The project team created an iconic structure at Kawarau for the Queenstown community, using an innovative construction methodology that met the demands of the site and ensured access across the river for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles – especially during the busy ski season. Client: NZ Transport Agency Duration: Dec 2015 – May 2018 Location: Queenstown,…
Surprisingly, this appears to be the case according to research recently released. An interdisciplinary team involving researchers with backgrounds in engineering, intercultural communication, and applied linguistics from universities in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Australia, and Japan conducted the research. They analysed written materials with intercultural communication as the subject, as used in engineering education. They…
After almost eight years at HERA, we’d like to let our membership and industry know that our General Manager Industry Development is starting a new journey at IANZ as their General Manager – NZ Quality College. Boaz came onboard with HERA as a Research Engineer. This was a time when our Industry Development team had…
If there’s one word that embodies the spirit of team leadership, it’s empathy. Empathy is probably the most sought-after workplace skill these days – be it for the customer, employee, teammate or even boss! But how commonplace is it? Empathy is often little valued, yet critical for bettering workplace culture and performance – but is…
What the heck is HERA about and what’s our plan for the future? Two very good questions – and we’re excited to tell you the answer! Because for the first time, we’re releasing our strategy publicly. We’re doing this because we are really focused on building a tribe within our industry. We want to create…
Participants on the Innovation SET & GO program reaped the rewards of being on the Innovation READY program last year. Gaining access to expert advice from a panel of commercialisation gurus as part of the SET & GO portion of the program. One participant has even gone further in their innovation journey – creating their…
Delivering cost effective value engineering initiatives ahead of schedule. Client: New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) Duration: Apr 2015 – May 2018 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Project value: NZD $112 million, value to JV $93 million Mar132019 An aerial view of the arches as part of the Russley Road SH1 Upgrade. Working together, the project team…
The biggest single industry in New Zealand for waste is building and construction. So with commercial construction at record levels, residential building consents peaking at 1970’s levels, massive housing shortages combined with anticipated additional demand from Kiwibuild – we must find a better way. The solution is adopting circular economy thinking. Not only does this…
What do you ACTUALLY do? Your answer can help our industry better promote itself. There is no doubt that heavy engineering has an image problem. We’re consistently hearing how hard it is to attract and retain quality staff. Students are not choosing it as a study focus. Apprentices are hard to find. Women are not…
If you think you’re safe from disruption, then think again. Because by the time a disruptive change has overtaken us, we won’t have time to react. If recent history is anything to go by, our future will be full of change. Innovations in the digital space have already transformed us, and the rate of change…
It’s not often you’d expect a heavy engineering research association to talk homelessness to their membership. But, having recently discovered that three homeless people were sleeping in the undercover area at the back of HERA House – here we are. The discovery led to some really challenging discussions amongst HERA House tenants on how to…
Sitting for long periods is thought to slow the metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat. This makes it a serious health and safety consideration with emerging awareness of its impacts. A range of studies show growing evidence for the serious consequences of pro-longed sitting.…