13 minute read
The big delay
Supply chain constraints pose ongoing infrastructure risk
The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, says New Zealand faces challenges in meeting demands for key construction materials for infrastructure, with a risk of delays to major projects.
These findings are among those detailed in Te Waihanga’s Infrastructure Resources Study, which looks at four key materials: aggregates such as gravel and stone, timber, cement/ concrete, and steel. Te Waihanga chief executive, Ross Copland, says New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, but over time various constraints have emerged which are limiting the supply of these resources, creating cost pressures, environmental challenges and access issues for important infrastructure projects. “New Zealand has a wealth of physical resources at its fingertips, but this study highlights the need to better manage them to ensure they are available for our critical infrastructure projects. Without ready access when they’re needed, we risk creating an unnecessary handbrake for the construction sector.” Ross says aggregates are the foundation of our roads and buildings, but often the closest and best resources are under pressure from housing and other incompatible developments. “There are very few materials that do not have a suitable substitute, but bulky, low-value materials like sand, stone, and rock are unlikely to go out of fashion any time soon - they’re needed in almost everything we build from cycleways to cell phone towers and wind farms. With a growing pipeline of major projects on the horizon we need to protect the availability of our best resources for generations to come.” The study examines the importance of where our physical resources are located, most of which are beyond the major urban centres that consume them. Transporting materials long distances increases the cost of projects, carbon emissions and adds to congestion on our roads. The study also found that consent requirements often severely limit the efficiency of raw material production by imposing operating restrictions which constrain production and reduce output. Ross says sustainably produced timber is a material with attributes that mean it will be in high demand for years to come. “Recent advances in engineering and the need to reduce carbon emissions is leading to a wider range of uses for timber including in multi-storey construction, but there are obvious land-use implications to large-scale production forestry which need to be balanced as well. “This study finds that work needs to be done to both improve the domestic supply of sawn timber and look at the opportunities and risks of importing it. Research is also needed on how to best value the carbon benefits of timber as a construction material. “To address the carbon impacts of construction, we also need to do more research into alternatives to traditional production of cement and steel. “For example, the study finds that blending cement with pozzolans can reduce the embodied carbon of cement by 25-30 percent. And exciting new research into steel production offers a promising future for low embodiedcarbon steel.” The study identified the need for more research into the impact of vertical integration on the physical resources market. “New Zealand’s infrastructure resources have a critical role in the cost and ability to undertake infrastructure projects. Based on this study, Te Waihanga has included recommendations for ensuring a secure supply of these materials in our recently released draft New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy, which we are currently working to finalise.” CT
© @cassandrakovacsphotography © @cassandrakovacsphotography
Amuri Estate offers the ideal setting for your next function. Just 10 minutes out of the alpine village of Hanmer Springs and only 90 minutes from Christchurch makes Amuri Estate perfect for business conferences and events. The new modern barn style building has a large reception hall with capacity for 200 people and a small meeting room with capacity for 20-60 people. Amuri Estate also features a small Lodge with 3 king rooms, a joint kitchen/ living area and a separate self-contained one-bedroom cottage. However, there are also unlimited options for accommodation in the nearby township and local transportation to take you to and from.
production engineer
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
Mig Welding | Experience essential, qualifications and or welding tickets of benefit but not essential.
MIG WELDING - LIGHT - HEAVY FABRICATION
CAD Interpretation | Ability to read drawings and plans accurately.
Material | Understanding of materials and measuring accurately.
Forklift | Experience in operating, certificate, or license of benefit but not essential as can be provided.
Communication | Great written and verbal communication skills are important.
Time Management | Ability to work on tasks individually and as a team to meet deadlines.
Health & Safety | A high regard to H&S, appreciate a clean and tidy workplace and have care for tools and equipment.
This role is located in Ashburton, Mid Canterbury, the centre of an agricultural district, growing town centre and close to the well-known Mt Hutt Ski Field.
Annual Christmas closedown support, relocation packages, friendly and welcoming workplace ready to have you join!
To apply, email your CV to Craig Allen, craig@allencustomdrills.co.nz or visit our website, www.allencustomdrills.co.nz
VARIETY OF PROJECTS
FOLLOWING CAD DESIGNS
FORKLIFT OPERATION
LEAN MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENT
P. 027 5544 056 or 03 3155 351 E. amuriestate@gmail.com | amuriestate.co.nz
Wellbeing embraced at Lincoln University
Students are the core of Lincoln University. This assertion is one of the values that guides it, along with leadership, innovation, and integrity.
This commitment to doing the right thing in a reliable way, and for student wellbeing, is because students are its “reason for being”. This commitment can also give assurance to anyone considering studying there, to those who have family members enrolling, or to anyone in secondary education recommending Lincoln to their own students. They can be assured student wellbeing is paramount at the university. Lincoln embraces being a close-knit community – a whãnau of around 3000 students – supported by a committed team of academics, lecturers, researchers, care providers and acknowledged wellbeing experts focused on assisting and guiding students to make the most of their experience, so that they will go on to make the most of their ambitions. There are two concepts, or tools, utilised at Lincoln, which provide a framework for all other wellbeing initiatives. The 5 Ways of Wellbeing is a simple but powerful tool which promotes including the five actions of connecting, being active, taking notice, keep learning, and giving, in our everyday lives at any time. They include simple things such as talking and listening, and embracing new experiences, all highly relevant on campus. Then there is Te Whare Tapa Whã, a Mãori Health Model with a holistic view of health and wellbeing. The model is depicted as a house, with each wall being equally and fundamentally important for our health, wellness and functioning. The walls are Taha tinana (physical health), Taha wairua (spiritual health), Taha whãnau (family health), and Taha hinengaro (mental health). Should one of the four dimensions be missing or in some way damaged, a person, or a collective may become ‘unbalanced’ and subsequently unwell. The Respectfully Lincoln programme is based around these models, and it is the only compulsory course of its kind run in a New Zealand university. It is designed to help students understand relationships and issues around consent as they move from school into tertiary study. It is being hailed as an exemplar for others to follow. It caters for all first-year students who are under 21-years-old, and is delivered by students, and is now in its fourth year. The programme is run by the university’s Wellbeing and International Support team, and has recently been recognised by national body, Te Põkai Tara Universities New Zealand, as good practice and is promoted as one which sets a standard for others to follow. The workshop covers healthy sexual relationships, how pornography may influence understanding of relationships and consent, what consent is, how alcohol affects consent, and the law when it comes to harmful sexual behaviour. Programme coordinator, Kathy Catton, said participation in Respectfully Lincoln comes at a time for the students when they may still be establishing their identities around sexuality and gender. It utilises student presenters, encouraging participants to communicate with their peers, and deal with issues from a perspective they relate to. The student facilitators have all received training in sexual harm prevention, and some have gone on from Respectfully Lincoln to create other wellbeing initiatives in the wider community. Kathy said the course was initiated by former Wellbeing Manager, Dr Jackie Blunt, and other health professionals and university staff, at a time when issues around consent were being recognised worldwide through causes like the Me Too movement, and Thursdays in Black, an international campaign to raise awareness and progress towards a world without rape and violence. There was a readiness to tackle issues around sexual consent, sexuality, and gender. Students are asked to attend in their first semester at the university, and feedback on the course had been very positive. “We talk about taboo subjects which students might not have the space to talk about elsewhere,” Kathy said. Questions are asked around how you give consent and how others do. Alcohol and consent are also examined, with its impact on a person’s ability to communicate. Students also examine their boundaries, their goals, and desires, and what they think other people’s may be. “There is some initial apprehension from some students. They have the look of “what have I walked into?”, but it’s a safe place where they can explore difficult topics.” “We are not going to say this is wrong or this is right. It’s a space for students to ask what do I think about this, and what do I want to do about this in my life?”
We all have a role to play in creating change, Kathy said. In the course they call it being an upstander –someone who sees potentially harmful behaviour, and has the courage to directly or indirectly intervene in a way that is safe for themselves and others. “We have the opportunity as people who are aware of the behaviour, to stand up and stop it happening.” Kathy is currently working on a programme around bullying and harassment prevention for online students, and on making Respectfully Lincoln more “conversational, with more graphics and videos.” A new code of practice for the pastoral care of domestic tertiary and international learners came into effect on 1 January 2022. It covers how students should be respected and accepted for who they are, supported in their learning and wellbeing, connected with their social and cultural networks and able to have their say in decisions about services. The code has 12 outcomes which include a focus on education providers taking a whole of organisation approach to learner wellbeing and safety, and that the learner voice is embedded into the organisation. There is a focus on wellbeing and safety practices, as well as ensuring student accommodation is safe and creating inclusive communities, and on how international learners should have access to the right information and support before and during their study. Lincoln has two International Student Advisors dedicated to supporting pastoral care and wellbeing needs of students who come from overseas. They provide a comprehensive orientation programme for international students, as well as advice and support on how to adjust to life and study in New Zealand. However, some students may need more support to help them achieve their ambitions, so Lincoln is also committed to providing equity of access to education. The Inclusive Education department supports students with learning and exams who are faced with the challenges of a disability, illness, or injury. It also assists those who have physical or mobility difficulties, injuries, Illnesses, mental health conditions, hearing or vision impairment. Lincoln University Student Health Centre is also integral to wellbeing for students, offering counselling for a range of issues, such as relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, difficulty coping with grief and loss, and the impacts of trauma is also available to students. The university also works to mitigate the impact that unforeseen events can have on wellbeing. During campus emergencies or incidents, alerts are pushed to users through the SAFELU app, which students are encouraged to download, to inform people of campus status and brief instructions. It is also a tool to find support resources and contacts, report safety hazards and find emergency contacts. Other programmes combine the benefits of physical and mental wellbeing, and how to cope with study pressures.
Exercise is Medicine is a 12-session programme taken by a registered personal trainer focusing on activity aspirations whilst also including social, mental, physical, and emotional health aspects into the sessions. It is based on the premise of exercise creating feelings of achievement and success that help balance your life and give a sense of progress. Staff and students also come together to achieve wellness goals. In the recent 10,000 Steps Challenge a combined team racked up more than 24 million steps to finish fourth in a transTasman competition aimed at getting people more active for their physical and mental wellbeing. The 67 participants had an average of 364,270 steps over the six-week period of the event. The initiative, which started in September and attracted the participation of 17 universities, encouraged staff and students to make behavioural changes to increase their daily levels of physical activity by taking 10,000 steps a day. The challenge was promoted by the Lincoln University Wellbeing team, using the health models.
The challenge had its own site on the university's social media platforms and giveaways encouraged participants to post and connect with each other. Even though the event began during a nationwide lockdown, the Lincoln team were enthusiastic about taking part. They kept up their steps throughout the challenge period, sharing their walk routes around campus and over hills and paddocks. To achieve their own individual health goals students also have access to the LU Gym included in their student fees, providing year-round access to the world-class facilities and fitness equipment. The programmes and services offered by the University, in adherence to outside codes of practice, all support the strategic view of putting students at the core of everything it does, meaning a comprehensive and embracing focus for ensuring student wellbeing. Prospective students and anyone recommending Lincoln as a study destination can be assured of the substantial efforts being made to ensure all their needs are met, in and out of the classroom. Wellbeing - physical, mental, and social and spiritual, is prioritised and embraced at Lincoln, its efforts and programmes constantly adapting and growing to meet changing needs. To find out more about the fantastic range of wellness programmes at Lincoln University, head to www.lincoln.ac.nz, email grow@lincoln or call 0800 10 60 10.
