Latest news with #Australian-based
NZ Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Six Kiwis to compete in $200k ‘run it straight' final in Dubai
Six New Zealanders make up the eight finalists set to compete for a $200,000 cash prize in the final of a controversial 'run it straight' event in the Middle East this weekend. Australian-based Runit Championship League hosted two trial events at Trusts Arena last month, with the winners taking home
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Psychic back on tour after ‘calling' to return
Psychic medium Deb Webber is back on the road and will be in Timaru on July 3. PHOTO: SUPPLIED When Covid shut down countries, Deb Webber felt a bit relieved. The Australian-based psychic medium had been on the road for more than 20 years and admitted to being tired of travelling and living out of a suitcase. She said she had been thinking for a while about bowing out of performing shows, but they were a way to help larger numbers of people, and she hated saying no and disappointing people. "I could help one person one-on-one, or I could help more people at the same time." So when Covid took the decision out of her hands, it was something of a blessing. But a year ago, she had a strong feeling that she needed to get back out on the road. "I said, I'm not going to go on the road again, I'll do workshops at home, and readings at home and my newsletter. "But about 12 months ago, I got this urge, this calling, that I've got to get back out there, and it kept eating at me, but it took me about a year to go, 'oh, OK'. "I don't know how long I will do them for, but I do love being out there and meeting people, helping people. I get a buzz helping others." Ms Webber has since held a few shows in Australia and New Zealand and is coming to Timaru for a show on July 3 at the Landing Service Conference Centre. Her shows are generally to an audience of about 100; the smaller numbers make it more personal, and there is a better chance of someone having contact as she moves around the audience. She says a good show is when the souls come in clear, fast and accurate and the energy is clean and easy to read. A difficult show would be one in which the energy is dark, heavy and sad. Every show is different. Webber held a couple of shows in Timaru some years ago, and she was involved in a local case for the Sensing Murder television show. Tickets for the July 3 show are available online at Humanitix. The Courier has a double pass to Deb Webber's Timaru show to give away. Email with your name and contact phone number and put "Deb Webber tickets" in the subject line. Entries close at 5pm on Monday, June 30.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Double Bonus For City Rail Link's 'Amazing Achievement'
Shifting the bar higher for New Zealand's infrastructure industry has delivered a double bonus for Auckland's game-changing City Rail Link (CRL). The project has received two top-tier leading ratings from the Australian-based Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC): An As-Built leading rating specifically for the design and construction of its main C3 tunnels and stations contract delivered by Link Alliance covering the work to build the Te Waihorotiu, Karanga-a-Hape and Maungawhau Stations, including its use of a tunnel boring machine between Maungawhau and Te Waihorotiu. An As-Built leading rating for the overall CRL project covering the design and construction of C1, C2 and C3 contracts - CRL's entire 3.45 kilometres route of tunnels and stations. The CRL is now the first project to be awarded ISC's Leading IS (Mahi Rauora Aratohu version 1) As Built programme rating overall. The entire CRL project—from Waitematā to Maungawhau - is now officially recognised as meeting the highest sustainability standards ever awarded on either side of the Tasman. ISC Chief Executive, Toby Kent, praised the CRL team's 'amazing achievement' and its commitment to the practice of sustainability. 'The ISC is proud to see New Zealand's biggest transport infrastructure project adopt sustainability into the DNA of its operations. This has been an amazing achievement and demonstrates the overwhelmingly positive social, economic and environmental good that is possible to achieve through an IS Rating," Mr Kent says. CRL Ltd Chief Executive, Patrick Brockie, says the Council's independent assessment is a powerful endorsement of the values and hard mahi adopted and demonstrated by the project, contractors and subcontractors from day one. 'Success for CRL Ltd and our Link Alliance delivery partner is testament to the passion, commitment, and tenacity of the many talented people who have delivered a project that is not just good for Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, but good for the sector, shifting the needle on how we integrate sustainability, environment, social outcomes and culture into large scale infrastructure projects,' says Mr Brockie. The Infrastructure Sustainability Council praised the commitment by CRL Ltd, Link Alliance and mana whenua to imbed Māori cultural values in the project's design, and deliver positive social outcomes for Māori, Pasifika and rangatahi (youth) by creating employment and training opportunities and supporting Māori and Pasifika businesses with supply chain opportunities. 'Te Ao Māori has environmental sustainability at its very core,' says Edith Tuhimata from the project's Mana Whenua Forum, 'and we have an inherent responsibility to future generations for the way we conduct our businesses and the impacts that has on the environment and the people, if we take care of the Taiao (environment), the Taiao will take care of us. Mana Whenua bring a holistic approach to the CRL project to ensure whakapapa links are acknowledged and the best practical environmental, sustainable, social and cultural outcomes are achieved.' Alongside positive social outcomes, the ISC was impressed by CRL's protection of the environment: substantially reducing the project's carbon footprint; savings around the use of construction and operational energy; more efficient use of water and materials; a dramatic reduction in waste earmarked for landfill; use of high-tech computer technology to help produce more efficient design and construction methodology. Link Alliance Project Director Jean-Philippe Guillemenot says: 'We're proud of the environmental, social, cultural and economic outcomes achieved. The innovations developed by the team has left a legacy, many sustainability firsts for New Zealand, and new benchmarks for future infrastructure projects.' Mr Brockie added that once operational in 2026, CRL will give Aucklanders more sustainable transport choices. 'We are determined to leave Auckland a better place than when we started construction and our success with the two Infrastructure Sustainability Council leading ratings certainly demonstrates that we are on the right track,' Mr Brockie says. The contracts included in the ISC leading ratings are: C1 - Waitematā Station (Britomart)/Lower Queen Street and Commercial Bay: designers Aurecon, Mott MacDonald and Jasmax; delivered by Downer and Soletanche Bachy Joint Venture C2 – northern end of Albert Street between Customs Street/Commercial Bay and Wyndham Streets: designers Aurecon, Mott MacDonald, Grimshaw, Jasmax, Arup; delivered by Connectus (McConnell Dowell and Downer Joint Venture) C3 - Main Tunnel, Stations, Western Line Connection and Rail Systems, delivered by Link Alliance (Vinci Construction Grands Projets, Downer, Soletanche Bachy, WSP, AECOM, Tonkin+Taylor and CRL Ltd) Iwi represented on CRL's Mana Whenua Forum: Te Ākitai Waiohua, Te Kawerau a Maki, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Paoa, Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Ngāti Tamaoho, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, Ngāti Te Ata Waiohua
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Genetic Methylation Tests Support Informed Individual Health Planning Across Australia
Life X DNA™, an Australian-based provider of genetic analysis services, offers DNA methylation testing designed to help individuals better understand biological processes that may influence health. The at-home testing model allows users to collect samples privately and access personalised reports through a secure online platform. The genetic methylation test in Adelaide analyses over 200 million genetic markers, including methylation-related variants and MTHFR gene status. Reports provide insights into gene regulation mechanisms and may assist in understanding factors linked to energy, cardiovascular health, and detoxification. Residents in Queensland have access to the genetic methylation test on the Gold Coast, which uses the same AI-powered analysis platform. The test results include information on folate metabolism, homocysteine levels, and potential nutritional considerations. All data is processed in accordance with Australian privacy regulations. Life X DNA™'s services do not provide diagnoses but aim to support informed discussions about health with qualified professionals. Testing is available nationwide, and kits can be ordered online for home use with no clinic visit required. Further information about DNA methylation testing, regional availability, and the reporting process can be found on the Life X DNA™ website.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Feedback sought on proposed sale
Interested parties are having their say on the sale of a farmer-owned flour mill in South Canterbury's Washdyke which must get Commerce Commission clearance to go ahead. The commission has received an application from George Weston Foods, trading as Mauri New Zealand, to buy the wheat milling and storage assets, including land, used by Farmers Mill. It has gone out to interested parties after the release of a statement of preliminary issues to investigate if the buyout would reduce competition. Submissions close on July 3. A purchase price was undisclosed with the sale subject to conditions including regulatory approval from the commission. The mill was opened in Washdyke in 2013 as New Zealand's only independent grower-owned and operated flour producer. Farmers Mill supplies bulk and bagged flour to industrial food manufacturers, bakeries and some retailers. The mill is owned by Grainstor, the South Island's largest grain storage facility. Directors for both companies are listed as Ashley Biggs, Raymond Bowan, Antony Howey and Murray Turley. A Commerce Commission spokeswoman said in a statement the commission could only give clearance to a proposed merger if it was satisfied it was unlikely to have the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market. Mauri operates flour mills in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, supplying flour in bulk to large users of flour such as industrial food manufacturers and bagged flour to wholesalers, bakeries and supermarkets. Mauri flour is also used by George Weston Foods' bakery division to produce breads and bakery goods under brands including Tip Top bread and Big Ben pies. Australian-based George Weston Foods is owned by Associated British Foods Plc, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Both Mauri and Farmers Mill also supply a broll byproduct of the wheat-milling process most commonly used as an input for animal feed. Farmers Mill bought its wheat-milling plant from a company in Italy in 2012 for about $12 million. When the mill was launched the following year with former prime minister John Key cutting the ribbon, Mr Turley, as chairman, said South Canterbury arable farmers had teamed up to mill their own grain to gain more control of their grain production and create a homegrown product. "We have harnessed our own resources to secure the industry's future, investing more than $10 million to get Farmers Mill up and running," he said at the time. Initially 12 local farmers were involved in the ground-up building of the mill. The commission expects to make a decision by August 7, although this could be extended as the investigation progresses.
