River City to the City of Love: Whanganui AI initiative presented in Paris
Whanganui-based artificial intelligence service AI Bizhub has captured international attention.
AI BizHub founders Lisa Lightband and Stephen Lee were invited to the Unesco Creative Cities Network annual conference in Paris on June 23-24.
The conference aims to promote co-operation between cities that recognise creativity and cultural industries as drivers for
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
12 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Late selling drives NZ sharemarket down
'It's been a good week and the markets seem to be taking the US tariffs in their stride as we head into the reporting season next week,' he said. 'We are confident that we'll see an Official Cash Rate cut from the Reserve Bank [on August 20], which I think will be good for the market and the economy overall. 'We've managed to get through this week without any profit warnings, so that's good,' Lister said. Spark firmed 4c or 1.6% to $2.59 after a difficult period. Lister said the telco appeared to be enjoying the beginnings of a recovery after two years in the investment wilderness. 'It's still got a long way to go, but I think there is a general feeling among the analyst community that there might be a little bit of value there because it's fallen as much as it has,' he said. Also firming were KMD Brands, up 1c at 25c, and Sky TV, up 6c at $3.02. Infratil dropped by 18c or 1.59% to $11.84. The infrastructure investor earlier announced that it and the NZ Superannuation Fund had entered a binding agreement to sell their 100% interest in RetireAustralia to Invesco Real Estate, for A$845m ($925m). As of March 31, the carrying value of Infratil's investment in RetireAustralia was $404m, with the transaction expected to result in an accounting loss on sale of about $80m, the company said. Market heavyweight Fisher & Paykel Healthcare, which has a 16% weighting on the S&P/NZX50 index, fell 31c to $36.69. Retirement village operator Summerset dropped by 25c (2.25%) to $11.08. Transport software specialist Eroad took back some of Thursday's gains, which were on the back of New Zealand's plan to introduce universal road user charges, the stock dropping 6c to $1.95. In the second-tier stocks, major apple exporter T&G Global rallied by 15c (6.7%) to $2.40 after posting a turnaround in its first half to a $1.7m profit from a loss of $18.76m in the previous comparable period. 'As we head into the second half of the year, T&G is in a strong position to build on this momentum,' the company said. 'We're confident in our ability to continue delivering improved financial performance.' T&G's majority owner, Germany's BayWa, has put its stake up for review. BayWa, which has interests ranging from food to construction and energy, first made its play in 2011 for what was then Turners and Growers, with the intention of a complete takeover. T&G's shares have gained 53% in the last 12 months. With a 15% tariff on New Zealand exports to the US now in place, ASB Bank expects beef, dairy and wine exports to be the most heavily affected. 'We think beef is currently under the most risk, but there are opportunities to mitigate the hit,' the bank said. Jamie Gray is an Auckland-based journalist, covering the financial markets and the primary sector. He joined the Herald in 2011.
Techday NZ
20 hours ago
- Techday NZ
Watercare installs smart sensors for edge-powered sewer monitoring
Watercare is deploying 5,000 smart sewer sensors across Auckland in partnership with Kallipr to enhance real-time monitoring and management of wastewater overflows. The large-scale sensor rollout represents a new approach to digital infrastructure in New Zealand's wastewater sector, with the use of edge-intelligent devices capable of interpreting and responding to sewer conditions directly at the source. The initiative leverages devices designed and manufactured by Brisbane-based Internet of Things company Kallipr. These sensors incorporate edge-based logic, distinguishing them from conventional systems that rely on cloud processing alone. The deployment is intended to detect and address issues such as blockages, pipe failures, and groundwater intrusion in real time, supported by an artificial intelligence analytics platform. By shifting decision-making capabilities to the edge of the network, Watercare aims to reduce communication overheads, enhance system longevity, and facilitate earlier identification of potential problems, including spills and environmental hazards. "What's unique here is where the intelligence lives," said Dave Moore, Smart Systems Manager at Watercare. Moore explained the benefits of this decentralised approach: "By shifting processing out to the edge, we're cutting down on cloud consumption and enabling the network to respond faster, closer to the source of the issue in near real time. It means less lag, less noise, and far more confidence in how we manage events as they unfold." The sensors are being installed across the city, including flood-prone areas such as Wairau. Each device is fitted beneath manhole lids and uses radar sensing, TinyML-powered logic, and long-life batteries to monitor sewer conditions autonomously. The sensors' ability to modify sampling rates in response to anomalies is expected to help prevent numerous overflows each year. This project forms part of a NZD $12 million Smart Network Programme dedicated to integrating digital technologies and artificial intelligence software into Watercare's infrastructure. By providing embedded intelligence within the network, the programme seeks to accelerate detection and response times, alleviate pressure on cloud resources, and extend the operational lifespan of existing assets. "Many utilities are still focused on collecting more data but the next leap forward is creating intelligence in the field," said Gerhard Loots, CEO of Kallipr. "This deployment shows how utilities can evolve from data-heavy, cloud-reliant systems to a model that's faster, leaner, and built for real-world complexity. Watercare is leading with a future-ready approach that others can follow." At the centre of this deployment is Kallipr's Spectra sensor, which is engineered to endure the challenging environment of a sewer network. The device is capable of withstanding corrosive gases, submersion, animal interference, and limited connectivity. It captures level data every 15 minutes and increases sampling frequency if signs of overflow or blockage are detected. The sensor utilises low-power LTE networks, specifically NB-IoT and Cat-M1, while on-board TinyML allows the device to adapt and optimise responses locally. To minimise connectivity disruptions common in underground infrastructure, Spectra employs dual SIMs and edge-based logic to evaluate and select the most reliable available network continually. Fleet management of the devices is handled through Kallipr Kloud Fleet, an IoT fleet management platform built on Microsoft Azure, which offers Watercare remote visibility and control over thousands of distributed units. Edge processing is anticipated to lower ongoing operational costs by reducing bandwidth usage, energy consumption, and dependence on cloud infrastructure, as well as decreasing field visits and emissions associated with spill response and maintenance. The Watercare programme demonstrates a broader transition in utility infrastructure strategy, prioritising the distribution of intelligence throughout the network. Moving towards edge logic-driven systems is seen as a means to improve responsiveness, enable more efficient cost management, and adapt to long-term operational needs.
NZ Herald
a day ago
- NZ Herald
US ties with India trampled as Trump hunts goal of ending Russia's war in Ukraine
This week, Trump seemed ready to ditch that relationship. He doubled already hefty tariffs on Indian exports to the US for its steadfast refusal to stop buying oil from Russia, in an effort to pressure Russia to end the war. Trump has accused India of helping Russia finance its war on Ukraine through oil purchases; India has said it needs cheap oil to meet the energy needs of its fast-growing economy. India called the additional tariffs 'unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable', pointing out that it was being punished for doing something — buying Russian oil at a discounted price — that other nations have done, although it didn't mention names. China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, and Turkey has also deepened its energy links with Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine, without incurring similar penalties. Analysts said Trump's pressure tactics could damage the long-standing ties between India and the US. 'We are better off together than apart,' said Atul Keshap, a retired US diplomat and president of the US-India Business Council. 'The partnership forged by our elected leaders over the past 25 years is worth preserving and has achieved considerable mutual prosperity and advanced our shared strategic interests.' It's difficult to quantify what exactly America would lose if its relationship with India cools. India is a valuable strategic partner for the US, acting as a counterweight to China. It is also important to many American companies, including Apple, which has shifted some manufacturing of its products to India from China. Ajay Srivastava, a former trade official at the Global Trade Research Initiative, a New Delhi-based think-tank, said the US action 'will push India to reconsider its strategic alignment, deepening ties with Russia, China, and many other countries'. India and the US, with Japan and Australia, are part of a diplomatic partnership called the Quad, set up largely to counter China's growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. India is planning to host the Quad Leaders' Summit later this year. Trump was expected to attend, although it's now unclear if he will. For India, the costs of a damaged relationship may prove to be higher. Trump's move puts Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a bind. Russia is the source of 45% of its oil imports. If India stops buying Russian oil, accepting higher prices for consumers and domestic manufacturing, it would be politically damaging for Modi's Government. If it ignores Trump's threat and continues buying Russian oil, the hit to India's economy will be far costlier. The higher tariffs could cut India's more than US$86 billion in exports to the US by half, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative, an Indian research group. The US is India's biggest trading partner, and exports account for nearly 20% of India's economy. India ranks only 10th among American trade partners in goods. India has also come to value American backing for its bid to be recognised as a global superpower. Modi has touted his relationship with Trump, courting the US President during his first term in office and calling him a 'true friend'. But that friendship, as many American allies have learned, may mean little when Trump's own priorities are at stake. US President Donald Trump is open to meeting Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the White House said yesterday. Photo / Olga Maltseva, Brendan Smialowski, Frederick Florin / AFP In recent weeks, Trump announced that he had struck deals with Japan, South Korea and the European Union, but even after months of negotiation, India had not reached an agreement. India was reluctant to make concessions on politically sensitive sectors like dairy and agriculture. India also publicly denied Trump's repeated claims that he helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after a brief, four-day conflict between the two neighbours in May. India has maintained that the ceasefire was negotiated bilaterally with Pakistan, and Indian leaders bristled at Trump's willingness to insert himself into that bitter rivalry. It is not yet clear whether the punitive tariffs Trump has threatened will ever take effect. In the executive order he issued, Trump said the tariffs would be implemented within a month, but he could modify the order if circumstances changed. The order included a provision that the US would look at other countries' purchases of Russian oil as well. So far, there is no indication that Trump intends to take a similar approach to China. Chinese and US officials are in the middle of sensitive negotiations about potential trade agreements after an initial round of retaliatory tariffs threatened to destabilise the global economy. With his tariff moves against India, Trump is keeping his eye on big strategic goals — a deal with China and keeping the pressure on Moscow before a potential meeting with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, which he disclosed yesterday. Far from being 'a dead economy', as Trump called it, India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world. But its place on the President's list of priorities may be much less certain. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Written by: Anupreeta Das Photograph by: Saumya Khandelwal ©2025 THE NEW YORK TIMES
