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'His loss will be keenly felt': Canterbury-born Supercars figure dies in tragic accident

'His loss will be keenly felt': Canterbury-born Supercars figure dies in tragic accident

Otago Daily Times12 hours ago
A well-known Supercars figure from Canterbury died on Sunday after a "tragic and ultimately" cycling accident.
Tim Miles, who was born in Ashburton, was "an extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport", a keen racer, corporate advisor and former team owner.
Tim played a crucial role in shaping the future of Supercars.
Through his company, Miles Advisory Partners, he was instrumental in the sale of Supercars to Archer Capital in 2011.
In 2021, Tim brokered the sale of Supercars to Racing Australia Consolidated Enterprises Pty Ltd.
The proud Kiwi was a regular competitor in Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and GT World Challenge Australia.
This year he was competing with Melbourne Performance Centre and Audi alongside countryman Brendon Leitch.
Previously, Tim was a co-owner of Triple Eight Race Engineering team, selling his shareholding to Tony Quinn in 2021. He was also co-founder of Tasman Motorsport.
A statement on behalf of the Miles family said: "The world has lost the bright, shining light that was Tim Miles.
"Tim was involved in a tragic and ultimately fatal accident this (Sunday, 6 July) morning in Sydney while enjoying one of his favourite hobbies - cycling.
"His loss is keenly felt by friends and family, especially Wife, Tracy, and daughters Caley and Erin.
"Tim was a family man, though one who loved nothing more than stressing out his beloved Tracy about his latest motorsport-related purchase or adventure - all the while proudly telling stories of his two daughters' successes in life.
"His passing will be notably impactful on his other love - a motorsport community that felt Tim's impact as a competitor, an owner, a supporter and as a businessman for more than 35 years."
Tim initially chased the dream as a racing driver before focusing on business and growing his successful business advisory firm, Miles Advisory Partners.
It was his success in business that allowed him to extend his passion for motorsport and his family, the two of which often intertwined.
He was noted as a competitor in one-make Porsche racing and GT competition and as a key backer of the international careers of young stars from Australia and New Zealand, including Matt Campbell and Jaxon Evans.
He recently realised his dream of competing at the Le Mans 24 Hours, where he ran a tribute livery to longstanding family friend, Rod McElrea.
"Tim was a fantastic storyteller, a man with a brilliant sense of humour and who showed genuine interest in the lives of those around him - whether he'd known them for years or just met them.
"His loss will be keenly felt by family and friends, the business community in which he worked and the motorsport community in which he lived.
"Funeral details will be advised in due course."
The Miles family asks for privacy in this time and thanked those who have already reached out in support since Tim's passing.
A Supercars statement said: "Supercars extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Tim Miles, who has sadly passed away.
"Tim was an extraordinary figure in Australian motorsport — not just for his work behind the wheel, but for the immense influence he had off the track across more than two decades.
"As a corporate advisor and former team owner, Tim played a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sport. Through his company, Miles Advisory Partners, he was instrumental in the sale of Supercars to Archer Capital in 2011 — a landmark transaction that helped transform the championship into the powerhouse it is today.
"Our thoughts are with Tim's loved ones during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed by the entire Supercars community.
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Kiwi crime-fighting software firm Auror gets big tick from UK Govt, medtech Formus Labs nears commercial launch in the US
Kiwi crime-fighting software firm Auror gets big tick from UK Govt, medtech Formus Labs nears commercial launch in the US

NZ Herald

time2 hours ago

  • NZ Herald

Kiwi crime-fighting software firm Auror gets big tick from UK Govt, medtech Formus Labs nears commercial launch in the US

Cooper said she wanted more UK retailers to use Auror's software, which aims to make it easier for retailers to report offences to police, including photos, and snippets of video taken on their cameras. The Home Secretary is urging police to make greater use of facial recognition technology and is behind the bill, currently winding its way through the UK Parliament. The controversial bill makes it an offence to conceal your identity from CCTV under certain circumstances (including protests), introduces the new offence of assaulting a retail worker and makes theft from a shop trial-able, regardless of the value of the goods (from a £200 [$450] threshold today). Stores including M&S, Morrisons, Boots, Tesco, Primark, and Greggs are submitting CCTV, photos and personal data on all their repeat shoplifters to Auror's platform, which is shared with police. Cooper endorsed the Kiwi software after receiving a briefing from Boots, according to the UK's Telegraph. Auror executives Mark Gleeson and Paul Fagg were invited to 10 Downing St last month - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's residence - for what the Herald understands was a meeting with officials. Photo / LinkedIn Additionally, two Auror executives were recently invited to 10 Downing Street: UK and Europe vice president Mark Gleeson (a former tactical commander with the Royal Air Force) and UK director of law enforcement and partnerships Paul Fagg (who began his career as a police constable for London's Metro Police and rose to become a police inspector with the National Business Crime Centre before joining Auror last year). Fagg said his firm's crime intelligence platform enabled retailers to record everything that happens in their stores to tackle the 'huge under-reporting issue'. 'Police have access to Auror so that incidents they did not see before are now visible for them,' he said, adding that this enabled police and retailers to identify prolific offenders with CCTV and photographic evidence. Auror uses templates to speed up and standardise retail crime reporting. The shared data enables all the stores and police to 'join the dots' to identify prolific offenders, gather evidence for prosecutions and provide security staff on the shop doors with photo watchlists to bar entry, Fagg said. Auror says its system is used by 98% of retailers in NZ and 75% in Australia. In November last year, the Kiwi firm raised $82m at a $500m valuation, with the funds earmarked, in part, for a push to further expand in the US. Phil Thomson hadn't worked in retail or software before cofounding Auror. He worked for a big law firm, specialising in intellectual property and privacy issues. The raise was led by two new investors: Axon Enterprise (formerly Taser International) and W23, a venture fund backed by five retailers including Tesco and Woolworths. Nasdaq-listed Axon – which has a US$70 billion ($115b) market cap – invented the Taser in the 1970s. In the 2000s it expanded into bodycams, then computer-aided dispatch software and a cloud-based digital evidence platform. The firm was already an Auror technology partner. Going harder with Taser maker in the US On June 4, Axon and Auror announced a new Retail Crime Hub, which they billed as 'unlocking a more efficient way for North American law enforcement agencies to collaborate with retailers and stop crime in our communities'. Auror already had a substantial beachhead in the US through anchor customer Walmart, founder Phil Thomson said. Thomson says the issue goes well beyond shoplifting: "Retail crime isn't victimless - it's violence, it's assault, and it's organised". The new Retail Crime Hub should help it extend its reach. Thomson said a key issue was that while NZ has a single law enforcement authority (the police) dealing with retail crime, in the US it varied not just by state but by locality with some 18,000 agencies at the country level. Auror is pitched as a conduit to link them together for intel on retail crimes that fly well under the radar of national enforcement agencies. The privacy debate The fast-growing Auror has drawn a degree of privacy flak on both sides of the Tasman with a system that uses digital images which can misidentify people. But the firm has kept its nose clean with our Privacy Commissioner. Thomson emphasises that Auror doesn't operate any security cameras and does not offer live facial recognition. Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster recently gave facial recognition trials by our two major supermarket chains his cautious tick of approval. And Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says the option of having a centralised system of facial recognition is something he expects officials to consider. 'We [Auror] acknowledge the calls from groups like Retail NZ, the UK Home Secretary, and NZ Government, for the use of technology such as facial recognition technology [FRT] in the retail sector,' Thomson told Tech Insider earlier today. 'We support the responsible use of FRT by retailers to protect workers, shoppers and communities from violence and harm.' Thomson knows the legal and philosophical ins-and-outs (he's a former intellectual property lawyer with Simpson Grierson and an ex-board member of the public-interest focused NZ Council of Legal Education). But he says his support for FRT is based on what's happening every day in the real world. 'With retail violence continuing to rise, it's a no-brainer for retailers to explore how this technology [FRT] can be responsibly used in their stores. It's already used in everyday environments such as airports, hotels and casinos,' he says. 'Due to the increase in violence and crime in stores, in my view, it's now not a matter of 'if' or 'when' - it's about 'how' this can be deployed in the best way possible, protecting communities while also protecting privacy. 'Retail crime isn't victimless - it's violence, it's assault, and it's organised. We know one in 10 events involve violence or use of a weapon. Ten % of top repeat offenders are responsible for more than 60% of the crime in Kiwi stores. Furthermore, repeat offenders are up to four times more likely to be violent.' Hip to be AI: Formus Labs poised for US commercial launch Formus Labs' AI-powered, 3D planning software for joint replacement surgeries. Photo / Supplied Auckland-based med-tech Formus Labs will commercially launch in the key US market in a couple of months, founder and chief executive Dr Ju Zhang says. The launch follows the start-up gaining US Food and Drug Administration approval in December for its AI-powered, 3D software for planning orthopaedic surgeries - specifically hip replacements, with its FDA green light. Formus is lining up deals with the likes of hospital chains and insurance firms. Zhang says his firm has pilots already under way with several 'tier one' and 'tier two' players - with revenue above US$1 billion ($1.65b) or in the hundreds of millions, respectively. Formus Labs founder Dr Ju Zhang. Photo/Supplied The start-up already has a close relationship with one of the biggest names in the field - Indiana-based Zimmer Biomet, which invested US$5m ($8.25m) in the Kiwi firm in early 2022 (the round was also supported by existing local investors including Icehouse Ventures, Pacific Channel, Punakaiki Fund and Global From Day 1). Zhang says with major commercial revenue just months away, there are no plans for another sizeable raise, though it's possible Formus will stage a small round for bridging. The FDA approval was a breakthrough moment as many regulators around the world take their lead from the US agency, Zhang says. Japan - a major market for partner Zimmer - will be next cab-off-the-rank for the multi-Hi-Tech Awards winner. Members of the Formus Labs team, still based in NZ as the firm pushes into the US and Japan. Australia is also a major market. Zhang says Formus consults closely with several orthopaedic surgeons in NZ but commercial maths means the primary focus has been across the Tasman and in North America. Regardless, he and his crew of 16 staff are based in Auckland, which he anticipated will remain the hub of the firm's R&D. There's a lot that's high-tech about joint replacement surgery these days. But there's also a lot of drilling, scraping, sawing and hammering. 'In some ways, it's a lot like carpentry,' Zhang says. Formus Lab's software helps a surgeon more quickly and accurately prepare, and pick the right size joint replacement from what can run into hundreds of options. Currently one in 10 operations have to be redone and five out of 10 have some degree of post-op complication. Medtech on the rise At a HealthTech Week event in Auckland last week, the audience heard that New Zealand's MedTech sector currently generates around $2.6b in annual revenue and is projected to reach $3.8b by 2028, a compound annual growth rate of 7.8% since 2018, according to Technology Investment Network, TIN200 stats. 'It's still dominated by the big fish; the likes of F&P Healthcare,' Callaghan Innovation HealthTech head Andrew Clews told Tech Insider. 'But there is a second tier of companies coming through now that we're supporting.' Clews says venture capital money is coming on board and the number of start-ups is increasing - thanks in part to a tight-knit ecosystem. Formus Labs is one of several medtechs spun out of Auckland University's Bioengineering Institute, for example, he said. Others include Kitea Health, the maker of a world-first wireless implant for measuring brain pressure, Toku Eyes and Alimetry. The event was arranged by Te Tītoki Mataora, funded by Auckland University and MBIE and Callaghan Innovation's HealthTech Activator. Both programmes offer various forms of support for medtech start-ups, although Callaghan Innovation is being disestablished. With most staff already laid off, the HealthTech Activator has funding to last through until a new advanced research agency is created around this time next year. Chris Keall is an Auckland-based member of the Herald's business team. He joined the Herald in 2018 and is the technology editor and a senior business writer.

Businesses warned as tax department cracks down
Businesses warned as tax department cracks down

1News

time3 hours ago

  • 1News

Businesses warned as tax department cracks down

Businesses are being urged to get their books in order and be ready to answer probing questions as the tax department increases its focus on compliance. Business consultancy EY said this year's government Budget saw an increase to Inland Revenue's (IR) funding for enforcement, in the order of $64 million, with the intention of boosting collection activities and driving tax compliance. EY tax leader Dean Madsen said the increased funding would likely see increased scrutiny of taxpayers in New Zealand, beyond checking that a tax return is correct. "(IR) will want to understand how you got there," he said adding that technology, data and processes will be important, as well corporate governance. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including deadly Texas floods, Australian woman attacked by a lion, and Elon Musk's new political party. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT "Prove that you have a system with the requisite integrity." He said IR's focus would be go beyond business to include specific sectors such as property, organised crime, the hidden economy and trusts. "The changes could be seen as a warning for New Zealand businesses, who need to be ensuring their tax practices are fully compliant to avoid both the financial implications and the reputational risk of noncompliance," he said. "Businesses should be making certain their tax structuring is adhering to IR's expectations, auditing previous years, and consistently seeking advice - because, with increased scrutiny from IR, businesses can't afford not to." Madsen said IR had a clear mandate to become more active in enforcement, adding the department was expected to eventually generate $8 for every dollar it invested in the process. By RNZ's Nona Pelletier

Kiwi creator on why he turned down huge offers to plug online gambling
Kiwi creator on why he turned down huge offers to plug online gambling

1News

time4 hours ago

  • 1News

Kiwi creator on why he turned down huge offers to plug online gambling

A New Zealand content creator is speaking out about the harms of gambling after revealing he was offered more than $500,000 to promote offshore gambling websites. Louis Davis is a Kiwi content creator with a following of over 3 million across all platforms, and has taken to his social media platforms to warn others about the risks. Speaking with Breakfast this morning, Davis said he received the promotional offers in his email inbox. "We get hammered with emails every day, they're pretty consistent," he said. When asked on why he decided to turn down the offer, he said that gambling promotions are causing real harm in communities and were encouraging addictive behaviour. ADVERTISEMENT 'We are living in an age now where you can gamble in your car, on the toilet, or at work. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including deadly Texas floods, Australian woman attacked by a lion, and Elon Musk's new political party. (Source: 1News) 'There used to be a time and a place for it, but now because of our phones we have access 24/7 to it. 'If they're offering me over $500,000 to ask you to gamble, imagine how much they're stealing from you.' Data from the Department of Internal Affairs showed that in 2022/23, New Zealanders lost $2.76 billion gambling on the four regulated gambling sectors - Lotto New Zealand, TAB NZ, casinos and class 4 gambling (pokies). Growing up in Northland, Davis said he witnessed the impacts of gambling firsthand. "I see the harm of this in my communities, and what it takes from us." he told Breakfast. ADVERTISEMENT "There's a reason they give money to people that look like me. They're going after my community." Davis said he would love to see changes around the rules of advertising, so people don't continue to be tempted by offers from gambling companies. "People get put in this real hard position, where it's undeniable life-changing money. I almost have empathy for people who have to make that decision," "I'd love to see changes made to that system; I don't want it to be a decision people have to make." DIA has been cracking down on the promotion of offshore gambling, sending cease-and-desist letters to some influencers, and monitoring other accounts. Millie Elder-Holmers was recently fined $5000 for promoting online gambling. Under the Gambling Act it is illegal to publish an advertisement for an offshore gambling operator.

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