Latest news with #StrategicVision
Scoop
a day ago
- Business
- Scoop
Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Is Reviewing Its 25-year Vision mai KAHUNGUNU2026 ki KAHUNGUNU2050
Press Release – Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Inc Its time to review our Strategic Vision mai KAHUNGUNU2026 ki KAHUNGUNU2050 to ensure we are still on track and heading in the right direction. We have diverted, seen a lot and learned a lot of changes in our environment. A Review is important … Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) is reviewing its 25-year vision from 2026-2050. The newly elected NKII Board members met for the first time on Friday 30 May, just in time for the roll out of the KAHUNGUNU2050 Strategic Vision Review. Over the next two months, hui-a-tinana will be held in each of the six Taiwhenua/districts and at the two active Taurahere rohe in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, and in Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington, to allow whānau to feed into the review. NKII Board Chairman Bayden Barber will lead the discussions with the key Board members and leaders of each rohe. The goal is for all Kahungunu voices to be heard. 'E te iwi, your input is crucial'. All korero will be collated into the feedback database! How will we collect and collate your information? We will hold hui-a-tinana; online zoom hui; online survey; email; and we are happy to be invited to additional / your hui if we cannot attend hui a tinana, we will zoom into your hui. Information will be updated on the iwi website. If you can't attend a hui, give input via the survey or join us on our zoom hui, you are welcome to email your thoughts directly to the tari Kahungunu2050@ See the website for all information. If you cannot contact us via any of these portals, we will collect all forms of communication and collate it into the feedback. Phone our office if you need help to have your voice heard – Toll free 0800 524 864. The first of these hui-a-tinana will start this week on Thursday 5 June at 5pm at the Wairoa Community Centre and will coincide with the launch of their Matariki events in Wairoa. Former NKII Board member representing Wairoa, Nigel How, has been involved with the NKII Boards Review process during his two terms on the Board 2019-2025. NKII has learned a lot about our Wairoa whānau during these years. 'Wairoa is Wairoa, give us the resources and let us govern ourselves – otherwise get out of our way' – A clear and collective voice of Nigel How during Cyclone Gabrielle Nigel was one of the only former Board members who supported his NKII Board member successor Esta Wainohu-Marcum bringing her to the Waipatu mahau on Friday during the pōhiri of the new NKII Board. Similar to Nigel and his upbringing, Esta has been raised and moulded for this position along with other positions she holds in the community. Even the Wairoa Mayor. Craig Little attended the pōhiri of the Board and spoke about Esta's value in their community of Wairoa. Other former NKII Board members to acknowledge for their work and contribution to the KAHUNGUNU2026 Strategic Vison, many who have now passed on are, Murray Hemopo, William Blake, Aotearoa (Digger) Karauria, Albert Walker (Jnr), Sophie Keefe, Rill Meihana, Albert Walker, Miriama Hammond, Alice Wairau, Naomi Wilson and of course Nigel How. Vision Background In September 2001, consultation with whānau throughout the rohe of Kahungunu occurred. Whānau shared their views, aspirations and desires which helped shape the development of a vision to guide Ngāti Kahungunu into the future. The vision, known as Kahungunu 2026, outlined the vision and mission statements and identified seven strategic objectives to focus on. The Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated planning framework continues to outline priorities, activities and desired outcomes that link directly to the strategic objectives within the Kahungunu 2026 vision. Our Vision Statement is 'Kahungunu – ki te whaiao, ki te ao marama' Achieving excellence in all areas of our lives Our Mission Statement is 'Kia maumahara ki te mana āhua ake o Ngāti Kahungunu' Uphold the absolute uniqueness of the living breath of Kahungunu, to enhance the mana and wellbeing of Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi' It's time to review our Strategic Vision mai KAHUNGUNU2026 ki KAHUNGUNU2050 to ensure we are still on track and heading in the right direction. We have diverted, seen a lot and learned a lot of changes in our environment. A Review is important to keep us all on track.
Maroc
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Maroc
Morocco, Ghana Promote Parliamentary Collaboration
Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi El Alami received, on Monday at the House's headquarters in Rabat, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Committee of the Parliament of Ghana, Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, currently on a working visit to the Kingdom at the head of a high-level parliamentary delegation. During the meeting, also attended by Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana to Morocco Charity Gbedawo, Talbi El Alami praised Ghana's decision and position in favor of Morocco's territorial integrity, while welcoming the renewed momentum in relations between the two countries at several levels, particularly at the parliamentary level, according to a press release from the House of Representatives. In this sense, he reviewed the Strategic Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation with African countries, highlighting several pioneering Royal Initiatives, notably the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, the Atlantic African States initiative, and the initiative to grant landlocked Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean. For his part, Okoe Vanderpuije spoke of his pride at visiting Morocco, saying that the trip reflected the depth of the historic ties of friendship uniting the two brotherly peoples. He also expressed his country's keenness to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom in various fields, including agriculture, trade, investment, air transport, education, employment and sustainable development. MAP: 20 mai 2025
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Has a Huge Problem With His Republican Fans: They're Ditching Their Teslas
Tesla CEO Elon Musk's well-documented shift to the far right has proven disastrous for the carmaker's brand. On Tuesday, the company revealed that its net income had plummeted by an astonishing 71 percent. Sales have plummeted across the globe as consumers are becoming wary of being associated with the highly divisive personality. And as The Economist points out, it's not just progressive voters who've become turned off from the carmaker's offerings. Even owners in red states are returning their Teslas in record numbers. According to dealership inventory tracker MarketCheck, listings of used Teslas have risen by two-thirds since the beginning of 2025, a pattern observed in both left- and right-leaning states. In other words, the trend suggests Musk's efforts to cozy up to conservatives may have been a fool's errand: Republicans have rallied around Tesla and opposed a growing anti-Musk movement, but if they aren't continuing to buy his cars, they won't do much good for his flailing automaker. To experts, strongly affiliating yourself with one extreme end of the political spectrum is a bafflingly self-defeating approach to selling cars. "When you make your product unattractive to half the market, I promise you, you won't increase your sales," automotive research and consulting firm Strategic Vision president Alexander Edwards told the New York Times last month, weeks before Tesla released its first-quarter delivery numbers. "Democrats are fleeing the brand and saying they won't consider it in the future, so there is naturally a greater proportion of Republican and independent buyers," he told the NYT. Whether Republicans even want to go electric is a pressing question. Charging infrastructure in rural areas of the country remains woefully inadequate, making it a poor fit for many on the right. "Tesla has gained a large number of Republican fans who love what Mr. Musk is doing, both politically and with the brand of vehicle and with social media," Edwards told NPR in a separate interview last month. "But they have little interest in an electrified vehicle." Put simply, just because fewer Democrats are buying Teslas doesn't mean Republicans are picking up the slack. Besides alienating half of the country, Musk's carmaker is also facing major competition that has been rapidly catching up with the brand. BYD in China and General Motors in the US are rising to the occasion, as The Economist points out. While Tesla's latest earnings don't bode well for the company's future, the EV market as a whole is rallying thanks to a slew of lower-cost, longer-range models enticing more consumers. Analysts expect US EV sales to grow three percent this year, despite a volatile political landscape.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey businesses set out call to action for next government
A report has been launched to highlight key issues Guernsey's business community believes the next government should Voice of Guernsey Business Report aims to bring together the views of businesses across 20 industries and represent more than 20,000 report, developed by the G8, identified housing, education, economic development, tourism, government delivery and public spending as the "most pressing challenges" facing the island. A G8 spokesperson said it would take "courage, collaboration and commitment" to unlock Guernsey's potential. 'Credible, deliverable policies' The report said 80% of the 400 respondents surveyed found housing impacted their ability to attract or retain talent, while 65% found air or sea services had negatively impacted the prosperity of their organisation. More than 65% also supported tax incentives as a method of helping businesses on the report has called for all candidates to address each of the six themes in their manifestos and to set out "credible, deliverable policies".Key calls to action include:Appointing a housing champion to accelerate delivery and co-ordinate cross-committee actionLaunching a review of Guernsey's Air Policy by the end of 2025 to improve affordability and reliabilityEstablishing a Skills for Guernsey Agency, co-designed with the industry, by the end of 2026Prioritising efficient, transparent public spending to rebuild trust and drive long-term investmentCommitting to a Shared Strategic Vision for the States term (2025–2029), backed by streamlined processes and digital transformation 'Move forward' A spokesperson said the report wasn't "just a list of challenges".They said: "Our system relies on deputies who work constructively, respect differing perspectives, and build consensus to move forward."It's a roadmap for action - and sends a direct message to candidates. Don't ignore the challenges, be the deputy who delivers results."A public panel event hosted by the G8 is set to take place on Friday, 23 May, where candidates will engage directly with business and community leaders.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The 15 Best Luxury Convertibles to Buy Right Now
As the warmer weather sets in, convertible tops can finally retract. At present, the luxury-car market is spoiling us, and our committed skincare regimen, with a startling plethora of quick, sporting, and sybaritic six-figure droptops. And they not only come in all sorts of shapes and configurations, but also with a range of gas, electric, and hybrid options. 'Convertibles have stayed fairly consistent at about .5 percent of all new vehicles sold to consumers each year,' says Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision, a research and consulting firm that conducts hundreds of thousands of surveys with new car buyers annually. 'However, those over $100,000 seem to have jumped significantly in 2020 from just a few vehicles, to 13 percent of the convertible market. That has increased to 22 percent in 2022, and has stayed there till today.' More from Robb Report Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button Both Owned McLarens. Now the Supercars Are Heading to Auction. This Aston Martin Race Car Was the Last of Its Kind. Now It Could Fetch $2 Million at Auction. This Ex-Ralph Lauren Ferrari F50 Could Fetch $7.5 Million at Auction The reason for this growth, according to Edwards' data, is twofold. First, at the start of the pandemic, fully loaded and more profitable convertibles were among the only droptops being produced, as only their economic demographic of consumers were still actively in the roadster market. Then, based on positive feedback, this high-end segment became vibrant and stable. 'Essentially, consumers didn't know what they were missing out on, and now they look for it,' Edwards says. These buyers break down into two main categories, psychographically, Edwards says. About 40 percent of purchasers are what is known as 'Best Performers.' These are true enthusiasts who want the best in the segment. The second largest group, at about 30 percent of buyers, are the 'Status Seekers.' They want people to look at them—and appreciate how much they are into speed and performance. The latter segment is unlikely to diminish anytime soon. 'These buyers are particularly loyal, often mentioning multiple purchases from the same brand or model line,' Edwards says. 'This loyalty underscores the strength of brand identity and customer love within the segment,' something luxury automakers crave and would be silly to relinquish. With all of this in mind, here—in ascending order of price—are some of our favorite roof-optional rides in production. Best of Robb Report The 2024 Chevy C8 Corvette: Everything We Know About the Powerful Mid-Engine Beast The World's Best Superyacht Shipyards The ABCs of Chartering a Yacht Click here to read the full article. Chevy's 'Plastic Fantastic' Corvette offers a startling mix of variants for the eighth generation of its fiberglass-bodied two-seat convertible, and they're each so different that we feel obligated to call them all out. The Corvette eRay Convertible (starting at $113,595) is a blisteringly fast all-wheel-drive hybrid, combining a 495 hp V-8 with a 160 hp electric motor; 60 mph arrives from a stop in 2.5 seconds. The Corvette Z06 Convertible (starting at $120,795) is a focused sports car, with a 670 hp V-8 that revs like a Ferrari; with all that power driving just the rear wheels, it hits 60 mph in 2.7 seconds. Then there's the Corvette ZR1 Convertible (shown above and starting at $184,995)—a ridiculous track monster with a twin-turbocharged, 1,064 hp version of the Z06's power plant, a rear wing better suited to an airplane, and enough added ductwork to crowd a plumbing van. We'll see if it can hit 60 mph without melting its tires, and wheels. BMW's big two-door convertible has been on the market since 2019, outlasting rivals like Mercedes-Benz's S63 Cabriolet (RIP). Its life may expire in 2026, but it perseveres into its twilight solely in compelling Competition form, in which its snarling twin-turbo V-8 produces 671 hp. Coupled with all-wheel drive, this model variant is capable of an absolutely eruptive 2.5-second blast to 60 mph from a standstill, making the M8 droptop a performance bargain. In addition, it features minatory good looks and clean styling left over from before BMW designers lost their minds. It's time to grab one before they're gone. Starting at $150,975 This new 'entry-level' Aston, and its forthcoming droptop sibling, is key to proving and disseminating the brand's upmarket/up-powered strategy. We haven't tried the convertible yet, but the gorgeous coupe surprised and enchanted us with its razor-sharp moves, its 3.5-second rush to 60 mph, the raucous soundtrack from its 656 hp twin-turbo V-8, and its exquisite interior. Aston has long been benchmarking the Porsche 911 here, and with this latest Vantage, it finally shows. It's great to see Aston differentiating its lineup this way. Estimated starting price of $200,000 Maserati's GranCabrio Folgore follows a similar recipe as the Bentley Continental GTC. With a four-place cabin and power sent to all four wheels, the model also yields a zero-to-60 mph time of around 3 seconds. But the similarity ends there. Where the British Bentley is stately and blunt in its appearance and affect, the Italian Maserati is sinuous and lithe. As for the Folgore suffix in its name, which means 'lightning' in Italian, the moniker indicates that this is the 818 hp, fully electric version of the trident brand's sensual grand tourer (a 542 hp gasser is also available.) With an 83 kWh battery, it will go 233 miles on a charge. Starting at $206,995 Like the Porsche 911, Mercedes-AMG's SL comes in seven convertible variants priced over six-figures. Again, we selected the most bahn-burning. This plug-in-hybrid version incorporates a 4.8 kWh battery, which is good for only seven miles of EV range, but adds 201 hp to the standard 603 hp V-8, allowing sub-2.5-second sprints to 60 mph. With all-wheel drive, and all manner of seat, steering wheel, armrest, and neck heaters, along with power-enabled wind deflectors, this roadster is ideal for rollicking top-down runs to the lake house, mountain house, or beach house, in any season. Starting at $208,300 Porsche produces seven convertible variants of its 911, each with different features and performance, and all priced over $100,000. But we favor the top-tier 911 Turbo S, which includes an obstreperous and audacious 640hp, twin-turbo flat-six engine in is lumpy rear. Although that output is the lowest on this list, when coupled with the car's class-leading sub-two-ton curb weight, and all-wheel drive, it's enough to hurl the sporty convertible from zero to 60 mph in a world-blurring 2.2 seconds. At that velocity, the wind may not only be in your hair, it may remove it. Wear a hat. Starting at $245,495 For those Benz SL aficionados more attuned to ultimate luxury than performance, Mercedes-Maybach offers this highly branded boulevard cruiser. Tattooed on its hood, roof, seats, grille, headlights, wheels, and elsewhere with the marque's layered-M monogram—like a giant Louis Vuitton handbag—there will be no mistaking it for any other SL. The Maybach model also loses the SL's vestigial back seat and receives all manner of suspension and sound insulation to deliver a cushier ride. It should be noted, however, that its 577 hp V-8 will still propel the car to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Estimated starting price of $250,000 Aston Martin has gone upmarket, attempting to benchmark Bentley on luxury and Ferrari on performance. The DB12—the latest in the British brand's 75-year line of DB-monikered cars—splits the difference between these two touchstones. It offers a booming 671 hp twin-turbo V-8, which is good for a 3.3-second rip from zero to 60 mph, as well as a gorgeously appointed cabin. As for that interior, it features an all-new—and surprisingly functional—Aston infotainment interface. And it's all complemented by the quick-retracting top that adds to the joyous rush of driving the car on mountain roads, or blasting along oceanfront boulevards. Starting at $271,825 With 'only' 612 hp from its twin-turbo V-8, Ferrari's Roma Spider is the least potent of the marque's current offerings, and the least potent on this list. But when a car looks this good, it doesn't need to show off its strength. (Its output still enables a run from zero to 60 mph in 3.1 seconds.) Subtle and elegant, the Roma Spider harkens back to mid-20th century Ferrari convertibles, with a cheerfully sneering face, a curvaceous bodyline, and strong rolling fenders. Its soft top isn't as insulating as the retractable hardtops found on its siblings, but there's a simple solution: leave the top down. Starting at $277,970 McLaren's near monomaniacal focus is on decreasing mass so its cars' potent power plants push them further, faster. For the Artura Spider, its entry-level convertible supercar, that means a lightweight plug-in hybrid system that combines with a twin-turbocharged V-6 to produce 690 hp. The Artura is the first model in the British marque's lineup to feature its new McLaren Carbon Lightweight Architecture (MCLA) platform, which the new 750S flagship has been subsequently built on. And while the Artura is not the 'sportiest' McLaren, it still manages to race to 60 mph in just 3 seconds, and it sprints through straightaways and turns like a high-powered go cart, always eliciting joy. Starting at $281,008 Bentley's fourth-generation, 2+2-seat, all-wheel-drive droptop has been enhanced by a plug-in hybrid power-train configuration. The setup combines a twin-turbocharged V-8 with an electric motor to yield a combined 771 hp, enough to catapult the car from zero to 60 mph in around 3 seconds. And the 21.8 kWh battery is capable of 40 miles of range. With the top down, you can really enjoy the bombastic grumble of the exhaust note, or, if you're in nature (or affecting stealth) the whisper rush of EV power. Either way, the hulky three-ton convertible crushes roads with alacrity and precision, and never fails to get noticed. Starting at $336,350 You want a sportier McLaren convertible? Here it is. Its mid-mounted, twin-turbocharged V-8 makes 740 hp, which, when combined with just 3,200 pounds of vehicular mass, results in an almost violent 2.3-second acceleration from zero to 60 mph. The rush turns every freeway onramp into the starting grid and back straight of a Formula 1 race. With the top down, this kind of velocity also acts as temporary cosmetic surgery, which is useful as the wrinkly smile lines derived from driving this two-seat sports car may otherwise become permanent. Such standout styling and performance makes it no surprise that the 750S earned our crown as Robb Report's 2025 Car of the Year. Starting at $337,195 The Prancing Horse marque has slowly been hybridizing its convertible lineup, first in the $2.2 million La Ferrari Aperta of 2016, then in the $600,000 SF90 Spider in 2021, and now in the 296 GTS. Anyone who feared that electrical integration would impact negatively on the precise driving experience delivered by machines from Maranello has, by now, been proven incorrect. The 296 GTS may be our favorite Ferrari hybrid so far, with an explosive 819 hp capable of pushing the lively two-seater to 60 mph from a standstill in under 2.5 seconds. But it's on twisty roads where this car's magnetic capabilities really shine. Starting at $379,950 Saving the best Aston for last? The new Vanquish elevates the marque's performance chops with an 823 hp twin-turbo V-12 that allows the car to cover zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds, a metric that just bests that of the Vantage. But it also brings a level of sumptuousness that rivals the Bentley Continental GT, with unique and redolent textured leathers. It is almost impossible to appreciate the allure of its carbon-fiber body in photos. The Vanquish coupe is long, low, wide, and mean, but also ludicrously lovely and delicate. We expect the forthcoming convertible to add sunshine to our infatuation. Estimated starting price of $465,000 The Doh-dech-chi Chi-lin-dri's traditionalism is right there in the name, derived from the anachronistically profligate (though melodious) 12-cylinder mill making 830 hp. And as is the case with every Ferrari grand tourer produced since the marque's founding in 1947, that engine is housed in a long hood up front. In accordance with convention, the motor drives only the rear wheels, but is still good for launching the 12Cilindri Spider from zero to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. A complex mechanism for retracting and hiding the small hardtop roof coexists with a trunk out back that's just large enough to hold one's compact luggage. Starting at $510,000
