As we move into 2017, the prospects for manufacturing remain very positive, as the expansion we saw in November remains at the same level throughout December. The PMI has shown how consistent and positive activity has been for the sector over the last few years. More detail on this below.

There are already some great events set for the first quarter of the year, with a focus on innovation - one of our strengths as Kiwis. Let's embrace this and cultivate it as much as possible to succeed in a world of change and challenges. 

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

Activity in New Zealand's manufacturing sector saw December expansion at the same level as November, according to the BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI).

The seasonally adjusted PMI for December was 54.5, the same as November. Overall, the sector remains solidly in expansion in almost all months since October 2012.

"Activity in the manufacturing sector over 2016 averaged out at 56.0. This was up from 54.2 in 2015, but interestingly the same result as both 2014 and 2013. Overall, this shows how consistent and positive activity has been for the sector over the last few years".

BNZ Senior Economist, Craig Ebert, said "The December result caps off a positive year for the manufacturing sector.  Indeed, since the survey started in 2002, last year's average has only been surpassed by 2004's 57.5".  More...

Special early-bird pricing on registrations for MobileTECH Primary Industries 2017 – Disruptive Innovations Reshaping The Sector on 22-23 March are still available until this Friday, 27 January 2017. 

MobileTECH has firmly established itself as one of the leading cross-industry technology events for agriculture, horticulture and forestry in New Zealand. 

This event, in Rotorua, brings together our rural industry leaders, technology developers, engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs, innovators and early adopters to discuss, showcase and learn about new innovative tools & technologies that can improve efficiencies & productivity of these industries through connectivity.

View programme here.

Register now for early-bird pricing!

This is a great story about ASB Bright Sparks Challenge winner Mikayla Stokes, whose eyes have been opened to a career in tech since her Dad dragged her along to a VEX Robotics Competition.

She now wants to be a mechanical, electronics and software engineer, but says there's still a stigma attached to girls and technology that's holding young women and businesses back.

The NZ Tech sector male/female split is changing very slowly:

2013 - male 81%, female 19%

2016 - male 79%, female 21%

More...

The University of Auckland is hosting its inaugural MaD Conference in May as part of Techweek 2017. This is part of its Innovative Manufacturing and Materials (IMM) Programme towards a national Manufacturing and Design Centre of Research Excellence (MaD CoRE) over a 5-year period (2016 – 2020). 

The conference is an opportunity to consolidate, connect and collaborate with the New Zealand Manufacturing and Design (MaD) network, focussed on New Zealand’s manufacturing economy of the future.

Conference Dates: Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 May, 2017

Venue: ANZ Viaduct Event Centre, 161 Halsey Street, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland

Scope of the Conference: CONSOLIDATION, CONNECTION, COLLABORATION. Please click here for more.

Early-Bird Registration and Call for Abstracts are now open.

Queenstown will host the 8th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology from 12-16 February 2017.

AMN8 is the eighth in a biennial series of meetings that focus on the latest research in advanced materials and nanotechnology. 

As with previous conferences, this event includes a range of presentations, cutting-edge talks, interactive presentations and social events.

The intimate scale of AMN conferences and the broad interests of fellow delegates offer many opportunities for networking and interdisciplinary discussions. More...

Better By Design's CEO Summit returns for 2017, featuring a roster of top local and international design leaders, including speakers from LEGO, lululemon, Hootsuite and IDEO. 

This year the Summit will focus on developing a culture of innovation within your organisation and how to link that to what your customer actually wants.

Tickets are limited and selling fast - register today to secure your place. 

Click here to learn more and register.

These awards are a great way to recognise those demonstrating procurement excellence.

Categories include:
1.    Young Procurement Professional of the Year
2.    Procurement Team of the Year
3.    Procurement Professional of the Year
4.    Successful Procurement Change
5.    Sustainability Project of the Year

The finalists in these categories will vie for the title of ‘Supreme Winner’ to be chosen by the judges. All entries must be received by 1st March 2017. Anyone can submit a nomination and further information is available on the entry form - contact Cate at nz.procurement.awards@nz.ey.com. More...

Auckland-based Texus Fibre recently signed an investment and distribution agreement with another Auckland company, Healthy Breath Ltd, which would have the wool-based Helix Filter from Texus used in a new generation of urban masks marketed to Asian consumers.

Texus Fibre chairman Dr Andrew West said New Zealand wool was going to improve the health of ''millions'' of people.

Specifically-bred sheep, developed by Wanaka man Andy Ramsden, are providing the wool used with specially developing technology touted as having the ability to improve global health. More...

This is a great Kiwi innovation story about a new product with massive export legs.

New Zealand Innovation Awards Innovation Excellence in Research has been won by Sunfed Meats - a company only set up in January 2015 by husband and wife team Shama and Hayden Lee to manufacture an all-natural "meat" made from plants.

Shama says her company is unlike anything else in Aotearoa, with only a few companies overseas doing something even remotely similar to Sunfed.

Judges at the Innovation Awards said "This will enable a massive advancement in food technology. New Zealand is primed to be a leader in this industry due to its globally respected agricultural industry."

The company claims "This is how New Zealand will double agricultural production by 2025. We can create the same proteins whilst consuming 5 times less land and water." More...

The Serious Fraud Office is hosting the Fraud and Corruption Conference 2017 ‘Bringing together the old and new’ at Sky City Conference Centre in Auckland on Thursday 23 February 2017.

A high calibre of international speakers will share their experiences and develop the conversation of how we tackle these crimes with new methods of investigation, intelligence and innovation, and how fraud and corruption affects all of us.

Speakers include:

• Alexandra Wrage, Canada, President and founder of TRACE
• David Green CB QC, Director of the UK Serious Fraud Office
• James Barnacle, USA, Chief of the Money Laundering Unit in the Financial Crimes Section, Criminal Investigation Division, FBI  
• Kera Langlois, Singapore, Special Agent with the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) based in Singapore
• Steve van Aperen, Australia, an expert on human behaviour, Steve shows companies and government departments how to read and interpret micro expressions, distress signals and facial expressions.
• Nick McKenzie, Australia, a leading Australian investigative newspaper and broadcast journalist.

PRICE: Government employees $450 plus GST, corporate rate $500 plus GST.

Click here to register  – Numbers are limited!

For queries please contact: conference@sfo.govt.nz

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