Latest news with #JoMiller
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Hutt City Council Chief Executive Releases Pre-Election Report
Hutt City Council has published its 2025 Pre-Election Report ahead of the local elections in October. Chief Executive Jo Miller said that while the report is a statutory requirement, it also serves as an opportunity to widely share the challenges and opportunities facing the Lower Hutt. Hutt City Council's pre-election report makes it clear there are a number of challenges and significant work ahead. The Long Term Plan includes a $2.8 billion investment for infrastructure through to 2034 - most of which is going directly into water and transport. "We are starting work on Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (RiverLink) - a combined $1.5 billion investment in partnership with the Government and Greater Wellington Regional Council. This is the largest project ever delivered in the city's history," says Jo Miller. "At the same time, we are working to set up a new regional water entity from 1 July 2026." Miller says there are exciting projects ahead but also real pressures. "The incoming Council will need to make some hard calls. Our costs are rising and there is a need to look carefully at what is being spent and why - and how we can improve our performance in a way that doesn't add significant costs to ratepayers. "The current form of local government is not sustainable beyond the medium term given the scale of the financial challenges councils across the country are facing. As water reform and changes to the planning system via the Resource Management Act arrive, important discussions are starting to occur on amalgamation options for councils in the Wellington region." In response to some of the challenges facing local government, Hutt City Council is already using innovation to boost performance and find efficiencies with the use of technology, particularly Generative AI. Use of AI tools has saved tens of thousands of hours of staff time. Work is now ongoing to build on these improvements and leverage recent investment in modern digital tools. As part of our wider work exploring how AI can help us connect more effectively with our community, Hutt City Council has created a new podcast series unpacking the Pre-Election Report. Narrated by an AI version of Chief Executive Jo Miller's voice, the short episodes aim to make the report's insights more accessible and easier to engage with. "Within our increasing use of AI, I suggested that we do something innovative and deliver New Zealand's first AI podcast highlighting the pre-election report. It's not only a way to showcase AI use, it actually makes the content more accessible to more of our community - like the visually impaired." People interested in standing for Council or just keen to learn more about how the city is run, are encouraged to read the Pre-Election Report. It includes lots of useful information, graphs and data. It also lists other documents you can read if you want more detail. Key election dates: 4 July: Candidate nominations opened. By 19 October: Declaration of final election results.
RNZ News
07-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Getting insight into how women with rheumatoid arthritis experience perimenopause
Rheumatoid arthritis, also called RA, is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. It most often develops between the ages of 25 and 50, and affects more women than men. A research project is getting underway in the hopes of bridging the gap on how women with RA experience perimenopause. Click here if you'd like to take part in Jo's research. Jo Miller, a Massey University master's student, is researching how women with rheumatoid arthritis experience perimenopause. Photo: SUPPLIED/Jo Miller
Scoop
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Hutt City Council Affirms Commitment To Free Speech, Free Speech Union Settles Court Case
Following a legal battle between Hutt City Council and the Free Speech Union over the Council's censorship of inserts on Council sites, the parties have agreed to settle. The Council will make several public statements affirming its commitment to free speech, and its role as a gateway for information, not a gatekeeper, says Jonathan Ayling, Chief Executive of the Free Speech Union. 'It is not the role of local councils to decide what ratepayers do and don't read. We took Hutt City Council and its Chief Executive, Jo Miller, to court when they refused to resolve the matter with us. Local ratepayers deserve better. 'The Hutt City Council removed a paid advertisement insert by the New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR) from newspapers from all council sites. The insert was from 'Treaty of Waitangi – An Explanation' by Sir Āpirana Ngata and was published in 31 NZME and Stuff newspapers. 'However, we now welcome Hutt City Council's agreement to settle with us and their commitment to free speech and the right to impart and receive information and opinions as a critical part of our society. They've also acknowledged that if similar situations arise in the future, the Council would be likely to adopt a different approach. They've confirmed that the role of the local library is not to act as a gatekeeper of information, and that ratepayers should be free to access information. 'Local councils around the country should take note. They can't pick and choose when Kiwis' speech rights apply. Ratepayers not only deserve, but also have a right, to decide whether to engage with content or not. Local councils must respect this.'
Fashion United
11-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Crew Clothing enters activewear space
British lifestyle brand Crew Clothing, known for its nautical-inspired casualwear, has unveiled a new technical activewear collection for men and women. The 'Crew Sport' range is described as the lifestyle brand's first 'holistic activewear collection' and has been designed to combine technical performance with the premium British brand's signature style, offering men's and womenswear pieces for all lifestyles, abilities and fitness levels. Launching mid-June online and across the Crew Clothing store estate, the 'Crew Sport' collection aims to offer 'true versatility' with styles designed for low-impact yoga and reformer Pilates, to higher-intensity Hyrox workouts and padel games, as well as running. 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing Commenting on the expansion into activewear, Naomi Parry, head of marketing at Crew Clothing, said in a statement: 'Entering the sportswear space feels like a natural progression for Crew. Born out of a Salcombe windsurfing shop, we launched our very first collection with rugby shirts designed by a GB skier – sport is in our DNA. 'In the last decade we've built on our sporting legacy through our sponsorship partnerships with Henley Royal Regatta, the LTA and the England Red Roses rugby team, and Crew Sport is the next step in our journey. We know our customers live active, varied lifestyles, and we think this new collection will be the ideal addition to their wardrobe.' 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing Crew Clothing launches first-ever technical sportswear collection Key styles include 'Seam-Free' flattering crop tops and leggings crafted from nylon elastane fabric and jacquard panels, alongside pieces in buttery-soft fabric designed to offer ease of movement while remaining breathable with sweat-wicking features, and 'Bi-Stretch' styles with ergonomic seams that follow the body's natural contours and have UPF50+ protection. The range also includes a dedicated running jacket, gilet and shorts with lightweight woven fabric and reflective detailing, as well as a technical capsule featuring full and half-zip track tops made from breathable, sweat-wicking fabric with four-way stretch for performance and recovery. 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing Jo Miller, head of design at Crew Clothing, added: 'Designed to transcend age, gender and fitness level, our new athleticwear collection blends our timeless heritage with cutting-edge details. Fabrics have been crafted with performance in mind – from compact nylon elastane styles, which will hold you in for optimal movement to super soft, drapey pieces that are ideal for your next yoga session. 'We've become known for our signature touches over the years, and you'll find that here too. Whether it's the unrestrictive storm flap on our running gilet or the thumb holes on our track top, we've thought through all the little details. Look out for our iconic crossed oars – we've reimagined these in a high visibility reflective print and included this throughout the collection.' Prices for 'Crew Sport' range from 25 to 65 pounds. The collection will be available through its website and its 41 stores from June 17. 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing 'Crew Sport' activewear collection from Crew Clothing Credits: Crew Clothing
Fashion Network
10-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Crew Clothing steps up in sportswear with comprehensive new line
The more relaxed capsule, in key buttery-soft fabric, is designed to offer ease of movement while remaining breathable with sweat-wicking features. The Bi-Stretch styles include ergonomic seams to follow the body's natural contours, and have UPF50+ protection. Dedicated running jackets, gilets and shorts, are produced in a lightweight woven fabric and come with reflective detailing. Finally, the Technical capsule has breathable, sweat-wicking fabric with four-way stretch for performance and recovery. Prices range from £25 to £65 with the Crew Sport collection available through any of its 41 stores and online from 17 June. Head of Marketing Naomi Parry said: 'Entering the sportswear space feels like a natural progression for Crew. Born out of a Salcombe windsurfing shop, we launched our very first collection with rugby shirts designed by a GB skier [so] sport is in our DNA.' Calling the line 'a natural progression', she highlighted the brand's close sporting legacy which, in the last decade has been built through sponsorship partnerships with Henley Royal Regatta, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and the England Red Roses rugby team, 'and Crew Sport is the next step in our journey'. She added: 'We know our customers live active, varied lifestyles, and we think this new collection will be the ideal addition to their wardrobe.' Head of Design Jo Miller also said: 'Designed to transcend age, gender and fitness level, our new athleticwear collection blends our timeless heritage with cutting-edge details. 'We've become known for our signature touches over the years, and you'll find that here too. Whether it's the unrestrictive storm flap on our running gilet or the thumb holes on our track top, we've thought through all the little details.' The launch also comes with a marketing campaign that reflects not only the brand's British legacy but injects some humour too. 'We don't take ourselves too seriously and hope that will come through in some of the copy we are launching with,' noted Parry. Taglines include 'Your park-run-and-a-pint Crew' and 'Barbells-and-a-brunch Crew'… 'it's mixing that sport and team spirit [and] bringing it all together in that British tongue-in-cheek humour'. She added: 'In essence, Crew Sport's sporty but doesn't take itself too seriously, is stylish but not too showy, made to make you feel good and fit into your lifestyle… and the added mix of heritage and humour is what will carry it through'.
