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  • 19 Aug 2022 5:17 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Construction tech start-up opens San Francisco office, building on Australia and New Zealand market success

    Construction tech platform Mooven, today announced its launch into the United States, opening an office in San Francisco as the start-up spearheads its global expansion and reshapes the economics of how infrastructure is delivered and the resulting community impact.

    “There’s an expanding gap between what is being delivered and what is actually needed for transport infrastructure in the United States,” said Micah Gabriels, CEO and co-founder of Mooven. “With 43 per cent of the country’s roads in poor or mediocre condition, these challenges cannot be solved by maintaining the status quo. The industry has suffered flat productivity for decades, with other sectors speeding ahead in line with the digital economy.”

    Founded in 2017, the New Zealand technology business successfully cracked the Australia and New Zealand market amid its efforts to help government authorities and construction companies implement smarter ways of working to reach the promise of our future cities, faster.

    Mooven brings the right data and contextual awareness closer to decision makers, enabling them to accelerate the speed at which infrastructure projects are completed, while minimising disruption to local communities. The contextual insights illustrate the impact on the transport network caused by such works, such as traffic congestion or noise pollution, and enables delivery teams to plan smarter and adjust when needed.

    The US expansion comes at a time when President Biden's $1 Trillion USD infrastructure bill has passed, providing significant stimulus funding and growth for the sector, with an intention to repair a backlog in transport systems, modernise existing infrastructure and support the transition to a clean economy. But there is pressure to mobilise quickly.

    “In the past, there hasn’t been enough money to maintain historic roads, nor enough to build new. Too often, we’ve seen the US treat infrastructure investment as a political football, but now the challenge is to spend Biden’s stimulus quickly and efficiently. However, this is a challenge in a sector McKinsey identifies less than three percent of projects are completed on time and in budget, largely due to historical inefficiencies that have too long impacted the way construction outfits work.

    “In a political environment where complaints and public opinion matter, the pressure is on to implement wider productivity benefits and make sure progress can occur without grinding cities to a halt. Mooven comes in as firebreak, providing context that spans far beyond what it has previously relied on, so teams can work faster and smarter.”

    Located in San Francisco, Mooven’s US main office will primarily focus its efforts on the west coast of North America, with the area frequenting heavier traffic congestion, and less developed public transport.

    “Our experience in Australia and New Zealand put us in a unique position to export our advanced IP and knowledge to a similar but much larger market. The US, like Australia and New Zealand are unusual in the developed world with large road networks per capita and relatively low public transport usage.”

    The company will capitalise on its existing Australia and New Zealand customer base with a presence in the US market – including Lendlease, Transurban, Jacobs, AECOM and WSP – to spearhead its ambitious goal of achieving a 20 per cent increase in US infrastructure delivered for the same budget.

    Breaking into the US, according to Gabriels, will position Mooven to make a material and lasting impact on how infrastructure is delivered globally, so it can achieve its mission of creating space for cities to thrive.

    ##

    About Mooven

    Mooven is a construction technology platform providing construction companies, engineering consultants and government authorities with increased flexibility and agility, enabling them to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure, while minimising the city-stopping impacts and disruption.

    Spanning far beyond what the industry has previously relied on, Mooven brings the right data sources together into an operational tool used to tailor construction activity based on current conditions.

    Mooven gives its users contextual insight into the effects of infrastructure projects and maintenance activity on road users and surrounding communities, covering network aspects like journey times through the area, delays, queuing, speeds, noise and dust. Bringing this data into one place, with an understanding of not only the immediate worksite but also the flow on impacts to the surrounding city, Mooven provides a holistic view to enable contractors, infrastructure firms and governments to make evidence-based decisions.

    Whether it be across capital works, rehabilitation, maintenance or network operations, Mooven helps customers accelerate delivery time and achieve improved community outcomes, while minimising community complaints or safety concerns.

    Mooven works with major construction firms like LendLease, Accionia, Downer, WSP, Jacobs, Georgiou, WBHO Infrastructure and government authorities like Queensland Department for Transport and Main Roads, Wellington Water and Waka Kotahi (New Zealand Transport Agency) across Australia and New Zealand. Mooven extends its presence to the United States, where it spearheads its purpose to accelerate delivery of important infrastructure projects while minimising community impacts in the new market.
    https://www.mooven.com/

  • 15 Aug 2022 6:16 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Grapevine, Texas has travelled to Auckland for their first in market sales mission, since engaging with Canuckiwi back in early 2020.  Grapevine has remained active and engaged with the trade over the last two years, providing many training experiences and events, from live on location webinars to scavenger hunts, trivia events and a rock painting event. 

    Heather Egan Director of Leisure and International Sales met and presented Grapevine to a full house of Auckland trade and media at Non Solo pizza in Parnell. 

    Heather is looking forward to hosting key media to the 36th annual GrapeFest in September. GrapeFest is the largest wine festival of the Southwest and boasts the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation.

    At the same time Heather will be taking rocks painted by New Zealand and Australian trade and media partners from their event in 2021, to place them in the international section of the Grapevine Rock Art Trail.  The Rock Art Trail has earned a Guinness World Record title for the largest display of painted rocks. 

    With the launch of the American Airlines flight from Auckland to DFW on 1 November 2022, he timing of this mission has been even more significant. Grapevine, Texas is only 10 minutes away from DFW giving Kiwis direct access to be able to base themselves in Grapevine and explore the area including Dallas and Fort Worth before renting a car to drive to Oklahoma to explore Route 66 and more. 

    ABOUT GRAPEVINE, TEXAS

    Historic Grapevine, Texas is the premier go-to destination when planning a meeting or convention in Texas. Grapevine, centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, provides visitors a sophisticated escape from the big city. Show guests will enjoy Grapevine’s superior meeting facilities, seminar spaces, dining, the Urban Wine and Craft Brew Trail and opportunities for shopping along Main Street in Historic Downtown, Grapevine Mills, Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine Towne Center and more. Grapevine’s annual festivals and events draw visitors from around the globe. For more information, visit GrapevineTexasUSA.com.

    Issued by the Visit Grapevine, Texas Australia / New Zealand Press Office.  For further information or to obtain high res images please contact: Corey Marshall at Canuckiwi on +64 21 555 463 or email corey@canuckiwi.com

  • 11 Aug 2022 2:29 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    An agreement signed today between the New Zealand and United States governments will provide new opportunities for our space sector and closer collaboration with NASA, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash said.

    Stuart Nash signed the Framework Agreement with United States Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. The signing followed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Vice President Kamala Harris welcoming of the completion of negotiations on this agreement during their meeting in Washington, DC on 31 May 2022.

    “We have an incredibly innovative space sector in New Zealand. Despite our small size, we’ve become a notable player in the global space industry, and signing the Framework Agreement marks an exciting step for our space sector,” Stuart Nash said.

    “This is a huge opportunity for Kiwi companies and researchers to collaborate more closely with the US and NASA. It will facilitate space science, technology and cooperation, and focuses on building connections between our two countries’ civil space sectors and research communities.

    “A close relationship with the United States is highly beneficial for supporting a thriving space sector in New Zealand. This already includes government regulatory cooperation to enable launches from New Zealand and an active dialogue on space policy issues.

    “Last month, Rocket Lab launched the historic CAPSTONE Mission in support of NASA’s Artemis Program, the first-ever lunar mission launched from New Zealand soil. This was a significant milestone for Rocket Lab and is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we collaborate with our international partners.

    “At a practical level, the agreement outlines a number of modes of cooperation, including exchange of data and personnel, flying instruments on aircraft and spacecraft and education and public outreach. These include space science, earth observation, education and space sustainability.

    “The Framework Agreement will reduce the need to negotiate complex one-off contractual arrangements for specific missions and research projects, and increases New Zealand’s visibility as a priority space partner within the United States. This will not only improve our already world-leading research and innovation, but will also positively impact our economy. The New Zealand space sector is worth over $1.7 billion, with a space manufacturing industry that generates around $247 million every year in revenue,” Stuart Nash said.

    Source: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/

  • 10 Aug 2022 11:27 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    New region to support growing Kiwi customer base, including Government and Financial Services

    SUNNYVALE, Calif, and Auckland, New Zealand — Today, Google Cloud announced its first cloud region is coming to New Zealand to meet growing demand for cloud services locally and around the world. Globally, Google Cloud also recently shared plans to add cloud regions in three additional countries — Malaysia, Mexico, and Thailand — to join five other previously announced regions coming soon to Berlin, Dammam, Doha, Tel Aviv, and Turin. 

    The New Zealand cloud region will give Kiwi businesses the choice to keep their data onshore, retain data sovereignty and drive their digital transformation efforts locally with speed, security and scalability at the core. A recent report by AlphaBeta, commissioned by Google New Zealand, found that if leveraged fully, digital transformation could create up to NZD$46.6 billion in economic value by 2030, the equivalent of the GDP of Canterbury and Hawkes’s Bay. 

    "Kiwis are world famous for ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit and we want to give New Zealand businesses the right platform to serve as a foundation for growth and innovation," said Alister Dias, Vice President, Google Cloud Australia & New Zealand. "Whether it's getting smarter about the use of data, or having the flexibility of an open-platform that can adapt to changing market and regulatory conditions, our New Zealand region will give customers key controls that will enable them to maintain low latency and the highest security, data residency, and compliance standards." 

    When launched, the region will bring high-performance, low-latency services and products to local customers, and will have three zones to help protect against service disruptions. Google Cloud currently has a Dedicated Cloud Interconnect in Auckland to support New Zealand customers. The New Zealand cloud region will be Google Cloud’s third region in Australasia, joining Sydney and Melbourne. Google Cloud has 11 cloud regions already in operation in JAPAC. 

    Google has now marked 15 years on the ground in New Zealand, and last year announced the opening of its first purpose-built office in Auckland as well as the establishment of a New Zealand-based engineering team, to drive deeper adoption of AI and ML across the country. 

    “For over 15 years our team has been working closely with businesses, communities and educators in New Zealand to support them with the skills they need to succeed in a digital future,” said Caroline Rainsford, Country Director, Google New Zealand. “Bringing a new cloud region to Aotearoa shows Google’s increasing investment and will allow us to partner more deeply with local businesses, to deliver on our unique ability to bring enterprise and consumer ecosystems closer together - across Search, YouTube, Cloud - to deliver more powerful customer experiences, quickly and securely.” 

    “Kami was born out of the digital native era, where in order to scale globally we needed a partner like Google Cloud who could support us on our ongoing innovation journey. We have since delivered an engaging and dependable experience for millions of teachers and students around the world, so it’s incredibly exciting to hear about the new region coming to New Zealand. This investment from Google Cloud will enable us to deliver services with lower latency to our Kiwi users, which will further elevate and optimise our free premium offering to all New Zealand schools,” said Jordan Thoms, Chief Technology Officer at Kami. 

    “Our customers are at the heart of our business, and helping Kiwis find what they are looking for, faster than ever before, is our key priority. Our collaboration with Google Cloud has been pivotal in ensuring the stability and resilience of our infrastructure, allowing us to deliver world-class experiences to the 650,000 Kiwis that visit our site everyday. We welcome Google Cloud’s investment in New Zealand, and are looking forward to more opportunities to partner closely on our technology transformation journey,” said    Anders Skoe, Chief Executive Officer at Trade Me. 

    “Digital transformation plays a key role in helping Vodafone deliver better customer experiences and connect all Kiwis. We welcome Google Cloud’s investment in New Zealand and look forward to working together to offer more enriched experiences for local businesses, and the communities we serve,” said Jason Paris, Chief Executive Officer at Vodafone New Zealand. 

    “The new Google Cloud region will help to address organizations’ increasing needs in the area of digital sovereignty and enable more opportunities for digital transformation and innovation in New Zealand. With this announcement, Google Cloud is providing customers with more choices in accessing capabilities from local cloud regions while aiding their journeys to hybrid and multi-cloud environments," said   Daphne Chung, Research Director, Cloud Services and Software Research, IDC Asia/Pacific.

    With 34 regions and 103 zones currently in operation around the world, Google Cloud’s global network of cloud regions is the foundation of the infrastructure it is building to support customers of all sizes and across industries. 

    About Google Cloud
    Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology — all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

     

  • 05 Aug 2022 3:37 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    The Innovative Partnerships team at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has signed an agreement with United States commercial space company Axiom Space Inc that will help New Zealand researchers advance world-leading space science and technology

    The Memorandum of Understanding with Axiom – a United States-based space infrastructure developer - will allow New Zealand researchers to gain access to Axiom’s capabilities and experience of operating on the International Space Station.

    In the future, this access will expand to Axiom’s own space station module, the Axiom Station, which is the world’s first commercial space station.

    The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Iain Cossar, General Manager Science, Innovation, and International, and Head of the New Zealand Space Agency, and Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space Inc.

    This partnership was facilitated by the Innovative Partnerships programme. The programme forms part of the Government’s efforts to raise the levels of research and development (R&D) by attracting investment into New Zealand through working with international firms and innovators. Through the programme each project will receive $90,000 to support their studies.

    Read more about innovative partnerships
    Spource: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/

  • 02 Aug 2022 4:56 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Infratil, together with its co-investors the NZ Super Fund and the Longroad Energy management team, announce that MEAG, acting as the asset management arm for entities of Munich Re, has agreed to invest US$300 million to acquire a 12% stake in Longroad Energy (‘Longroad’), the US renewable energy company. The transaction implies a pre-money valuation for Longroad common equity of US$2,000 million. Infratil and the NZ Super Fund will each also invest a further US$100 million and retain a ~37% stake. The balance of ~14% is owned by Longroad management. MEAG’s investment is subject to certain conditions, primarily customary US regulatory approvals from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. Completion of the transaction is expected in the last quarter of the calendar year.

    In early 2022, Longroad initiated a process to seek a minority investor to join in raising an additional US$500 million of capital to support increasing its renewable development activity and scale. The additional capital will primarily be used to fund Longroad Energy’s near-term development pipeline, which includes 4.5GW of development projects to begin construction over the next 3 years. The business is planning to reach financial close on ~1,000MW’s of projects before year end, including Sun Streams 3, the 500MW solar and storage project in Maricopa County, Arizona.

    Infratil chief executive Jason Boyes said that the pre-money valuation of Infratil’s stake at completion implied by the transaction of US$800 million was significantly higher than the independent valuation received on 31 March 2022 of US$220 million, and listed market consensus. It was also in line with the enterprise valuation multiple achieved for the sale of Tilt Renewables’ Australian business in 2021, at 40 times Longroad’s FY2023E proportionate EBITDA of ~US$83 million[1].

    “Infratil is extremely happy with this outcome. We remain very optimistic about the opportunities and outlook for Longroad and are pleased to be increasing our investment as part of this transaction. Longroad is well-positioned in a key geography, with high-quality operating assets, built-in growth through its development portfolio, and a proven team. The new investment from a leading global infrastructure investor in MEAG is a strong endorsement of the business and the sector, and we look forward to working with them.”

    “This transaction, alongside the sale of Vodafone New Zealand’s passive mobile towers announced in July, continues the trend of private market valuations of infrastructure assets for like-minded, long-term investors exceeding listed market consensus.”

    NZ Super Fund Head of External Investments and Partnerships Del Hart said “Longroad has been one of the NZ Super Fund’s most successful investments and, in line with our long-term, partnership approach to infrastructure development, we are pleased to both welcome MEAG as a co-investor and contribute more capital ourselves. It has been exciting to see Longroad grow since we first invested in 2016 and we look forward to seeing it continue to deliver both strong financial returns and positive environmental and social outcomes.”

    Longroad CEO Paul Gaynor said “The additional capital will allow Longroad to maximise its competitive position in what remains one of the most attractive markets in the world for renewable energy investment. We expect to benefit from improved purchasing power, providing greater optionality and value-maximisation opportunities, reliable cash flows from a growing operating base to support the larger pipeline and downside protection.”

    Dr Alexander Poll, MEAG’s Senior Investment Manager responsible for U.S. infrastructure investments, said “This investment is a significant step to further increase the US renewable portfolio for Munich Re. Given Munich Re's strong position in the US insurance market, we are interested in further investing in the United States.”

    Martin Kaufmann, Senior Investment Manager MEAG U.S. infrastructure investments, said “This investment makes an important contribution to Munich Re’s net-zero climate commitment under the Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (AOA), which Munich Re joined in 2020. We are also pleased to have teamed up with professional partners on this investment to build a successful long-term relationship.”

    Morrison & Co’s Global Head of Energy Vimal Vallabh added “Longroad represents the second of our renewables businesses to reach a level of maturity that has been given strong endorsement by the market, after the sale of the Australasian-focused renewables business, Tilt Renewables. We continue to increase our exposure to this attractive sector through our ongoing interest in Longroad and through the rapid expansion we are experiencing in Europe through Galileo and our newest platform Gurīn Energy, which is focused on the Asian market.”

    Estimated impact on FY2023 International Portfolio Annual Incentive Fee

    Infratil’s investment in Longroad is part of the International Portfolio Annual Incentive Fee (‘Annual Incentive Fee’) assessment each year. To calculate the Annual Incentive Fee, the valuation of Infratil’s investment in Longroad includes an estimate of the tax payable and sale costs if Infratil were to realise the investment.

    Based on an updated independent valuation as at 30 June 2022, which took into account the proposed transaction and capital raise, Infratil’s 40% stake in Longroad was valued at US$798 million (NZ$1,284 million), or US$614 million (NZ$987 million) post-estimated tax and sale costs, which results in an estimated Annual Incentive Fee in relation to Longroad at 31 March 2023 of NZ$103 million.

    Infratil notes that the actual Annual Incentive Fee at 31 March 2023 will be determined based on independent valuations of each of the relevant investments as at that date. If an Annual Incentive Fee is ultimately determined to be payable at 31 March 2023, the fee will be payable in three equal tranches over the period to 31 March 2025, with the latter two tranches only being payable if the total valuation of the relevant investments as at 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2025 respectively is no less than the total valuation determined as at 31 March 2023.

    Summary: Valuation of Infratil’s interest in Longroad Energy

    31 March 2022 (40% interest) US$220m (NZ$315m)

    (US$158.6m post-estimated tax and sale costs)

    30 June 2022 (40% interest) US$798m (NZ$1,284m)

    (US$613.6m (NZ$987 million) post-estimated tax and sale costs)

    At Closing (37.1% interest, post-money) US$927m (NZ$1,426m)

    At completion of the transaction, Infratil will have invested a net US$112 million in Longroad since 2016, and achieved an IRR of 59% p.a. based on the US$800 million pre-money valuation of its stake implied by this transaction (post-estimated performance fees and tax and sale costs payable if Infratil realised its stake).

    Source: https://infratil.com/

  • 22 Jul 2022 10:57 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    The latest investment values the Auckland technology company at $90 million and the investment funds will help its plan to transform the global photonics test and measurement industry.

    Auckland, New Zealand, July 22 2022 - Auckland-based Quantifi Photonics, an emerging leader in the global photonics test and measurement market, announced today that it has secured NZ $25 million in a fully-subscribed Series C capital raise.

    Intel Capital, the venture capital arm of Intel Corporation, led the round which was supported by existing New Zealand investors Pacific Channel, Nuance Connected Capital, Simplicity, K1W1, NZ Growth Capital Partners and UniServices. Early investor Punakaiki Fund remains the largest shareholder.

    Intel Capital will add a new non-executive director to the Quantifi Photonics board.

    “Intel Capital’s investment will help us carry out our strategy and seize the market for the high-value test instruments required to support the rapidly growing transceiver market, which is projected to exceed US $14B by the year 2026,” said Dr. Andy Stevens, CEO and co-founder of Quantifi Photonics. “We are also grateful to our existing investors who participated in the round. With help from NZTE, Callaghan Innovation, and the hard work of our passionate staff, we’ve made incredible progress in the last few years.”

    Following an over-subscribed Series B round in 2021, Quantifi Photonics increased annual sales orders by over 70% and established a dedicated research and development centre in Thailand following the acquisition of SmarTest Technologies. The company is now fast-tracking the development of new test instruments designed for the latest optical communications technologies designed to power 5G and 6G communication networks. 

    “Silicon photonics is a key technique in the future of the semiconductor and telecommunications industries, especially with the increasing bandwidth requirements for data center and 5G/6G applications,” said Sean Doyle, Managing Director at Intel Capital. “The Quantifi Photonics team has the potential to supply critical test and measurement solutions to the market at large.”

    Quantifi Photonics is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand with wholly-owned subsidiaries in the USA and Thailand. The company will be growing its New Zealand R&D and manufacturing teams, and investing in overseas sales and customer support teams to capitalise on the significant growth in optical communication networks around the world. 

    Contact

    Dr. Andy Stevens, CEO Quantifi Photonics a.stevens@quantifiphotonics.com

    +64 212 436 191

    About Quantifi Photonics

    Quantifi Photonics is on a mission to transform the world of photonics test and measurement. From their New Zealand headquarters, the company develops and manufactures benchtop and modular test instruments and customized test solutions. They are a critical supplier to multinational technology companies and world-leading research organizations and work with customers to solve complex challenges with experience and innovation. Discover more at www.quantifiphotonics.com.


  • 20 Jul 2022 4:56 PM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)
    • A new Active Investor Plus visa category is created to attract high-value investors.
    • The new visa will replace the existing Investor 1 and Investor 2 visa categories.
    • Eligibility criteria includes a minimum $5 million investment and encourages greater economic benefit to New Zealand companies by capping passive investment in listed equities to 50 per cent and excluding bonds and property.
    • Visa category will open 19 September 2022.                                            

    As part of the Government’s Immigration Rebalance strategy, changes to New Zealand’s investor visa settings will be made to attract experienced, high-value investors bringing growth opportunities to domestic businesses, Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash and Immigration Minister Michael Wood announced today.

    “We have so many fantastic businesses in New Zealand that are making a real name for themselves in the global marketplace. Our Government has a goal to support these businesses to grow into even more successful global brands, and updating our investor visa settings is a key part of our strategy to attract high-value investors,” Stuart Nash said.

    “This is part of our Immigration Rebalance strategy, which aims to attract high-skilled migrants, and aligns with our goal to build a more productive, competitive and sustainable, economy. The new visa settings will attract active and high-value migrants who will bring their international expertise to help New Zealand businesses to grow, which increases local employment and directly benefits the economy.

    “The new Active Investor Plus visa will replace the old investment visa categories, which although successful in attracting a large amount of funds over past decade – over $12b –often resulted in passive investment in shares and bonds rather than directly into New Zealand companies, meaning a missed opportunity to attract more active investors who can deliver real benefits to our economy over a long period of time.

    “We want to encourage active investment into New Zealand, which generates more high-skilled jobs and economic growth compared to passive investment. This new visa category will also leverage the skills, experience and networks of migrants who will bring their access to global networks and global markets to help Kiwi companies grow faster and smarter.

    “Overall, the visa changes are a win-win for New Zealand and migrant investors. Investors secure an opportunity to invest in smart and innovative New Zealand businesses that have the potential to be globally successful, and Kiwi businesses gain valuable skills, connections, and capital. This will make New Zealand more competitive in the international marketplace and take our businesses to the next level” Stuart Nash said.

    “The new visa category will help to attract investors that will remain in New Zealand for the long term, bringing their skills and experience to increase our productivity and competitiveness, supporting our transition to a high wage, productive economy,” Michael Wood said.

    “Applicants who make acceptable direct investments, among other requirements, will be eligible for the new visa with a $5 million minimum investment and receive the highest rating which is a lower minimum amount than those who choose more indirect investments. The minimum amount required for indirect investments will be $15 million.

    “We’re also improving the flexibility for the investor by allowing them to invest over a three-year period and maintain their investments up to the end of a fourth year. Investors will need to spend at least 117 days, or around a month a year, in New Zealand over the four-year investment period. This is increased from 88 days in the previous category in order to ensure that investors are actively getting hands on with local companies to help them grow.

    “Being in New Zealand will provide more opportunities to become involved in the businesses they’ve invested in, further sharing their expertise and connections. Spending time here also increases the likelihood of further active investment. The changes make us competitive with Australia, which has a similar investor migrant setting,” Michael Wood said.

    The new Active Investor Plus visa will open on 19 September 2022. Applications under the Investor 1 and Investor 2 visas will no longer be accepted after 27 July 2022. All applications in the current pipeline will continue to be processed by Immigration New Zealand.  

    Source:  https://www.beehive.govt.nz/

  • 15 Jul 2022 11:31 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    The brand, owned by NASDAQ-listed RAVE Restaurant Group, has signed an international development agreement with the director of Al Forno Pizzeria Italian Restaurant in Auckland, Ginny Singh.

    The deal will see Singh become the principal master licensee and development partner for Pizza Inn in New Zealand. Prior to becoming a director of Al Forno, Singh had been a restaurant general manager at both KFC and Burger King.

    Under the agreement, Pizza Inn will join forces with Singh to build ten Pizza Inn restaurants, which are a pizza buffet concept like the Pizza Hutt of old, with the first expected to open in Auckland later this year.

    QSR restaurants have had a challenging time under the pandemic, with those not offering delivery suffering the most, while pizza delivery chains like Domino’s and New Zealand-founded Hell performed better.

    However, Singh said his company, GJ Restaurants, was “eager” to bring the new chain to New Zealand.

    “Hospitality is recovering and this is a great time to bring an iconic American brand which aligns with our passion for authentic, high-quality pizza,” Singh said.

    Dallas-headquartered RAVE has Pizza Inn restaurants in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Honduras.

    “Our new fiscal year is off to a great start with a net increase of two Pizza Inn restaurants in the US and our opportunity to be a leading pizza brand in New Zealand,” RAVE president and chief executive, Brandon Solano, said.

    “Our franchisees all share a common dedication to creating a high-quality product and dining experience with our house made dough and 100% house-shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese. Ginny will bring that same commitment to pizza lovers in New Zealand.”

    RAVE owns, franchises, licenses and supplies Pizza Inn and fast-casual pizza brand Pie Five Pizza restaurants operating in the US and internationally.

    Source: https://www.foodticker.co.nz/

  • 09 Jul 2022 10:48 AM | Mike Hearn (Administrator)

    Volpara Health Technologies (“Volpara,” “the Group,” or “the Company”; ASX:VHT), a global leader in software for the early detection of breast cancer, today announced that it has signed a contract with Radnet Management, Inc. (“RadNet”), for an initial contract period of 42 months, with the mutual option to extend.

    RadNet, based in Los Angeles, California, is the largest provider of outpatient imaging services in the United States. RadNet has 9,000 employees and operates across 353 imaging centres in seven states.

    The volume-based contract sees RadNet implementing Volpara® Analytics™ and Volpara® Risk Pathways™ software throughout its organisation. Volpara Analytics’s artificial intelligence will consistently manage mammography quality across RadNet’s 350+ sites. Volpara Risk Pathways provides risk-based screening to ensure RadNet patients have access to essential imaging and genetic testing. Planning for the implementation has begun, with go-live projected in 2023. Management expects that revenue generated under the agreement will be material to the Company.

    Volpara Group CEO Teri Thomas said: “Volpara is pleased to partner with such a large and wellrespected organisation as RadNet. Together we will save even more families from cancer. This is a broader partnership than a simple software purchase. We look forward to a deep engagement with RadNet as part of our focus on industry impacts and customer success of ‘elephant-sized’ industry leaders.”

    Source: https://www.volparahealth.com/




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