NZ Engine

SOURCE: African Development Bank Group (AfDB)

Source: AUT

AUT today launches the AUT Innovation Fund with an allocation of $5 million to invest into spinout companies and impact initiatives.  
 
Managed by AUT Ventures, the fund will empower some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most innovative minds to commercialise research and transform it into real-world solutions.  
 
Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa says that growing research impact is a key focus, and the AUT Innovation Fund extends the way that AUT Ventures supports innovation and research commercialisation. “The AUT Innovation Fund is more than just a financial instrument. It’s a signal — to our researchers, our partners, and our country — that AUT is ready to lead. Ready to invest. Ready to go first.”
 
AUT Ventures Chief Executive Michael Fielding says the fund is about accelerating commercialisation, as well as linking research to industry. “It’s a game-changer. The fund lets us back promising ideas and teams at a very early stage, committing support to innovators before they’re ready to seek investment from the angel and VC community. But it’s also going to give us new ways to connect with organisations outside the university.”  
 
The fund is being launched with investments into Dot Ingredients and CONICAL.  
 
Motion Capital is the lead investor in the $350k early funding round in Dot Ingredients, alongside Climate Venture Capital Fund and the AUT Innovation Fund. Formerly known as Spherelose, Dot is the brainchild of Associate Professor Jack Chen, who developed a new way to make critical ingredients for everyday products like soaps, detergents and cosmetics, but using wood pulp instead of petrochemicals or palm oil. Based in laboratories at AUT, the company is currently participating in the Aurora Climate Lab accelerator programme run by Creative HQ, while scaling production and developing new applications.
 
$110,000 will be invested into CONICAL to support the upcoming launch of its indie role-playing game, Faeborne. Launched out of AUT in 2016 by alumnus Alejandro Davila and entirely staffed by AUT graduates, CONICAL quickly gained headlines through the success of its Green Fairy TV series. After earning a reputation for developing cutting edge virtual reality exhibits and activations for businesses across New Zealand and worldwide, Faeborne marks a return to the company’s fairy fantasy origins. Faeborne is a fast-paced, story-driven co-op game centred around the conflict between two fairy sisters in the fantasy realm of Lamparis, and is slated for a multi-platform launch in late 2025.
 
AUT Ventures has appointed Craigs Investment Partners, a leading New Zealand investment manager, to manage the fund’s assets until they’re invested into new innovations. The income generated under Craig’s management will provide grants to AUT researchers to help kickstart new collaborations with businesses, government and NGOs, expanding the pipeline of future commercialisation opportunities.  
 
AUT’s Innovation Fund will be launched at city campus by Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, the Hon. Dr Shane Reti today.  

Source: Skills Group

Skills Group – Ignite and Growing Future Farmers (GFF) have developed a new training programme to meet the learning and development needs of young sheep and beef farmers.

Pending NZQA approval, the first cohort is set to begin as early as July 2025, with the Level 4 programme offering a next-step pathway that builds on the success of GFF’s hands-on model and NZQA Level 2 and 3 qualifications.

It has been co-designed and developed with extensive industry consultation to give young farmers the opportunity to deepen their skills while continuing to work on-farm, helping to strengthen the pipeline of talent and capability within the sector.

GFF CEO Wendy Paul says the new programme is a natural extension of GFF’s founding purpose.

“From day one, GFF has been about creating real career opportunities for young people in farming. This new programme allows us to extend that journey by offering progression while keeping the real-world, on-farm learning that’s central to our model.”

Skills Group – Ignite Director of Vocational Training and Higher Education Mark Worsop says the innovative blended learning programme, combining provider-based and work-based learning is designed to equip young farmers with the necessary skills to take on leadership roles in the agricultural industry.

“With this new programme, graduates will be able to take on increased responsibility says Mark.

The GFF programme is a two-year initiative where students gain practical, hands-on experience working directly on farms. Students, typically aged between 16 and 21 years old, are matched with experienced farm trainers.

“The new Level 4 programme will ensure that graduates are prepared to meet the demands of an ever-evolving agricultural sector by developing management and leadership skills. The programme offers an exciting opportunity for GFF Level 2 and Level 3 graduates to further develop their skills and transition into beef and sheep farm leadership roles,” Mark says.

Graduates of this qualification will be equipped to do a range of things, from coordinating agribusiness activities using appropriate technology to benchmarking a farm’s physical performance and implementing and monitoring a farm environmental plan.

The Level 4 programme is delivered through a blended learning approach. Trainees will benefit from online tuition and academic support provided by expert tutors from Skills Group – Ignite. In addition, they will receive the same level of high-quality pastoral care and in-person support that GFF currently provides.

“This holistic approach ensures that trainees are well-supported academically and personally, as they progress through their studies,” Mark says.

Source: The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA

AUCKLAND – 15 May 2025 – New national data from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s leading workplace drug tester, shows methamphetamine (meth) is growing and making up a disproportionate share of non-negative workplace drug test results.

The proportion of meth detections has jumped since the start of the year:

January: 13.7%
February: 18.2%
March: 24.9%.

Data is taken from TDDA’s Imperans reporting platform. Samples were taken between 1 Jan and 31 March. They are representative of meth detections versus other test results, and encompass a broad set of industries across the nation. 

“Our data is showing us that more people are turning to meth when it comes to the range of drugs available, such as cannabis,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO of TDDA. “The surge is consistent with rising wastewater statistics and confirms that meth supply remains readily available nationwide. When access to supply is this easy, increased consumption often follows. This has serious implications for workplace safety and productivity.”

With meth now accounting for over a fifth of drug-related workplace testing results, and nearly 25% in March alone, employers and regulators alike may need to reassess risk exposure and response.

The top 10 locations showing high instances of methamphetamine detection are:

·        Central North – 30.6%

·        Taranaki – 27.9%

·        Auckland East – 25.8%

·        Taupo/Rotorua – 25%

·        North Harbour – 23.6%

·        Auckland West – 23.2%

·        Northland – 21.7%

·        Canterbury – 20%

·        Southland – 13.7%

·        Otago – 10.5%.

“Our frontline data tells a confronting story, meth use is more than a big-city issue. We’re seeing higher proportions of meth detections in smaller regions like the Central North, The Lakes and Taranaki. This is about safety as well as businesses and communities under pressure. Employers must stay alert, have clear workplace substance policies, and be ready to act on suspicions compliantly and quickly,” says Dobson.

If you suspect meth use at work:

Follow your drug and alcohol policy

Initiate the appropriate procedures as outlined in your policy, which may include a reasonable cause drug test.

Observe and record

Source: Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

15 May 2025 – The US-Israel proposition to control the distribution of supplies under the guise of humanitarian aid raises grave humanitarian, ethical, security and legal concerns, says international medical organization Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). 

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Food prices increase 3.7 percent annually – 15 May 2025 – Food prices increased 3.7 percent in the 12 months to April 2025, following a 3.5 percent increase in the 12 months to March 2025, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

Higher prices for the grocery food group and the non-alcoholic beverages group contributed most to the annual increase in food prices, up 5.2 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively.

“Price increases were widespread, with all five food groups recording an increase,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

The fruit and vegetables group increased in price for the first time since January 2024, with prices up 0.2 percent in the 12 months to April 2025.

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Source: Statistics New Zealand

National population estimates: At 31 March 2025 (2023-base) – 15 May 2025 – National population estimates give the best available measure of the population, by age and sex, usually living in Aotearoa New Zealand.

With the release of Estimated resident population (2023-base): At 30 June 2023 on 16 April 2025, we revised population estimates between 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2023, and rebased population estimates after 30 June 2023. This is the usual revision that occurs after new census and post-enumeration survey results are available.  

Estimated resident population 2023: Data sources and methods has more information. 

All population estimates from 30 June 2023 are now 2023-base.  

Key facts
At 31 March 2025:

• the estimated resident population of Aotearoa New Zealand was 5,330,600 (provisionally)
• there were 2,680,100 females and 2,650,500 males
• the median age of females and males was 38.9 and 37.3 years respectively.

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Source: ExerciseNZ

As the colder months settle in across Aotearoa, ExerciseNZ is encouraging Kiwis to take stock of their winter wellness routines — with a special focus on a crucial yet often overlooked pillar of health: sleep.

New research from Uppsala University, published in Biomarker Research (April 2025), reveals that just three consecutive nights of restricted sleep (approximately 4.25 hours per night) can significantly alter blood biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease — even in young, healthy individuals. Alarmingly, the study also found that regular physical activity does not offset these negative effects, making sleep more important than ever for those with fitness and wellbeing goals.

“As winter rolls in and we shift our routines indoors, we want to remind people that sleep isn’t a luxury — it’s a foundational part of health and recovery,” says Richard Beddie, CEO of ExerciseNZ. “Quality sleep might just be the secret weapon for smashing your fitness goals this winter.” While many Kiwis double down on exercise to combat seasonal lethargy, the combination of colder temperatures, darker days, and disrupted sleep patterns can actually hinder performance and recovery if not managed properly.

In fact, research published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology shows that sleep loss can impair muscle glycogen repletion, reduce time to exhaustion, and decrease strength and aerobic capacity — all of which can compromise training outcomes. The study underscores how sleep enhances performance, cognitive functioning, and outcomes across 1-rep max testing, endurance training, and high-intensity interval workouts.

The Science of Sleep and Exercise: Why Recovery Matters More in Winter

Restricted sleep increases levels of inflammation-related proteins in the blood, raising the risk for cardiovascular issues — even in fit, active people.
Sleep plays a key role in muscle repair, hormone regulation, and mental clarity — all essential to getting the most from your workouts.
A consistent sleep routine can reduce injury risk, support immunity during colder months, and enhance energy levels for winter training.

Top Tips for Winter Wellness:

Prioritise Consistency: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Try going to bed and waking up at the same time daily, even on weekends.
Wind Down Naturally: Reduce screen time in the hour before bed. Try stretching, light reading, or mindfulness exercises instead.
Pair Exercise with Recovery: Listen to your body and allow for adequate rest between intense sessions.

This winter, instead of trying to “power through” with more training, ExerciseNZ challenges everyone to train smarter — by recognising the power of rest, especially as the mercury drops.

Source: Consumer NZ

Car insurance premiums have surged in the past 2 years but switching providers could save you hundreds of dollars, says Consumer NZ.

Vanessa Pratley, investigative writer at Consumer NZ, says its annual car insurance survey found premiums have increased by as much as 46% since 2023.  

Pratley points to inflation and extreme weather events as factors driving up the cost of insurance across the board, but another contributing factor is your age and life stage.

“Every insurer will base its premiums on risk. How much you pay will depend on things like whether you live in a flood-prone area, the car you drive, and even your age and gender.  

“And because not all insurers are equal – which is to say they use their own risk assessments – you might be more or less of a risk to one provider or another.

“You can switch insurance providers any time (though there might be cancellation fees), and that could potentially reward you with hundreds of dollars in annual savings.”

Toot if your premium’s up!

Consumer’s survey found young males will pay more in car insurance premiums than older people or young females. And older females could pay more than older males – depending on the insurer.  

“When we compared the costs for four different age brackets across nine insurance providers, we found annual savings ranged quite significantly – between $481 and $1,296.

“Since 2023, the lowest median increase was just 0.6% for a family of four living in Auckland, and the highest median increase was 46% for young males living in Christchurch.

“If the cost to insure your car is stressing you out right now, don’t cancel your cover or drop down to third-party – shop around and see what savings you could make first.”

Switch to a lane you can afford

Other than switching providers, Pratley explains some policies may look similar but cover very different things.

“‘Standard’ cover with one insurer will be an optional extra with another insurer.

“You might find your insurance policy includes towing expenses or key replacements as part of its standard offering. But if you very rarely park in the city and never lose your keys, you might be paying more than you need.

“Take the time to compare what’s on offer and consider whether switching plans or providers would get you back to a policy you can afford.”

Get a steer on satisfaction

As well as crunching the numbers on the cost of car insurance premiums, Consumer surveys car insurance customers about how satisfied they are with their current provider.  

“No one takes out insurance cover for fun. It’s an important financial safety net, for example, if you accidentally swing your car into a parked Tesla. If the right protection isn’t in place for you, you could find yourself in a real pickle.

“The experience you get from your insurance provider, especially how they treat you, should be an important consideration, too. We’re pleased to announce that FMG and MAS received Consumer’s People’s Choice award for car insurance this year.”

To help New Zealanders independently compare insurance providers’ cover, our team has crunched the details on comprehensive car insurance policies: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-fhddkjk-ijjdkdttjk-j/

Notes

We got quotes from nine companies for comprehensive car insurance for four profiles. More information about our methodology, and the paywalled results, are available on our website: Car insurance – compare policies: https://consumernz.cmail19.com/t/i-l-fhddkjk-ijjdkdttjk-t/

About Consumer

Consumer NZ is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to championing and empowering consumers in Aotearoa. Consumer NZ has a reputation for being fair, impartial and providing comprehensive consumer information and advice.