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Infinz Awards: Miles Hurrell, Mark Tume recognised for finance leadership

Infinz Awards: Miles Hurrell, Mark Tume recognised for finance leadership

NZ Herald13-05-2025

Tourism Holdings won both the Chapman Tripp Excellence in Treasury Award and the Public Trust Debt Deal of the Year Award for a post-acquisition strategy and a $475 million debt syndication, respectively.
Auckland International Airport won the PwC NZ Equity Market Transaction Award for a $1.4 billion placement and retail offer, making history as the largest ever secondary capital raising in New Zealand.
Fisher & Paykel Healthcare took home the MUFG Pension & Market Services Best Investor Relations Award as voted by equity analysts and fund managers.
Independent fuel retailer Nelson Petroleum Distribution won the MinterEllisonRuddWatts M&A Transaction of the Year for a management buyout of the family-owned business.
Other winners included QuayStreet Asset Management, which received the Chapman Tripp Diversified Growth Fund Manager Award, Contact Energy (Computershare NZ Debt Market Issue Award), and Summerset Group (Business NZ Corporate ESG Award).
One new Infinz Fellow was inducted – Michele Embling, chairwoman of the External Reporting Board and board member for Centre for Sustainable Finance. The 10th Distinguished Fellowship Award was presented to current INFINZ Fellow, Ampol and IAG AU board member and chairman of IAG NZ, Simon Allen.

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Vectra AI named leader in 2025 Gartner report for NDR sector
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Vectra AI named leader in 2025 Gartner report for NDR sector

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Air Connectivity Ranking: Asia-Pacific Reports 13% Growth; Middle East Leads With 28%
Air Connectivity Ranking: Asia-Pacific Reports 13% Growth; Middle East Leads With 28%

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Air Connectivity Ranking: Asia-Pacific Reports 13% Growth; Middle East Leads With 28%

28 May 2025, Shanghai, China: Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East (ACI APAC & MID) today announced its highly anticipated Air Connectivity Ranking 2024, revealing a remarkable 14% year-on-year increase in both Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, driven by strong international demand, robust network recovery, and the return of major travel corridors. The ACI Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Ranking is a comprehensive, passenger-centric analytical tool developed in collaboration with PwC in 2023 and refined for its third edition in 2025. The Ranking evaluates the overall level of air passenger connectivity offered by airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions. It assesses performance through three fundamental building blocks: network scale and frequency, economic weight of destinations, and connection quality and efficiency. The Asia-Pacific region witnessed a remarkable 13% jump in overall connectivity compared to 2023, while the Middle East posted an impressive 28% increase, surpassing all post-COVID recovery forecasts. On average, connectivity across all airports rose in both Asia-Pacific and the Middle East by +14%, a strong testament to the resilience and dynamism of the aviation sector. In Asia-Pacific, intra-regional connections are nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, trailing by just 0.2%. At the same time, intercontinental connectivity is on the rise, showing a solid 4% increase. The Middle East, however, isn't just recovering – it's setting a new pace. Both intra-regional and inter-continent connectivity have not only bounced back but have exceeded pre-pandemic levels by a significant margin of 18% and 16%, respectively. Key findings Airports in the region saw an average connectivity increase of +14% compared to 2023, indicating a strong industry recovery. 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In the face of growing geopolitical and trade tensions, we urge governments to prioritise air service liberalisation, streamlined visa policies, and transparent slot allocation frameworks. Lastly, we must not lose sight of the needs of small island and remote communities-- air connectivity remains their lifeline,' Mr. Baronci added. Rise of Airport City Clusters The 2025 edition introduces a fresh dimension: an analysis of airport city clusters. Larger urban agglomerations like Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Macau, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Beijing dominate the new City Connectivity Index, demonstrating that the presence of multiple large airports enables higher flight frequencies and diversified routing options. Clusters such as Beijing and Shenzhen–Hong Kong-Macau have seen a substantial enhancement of connectivity through effective use of secondary airports. Seoul, Bangkok, and Taipei lead in per capita accessibility, offering exceptional connectivity relative to population size. Hub Airports with Connectivity Leadership The 2025 edition features a newly introduced 'Hub Connectivity Index,' which evaluates each airport based on the quality and effectiveness of its hub operations. Dubai International Airport emerged as the top hub, followed by Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Hamad International Airport. About Airports Council International Asia-Pacific & Middle East Air Connectivity Ranking The ACI Asia-Pacific and Middle East Air Connectivity Index is a comprehensive, passenger-focused analytical tool developed in partnership with PwC in 2023 and refined for its third edition in 2025. It measures the overall level of air passenger connectivity provided by airports across the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions, assessing performance through three fundamental building blocks: network scale and frequency, economic weight of destinations, and connection quality and efficiency. These are operationalised through three distinct index components: The Direct Connectivity Index quantifies nonstop links, incorporating frequency, aircraft type, and the economic significance of destination airports. The Indirect Connectivity Index captures the value of indirect itineraries, accounting for airline partnerships, number of stops, and international reach. The Hub Connectivity Index assesses an airport's ability to function as an international transfer point, using factors such as viable transfer windows, route deviation from direct flight paths, and the strength of onward connectivity. Together, these components provide a multi-dimensional and empirically grounded view of how airports connect people to places, balancing volume, relevance, and the quality of the passenger journey.

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