Taking on the Plastic Building Wrap Challenge
What happens to all those acres of white plastic wrap that protect building sites? Ross Inglis talks with two people who know: Too much of it goes to landfill, and they’re doing something about it.
In this episode: Tina Wieczorek (right) is the CEO of the industry organisation; Scaffolding, Access and Rigging New Zealand, or SARNZ, and Penny Thomson, a research manager and designer with the Environmental Solutions Research Centre, part of Auckland’s Unitec Institute of Technology.
Skills shortage delays fibre, Satellite stops tractors, ChatGPT cheating Amnesty +more
Paul Spain is joined by journalist Bill Bennett to discuss the latest technology news from around the world including:
- Farmers impacted by satellite outage
- Skills shortage slows fibre installation
- ChatGPT cheats offered amnesty
- SpaceX Starship rocket launch and explosion
- Illegal tech tariffs in India
- Musk plans on less bias AI
- Military intel and tech cooperation “Plan Anzac”
- Merlin trials autonomous flights in Alaska
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Yes, there’s a better way to Recycle Plastics: Rui Peng, Critical
Conventional plastics recycling is fussy: it can handle only four of the 24 types of plastic, and even those have to be clean. Here’s the story of Auckland-based social enterprise Critical, which uses a proprietary technology to turn a wide range of waste plastics, including more contaminated ones, into construction boards and countertops.
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Tackling Diversity and Cyber Security Skills Gaps – with Microsoft and TupuToa
Paul Spain is joined by Vanessa Sorenson (Microsoft NZ) and Maruata Reweti (TupuToa) to discuss their collaboration on a new cybersecurity skills programme aimed at addressing the skills shortage in New Zealand, plus tech news from the week including:
- Government’s $1.3m training programme for seniors in digital literacy
- Microsoft secures land to expand Datacenters in NZ
- Amazon and Microsoft sign memorandums of understanding with government
- SkyDrop – Drone Delivery Wins Approval in New Zealand
- Minors banned from social media without parental consent in Arkansas
- TikTok banned by Montana politicians, over security concerns with China
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AI disinformation + data leaks, Operation ‘Cookie Monster’, Samsung Galaxy hands on review and more
Paul Spain is joined by Ben Moore (BusinessDesk) to discuss AI disinformation and data leaks plus AI generated images, as well as tech news from the week including:
- Commerce Commission concern’s with Connexa
- Expansion plans for Spark data centres
- Regulations for Digital identity
- Operation ‘Cookie Monster’
- Russia’s return to Twitter
- Satechi 165W PD GaN USB-C Charger review
- Samsung Galaxy A34 & A54 review
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A second life for our throw-away clothing: Jeff Vollebregt, Upparel
New Zealanders on average throw out textiles equivalent to 200 t-shirts every year. Finding a new home for all those garments is the mission of Australasian textiles recycler Upparel. Jeff Vollebregt, director of Upparel’s New Zealand operation, talked Ross Inglis through the business of circular clothing.
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Harbour bridges! Potholes! Light Rail! – with Paul Winton
The transport sector has experienced its share of drama this year, starting with Cyclone Gabrielle wiping out so many roads and bridges across the north island.
The cyclone was blamed for a sudden change in direction in government policy. Back in February, Minister Michael Woods announced a climate-friendly plan, in its three-year transport plan, the Government Policy Statement. For the first time it prioritised the emissions impact of transport.
But just days later, he reversed many of those priorities to focus on rebuilding damaged roads.
Last week the government also announced five options for a second harbour crossing and reiterated its commitment to the tunnelled version of a light rail network.
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What the heck just happened to the carbon market? Dr Christina Hood
Last week the quarterly auction for carbon credits hit a remarkable snag: it failed to meet the clearing price. This means none of the 4.5 million carbon permits on offer were sold. The failed auction was attributed to Cabinet’s decision to allow more credits to be issued, in an attempt to keep the carbon cost low. And it worked! The carbon price slumped from $90/tonne to $65/tonne. Cost of living crisis averted. The upshot is that the government just issued 40m tonnes of additional emissions –taking us even further away from our climate targets.
To explain all these shenanigans, I’m joined by Dr Christina Hood, a policy expert in climate change, energy, and carbon pricing. She has over 16 years of experience providing analysis and advice to developed and developing countries, including a former role as head of the International Energy Agency Climate Change Unit.
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Josh Purcell – Founder at NZA Simulations
Paul Spain is joined by Josh Purcell, Founder at NZA Simulations to discuss how they are bringing New Zealand Airports to life in the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator NZ update, as well as tech news of the week including:
- Zero Latency VR game experience, launches in New Zealand
- Bullitt’s fob allows satellite connectivity via Bluetooth
- Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank
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A decade of B-Corp. Now what? Qiulae Wong, NZ manager of B Lab
It’s 10 years since the first companies were certified as B-Corp in New Zealand and since then the movement of ethical and environmentally responsible businesses has grown to over 500 in NZ and Australia and more than 6000 worldwide. But as the movement shifts from cutting-edge to mainstream, growing pains are emerging. Last year a group of 30 B-Corps were horrified when Nespresso was certified despite, as they say, ‘Nespresso’s abysmal track record on human rights from child labour and wage theft to abuse of factory workers’.
Can any company be certified as B-Corp? Can the movement maintain its standards? Qiulae Wong is the first country manager for B Lab joins Vincent now to answer all this and more.
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Campbell Brown – CEO and Co-Founder of PredictHQ
Paul Spain is joined by Campbell Brown, CEO and Co-Founder of PredictHQ to discuss how PredictHQ utilises data to help businesses anticipate and prepare for the impact of events on their operations.
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How food growers can think about climate change: Brent Clothier
If the rain that deluged the North Island is the ‘new normal’, how are hard-hit growers meant to think about the future – and growing anything in the ‘normal’ way? Vincent Heeringa spoke to Brent Clothier, chief scientist with Plant & Food, about four ways to think about growing food in a warmer and (ironically) drier New Zealand.
Note: this was recorded before Cyclone Gabrielle devastated Hawkes bay and Tairawhiti.
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