Innovation And Employment
The industry-killing crisis
As the natural gas supply dwindles, a glasshouse tomato grower fears for its future, and the future of growing food in New Zealand Audio
Builders struggle with suspensions for composite panels
Building owners and designers are struggling to deal with the suspension of approval certificates for aluminium panels similar to those that burned on London's Grenfell Tower a year ago. They are not… Audio
Insurers warn of composite panel suspension impact
Insurers warn the suspension of CodeMark certificates for virtually all aluminium composite panels used on multi-storey buildings could affect cover. The suspension of the certificates was made public… Audio
Building products approval certificates might be flawed
A review has found the Government's own gold-standard scheme to approve building products is badly flawed. It questions the competency and expertise of those issuing the powerful Codemark… Audio
British insurers warn against use of aluminium panels
In the wake of the Grenfell fire disaster British insurers are demanding a ban on combustable cladding on high rises - including the kind that is widely used in New Zealand. Aluminium composite… Audio
Protest groups welcome expansion of inquiry
Two groups who claim they were spied on by security firm Thompson and Clark are welcoming the expansion of an inquiry, covering not one but two government agencies. Earlier this month the State… Audio
MBIE admits to $10 million payroll problem
The Government has set aside $10 million to fix a payroll mess affecting 9,000 current and former staff at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Mistakes with holiday pay at MBIE came… Audio
NZ businesses fined thousands over sloppy paperwork
Businesses across the country have been stung with hundreds of thousands of dollars of fines for exploiting staff and failing to keep proper employment records. The Labour Inspectorate says most of… Audio
Building regulator faces overhaul after worst performance result
The country's building regulator admits it needs a major overhaul after years scrambling just to react to leaky homes and the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes. Audio
Building watchdog admits overhaul needed
The country's building regulator is being overhauled after being rated the worst among the 16 regulatory systems the Ministry runs. MBIE's Building Performance deputy chief executive Chris Bunny told… Audio
Industry: progress being made on steel quality controls
Last year Stephen Hicks of the Heavy Engineering Research Association labelled New Zealand the 'wild west' of steel testing, amid the fiasco over flawed seismic reinforcing mesh - but he tells our… Audio
Worries DoC tourism plan will turn cave system into theme park
A plan to attract more tourists to the north of the West Coast and help the economy by developing a 35 million year old cave system in the Kahurangi National Park is not being welcomed by everyone… Audio
MBIE spends $140,000 on display monitor
Business, Innovation and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says he's disappointed with the latest extravagant purchase made by his ministry. Audio
Minister "not happy" with latest big spend at MBIE
The Economic Development Minister says taxpayers will not happy with the revelation of the latest piece of big item spending from his ministry. Audio
Economic Development Minister not happy with latest MBIE spend
The Economic Development Minister, Steven Joyce says he's not happy with his ministry's latest big ticket spending item. Audio
Super ministry slated in official review
The State Services Commission has published a scathing report on the performance of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Audio
