The world is full of congested cities and Auckland is one of them. Public transport is a main issue and cycling on dedicated cycle paths is suggested as a solution by many including interest groups, city councils and governments. Moving into the age of electric bikes and scooters you’d think large cycle path acceptance by…
Last Friday, HERA celebrated our 40 year anniversary as the metals-based industry’s research association. Also officially thanking outgoing Director Dr Wolfgang Scholz for his many contributions. It was a momentous occasion, well attended by over 100 people made up of our Executive Board, current and former staff, members and key stakeholders coming from across New…
Post-Kaikoura earthquake, little was mentioned about systemic failures in steel construction. While this gave confidence that our structures performed well, we had to make sure. Taking an opportunity to learn if there could be any potential issues now, and in the future by commissioning research to pinpoint any weaknesses. The research outcomes described in HERA…
40 years ago, HERA was officially constituted by future focused industry leaders using Government support providing a framework for stable funding from industry. A concept we believed worked and requires nurturing by looking back and celebrating its history and successes. Over the last 17 years, the direction was set by Wolfgang Scholz who handed over…
Former Deputy PM Jim Anderton left a great mark on New Zealand and held several key positions that greatly influenced NZ politics. For our industry, it was his role as Minister for Economic Development at a time when Rogernomics had taken shape that stands out. In this context I’d like to reflect back on his…
Dec222017 This Christmas I’d like to review 2017 – a year mostly of wins, but also of some losses. Most importantly I wanted to let you know how much we’ve appreciated and enjoyed working with you during this year to progress our industry issues forward. A louder voice for the industry Reflecting back, I…
Dr Troy Coyle joins the HERA team as its new CEO from the beginning of next year. Troy comes to us with extensive experience in innovation, research management and product development, most recently as Head of Innovation and Product Development & Pacific Islands Export Manager at New Zealand Steel. She has also held numerous positions…
Some may recall that Calder Stewart Steel was the winner of the prestigious industry excellence award ‘Metals Industry Innovator of the Year’ at the 2015 Metals Industry Conference. Achieving this by embracing new technology to improve and assure quality, increase productivity and reduce overall cost with their new 10,500sqm steel fabrication facility. It represented the latest…
HERA advocates on behalf of our members where we feel we can make an informed contribution – and this is in R&D and industry development. And as a result, we’ve put together a comprehensive policy position document aimed at informing decision makers and in particular the new government on what we believe is important to…
As part of our works to tap into the minds of our up and coming engineers we like to support local universities and recognise students who are breaking barriers and showing exceptional skill. And last week was no different. We were pleased to attend the University of Auckland Department of Mechanical Engineering Final Year Project…
Now we have a new government – we have a left of center mix of policies. Which on first principle should be building innovative, high value local manufacturing with the aim of increased prosperity and our ability to pay our way in the world. And for me, I congratulate the team around ‘Prime Minister to…
The New Zealand Productivity Commission – an independent Crown entity – called for an in-depth inquiry into the issue of New Zealand’s transition to a low-emission economy and how it can meet its Paris agreement targets. HERA, as the industry research association of the heavy metals-based fabrication and manufacturing industry, is primarily engaged in the…