Latest news with #McLay
Scoop
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Pre-Election Report Now Available
The 2025 local body elections present an exciting opportunity to begin a national conversation about the future of central and local government services, how they are funded, and how we can best deliver positive outcomes for our environment, our communities and our economy. That's the word from Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay, who has released his pre-election report to promote public discussion about the issues facing the council ahead of the local government elections. 'Whether you're considering standing for regional council or not, you'll no doubt have heard discussions about the future of regional councils on the back of the Government's Resource Management Act reforms,' says Mr McLay. 'I say yes, it is time to talk. Let's have conversations about the public services provided by local and central government, iwi and other stakeholders, and the scales at which each might be delivered more efficiently and effectively.' Regional councils were established through the 1989 local government reforms to bring together some 600 catchment, rabbit, pest and drainage boards as it was recognised that biosecurity, land management and flood protection services were best managed at a regional scale. Public transport systems, civil defence and emergency management, maritime safety, and resource use management are also among the portfolio of functions of regional councils. 'By undertaking these services, we shape this country's future. We create the right conditions for the growth, resilience and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand. We're big enough to deliver services efficiently and effectively, yet we're small enough to have place-based knowledge of our landscapes and communities,' says Mr McLay. 'However, we do see the need for change. We're a growing nation and our future demands a smarter, more connected system of national and local government, one that aligns functions with the right scale, empowers local voices, and invests in long-term partnerships.' Key issues facing Waikato Regional Council include: the cost of food, rent, power and interest payments are hitting households hard, and with the Waikato median weekly household below the national average, it is a challenge to fund essential public services impacts of the Resource Management Act reform on the council's responsibilities in managing natural resources and the environment. helping communities prepare for and respond to natural hazards and the impacts of severe weather events funding of flood protection asset renewals, and implementing sustainable solutions maintaining and improving indigenous biodiversity on private land and the coastal marine area long term management of invasive species such as freshwater clams (Corbicula) and exotic Caulerpa seaweed improving water quality, particularly in the Waikato and Waipā catchments, and safeguarding sustainable access to quality fresh water into the future the rapid expansion of urban areas and the impacts on three waters infrastructure, transport infrastructure and land use. 'These are just some of the big issues the new council will need to factor in their decision making,' says Mr McLay. 'Councillors are provided with technical expertise to guide informed decision making, and always with our communities and the environment in mind.' Mr McLay notes that, in general, participation in local government processes is low. 'It's important that community views are heard in order to inform the work of the council. This can occur in two ways – by standing as a candidate, or by voting in the elections. 'I really urge all Waikato region residents to be informed on the matters of the regional council and to participate in the local elections, either as a candidate or to vote for the person who you think will best represent your views and interests.' Local elections information for candidates and voters, including the pre-election report and what the regional council does, can be found online. The names and contact details of candidates are being added to the council's website as nominations come in. The council will also be inviting all candidates to film a video profile to go online after nominations close on 1 August.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Walmart bets on Flipkart to tap India's $1-trillion e-commerce market
Walmart Inc. is betting on India, Mexico, and China to drive the next phase of its international expansion, with a particular focus on scaling e-commerce and omnichannel capabilities in these fast-growing markets. These regions are strategic priorities within its global portfolio, according to Kathryn McLay, President and Chief Executive of Walmart International. The division oversees the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer's operations outside the US, including its global online platforms. McLay noted that India, home to 1.4 billion people, represents a major e-commerce opportunity. The country's internet economy is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, primarily fuelled by e-commerce. Yet online penetration remains low—just 9 per cent—highlighting significant headroom for growth. To tap into this opportunity, Walmart is continuing to invest in Flipkart, expanding both its core offerings and newer retail formats. 'We see huge opportunities in that market, and we have been growing the Flipkart business,' McLay said during a fireside chat with Bernstein analyst Zhihan Ma at the Bernstein 41st Annual Strategic Decisions Conference 2025 in the US on Wednesday. Walmart entered India in February 2018 through its $16-billion acquisition of Flipkart, which operates as a pure-play online third-party (3P) marketplace. Initially focused on bringing branded items to tier-II and tier-III cities—where consumers previously had to travel to tier-I cities to access products like Levi's—Flipkart concentrated on mobile phones, electronics, and apparel. These core categories have since achieved profitability. As the business has matured, Flipkart has broadened its assortment to meet evolving customer needs. In recent years, quick commerce—defined by delivery windows of 15 minutes or less—has become a dominant trend in India. To address this, Flipkart launched its 'Minutes' business to meet accelerated delivery expectations. The company has established 250 fulfilment centres to support this model, a major shift from its earlier one-to-two-day delivery promise. Today, some Flipkart orders arrive in as little as three minutes. 'It was a one-to-two-day promise. Now we have a fifteen-minute promise—and sometimes we can deliver in as short as three minutes,' said McLay. 'Those capabilities are insane for me. They're kinda mind-blowing.' Quick commerce currently accounts for about 20 per cent of India's e-commerce market and is growing at 50 per cent annually. While Flipkart's core business moves steadily towards profitability, McLay said the company is also strategically investing in quick commerce as part of its broader growth roadmap. Walmart views this expansion as part of a longer-term trajectory rather than a linear path to profitability, supported by proof points from other international markets. Flipkart is also applying global best practices across operations. When quick commerce began gaining traction, Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy looked to Walmart's China operations—specifically Sam's Club's cloud-based fulfilment model, which delivers 1,000 SKUs in under an hour. Flipkart sent a team to study this system and adapted it to Indian needs, aiming to deliver 6,000 SKUs in under 15 minutes. 'When we saw the rise in quick commerce, our CEO of Flipkart asked me where he could learn about speed within the Walmart enterprise. I pointed him to China,' McLay recalled. 'So he sent a team over to the dark-fulfilment centre, and they learned from that. Then they brought it back to India and said: 'A thousand items in under an hour? We want to do 6,000 items in under fifteen minutes.'' These adaptations are now being shared with other markets, including China, demonstrating how knowledge flows in both directions within Walmart's global network. McLay also highlighted Flipkart's approach to profitability. Unlike Walmart's China operations, which are primarily first-party and lack a digital advertising component, Flipkart includes digital advertising as both a revenue stream and a contributor to its profitability profile. The platform is continually adapting to meet evolving customer expectations in India's dynamic market. One of Flipkart's standout verticals is Myntra—its dedicated platform for beauty, apparel, and accessories. Myntra has built strong capabilities in customisation and hyper-personalisation, and is considered a leader in generative AI within Walmart International. For instance, users can input prompts like, 'I'm going to a wedding in Kerala in the summer with mostly twenty-something guests, and it will be semi-formal,' and the platform generates four outfit recommendations tailored to the query. 'One of the hidden gems, I think, in the Flipkart business is Myntra,' said McLay. Flipkart's broader strategy remains focused on strengthening its core e-commerce operations, expanding its quick-commerce offering, and enhancing personalisation through Myntra. Walmart has reiterated that while profitability is a goal, it will not come at the cost of market share or long-term growth.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Regional Council Considering Environment Court Interim Decision
Press Release – Waikato Regional Council Waikato Regional Council has 40 days to respond to an interim decision of the Environment Court on its groundbreaking plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waip rivers. Waikato Regional Council has 40 days to respond to an interim decision of the Environment Court on its groundbreaking plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers. Late yesterday (28 May) the court released its 376-page interim decision, giving the council until 25 July to propose amendments that take into account feedback from parties who appealed the plan change. The court has indicated it will likely reconvene the hearing in September to consider the proposed amendments. Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay said: 'This is a complex plan change which has been in development for 12 years, and time will be needed for staff to digest the interim decision and address the 35 directions of the court. 'The policies and rules are still not operative, but this interim decision takes the plan change one step closer. For farmers and growers, it means there's no action required right now until a final determination by the court,' Mr McLay said. Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 is the bold first step in an 80-year journey to achieve rivers with improved water quality, that are safe for food gathering along their entire length and meet the requirements of Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato (Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River). It is a change to the Waikato Regional Plan, developed with the community, to allow for the management of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria in the Waikato and Waipā rivers. A decisions version of the proposed plan change that considered 1100 individual submissions, was notified in April 2020 and subsequently appealed by a number of parties. It is these appeals the Environment Court has made their interim decision on.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Regional Council Considering Environment Court Interim Decision
Waikato Regional Council has 40 days to respond to an interim decision of the Environment Court on its groundbreaking plan to improve water quality in the Waikato and Waipā rivers. Late yesterday (28 May) the court released its 376-page interim decision, giving the council until 25 July to propose amendments that take into account feedback from parties who appealed the plan change. The court has indicated it will likely reconvene the hearing in September to consider the proposed amendments. Waikato Regional Council Chief Executive Chris McLay said: 'This is a complex plan change which has been in development for 12 years, and time will be needed for staff to digest the interim decision and address the 35 directions of the court. 'The policies and rules are still not operative, but this interim decision takes the plan change one step closer. For farmers and growers, it means there's no action required right now until a final determination by the court,' Mr McLay said. Proposed Waikato Regional Plan Change 1 is the bold first step in an 80-year journey to achieve rivers with improved water quality, that are safe for food gathering along their entire length and meet the requirements of Te Ture Whaimana o Te Awa o Waikato (Vision and Strategy for the Waikato River). It is a change to the Waikato Regional Plan, developed with the community, to allow for the management of nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and bacteria in the Waikato and Waipā rivers. A decisions version of the proposed plan change that considered 1100 individual submissions, was notified in April 2020 and subsequently appealed by a number of parties. It is these appeals the Environment Court has made their interim decision on.
Buzz Feed
10-05-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Hidden Germs: The Dirtiest Spots In Your Bedroom
People are very aware of the germs that lurk in public places like grocery stores and airports. But less thought goes to the potentially harmful microbes in private spaces like your bedroom. 'We all have this image of our bedrooms as being a sanctuary, but actually, there's a surprising amount of bacteria, fungus and allergens there,' Carol McLay, an infection preventionist and president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, told HuffPost. To help folks protect their health at home, we asked experts to break down the germiest areas in bedrooms and share their advice for reducing contact with harmful microbes. Pillows 'Pillows and pillow cases are a hot spot for bacteria, fungi, dust mites and dead skin cells,' said Kelly Reynolds, a professor and chair of the community, environment and policy department at The University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health. 'These contaminants can make you sick, spread skin infections and trigger respiratory symptoms or asthma attack in susceptible persons.' Think about how much of your life you spend sleeping in your beds with your head on the same pillow. It might be one of your most regularly touched household items. 'There's a statistic that a two-year-old pillow can weigh up to 10% more from just from dust mites and skin cells,' McLay said. She pointed to a 2005 study out of the U.K. that found pillows can contain millions of fungal spores, particularly Aspergillus fumigatus. 'A professor who worked on the study said that we know the pillows are inhabited by the house dust mite, which eats fungi,' McLay said. 'A theory is that the fungi are, in turn, using the house dust mites' feces as a major source of nitrogen and nutrition, along with human skin cells. There could therefore be a miniature ecosystem at work inside your pillow.' Fortunately, there are ways to keep the ecosystem at bay, but we'll get to that later. 'Bed sheets can be similarly contaminated but also have additional risk of excess fecal and skin bacteria accumulating from our bodies along with large amounts of sweat, skin oils and dead skin cells,' Reynolds said. 'If you eat in bed or sleep with pets, the contamination levels of bacteria, dust, hair, and pet dander can dramatically increase.' This is why many people change into their 'inside clothes' before touching their beds after returning home. 'Sheets collect microbes like a sponge and offer a nice place for them to grow such as moisture, heat, and food,' said microbiologist Jason Tetro, aka 'The Germ Guy.' Mattresses 'How often do people clean their mattresses? Probably never,' McLay said. Over time, mattresses collect dust mites, dead skin cells, sweat and other things that can trigger allergies and asthma and also degrade the quality of the mattress more quickly. 'While bed sheets and pillow cases can be washed, accumulation of contaminants in mattresses may be more difficult to control,' Reynolds said. 'Germy places in your bedroom are obviously going to be any high-touch surfaces, so your light switches and your door handles,' said McLay. 'These are things that are touched quite a bit but don't necessarily get cleaned very often.' The Floor 'One of the most germ-filled areas is the floor,' Tetro said. 'The human body continually sheds microbes and this leads to contamination of surfaces.' He noted that walls and tabletops may also have microbial contamination, but it tends to be in fewer numbers. 'Feet inevitably will contaminate floors and that can build up over time,' Tetro explained. Most bacteria and fungi can survive for days ― and viruses for about a day ― so they can accumulate and grow in numbers. While most of them will be skin-based, some can also be fecal, especially if pets are also frequenting the bedroom. Studies have suggested that some of these bacteria may be antibiotic-resistant, Tetro added, noting that this could be a problem if it leads to an infection. 'Consistently I find that electronics are some of the germiest sites in a home,' Reynolds said. 'Remote controls and cell phones are commonly used in the bedroom and these frequently touched, rarely disinfected items can be important reservoirs for germs to collect.' If you share your room with your spouse and even your young children on many nights, keep in mind that the remote is coming into contact with multiple individuals who can spread germs. Meanwhile, your cell phone is traveling to your room from many different places. 'If your phone goes with you to the bathroom, it may become contaminated with disease causing fecal bacteria and viruses,' Reynolds said. Carpeting And Upholstery MoMo Productions / Getty Images 'Any kind of carpeting and rugs is going to trap dirt, dust mites and bacteria,' McLay noted. 'The same goes for your curtains and your upholstered furniture.' She emphasized the importance of vacuuming your carpeting and upholstery but acknowledged that it's more challenging to clean fabric items like curtains and furniture ― compared to simply spraying and wiping a solid surface with disinfectant. But it's an important thing to remember nonetheless. 'Upholstered or fabric based bed frames, towels and napkins, laundry bags ― these may be specially affected avenues due to high contact by hands, presences of fomites that are ideal for germs, and often times, a tendency to not clean these items and areas frequently,' said Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University. Jena Ardell / Getty Images 'The majority of microbes are harmless and won't lead to any problems. However, the potential does exist for skin irritation, allergies, and odor,' Tetro said. 'So, whether you choose safety or stink, make sure you clean the bedroom at least once a month and change those sheets every few weeks ― or sooner if you sweat heavily during the night.' Although the various surfaces in bedroom might not need as much attention as those in bathrooms and kitchens, you still need to do regular cleaning and disinfecting. 'It is a good idea to establish routine habits for bedroom hygiene,' Reynolds said. 'Wash bed linens weekly in hot water and use the high-heat cycle on your dryer for the most effective germ kill. Keeping extra pillowcases on hand will allow you to change them every few days so that the site were you lay your head ― the area on your body where germs are most likely to enter via the eyes, nose and mouth ― will have minimal levels of contaminants.' She recommended vacuuming carpets, mattresses and upholstered furniture regularly. There are special vacuums and other products that can be a real game changer, especially for mattresses. Don't forget to wash your actual pillows and replace them in the recommended time frame as well. 'Use of hypoallergenic pillow and mattress covers can also keep allergen counts down,' Reynolds said. 'And don't forget to wash pet beds frequently as well.' If you let your pets onto your bed, make sure to at least wipe down their paws. For high-touch hard surfaces like TV remotes, be sure to frequently use disinfectant. 'Bedroom cleaning should be thorough and frequent,' said Khubchandani, who also recommended cleaning door handles, knobs, lamp buttons and 'creating a partition of some kind between a bedroom and restroom if they are attached with each other.' Taking the time to remove moisture, dust and food crumbs from surfaces in your bedroom can also go a long way. 'A hygiene routine in your bedroom is even more critical if someone in the home is sick,' Reynolds noted. 'Increasing the frequency of the prevention methods above may help to dramatically reduce the spread of infections to other people living in the home.' HuffPost.
