Unusual mortality rates in Marlborough farmed salmon
MPI has just released a fact sheet on the recent unusual mortality rates in Marlborough farmed salmon. The fact sheet notes: At the time of the 2020 event, MPI tested tissue samples from dead fish but could not find a definite cause. The Ministry concluded that there were likely to be multiple factors at play including the...
Kevin Simpkins was a great man
I had some very sad news this week – New Zealand lost Kevin Simpkins. I have known and worked with Kevin over the length of my career. He was also a patron of the McGuinness Institute. I valued his intellect, patience, wisdom and ethics. He worked hard to ensure that the conceptual thinking underlying financial and non-financial reporting and assurance was robust and understandable....
Join us this Thursday for the launch of Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service
There are now only three nights until the launch of Report 15: Improving Strategy Stewardship in the Public Service. If you would like to attend the launch at 5.30pm Thursday, 22 October 2020, please RSVP to [email protected]. Please also share this with anyone you think may be interested in attending the event. This report brings together...
Terrific Initiative by the Office of the Auditor-General
On Wednesday, 14 October, OAG held a morning tea to discuss their recent project to increase accountability in the public sector. As part of this project, they have compiled a list of the agencies that New Zealanders can contact when they need help from, or want to make a complaint about, a particular public service....
Small spills, big impact: New Zealand’s sobering oil spill record
Since the Rena disaster in October 2020, New Zealand has recorded 363 spill-related incidents in our harbours and oceans. Most of the spills have been small; however, the frequency is cause for concern with almost four tonnes of oil spilled in total. Marine Biologist Professor Chris Battershill at The University of Waikato is urging for...
FAQ about the Institute – Sophia Faure asks eleven questions
Below is a series of questions posed to me by Sophia Faure as part of an assignment for her Government and Public Policy paper. Sophia is studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics at the University of Otago. I think they are excellent questions that get to the heart of what...
National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI) – Our response
On Monday, 5 October the Minister of Science and Innovation, Hon. Steven Joyce, launched the National Statement of Science Investment 2020-2025 (NSSI). Following the release of the NSSI the Science Media Centre asked me to provide observations on the final document. The four objectives below were in my mind as I reviewed the document (in the tight timeframe provided). These...
Q: What would it take for New Zealand to be a leader in ocean management? … a Pacific and Southern oceans institute
Hon. Dr Nick Smith’s statement that ‘New Zealand’s ambition is to be a leader in oceans management’ is to be congratulated. This, combined with the creation of the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary on 29 September, puts New Zealand on a trajectory to make real progress at a local, national and global level – however there is still...
Wendy’s Travels: Palo Alto, Paris and Berlin
See some photos and thoughts from my time in Palo Alto, Paris and Berlin.
Wendy’s Travels: Embedding talent
Travelling is fabulous for observing and thinking – and there is ample to observe. I thought I would post a few stories that are relevant for ‘creating a place where talent wants to live’. This post is the story about the Van Gogh family and the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. Everyone has heard of...
Wendy’s Travels: Hacking and Friction
How quickly the meanings of words change. Two examples were apparent at the World Futures Conference held in San Francisco. ‘Hacking’ is no longer a negative pursuit. Instead, to be a hacker can be positive, as explained to me by three young designers and futurists that asked twenty participants to ‘hack’ a futures game they...
Wendy’s Travels: Automobiles
I was taken by a comment someone made at the World Futures Conference in San Fran that cars have become computers on wheels (e.g. Google’s self-driving cars, self-driving trucks etc.). This will have a number of implications – here are a few thoughts: 1. Demand for old cars will increase due to those who want: -...
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