Latest news with #Australasian
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Auckland FC: The 25 moments that made their A-League season unforgettable
Auckland FC enjoyed a remarkable start to life, with one of the most incredible debut seasons achieved by an expansion club in Australasian sport. Michael Burgess looks at the key turning points for the Black Knights, on and off the field. 1. Bill Foley swoops In the hustle for the
Techday NZ
27-05-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Vertiv opens new Sydney HQ with customer experience centre
Vertiv has officially opened its redesigned regional headquarters in Bella Vista, Sydney. The facility now serves as the national head office for Vertiv across Australia, with the company stating that the upgraded building demonstrates its commitment to investing in the nation's growing digital economy. The company's new workspace features flexible office areas, collaborative zones, and modern amenities, and includes the Vertiv Customer Experience Centre, described as the first of its kind in Australia. The Vertiv Customer Experience Centre provides customers, partners, and stakeholders with access to the company's technologies and subject matter experts, allowing direct engagement with various infrastructure solutions. The centre is positioned as a focal point within the upgraded headquarters, offering hands-on demonstrations of how local solutions are helping to address global infrastructure challenges, such as edge computing and hyperscale requirements. Australia's data centre sector continues to experience significant growth, a trend driven by rising demand for cloud services, artificial intelligence applications, and the expansion of hyperscale infrastructure. According to forecasts cited by Vertiv, investment in Australian data centres is set to exceed AUD $26 billion by 2030. Sydney plays a central role in this expansion, functioning as a communications hub with more than twelve subsea cable connections linking Australia with Asia, North America, and other regions. Vertiv's headquarters in Bella Vista adds to the organisation's regional footprint, which extends to cities such as Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, and Auckland. Andrew Whall, Vice President of Operations for Asia and General Manager for Australia and New Zealand at Vertiv, said, "Australia and New Zealand are core markets for Vertiv in the Asia-Pacific region. This new space enables us to better serve our customers and partners, while fostering innovation and rapid response from our local team." The Sydney-based Vertiv team includes more than fifty professionals in roles spanning engineering, sales, technical support, and administration. The new headquarters is intended to function as an anchor for Vertiv's broader Australasian operations, supporting both existing and emerging digital infrastructure requirements. "We're excited to welcome our customers and partners into this new chapter," Whall added. "Whether supporting hyperscale growth, enabling edge computing, or delivering resilient services, Vertiv is here to power and cool the infrastructure behind Australia's digital future." The opening of the headquarters was marked by a launch event attended by Vertiv customers, partners, and staff. Paul Churchill, Vice President and General Manager for Vertiv Asia, joined Whall in officially cutting the ribbon and inaugurating the office. Guests were able to tour the Customer Experience Centre and engage directly with local staff, highlighting the occasion as a significant milestone in Vertiv's investment efforts within Australia and New Zealand.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Dunedin Children's Choir Joins City Choir Dunedin In Singing The Songs Of Africa
We are pleased that the Dunedin Children's Choir will join City Choir on stage in this concert. Led by choral director Natasha Manowitz, the Dunedin Children's Choir was formed in 2023 for 7–15-year-olds in the Dunedin region. The Children's Choir offers a supportive environment where children can discover the joy of singing, enhance their vocal abilities and develop their musicianship, fostering a lifelong love of music. In 2010 City Choir Dunedin presented the Australasian première of Alexander L'Estrange's song cycle: Zimbe! Come Sing the Songs of Africa. 'This infectiously joyful and energetic community show had the audience clapping along and won all performers a standing ovation' and 'a huge crowd singing at full throttle is tremendously exhilarating and a sight to gladden the world-weary' a reviewer wrote. Now, 15 years later, City Choir is again presenting this song cycle with the combined forces of City Choir and the Dunedin Children's Choir, accompanied by a jazz ensemble of Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion). City Choir does not often perform with a jazz ensemble, but for Zimbe! the jazz musicians will enhance the rhythm and movement called for by the African folk music. David Burchell is the conductor. L'Estrange, known for his creative versatility, describes Zimbe! as 'coming from the seeds of my affinity with African music and the gospel tradition'. The Oxford graduate has collected traditional songs and backed them with jazz. The collection reflects the role of music in everyday life in Africa – from sunrise to sunset, or as the song 'Ilanga libuya, ilanga liyaphuma' more optimistically puts it 'the sun sets… the sun rises'. The young voices of the children will lend authenticity to two of the Zimbe! songs, both originating from Ghana: 'Sansa Kroma' (playground song) and 'Pete Pete!' (children's song celebrating food and family). Zimbe! brings together soulful melodies, energetic rhythms, and infectious harmonies that showcase the rich musical traditions of Africa. It is a sound filled with sunshine and dust, sadness and joy, spirituality, hope and defiance, suffering and celebration, poverty and unity. Other items on the programme include the a cappella works The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell, and Three Spirituals by David Hamilton. Perfect for all ages, this concert will create a powerful and uplifting experience. Don't miss the opportunity to be transported by the joyful spirit of Zimbe! —music that will leave your heart singing and your feet tapping! Event Details: What: City Choir Dunedin presents Zimbe! African Folk with a Jazz Twist When: Saturday 12 July, at 7:00 pm Where: Knox Church, 449 George Street, Dunedin Conductor: David Burchell Choirs: City Choir Dunedin and Dunedin Children's Choir Jazz Quintet: Bill Martin (piano), Nick Cornish (saxophone), Andy Lynch (bass), Carl Woodward (drums) and Alex Burchell (percussion)
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Christchurch to host Supercars in three-year NZ double-header
New Zealand will stage two Supercar rounds for the next three years after Christchurch was confirmed as the first-ever South Island venue. A revamped Ruapuna Raceway will host rounds of the Australasian touring car championship from 2026-28, along with Taupō, which has extended its deal for the same period. It will be the first time New Zealand has staged two rounds in the same season, with Supercars chief executive Shane Howard hailing the work of numerous bodies to bring racing to the club-run Ruapuna venue, 15km west of Christchurch. Howard said the government, Christchurch City Council's economic development agency and the Canterbury Car Club worked together to present a financially-sound vision. "This is an incredibly exciting day for Supercars and for fans across New Zealand," Howard said. "Christchurch is a motorsport city, and Ruapuna is a circuit with huge potential. This is a passionate community with a proud history, and we are thrilled to bring Supercars to the South Island for the first time. "Since Supercars' first visit to New Zealand in 2001, more than 2.3 million fans have attended championship events across the country and we're thrilled to be bringing a second event to the country that makes up 20 per cent of our total audience. "We know what Supercars means to New Zealanders. This is going to be a two-week celebration of Kiwi motorsport that will rival any on our calendar." Ruapuna Raceway will undergo a multimillion-dollar upgrade ahead of the event, including track resurfacing and a rebuilt supporters' lounge. Canterbury Car Club has already raised nearly $1 million toward the first stage of development. Club president, Lewis Low said he was proud the club had been added to the Supercars calendar. "This is a dream come true for our club and for motorsport fans right across the South Island. It's the result of years of hard work from our dedicated volunteers and supporters, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome Supercars to our home," he said. "Ruapuna has a proud grassroots heritage, and this investment will help us transform the venue into a world-class facility that can deliver an unforgettable experience for fans, teams and drivers alike." Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the announcement was significant. "For more than 20 years Supercars Championship events have played an important role showcasing our beautiful country to an international audience and I'm thrilled the South Island will now be part of this from next year," she said. "I'm pleased that with this investment from our Major Events Fund, New Zealand's strong relationship with Supercars will continue in Taupo and extend to include Christchurch, with all the benefits that brings." Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger expected the event in Ruapuna would "inject millions into our local economy - from tourism and hospitality to local jobs and infrastructure". More than 67,000 fans were attracted to the event at Taupō International Motorsport Park last year, resulting in 22,000 visitor nights and $5.8 million in visitor spending. Taupō District mayor David Trewavas was delighted to receive confirmation for three more years. "The Supercars event has already proven to be a huge success for our community - it brings energy, visitors, and international attention to our district," Trewavas said. "To see it grow into a two-week New Zealand celebration alongside Christchurch is fantastic for the whole country."
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Elusive woolly rat photographed for the first time
New Guinea's subalpine woolly rat is the rodent of legends. Mallomys istapantap was first described in 1989, but even then the descriptions were only gleaned from examining historical museum material. The last recorded sighting of the fuzzy rodent 30 years ago failed to yield any photographic evidence, but after six months scouring the jungles of New Guinea, one researcher has finally documented one of the world's most elusive mammals. The New Guinean woolly rat doesn't make itself easy to find, but Czech Academy of Sciences doctoral candidate František Vejmělka recently managed to make history with the help of local guides. 'If it weren't for the indigenous hunters who accompanied me in the mountains and helped me locate the animals, I would never have been able to collect this data,' Vejmělka said in a statement. Vejmělka collaborated with multiple local tribes to survey the region around Papua New Guinea's highest peak, Mount Wilhelm (14,793 ft). Along the way he documented and genetically identified 61 species of non-flying rodents and marsupials, but it was his firsthand encounters with the woolly rat that stood out from the rest. The murine rodent lives in the region's remote, steep highlands at elevations around 12,000 feet. They only emerge at night to feed on plant matter and spend their days in underground burrows or high in the tree canopies. Vejmělka's documentation published last month in the journal Mammalia notes the thick-furred woolly rats measure about 2.78-feet long including their tail, weigh around 4.4 lbs, and feature 3-inch paws. Despite their moderate size, the university announcement describes the animal as a 'striking and formidable creature.' While tropical biodiversity across Africa, the Americas, and Southeast Asia is well-studied, the Australasian regions remain largely unstudied. Collaborating with local indigenous communities to find and document animals such as the woolly rat is crucial to help strengthen biodiversity and conservation efforts, and what is needed to protect them from outside threats. 'It's astonishing that such a large and striking animal has remained so poorly studied,' said Vejmělka. 'How much more is there to discover about the biodiversity of tropical mountains?'
