NZ companies need ‘fair crack’ at government projects

New Zealand companies need to start winning more government contracts in order to boost the economy – but a focus on price above all else is negatively affecting results. According to a report commissioned by NZTE’s Industry Capability Network, Australian experience indicates potential to boost revenue share here by up to $170 million for every $1 billion spent on major projects.

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Entry barriers lowered for Chinese visitors

New Zealand has opened the tourism doors a little wider to Chinese visitors, opening a joint Immigration New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand office in Shanghai as well as further simplifying the visa application process. Dr Jonathan Coleman, immigration minister and associate tourism minister, said it was part of the government’s response to demand from the world’s fastest-growing economy.

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Android still rules in mobile market

Google’s Android platform dominates almost 50 percent of the global smartphone market, with Asia-Pacific remaining its largest market. Figures from research firm Canalys also show Apple’s iOS overtook Nokia’s Symbian platform during the last quarter with a market share of 19 percent, as well as becoming the world’s leading individual smartphone vendor.

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Auckland ups promotional game with new marketing push

Auckland’s promotional efforts have been rather disjointed in recent years, especially when compared to the impressive destination marketing work done by the Wellingtonians and New Zealand as a whole. Now, however, after the birth of the Super City and the lure of all those domestic and foreign visitors expected to hit the Auckland streets during the Rugby World Cup, things have been turned up a notch or two.

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Innovation of the day: The blokart

It’s a go-kart with sails. Or is it a yacht with wheels? A land sailor? Whatever it is, it’s powered by the wind.

Do you have an innovation to share? Enter the Innovator Awards and you could be up in lights.

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