Latest news with #Australasia
Forbes
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
Collectible Car Insurer Hagerty Eyes Off Australian Expansion
McKeel Hagerty is considering taking the listed Hagerty collectable car insurance success story to ... More Australia. Photo: Steve Jessmore Photography. The Shannons stranglehold on the Australian insurance market for rare, expensive and collectible cars could be nearing an end, with America's Hagerty Insurance eying up the Australasian market. Speaking during the Concorso d'Eleganza on Lake Como, Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty admitted his company had been approached to enter the market there. 'There are a significant number of people who want us to enter Australia,' Hagerty admitted. 'Those requests have come from other insurance companies and the only problem is the resource it would take us to do. 'But Australia would be a place we eventually get to, I think.' Any move into the Australian market would tread directly on the toes of Shannons Insurance business, with both companies specializing in the car-enthusiast and collector business, rather than mainstream car insurance. It's a niche, with cars often appreciating in value, with spare parts sometimes incredibly difficult or impossible to source and with valuers needing an encyclopedic knowledge of one-off cars from even a century ago. Incumbent Australian collectable car insurance firm Shannons is a long-term supporter of both niche ... More and mainstream Australian motorsport, including the Bathurst 1000. Photo:Traditional insurance companies prefer business models they're more familiar with, and often approach companies like Hagerty and Shannons to handle collectible cars for their clients, Hagerty said. 'The big insurance companies think of themselves as department stores and have to sell everything, but we are a boutique and not a department store,' Hagerty said. 'Nine out of the 10 biggest insurance companies in the US partner with us. They are the fiercest competitors and they all have agreements with us. 'The simple reason is that 2% to 3% of their general policies would include a car that we would be interested in, and they don't know what to do with it. 'The whole model of insurance is to handle depreciating assets and we only deal with appreciating assets, so we take a problem away from them and they can keep insuring the cars and houses and buildings they know how to do.' Hagerty Insurance does the opposite of most car insurers by mainly insuring appreciating assets. ... More Photo: Hagerty Insurance Hagerty has been making other moves, too, including poaching AT&T marketing wizard Marc Burns for its newly created Senior Vice-President of Brand and Marketing role, and it has a strong track record of beating financial forecasts. Unlike Shannons, Hagerty runs a growing auctions business, with the Broad Arrow auction house selling more than €31 million in sales, with a 78% clearance rate, at its recent Concorso d'Eleganza sale. Shannons ran Australia's most interesting car auctions for more than 40 years, but shuttered its Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne showrooms in 2023 after being absorbed by Suncorp. Shannons, founded by Bob Shannon more than 40 years ago, was absorbed by its long-term corporate partner, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Limited, in 2000, and has more recently fallen under the Suncorp umbrella. A long-time favorite of the Australian collectible-car scene, Shannons also supports more than 1,200 car and motorcycle events a year in Australia, and runs the Shannons Club, which it claims is Australia's largest online motoring enthusiast community. Hagerty does similar things largely in the USA, the UK and Canada, ranging from the highest of the high end events at Concorso d'Eleganza at the Hotel Villa d'Este on Lake Como and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, to Radwood, Cars and Caffeine and the British Festival of the Unexceptional. Its Drivers Club magazine is one of the biggest-circulation car magazines in the world.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
New Zealand music industry in mourning after legendary musician dies - prompting tributes from world famous artists
New Zealand 's music community is in mourning following the sudden death of Fat Freddy's Drop founding member Chris Ta'aloga Faiumu — better known to fans around the world as DJ Mu. The celebrated musician, producer and driving force behind one of the country's most beloved bands passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, his bandmates confirmed in a statement. 'Our talismanic founding member, production maestro, selector and brother, Chris Faiumu, aka DJ Mu, has unexpectedly passed away,' the band wrote on social media. 'This is a seismic shift in our world.' They added: 'Tears flowed on receiving word that your journey had taken you to the heavens, Chris. 'The star by which we navigated across the sea has gone and the crowns of flowers that adorned our heads are forever broken since you journeyed, Brother.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Faiumu was a founder and creative engine of the iconic NZ reggae band Fat Freddy's Drop, who rose from late-night Wellington jam sessions in the early 2000s to become one of the country's most successful musical exports. Over the past two decades, the band built a loyal international following, selling out venues across Europe and Australasia. Four of the band's albums reached number one at home, and two charted in the Australian top 20 Faiumu's partner, Nicole Duckworth, managed the band as part of their fiercely independent operation. His death has sent shockwaves through the global music scene, with tributes pouring in from artists around the world. 'Mu… My heart is broken… you were so welcoming... Thank you and may you rest in beats!' wrote hip-hop legend DJ Jazzy Jeff. Australian singer Tay Oskee added: 'This hits hard. Rest in peace legend.' Known for his humble presence behind the decks, DJ Mu was often seen hunched over the machine as he laid down the infectious beats that became the bedrock of Fat Freddy's signature sound. Faiumu was a founder and creative engine of iconic NZ reggae band Fat Freddy's Drop, who rose from late-night Wellington jam sessions in the early 2000s to become one of the country's most successful musical exports He produced a unique fusion of reggae, soul, dub, funk and electronica, deeply infused with his Pacific roots. Born and raised in the Wellington suburb of Wainuiomata, Faiumu was the fifth child of Samoan immigrant parents. He attended Scots College, where his nickname 'Mu' was coined by classmates who found his surname hard to pronounce. It stuck, and would later become a name known in music circles around the world. His path into music began at university, where he stumbled upon the campus radio station Radio Active and was thrust on air within minutes. That moment sparked a lifelong passion for DJing, sound production and championing NZ music culture. Those early experiments in sound would evolve into full-fledged live collaborations with musicians in late-night Wellington bars - ultimately leading to the formation of Fat Freddy's Drop. He is survived by his long-term partner Nicole and their daughter Mia.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
The Christchurch bar named best in Australasia
This week Christchurch's 'Cellar Door' was named Australasia's best wine bar, by 'World of Fine Wine Magazine'. Whie that's great news, in even better news it means the bar goes on to represent the region in the world finals later this year. Owner Tim Ogle chats to Jesse. Photo: Supplied - Cellar Door
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Lifting advertising restrictions will enable medical conferences in NZ
David Seymour says two of Australasia's largest medical conferences will come to New Zealand next year. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii Associate Health Minister David Seymour says medical conferences can happen in New Zealand now, because the government is lifting advertising restrictions on medicines. Two of Australasia's largest medical conferences will come to New Zealand next year, and the government is talking up estimates they could add $5 million to the local economy. Seymour said the advertising restrictions were brought in because of fears pharmaceutical companies could try to skirt approvals processes, but his Regulations Ministry found that approach was out of step with other countries. He said advertising medicines at a conference was one of the main reasons to hold one. "We have got rid of the restriction on advertising new medicines, so there's good reasons for doctors to come to New Zealand and learn about them. Before we made this change, New Zealand doctors would go to places like Fiji for a medical conference, which is nice for them, but bad for the New Zealand economy, because the money's going over there," Seymour said. The 2026 conferences are for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO), and could attract an estimated 3300 delegates. "You're going to see a whole lot of mainly doctors but medical professionals interested in learning about new medicines and technologies and that they're going to join together in New Zealand, and it's going to just be a wonderful thing," Seymour said. "It's the kind of activity we should want in this country. You know, I've long said New Zealand should try to be the ancient Athens of the modern world, the centre of medical science and excellence." Seymour in a statement said the government was committed to removing red tape, and the lifting of restrictions would make it easier for health professionals to keep up with the latest products and medicines. "New Zealand's current health regulations can be overly bureaucratic, and this is slowing down access to care, increasing costs, and making it harder for patients to get the services they need." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Free Malaysia Today
15-07-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia backs Usanita's push to empower women entrepreneurs in Australasia
Malaysian high commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki (second from left) and Usanita CEO Adzliana Hasan (second from right) at the pre-launch ceremony of Bridge to Brilliance 4.0 Australasia in Auckland, New Zealand. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian high commission in New Zealand has declared its support for Usanita Group's mission to help Malaysian women entrepreneurs expand internationally, especially in the Australasian market. Malaysian high commissioner to New Zealand Mazita Marzuki praised Usanita as a vital platform for promoting women's involvement in cross-border business and economic diplomacy. Speaking at the soft launch of Bridge to Brilliance (BtB) 4.0: Australasia in Auckland, Mazita said Usanita's initiatives align with Malaysia's strengths in entrepreneurship, culture and diplomacy. BtB 4.0 will feature several cultural and economic programmes, including a Malaysian heritage fashion showcase during Malaysia Day in Wellington, and a 'Taste of Malaysia' halal food promotion campaign. Other initiatives include film screenings and short films by students that aim to promote inclusive cultural diplomacy between Malaysia and the region. In a statement, Mazita said the collaboration supports Malaysia's goals as this year's Asean chair and contributes to the celebration of the country's 62nd Malaysia Day. She also said recent developments, such as the visit by New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon to Malaysia last year, have strengthened bilateral ties and paved the way for greater cooperation. Usanita CEO Adzliana Hasan welcomed the high commission's endorsement, saying it validates the critical role of Malaysian women in both economic and cultural diplomacy. She said that as part of BtB 4.0, Usanita has begun production on two telemovies in Auckland and will begin filming a third in September. The BtB programme, which started in Malaysia and expanded to Indonesia and the UK, aims to uplift Malaysian entrepreneurs, especially women and the B40 group, and is part of Malaysia's broader strategy for inclusive development during its Asean chairmanship.
