The first food waste to bioenergy plant is underway in New Zealand

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26 January 2026

The first food waste to bioenergy plant is underway in New Zealand

New Zealand is set to build their first large-scale plant that aims to convert food waste into bioenergy. With construction set to begin, the plant is to be housed in Reporoa. The new facility is estimated to remove up to ten thousand tonnes worth of carbon dioxide which is the same as planting 218,400 trees annually.

After the land has been blessed by Ngāti Tahu-Ngati Whaoa, construction is expected to commence. The facility is owned by Ecogas which is a collaboration between Ecostock Supplies Ltd and Pioneer Energy Ltd. The land on which the facility is expected to be built is owned by one of New Zealand’s largest fresh produce suppliers, T&G Fresh.

Andrew Fisher, the director of Ecogas, stated that the facility will help New Zealand deal with 327,000 tonnes of annual food waste that normally goes to landfills across the country. Harnessing that wastage and turning it into bioenergy is not only efficient but puts money back into the pockets of the public.

Not only is the facility addressing the food wastage issue of the country, it aims to power local farmlands, glasshouses, the community and even create jobs throughout the region. The goal is to have the facility operational in 2022 with an estimated initial turnover of 75,000 tonnes of organic waste. This waste will be collected from local businesses and food scrap collections from the side of the road throughout the Northern Island.

Fisher stated that the facility will create enough energy on an annual basis to power 2,500 households in the region as well as producing bio-fertiliser for around 2,000 hectares of farmland. The carbon dioxide and heat that it will also produce will go towards the growth of locally grown tomatoes in the T&G Fresh glasshouses.

What we can learn from past recessions

By

Edward Welch

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26 January 2026

As the world enters a new recession, it’s worth reflecting on what we’ve learnt from past experiences with economic downturns. The most recent economic recession in living memory was the 2008 economic crisis, but it’s also worth taking lessons from the Great Depression which first began in 1929. What can we expect to happen over the next few years?

Well, let’s take a look at what happened during the more recent financial crisis first. The 2008 crash saw a huge reduction in the profits of the financial sector, although that had almost completely recovered by the second quarter of 2009. In later years, finance profits actually experienced growth and by 2017 the sector was making a great deal more than it was pre-crisis.

Profits were slower to grow in other sectors but they did experience growth because many companies now had less employees and lower wages following the crisis – wages dropped during the recession and were not quick recover. By 2013 the stock market had made a full recovery but unemployment was high and household wealth was still lower than it was pre-recession whilst the wealth gap for minorities widened.

In comparison the Great Depression saw a restructuring of the way the financial sector worked, reforms held banks accountable for risky investments and the New Deal began by helping workers in order to help banks and other financial institutions, rather than protecting banks and organisation first.

Newer approaches have seen a ‘trickle down’ approach being taken but this is proving to be ineffective. Banks and other institutions will prioritise their interests first. The effectiveness of our recovery from the latest recession will depend on the approach governments choose to take and whether they decide to take lessons learnt from past recessions to protect unemployed workers and vulnerable groups, or if they will once again prioritise banks and company interests.

New Zealand exploring the 4 day work week

By

Cornelia Smith

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26 January 2026

New Zealand is eyeing off the four day work week with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern encouraging employees to give the shortened working week a try. This comes after trust company successfully trialed the four day work week and opted to offer it permanently to their 240 staff after discovering that it both boosted productivity and the well-being and happiness of their staff.

Other companies in other countries such as Japan have had similar success with the four day work week and now Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is suggesting that New Zealand businesses give it go, suggesting that the four day work week could be a great method to boost domestic tourism in the country. The Prime Minister is however leaving the choice to try the four day work week up to companies, saying that it’s ultimately their decision. She was quick to point out that many companies have now witnesses the benefits of flexible working arrangements for themselves. It seems likely that many businesses in New Zealand will now be ready to more permanently adopt shorter working weeks or work from home arrangements for their staff.

In New Zealand domestic tourism is a crucial industry and is responsible for generating a large proportion of the country’s GDP, longer weekends for staff could help to promote domestic travel and could help to keep the hundreds of thousands of tourism workers in the country employed.

The four day work week has received praise from the companies who have tried it with almost all of them finding that employee satisfaction and productivity increased. New Zealand has been celebrated in past years for it’s great work/life balance and shorter working weeks could also be a way for companies to attract and retain great talent, even from overseas in the future.

How to move a business online

By

Sophie Henley

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26 January 2026

More and more New Zealand businesses are making the move online, using new e-commerce platforms to complement or even entirely replace their bricks and mortar businesses. Making the move online is an important step for business owners looking to future-proof their businesses.

Digital marketing agencies in New Zealand are finding more businesses than ever before are looking to shift their businesses to be more online focussed, even businesses that wouldn’t typically look to the web as an avenue for driving sales. Businesses that have previously been heavily reliant on physical locations, word-of-mouth and bricks and mortar style service are now embracing the opportunities that the web opens up.

Many businesses are even looking at new ways to automate their sales and services processes, moving away from having sales people follow up leads generated online.

If you’re planning to move your business online, then there are a few things you should keep in mind. Firstly that you will need to properly map the current processes of your business, this means understanding the journey that customers currently follow, this will help you to understand how online services will change your business model and whether or not it will help to improve efficiency.

Once you’ve mapped your processes it will be easier to identify opportunities and then you can start to slowly make changes to your processes – it’s better to start slow as this can help to reduce teething problems when using new software or online systems. Another important thing to do is to take the time to properly invest in the training and development of the staff involved, new online systems need to be properly managed and run to be effective which means that employees need to know how to use new systems and software properly.

Solar power a good option in New Zealand

By

Robert Barlow

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25 January 2026

Solar power a good option in New Zealand

Solar power is a source of renewable energy that more and more New Zealand households are beginning to turn to, and for good reason – it’s a great option in a country like NZ with its perfect climate. During the summer our warm, sunny days provide plenty of sunlight for electricity generation, more than enough to power households whilst in winter boosters can help keep everything running smoothly when electricity demands increase. So should you consider it for your household?

The cost of installing systems can be expensive, depending on the brand you choose. Photovoltaic panels have come down a lot in cost over the years, but they’re still a large initial upfront investment especially if you intend to also install a storage bank to store excess electricity. In New Zealand you might expect to pay anywhere between $7-$10K for a new system which means you may be waiting quite a few years before you see a return on the investment, but for ecologically conscious households it a far cleaner source of energy than traditional fossil fuel generated electricity. In the long run it can also be a great cost saver, although households whom plan to move away after a few years may never get to reap the rewards of their investment.

If you’re looking to get one for your household in New Zealand you should consider your lifestyle and the climate conditions where you live, they are not recommended for areas with minimal sun hours or households that don’t require a lot of electricity. If you want to take steps to make your household more environmentally friendly consider starting by choosing energy efficient LED light bulbs, they’ll reduce your power bill and your carbon footprint and choose appliances with higher energy efficiency ratings.

Judith Collins selected as opposition leader

By

Amber Mobsby

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25 January 2026

New Zealand’s main opposition party has appointed Judith Collins after the surprising resignation of Todd Muller who only stayed in the role for two months. The opposition party is behind in the opinion polls and not tipped to win the election.

Judith Collins was selected in an evening vote by her party. The 61 year old carries the nickname ‘Crusher’ because she has developed a reputation as a hard-fighting politician and has said that she hopes her party crushes the current government during the election.

Opposition leader Judith Collins is set to face Jacinda Ardern in a vote. Her election is the second time she has been elected as the leader of her party and it will be the second time she has faced off against Ardern. In the past Collins has struggled against popular Jacinda Ardern who is performing well in opinion polls due to her handling of the Christchurch massacre and other crises in the country.

Judith Collins has been a member of parliament since 2002 and was originally a minister under Jon Key-Bill English’s government where she was responsible for overseeing revenue, energy, police and justice portfolios.

Mr Muller has resigned after saying the job had taken a heavy toll on him and his family. His resignation came after a number of mistakes including leaking sensitive information. He acknowledged that he was not the best person to be in the role and cited health concerns as a reason for leaving the role. Collins has said that she does not expect there to be a major reshuffle to the party now that she has taken on the role. Having experience in the opposition role against Jacinda Ardern means she is likely more prepared for the pressures of the role compared to Mr Muller.

Best places to hike in New Zealand

By

Robert Barlow

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25 January 2026

New Zealand has some spectacular hiking tracks and wilderness areas to visit, it’s a paradise for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. So what are the best trails and locations for people to visit in New Zealand?

A great place to start is in the national parks around the region. New Zealand has plenty in the way of national parks on offer for locals and tourists alike to enjoy many of them include great hiking paths but there are a few tracks that stand out.

One of the most famous tracks to visit is The Milford Track in Fiordland. The track takes four days and three nights to walk and will take hikers through forest areas, mountains and steep fiords – the route is in demand so people must book to walk it. Another three day trek, the Routeburn Track takes people through beautiful forested areas and past a number of waterfalls.

The Kepler Track also begins and ends in the Fiordland national park and takes four days for hikers to trek it. Bird enthusiasts will love the Rakiura Track on the country’s least populated island, Stweart Island. The Heaphy Track on South Island is ideal for beginners or those who require less demanding inclines and takes people along beautiful beaches and through forests and alpine fields.

The Abel Tasman Coastal track is also great for those who prefer light walking, the Paparoa track on the other hand is not for the faint of heart and will take hikers along the rugged Paparoa Range. Other notable mentions include the Tongariro Northern circuit which takes three to four days to complete and was featured on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, the Lake Waikaremoana track which takes four to five days and the stunning Whanganui journey.

You’ll Definitely Get a Good Gut Feeling with Wholesale Essential Oils

By

Jamie Stein

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25 January 2026

You’ll Definitely Get a Good Gut Feeling with Wholesale Essential Oils

One of the many incredible qualities of wholesale essential oils is the positive impact it has on our gut health. Current news has dictated that wholesale essential oils are being tested at the University of Queensland on how these ingredients can benefit the digestion of baby chickens. There has been extensive research on the gut-friendly benefit of our native wholesale essentials, from lemon myrtle to eucalyptus. With this in mind, we will be uncovering the digestive benefits we can obtain from wholesale essential oils. Go with your gut with the help of our wonderful wholesale essential oils.

What are Wholesale Essential Oils?

Wholesale essential oils are oils that are sourced from the extraction of a mixture of herbs and plants. You can find these combinations in barks, flowers, roots, and seeds. In comparison to the original source, these wholesale essential oils have a stronger aroma due to the fact that there is a substantially large number of active ingredients included, highlighting their overall power. There is also an incredible selection of wholesale essential oils that you can choose from. Wholesale essentials oils are drawn out through the process known as cold pressing, which is when you obtain the extraction through distillation or by physically squeezing the natural source. Carrier oils such as coconut oil are used to dilute the product to make sure you don’t get any extreme reactions on the skin. There are a variety of health benefits to wholesale essential oils, especially your digestive health.

What Came First: The Chicken or The Egg?

A recent study by the University of Queensland explored the possible digestive benefits wholesale essential oils has on animals, particularly on baby chicks. Australian wholesale essential oils such as eucalyptus, lemon myrtle, and tea tree oil were being tested on chicken eggs to determine whether they improve the health status of the hatchling. They have done extensive research on these Australian wholesale essential oils highlighting their incredibly anti-bacterial properties, being able to improve appetite and digestion, keeping these chicks in peak health condition by having a good amount of microflora in their gut. These scientists aim to study the chick’s growth and development during the first fortnight of its life.

The Incredibly Gut-friendly Qualities of Wholesale Essential Oils

As the essential philosopher, Hippocrates, once said, “all diseases begin in the gut.”

Wholesale essential oils have been known to dramatically improve your immune system, including your gut. These days, the increase of chemicals in our environment makes it hard for us to fight exposure to these toxins, affecting our digestive system in the long run. More and more people are becoming susceptible to gut inflammatory issues such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. The increase of exposure to chemicals slowly causes a build-up of toxins in our system, which over time may slowly overflow in a bucket, causing further damage to our overall health status. Whether for fast food or at a restaurant, the foods you purchase have GMOs (genetically modified organisms), which our bodies have not yet evolved to be able to eat. Eating these foods can be incredibly damaging to the gut lining of our bodies. Another way to help improve our gut symptoms is through lifestyle changes, including alleviating stress, better sleep, and exercise. There is an even deeper connection between the mind and the gut – with the two intertwined in order to enhance your health. While diet is a highly essential factor in improving gut health, wholesale essential oils are a remedy that can help alleviate inflammatory systems, improving your overall digestion. In the next section, we will be going over the best raw cosmetic ingredients for your gut.

The Best Wholesale Essential Oils for the Gut

Ginger

There is a variety of health advantages to using ginger as one of the best wholesale essential oils, especially for gut health. Ginger is known to be used as a tonic or laxative as it relaxes the muscles and tissues. It is suggested not to use ginger oil in the evening as it can have a stimulating effect on the digestive system. Ginger is known to alleviate symptoms of flatulence, diarrhoea, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, and morning sickness.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is known for its anti-microbial properties that fight against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, being able to combat the common cold. Their unique qualities work to fend off the microorganisms that cause this illness in the first place. It has been known to prevent further development of the virus of genital herpes. Due to their anti-fungal fighting properties, these wholesale essential oils can alleviate symptoms of fungal illnesses such as candida and toenail fungus. Despite its ability to help with respiratory infections, eucalyptus oil is perfect for digestive problems, alleviating kidney stones to even diarrhoea.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is perfect for overcoming redness, inflammation, and itch associated with an allergic reaction. It is also widely known for its antiseptic properties to alleviate issues of wounds and cuts. Tea tree oil is especially useful for your gut, being incredibly helpful if you are dealing with a case of gastrointestinal infection. You can add a piece of cloth with a few drops of tea tree oil alongside a carrier oil and pop it over your stomach.

Lemon

Lemon is largely beneficial for all your digestive worries. You can definitely stomach these wholesale essential oils as these oils have been found in an impressive amount of cultural dishes from around the world. This extraction comes from the zest of the lemon, adding to its intensely sour scent. Lemon is incredibly advantageous for a variety of digestive issues such as constipation, hangovers, heartburn, intestinal parasite, and even overeating.

Peppermint

You’ve seen the magic peppermint tea has on your bellyaches! Peppermint is the perfect remedy to ease your stomach after a big meal. This wholesale essential oil has anti-inflammatory, anti-pain, and antispasmodic properties, making it a triple threat for your gut. Peppermint works to alleviate the painfully embarrassing digestive symptoms, including irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, heartburn, to indigestion. It is important to note that peppermint can wake you up. Therefore, it is best not to use it right before bedtime, or else you’ll be up for a few hours. This wholesale essential oil works to ease your intestinal muscles, making sure your stomach is as smooth as possible.

The takeaway

Wholesale essential oils are incredibly beneficial for your digestive and gut health. As the recent study on improvements on digestion for baby chicks, we can clearly see there is a link between essential oils in their ability to aid symptoms of indigestion and lack of nutrients. With the current overload of toxins in the environment and our diets, our health has become affected, causing a weaker digestive system. These oils can help alleviate symptoms of gut issues by giving you improved digestion, which will overall improve your health to your sleep. Great examples of oils that can help ease your stomach include ginger, peppermint, lemon, tea tree oil, and eucalyptus. N-essentials has a list of incredible oils to aid your gut which you’ll love a “whole” lot!

New Zealand one of the best places to live for life balance

By

Cornelia Smith

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25 January 2026

New Zealand one of the best places to live for life balance

The word is starting to get out – New Zealand is a great place to live. Filled to the brim with incredible work opportunities and beautiful places to live, the country provides an almost unparalleled quality of life. New Zealand is a dream destination for many expats and has an impressive job market for those born in the country. In previous years it’s ranked highly as one of the best countries to live in when it comes to quality of life. So what is it that makes New Zealand so wonderful when it comes to work/life balance?

One of the main reasons New Zealanders experience such a great work/life balance is because the country promotes great work culture. People in New Zealand are relaxed and friendly and good relationships between managers and employees are encouraged.

There are also great flexible working conditions available to many Kiwi’s. A stats NZ survey found that over half of the workers surveyed had flexible start and finish times. A much higher ratio of Kiwi jobs are also home based compared to other countries.

Some New Zealand companies like Perpetual Guardians are also trialling four day work weeks to help improve work/life balance.

Additionall, many Kiwi’s have great access to parental leave, with up to 22 weeks of paid leave and 12 months of parental leave available with plans to extend paid leave to 26 weeks. New Zealand has some of the best parental leave entitlements, annual leave arrangements and flexible work options in the world making it the perfect place for people looking for a better quality of life and more time at home to settle. New Zealander’s enjoy a great work environment and it’s set to only get better in the future.

Graeme Hart, New Zealand’s richest man is a high school dropout and former truck driver

By

Sophie Henley

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25 January 2026

Graeme Hart, New Zealand’s richest man is a high school dropout and former truck driver

New Zealand’s richest man, Graeme Hart, dropped out of high school in his mid-teens to work as a mechanic then truck driver. Today he holds the title of richest person in NZ and is a part of the world’s billionaire list.

Hart made his fortune in private equity and now controls the majority stake in Reynolds through the Rank Group, which is his private equity firm. The consumer goods business is Hart’s biggest asset to date as well.

While Hart does like to stay out of the media, he is not shy about his spending habits and likes to live a life of luxury. He is a serial buyer of yachts including the Ulysses which is 116 metres in length and valued at $200 million USD. The superyacht is big enough to house a helipad and a smaller yacht that sits on the front deck.

A fan of the name, Hart’s previous yacht was also called the Ulysses and housed a Batman pinball machine and a now decommissioned US navy submarine that was able to be used as a getaway for up to 6 people.

As mentioned earlier, Hart dropped out of school to become a mechanic and later a truck driver. He graduated from the University of Otago with a MBA where he created the basis of a leveraged-buyout strategy. Hart made a speech to the graduating class of 2018 at his alma mater about his strategy his he said be bold.

He also said that being bold means buying as big as you can, borrowing as much as you can and then working hard to pay the asset off. If it worked for one person who knows how many more it could work for – we could be seeing a lot more New Zealand billionaires very soon.

What are Wholesale Essential Oils?

What Came First: The Chicken or The Egg?

The Incredibly Gut-friendly Qualities of Wholesale Essential Oils

The Best Wholesale Essential Oils for the Gut

Ginger

Eucalyptus

Tea Tree Oil

Lemon

Peppermint

The takeaway

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