Ata mārie koutou,

We continue to support our manufacturers and wider-BusinessNZ members affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and the recent flooding in any way we can. If you need to reach out to our team, please email me here. You can also reach out through an advice line for businesses set up by the Employers’ & Manufacturers Association. Free phone 0800 500 362 (Mon-Thurs 8am-8pm and Fri 8am-6am)

Our latest PMI result shows a positive turn after 3 months in contraction, BusinessNZ released an interesting report on the future of workforce supply, and more in this month’s newsletter below!

Lastly, keep an eye out for the launch of our Procurement Seminars in Wellington and Auckland in May – more details to come soon!

Ngā mihi
Josh

New Zealand’s manufacturing sector saw a positive start to 2023 after three consecutive months of contraction, according to the latest BNZ – BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for January was 50.8 (a PMI reading above 50.0 indicates that manufacturing is generally expanding; below 50.0 that it is declining). This was 3.0 points up from December, although still well below the long-term average activity rate of 53.0.

BusinessNZ’s Director, Advocacy Catherine Beard said that the January result managed to show a small degree of expansion during January, although whether the sector can keep its head above water as we look further into 2023 remains to be seen.

Read more ->>

New research shows New Zealand’s need for workers will outstrip supply by a quarter of a million people by 2048, BusinessNZ says.

Sense Partners’ The future of workforce supply, a new report commissioned by BusinessNZ, shows that without policy changes our tightest ever labour market will get tighter.

BusinessNZ Chief Executive Kirk Hope says this report "proves there is no slack in our labour market".

"We are in a global war for talent and New Zealand’s labour shortage is the most intense in the OECD.

Read more ->>

And what it is means for your favourite craft beer.

You might have seen the recent coverage of the country’s unexpected shortage of C02 — it was rather jarring news earlier this year, unfortunately timed for summer imbibing.

But what does it actually mean for our beverage industry, and the consumer? And how does this problem shed a light on wider issues and vulnerabilities that can pose future risks to other important sectors that we rely on, and enjoy, here in Aotearoa?

Okay, why is there a CO2 shortage?

Here in New Zealand, we have a lot of some things (sheep, cows) but a scarcity of others.

We used to have two food-grade CO2 plants, but the last of these — the Todd Energy Kāpuni plant — had to close in December, a temporary shutdown due to a safety issue; a safety valve was releasing ammonia, reported Otago Daily Times’ Hamish MacLean, and with a staged re-start, the plant wouldn’t be operating at full capacity until the end of 2023.

Read more ->>

An Invercargill company marking 20 years in business is still in growth mode and singing the praises of Southland as a base.

“I don’t think we’ve reached out potential,” co-owner and managing director of Fi Innovations, Gareth Dykes said.

This month Dykes, and wife and co-owner Melissa Dykes, celebrate 20 years in business.

The company employed 23 staff focussing on fibreglass, carbon and additive (also known as 3D) manufacturing and industrial coatings and will soon open a new 600 square metre fibreglass factory to add to three over sites in Otepuni Ave.

Read more ->>

If you own a business in parts of the North Island and have been affected by Cyclone Gabrielle or January flooding you can apply for support to help you recovery.

The Government is providing $25 million in recovery support to businesses in seven regions affected by Cyclone Gabrielle andJanuary floods in the North Island.

Farmers and growers can apply for separate support from the Ministry for Primary Industries:

What the grants are for:
• You can apply for a grant of up to $40,000.

The grants are to help you:
• keep operating and position you for a successful recovery
• maintain cashflow.

Read more ->>

A team at Auckland University have figured out how to make a 3D print of a face so accurate it can crack a cellphone’s facial recognition security.

And to prove it, the Creative Design Adaptive Manufacturing Lab printed out a bust of 1News reporter Logan Church, which could successfully break into some, but not all, cell phones that used facial recognition as security.

It started with a high-tech $40,000 Lidar scanner – it can scan a shape by targeting an object with a laser and measuring the time for the light to return to the scanner.

Read more ->>

For updates on BusinessNZ advocacy and for the latest Advocacy Update, BusinessNZ's advocacy newsletter, have a look at the new advocacy the website here.

Don’t forget to check out our contract manufacturers directory if you are looking for contract manufacturing support or you are wanting to advertise your services.

More ->>

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