Technology and innovation are taking us forward - it's the theme of this year's Go Global. Save 23 May in your calendar now!  Watch this space for more details...

In the meantime, if you missed last year's Go Global, you can check out the 2012 programme here. The 2013 gathering promises world class speakers, and a unique networking and learning opportunity from Kiwis winning in international markets.

Register before 15 March to take advantage of the early bird $99 special rate. Register here.

Catherine Beard
027 463 3212 or cbeard@businessnz.org.nz

On my recent trip to the UK and Denmark, there was much talk of the new trend to “in-shore” manufacturing as opposed to off-shoring to cheaper labour countries. 

I have been sent this fascinating article on how this is also happening in the United States, and we know that some of our most successful New Zealand manufacturers, like Temperzone, have a similar “in-house” philosophy. 

It is also behind the success of the mid-size German manufacturers, who have kept their R & D and production close together and focussed on quality and continual innovation.  It’s another good reason for our NZ Government procurement managers to think local when looking for suppliers.  I have a long list of procurement failures from low cost, but poor quality overseas suppliers that have required remedial action from local manufactures to fix.  It would have been cheaper overall to use the higher quality local manufacturers in the first place.

Read the article here.

C Beard

New Zealand’s manufacturing sector started 2013 with an encouraging result, according to the latest BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for January was 55.2, which is heartening and reflects the nuances of New Zealand’s manufacturing sector at present.

Recent headlines have concentrated on various job losses in the sector. This is also reflected in our employment index, which has remained in contraction for eight consecutive months. However, what we are seeing with the broader results is that job losses do not equate with overall declines in activity, as three of the last four months have shown growth in the sector. Also, a healthy lift in new orders for January, along with continued recovery work in the Canterbury region, should assist production levels in the months ahead. More...

Do you have something to offer in the rebuild of Canterbury?

Collaboratecanterbury.org.nz has been set up to explore different types of collaborative arrangements to help rebuild Canterbury.  Collaborating can be a great way to rapidly scale up your resources — whether its staff, know-how, technology, equipment or capital — and grow your business.

Sometimes it can be as simple as a group of companies pooling funding for marketing purposes, or it can be a complex merger between two companies.

Collaborate Canterbury is one of the CERA Economic Recovery Strategy initiatives and is jointly managed by the Canterbury Development Corporation and the Canterbury Employers’ Chamber of Commerce. More...

On 10-11 April in Auckland, Residues to Revenue 2013 will be exploring wood energy and Clean TECH industry developments.

This event is designed to focus on the practical applications of new and innovative technologies applying to forestry, wood products and pulp and paper processes. It will focus on new markets where innovative companies, new processes and emerging technologies have turned former waste products into profitable resources. More...

How regulation is designed and implemented can have a big impact on business productivity and profitability. The Productivity Commission is conducting an inquiry into local government regulatory performance, and has published a draft report, “Towards Better Local Regulation”.  The Commission is seeking submissions to help refine its findings by 6 March 2013.

As well as the draft report, the Commission has also published the results of two surveys, one of local governments in New Zealand and the other of 1,500 New Zealand businesses from a cross-section of industries. More...

We would love to see more NZ businesses winning government tenders or winning tenders into international supply chains. 

Research conducted for the Industry Capability Network, identified there were a lot of really good manufacturers in New Zealand, but they are not always that visible, and while some have broken through into international supply chains, there is another category of businesses that needs some help to reach those levels of readiness and compliance.  We know that ShipleyNZ are offering some good training in how to succeed in this area. More...

Did you know we have a directory of contract manufacturers listed on our website? Its aim is to allow businesses to find contract manufacturers who may be able to assist them with a particular project.

If you are interested in being listed in our directory, or would like to browse it, click here.

Innovation, and translating it into economic outcomes, is vital for your business's international competitiveness. This is why we’re supporting the process of matching up businesses with relevant R&D and IT in order to help develop innovative products, services, and technologies. There's a variety of sources of help available. More...

Since GST has been introduced, it has been much lauded but studies about how it is perceived by New Zealand businesses have been few and far between. Connie Lu, a PhD student at the University of Auckland, is running such a study.

What is your business's experience of GST in practice? This electronic survey takes 5 - 10 minutes.Take the survey here.

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