Latest assessment of money laundering and terrorism financing risks published

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Latest assessment of money laundering and terrorism financing risks published


Location:

National News

This week the New Zealand Police Financial Intelligence Unit (the FIU) published an updated assessment of the money laundering and terrorism financing risks that the country faces, called the National Risk Assessment.

This replaces the National Risk Assessment from 2010, and along with Sector Risk Assessments published by the Reserve Bank, the Department of Internal Affairs and the Financial Market Authority, forms part of a comprehensive package of public risk assessments.

Staff, alumni and partners to be honoured

Source: Massey University – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Staff, alumni and partners to be honoured


More than 200 people attended last year’s Defining Excellence Awards


Massey University will celebrate its top researchers, teachers, outstanding alumni and the partner organisations it works with at a formal dinner at Parliament next Wednesday.

Hosted this year by Palmerston North MP Iain Lees-Galloway and Manawatū MP Ian McKelvie, the Defining Excellence Awards brings together the University’s annual research medal winners and Vice-Chancellor’s teaching excellence award winners. It also honours outstanding graduates who have achieved success in their professions and communities as well as the businesses and other organisations that Massey relies on to do its work. The two most recent Distinguished Professors, Marti Anderson and Nigel French will also be acknowledged.

The University’s most prestigious award for alumni, the Sir Geoffrey Peren Medal, will be presented to 1994 Master of Business Administration graduate and New Zealand on Air chief executive Jane Wrightson, who has been a champion for diversity in local content and public media for New Zealand audiences during her 30-year career. Other alumni recipients are 1991 Bachelor of Business Studies graduate Ivan Pivac, 2005 Diploma of Fashion Design graduate Chloe Julian and 1976 Master of Arts graduate Professor Patrick Hesp.

Partner Excellence Award finalists this year are the Ministry of Health’s Health Workforce NZ, the Palmerston North City Council, Te Rūnanga Nui o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Aotearoa, Venture Taranaki, Zespri International Ltd, the University of New England (Australia) and Wuhan University (China).

It is the first time since 2010 that the awards have been held in Wellington. The event is at capacity. Funds raised will support the Massey University Foundation’s fundraising campaign for the Refectory restoration.

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Manawatū staff support cancer society fundraiser

Source: Massey University – Press Release/Statement:

Headline: Manawatū staff support cancer society fundraiser


Soup to Nuts team members, back row from left: Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology administrators Lee Anne Hannan, Christine Ramsay and Miria Busby. Bottom row: Dr Wester


A team from Massey University’s Colleges of Sciences and Health have topped the fundraising stakes at this year’s Manawatū Cancer Society Relay for Life.

The Massey Soup to Nuts team, comprising 18 staff from the Massey Institute of Food Science and Technology, Riddet Institute, School of Veterinary Sciences and School of Agriculture and Environment, raised $10,334.36 for the event held last weekend – the most monies raised by a family, friends and community team.

Alongside individual donations, the team also raised funds through a diverse variety of means, including raffles, bake sales, pork sandwiches, Chinese and Iranian lunches, a garage sale, high tea, quiz night and exercise night.

Since being formed 15 years ago out of the former Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, the team has raised more than $80,000 for the Cancer Society. During the years, the Institute has morphed and the team alongside it, collecting more members along the way.

Team captain and senior lecturer in Animal Science Dr Tim Wester said the team wanted to thank all the people on the Manawatū campus who supported Soup to Nuts’ fundraising efforts over the years. “We rely on that support for a large part of our fundraising through bake sales and sausage sizzles on the Concourse, and selling raffles and lunches to others in our departments.”

More than 90 teams participated in this year’s Manawatū event, which was held at the University’s former Hokowhitu site,  raising nearly $225,000.

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NZ seen as the world’s living tech lab

Source: MakeLemonade.nz

Headline: NZ seen as the world’s living tech lab

Auckland – The announcement of the world’s first self-driving electric air taxi being piloted in Christchurch is just one of the examples of New Zealand becoming a living tech laboratory, NZTech chief executive Graeme Muller said today. The Zephyr Airworks aircraft, financed by Google co-founder Larry Page, is a great testimony to responding to a global…

The post NZ seen as the world’s living tech lab appeared first on Make Lemonade NZ.

AI bringing exciting possibilities to NZ

Source: MakeLemonade.nz

Headline: AI bringing exciting possibilities to NZ

Christchurch – In Phoenix, Arizona, cars are self-navigating the streets. In many homes, people are speaking to digital assistants, with the machines responding. Smartphones and apps can now recognise faces in photos and translate from one language to another, to name a few other examples of artificial intelligence (AI). A leading New Zealand geo-AI company, Orbica,…

The post AI bringing exciting possibilities to NZ appeared first on Make Lemonade NZ.

Pacific artists to help chart future at Pacific Arts Summit 2018

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Pacific artists to help chart future at Pacific Arts Summit 2018

Associate Minister for Pacific Peoples, and Arts, Culture and Heritage Carmel Sepuloni will today open the Creative New Zealand Pacific Arts Summit 2018 at Te Papa in Wellington.
 The two day summit will involve more than 150 contemporary and heritage Pacific artists who will help chart the future of Pacific Arts by sharing ideas, experiences and their aspirations for the future.
A key aspect of the summit is informing the development of Creative New Zealand’s Pacific Arts Strategy, which will underpin its approach to supporting the long term development of Pacific Arts.
“The contribution Pacific arts make to the wider New Zealand arts community is significant, and it is growing,” said Carmel Sepuloni
“I am sure these two days will be full of constructive talanoa and inspiring ideas, which will help guide Creative New Zealand to support the ongoing development of a vibrant Pacific Arts sector.
“Pacific Arts make a major contribution to the unique cultural identity of our Pacific nation and are a touchstone that helps connect us all to our Pacific neighbours.
“I would like to commend the Arts Council, Creative New Zealand and its partners for putting together such a comprehensive programme that offers so many opportunities for artists to fono with other artists, arts organisations and stakeholders.
“It’s the right approach to enable the development of a future-focused, sector-led strategy that supports Pacific Arts to grow their important contribution to our unique cultural identity,” Carmel Sepuloni said. 
Creative New Zealand plans to complete its strategy later this year.

Papatoetoe

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Papatoetoe

Drivers are asked to avoid a stretch of Great South Rd, Papatoetoe following a collision involving a truck and a car.

One person is trapped.

Emergency services were called to the crash at 5.29am, between Carlie St and Allenby Rd.

The road is closed in both directions in that area and local diversions are in place.

ENDS

Police Media Centre


District:

Counties Manukau


Description of incident:

Serious crash

Issued by: 
Police Media Centre

Police make arrest for Avalon dairy robbery

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Police make arrest for Avalon dairy robbery


Location:

Wellington

Please attribute to Detective Sergeant Steve Wescott:

A male youth has been charged in relation to the aggravated robbery of a dairy on the corner of High and Tennyson Streets in Avalon, Lower Hutt yesterday.

Police received a report that a man had entered the dairy around 11:15am yesterday armed with a metal rod. He threatened the two shop attendants, took cash and tobacco products, and left the scene in the car.

Police arrived at the scene a few minutes after being called and immediately began making enquiries to locate the offender.

Helping international innovators connect, collaborate and undertake R&D in NZ

Source: New Zealand Government

Headline: Helping international innovators connect, collaborate and undertake R&D in NZ

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Megan Woods has today formally launched the Innovative Partnership programme which aims to attract future-focused international innovators and firms to undertake R&D and develop their products in New Zealand.
 
“This Government is committed to developing New Zealand as a hub for high-value, knowledge intensive businesses that create value through innovation and R&D,” said Woods.
 
“The Innovative Partnerships programme, which is led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, engages with innovative companies that are pushing the boundaries of technology and solving the world’s big problems, and promotes the compelling advantages of working in New Zealand.
 
“These companies are then connected with the right people, businesses, agencies, research organisations and universities, as well as supported through navigating central and local governments,” says Woods.
 
The official launch of the programme comes after American innovator Kitty Hawk Corporation, operating in New Zealand as Zephyr Airworks, credited Innovative
Partnerships as part of the reason it is testing its revolutionary air taxi technology in New Zealand.
 
“International innovators are finding our unique expertise, resources and talent, together with our size and location, offer surprising advantages when it comes to turning ideas into reality.
 
“Zephyr Airworks’ presence in New Zealand will build capability in our own science system – partially in areas like software engineering, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, composite material, and aviation design.
 
“New Zealand has a long history of innovation and being at the front of change. Our future is still being imagined and we are determined to play an active role in shaping it for the better through new ideas, new innovations, and new ways of looking at the world,” said Woods.
 
The Innovative Partnerships programme is run by small team of experts dedicated to helping R&D players connect, collaborate and innovate in New Zealand.
 
While the programme is led by MBIE, multiple agencies across local and central governments work together to support and facilitate the elements that influence a decision to undertake R&D in New Zealand. More information on the programme is available on MBIE’s website.

Man dies following crash in Gisborne

Source: New Zealand Police –

Headline: Man dies following crash in Gisborne


Location:

Eastern

At approximately 8:30pm on Saturday 11 March Police responded to a single car crash on Ormond Road, Mangapapa, Gisborne.

The passenger in the car received critical injuries in the crash and was transported to Gisborne Hospital via ambulance. The driver received minor injuries but refused medical treatment.

The passenger, 29-year-old Wairoa man Terito Takekerekere Brown, was later transferred to Waikato Hospital and passed away yesterday afternoon.

Police extend their sympathies to his family and friends.