint can trace the gold from those boards to that specific batch.
“So if a manufacturer says, ‘Here’s X number of boards,’ that gold from that particular batch can go back to that company,” he said.
Mint will not be dismantling devices itself and instead will be looking to buy circuit boards from e-scrap firms. The company can take in a variety of board grades but will shy away from the lower-grade boards found in TVs, for example.
“P4 motherboard and above is where we want to be on the precious metals, the gold content,” Price said. “We can take in any level above that.”
Source: https://resource-recycling.com/
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement on the October 14, 2024, passing of former Chamber CEO Thomas J. Donohue:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American business community, and our nation mourn the passing of Thomas J. Donohue. Throughout his extraordinary life, Tom was many things—friend, mentor, statesman, storyteller, fighter, advocate, and patriot. Above all else, he was a dedicated family man, and our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.
As a business leader, Tom was a towering figure, and across his decades-long career, his Irish toughness, combined with his genuine compassion, made him a unique and impactful voice in Washington and around the world. He gave business a seat at the table and a voice in the debate in a way it never had before.
In 1997, after 13 years leading the American Trucking Associations, Tom took the wheel of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It is no exaggeration to say he resurrected the Chamber, taking the institution from good to great and from productive to powerful—and standing up for business from the nation’s capital to every corner of the globe. He never backed down from a fight that was necessary for a cause he believed in, leading the American business community and building the Chamber into the largest and most effective business organization in the world. He did it with high energy and absolute integrity, always keeping his promises and keeping his word. Tom’s mantra was simple: ‘If you can, you must.’
By his own admission, ‘retirement’ was never a word in Tom’s lexicon, and even after he stepped down from his storied career as CEO of the Chamber, he continued to be driven by intellectual curiosity and patriotic duty. Through the work of The Donohue Group, Tom remained engaged on the topics he thought most important to the future of our nation. He generously gave his time and service to the boards of the U.S. Chamber, the Hudson Institute, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and Marymount University.
Tom would often say that to serve the business community was to serve our country, and he did it with distinction. Like Tom himself, the spirit of enterprise is strong, it is fearless, and it is enduring—bigger than any of us, and yet a reflection of the best in all of us. Tom Donohue will be deeply missed, but his legacy lives on as we carry that spirit forward.
About Thomas J. Donohue: Donohue took the helm of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1997, after 13 years leading the American Trucking Associations. He retired in 2021 but continued to serve on the U.S. Chamber Board of Directors. Earlier in his career, he was deputy assistant postmaster general of the United States and vice president of development at Fairfield University in Connecticut.
Born in New York City, Donohue earned a bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in business administration from Adelphi University.
Global Cinnamon Roll brand, Cinnabon® has confirmed that it will be bringing its famed sweet treats to New Zealand soon.
The well-loved brand that believes ‘Life needs frosting’, and aims to deliver just that, says that preparations are well underway for the opening of its first New Zealand store in Auckland’s Westfield Newmarket.
A Cinnabon spokesperson says, “We’re thrilled to introduce Cinnabon to Aotearoa. It’s been incredibly successful in international markets, including Australia, and we’re excited that Kiwis will soon be able to experience the ooey-gooey deliciousness that has won hearts worldwide.”
Cinnabon NZ are confident now is the right time to invest in New Zealand and position the brand for growth, as the economic outlook improves. In recent years, New Zealand has seen a surge of international brands launch here successfully and many New Zealanders will already be familiar with Cinnabon from overseas trips.
“New Zealand is such a promising market for Cinnabon and this is an amazing opportunity to create even more memorable experiences for new and returning customers” said Steven Yang, Senior Vice President, APAC at GoTo Foods International. “Our portfolio of brands offers more than just a business opportunity; it’s a chance to become a part of the daily routines and lifestyles of this community.”
Westfield Newmarket was selected as Cinnabon’s first store location in New Zealand because of its prime position, bustling foot traffic and close proximity to businesses, shopping and transportation hubs.
The Newmarket menu will feature classic Cinnabon treats including:
• The Classic Roll: The world-famous cinnamon roll combining warm dough, legendary Makara cinnamon and the signature Cinnabon cream cheese frosting.
• Caramel PecanBon®: The Classic Roll but even more decadent, with caramel and pecans for the perfect crunch.
• ChocoBon™: The one for the chocolate lovers, with chocolate spread and a rich chocolate drizzle.
They will also be available as the smaller MiniBon® for when you’re in the mood for a more petite treat and in perfect for sharing CinnaPacks™. You’ll be able to pair your Cinnabon with great coffee or a Chillatta®, the Cinnabon blended frozen masterpiece, available in Mango, Strawberry, Cookies and Cream, Caramel Latte and, of course, Cinnamon Roll flavours.
Kathan Parikh, the Director of Cinnabon NZ is excited to be leading the expansion into New Zealand and is looking forward to growing the brand here. The New Zealand launch will increase the number of countries where Cinnabon operates to 54 and will add to the almost 2,000 Bakery-Cafes worldwide including 16 sites in Australia. The aim is to open 10-15 stores across New Zealand, with the potential for more if there’s demand.
More details of the opening will be released soon.
To stay up to date follow Cinnabon New Zealand on Instagram @cinnabonnz or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cinnabonnz.
Source: https://www.fmcgbusiness.co.nz/
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