Latest news with #TonkinTaylor
Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Inogen Alliance Associate Awards: Environment Analyst Sustainability Delivery Award and Antea Group Innovation Award
ST. PAUL, Minn., June 20, 2025 /3BL/ - Inogen Alliance is proud to announce recent awards and short-listed award entries from multiple Associate companies, including Antea Group USA, Antea Group Belgium, Antea Group France, Antea Group Netherlands, CDG Environmental Costa Rica, and Tonkin + Taylor New Zealand. The awards included the Global Innovation Awards with Antea Group, as well as the Environment Analyst Sustainability Delivery Awards, where CDG Environmental was shortlisted, and Tonkin + Taylor won Transportation Project of the Year for the second consecutive year. Environment Analyst Sustainability Delivery Awards Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, in collaboration with Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, and Te Ara Tupua Alliance; Tonkin + Taylor, Downer NZ, HEB Construction, is thrilled to announce that the Te Ara Tupua Project has been awarded the Transportation Project of the Year at the Environment Analyst Sustainability Delivery Awards. Te Ara Tupua is a shared walking and cycling path that will provide a vital connection between Wellington and Petone, while strengthening the resilience of a nationally significant transport corridor. In an earthquake prone city and along a windswept coastline, the project is designed to withstand the environmental, social, and economic challenges inherent to the region. It also enhances the resilience of the adjacent Hutt Valley rail line and State Highway 2, two critical components of the national transport network. At the heart of Te Ara Tupua is a unique partnership model that has been in place since the project's inception. Waka Kotahi, New Zealand Transport Agency, has worked in close collaboration with iwi Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika and Ngāti Toa Rangatira, to develop a shared approach that reflects the intergenerational view of Māori. This relationship is formalised through the Project Steering Group, where iwi representatives are involved in all aspects of the project, including procurement, design, construction, monitoring and compliance. Ngā Ūranga ki Pito-One, the middle section of Te Ara Tupua, includes a 4.5-kilometre shared path constructed along reclaimed coastline. The design incorporates seawalls, revetments, culvert extensions, and ūranga – gathering and viewing points that offer space for rest, reflection, and reconnection with the habour environment. The project is now approximately 60 percent complete and is scheduled for completion in 2026. From the outset, the project team developed a Project Sustainability Policy to embed environmental, social, and cultural sustainability into every stage of the project's lifecycle. Te Ara Tupua is using the Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) rating scheme to measure its performance across 25 categories, exceeding standard practice in several key areas. The completed path is projected to increase walking and cycling by approximately 1,700 journeys per day. The shift toward active transport modes will continue to contribute to emission reduction, support public health outcomes, and ease pressure on existing transport networks. Read more about the project with Tonkin + Taylor here. Read more about the Environment Analyst Sustainability Delivery Awards and our Associate short-listed entries here. Short-listed for the Nature Positive Award was Associate CDG Environmental Costa Rica, with Zapotal Golf & Beach Club. The Zapotal Golf & Beach Club project stands as a beacon of nature-positive development, delivering measurable benefits across multiple domains. Its wildlife protection efforts have boosted biodiversity, establishing a baseline to analyze behavioral trends of key species in the area. Landscape conservation has revitalized hundreds of hectares of native vegetation, while water management innovations aim to minimize pressure on the local aquifer. The use of RESIN8 technology on paved surfaces exemplifies sustainable infrastructure, cutting emissions and waste, and the archaeological program preserves the region's rich cultural heritage. Together, these initiatives reflect a commitment to enhancing ecosystems, conserving resources, and honoring history. Antea Group Global Innovation Awards Antea Group USA has been awarded the Grand Prize at the Antea Group Global Innovation Challenge 2025 with its service for Global Climate Risk Assessments. This international competition celebrates and recognizes the most impactful and forward-thinking solutions developed across the Antea Group network. The winning team from Antea Group USA, comprised of Natalya Holm, Audrey Beattie, Celine Morris, Laurell Ahn, and Eileen Lo, developed the Global Climate Risk Assessments service to address the urgent need for public and private companies to quantify and disclose the potential financial impacts of climate-related risks on their organizations. This comprehensive service is designed to align with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) framework and emerging global regulations, helping clients navigate both current and future climate states. 'We are incredibly proud of the remarkable achievement of our team in winning the Global Innovation Challenge 2025,' said Brian Ricketts, CEO of Antea Group USA. 'Their approach to Global Climate Risk Assessments exemplifies the forward-thinking mindset and dedication to addressing critical climate-related challenges for our clients. This service not only helps our clients meet complex regulatory demands but also provides them with actionable insights to build resilience and drive sustainable growth. It truly sets a shining example of innovation, teamwork, and excellence.' 'Winning this award is a tremendous honor,' says Natalya Holm. 'We hope this service empowers businesses to confidently move forward in their sustainability journeys, providing them with the clear data and strategic insights needed to understand, manage, and disclose their climate-related financial risks effectively.' Other finalists included:Second Place: Life Cycle Assessment at Early Design Stages (Antea Group - France), promoting sustainability from the start of Place: Power Path (Antea Group Belgium), leveraging AI to accelerate the energy Place: Groundwater Trend Analysis Toolbox (Antea Group Belgium), aiding water resource management with a user-friendly Place: Rail Design Pro (Antea Group Nederland), optimizing rail infrastructure design through automation. Read more about the Antea Group Innovation Awards and project here. These awards showcase some of the many innovative solutions from across the globe from our network of Associates, helping to accelerate a more resilient planet for all - together with our partners, clients and communities. Explore more of our case studies and projects here. Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn. Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Inogen Alliance
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
Midday Report Essentials for Wednesday 21 May 2025
In today's episode, The ACT party asked for advice on the full range of possible punishments for Te Pati Maori MPs following last year's Treaty Principles haka - including imprisonment, RNZ today revealed some Southland Hospital staff have been told they could only talk to each other for a maximum of five minutes a day, The Free Speech Union says Tonkin + Taylor is wrong to investigate its employee, after he heckled Winston Peters on his way to work yesterday morning and A Maori production company and film festival has been recognised at the Cannes Film Festival in France.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Peters heckling: 'It is absolutely a sackable offence'
Loudly heckling a politician at a public event is "absolutely" cause for dismissal if it clearly tarnishes the employer, says an employment law specialist. A Wellington worker's heated exchange with Winston Peters at a public press conference has landed him hot water with his employer, who does work for the government. The insults flew as the minister for rail was detailing a $600 million funding boost for rail at a press conference at Wellington Train station during the morning commuter rush yesterday. The man interrupted the conference, loudly accusing the deputy prime minister of talking bollocks. The heckler was wearing a lanyard that identified his employer as engineering firm Tonkin +Taylor. The company issued an apology, saying it was investigating in line with its code of conduct and did not condone behaviour that fell short of that code. Winston Peters responds to a heckler during a media conference at Wellington Railway Station. Photo: RNZ The incident has raised a number of questions about what people can or can not say when they are off the clock. Employment law specialist Jennifer Mills told Checkpoint that workers were only off the clock if their conduct could not be connected to your employer. "Where your employer can be readily identified, you're essentially acting as an agent for your employer and there is then the opportunity to bring your employer into disrepute, as is the case in this scenario, where the individual was clearly wearing a lanyard marked Tonkin + Taylor. "The first question for any employer in that situation would be 'is that conduct which has brought us into disrepute?'. In this case it has, so the next question is - 'is that serious conduct that would warrant summary dismissal or some kind of penalty?'." She said for it to warrant summary dismissal, it would have to be conduct which deeply impaired the trust and confidence in the employment relationship, "and I think that we certainly have that here". "In my assessment, this was conduct that constituted serious misconduct. It is absolutely a sackable offence, and the appropriate penalty is dismissal." She said the only way the worker could keep their job is if they made a "sincere expression of remorse", but the speed of the company's apology showed it had already decided the behaviour had crossed the line. The employee may have had a case if they were not wearing the company lanyard, said Mills, as it would be difficult to connect his behaviour to his employer. "In those circumstances, it would be unlikely that his employer could say that we have brought us into disrepute." She advised anybody engaging in such behaviour to remove anything that would connect them to their company. Mills said she thought Peters handled the situation "remarkably well" by de-escalating the situation. Earlier today, Peters pushed back on those framing the "expletive-laden vitriol" as a freedom of speech issue. "I've never heard such filthy language out in the public like that - foul, filthy language - and if you think that's free speech, you couldn't be more wrong," he said. Asked whether the worker should lose his job, Peters said that was an employment matter for the company. Labour leader Chris Hipkins told reporters Peters did not seem to be focused on the big issues facing the country. "I've been interrupted by protesters before, it's a bit annoying when it happens, but it happens," Hipkins said. "That's the nature of living in a free democracy, where people have free speech, these sorts of things are going to happen." The Free Speech Union said today the incident had nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor, and apologising off the bat set a "dangerous precedent" and sent the message expressing political opinions in public was unacceptable. "Individuals don't forfeit their right to express political views just because they have a job," spokesperson Nick Hanne said in a statement. "Employers don't own employees' time when they are commuting to work, and the choice to heckle Winston Peters has nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Employer of Winston Peter's hecker launches investigation
A Wellington worker's heated exchange with Winston Peters at a very public press conference has landed him hot water with his employer, who happens to do a fair bit of work for the government. The heckler was wearing a lanyard that indentified his employer as engineering company Tonkin and Taylor. It raises a heap of questions about what people can and can't say when they are off the clock. Employment law specialist Jennifer Mills spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Employer of man who heckled Winston Peters criticised after launching probe into 'disruption' he caused
The employer of a man who heckled Winston Peters during a press conference has drawn criticism after apologising for his behaviour and saying it had launched an investigation. The rail minister, joined by Transport Minister Chris Bishop, on Tuesday announced the government would spend more than $600 million to upgrade the country's rail network as part of this year's Budget. At the end of the press conference at the Wellington Railway Station a member of the public heckled Peters as he was answering questions about the potential punishment to be given to Te Pāti Māori MPs set to be debated in Parliament later that day, yelling "what a load of bollocks" and prompting an argument between the pair. Peters told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking on Wednesday morning he would not feel bad if the heckler lost his job. He said the man's behaviour was "disgraceful" and had become far too prevalent in New Zealand. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the man's employer - engineering company Tonkin + Taylor - apologised, and said a code of conduct investigation was underway. "At Tonkin + Taylor we take our responsibilities as a major New Zealand employer seriously. We do not condone behaviour that falls short of our Code of Conduct. "We sincerely apologise to the event organisers, attendees, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister Bishop, for the disruption caused." Winston Peters reacts to a heckler. Photo: RNZ But the Free Speech Union said the incident had nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor, and apologising off the bat set a "dangerous precedent" and sent the message expressing political opinions in public was unacceptable. "Individuals don't forfeit their right to express political views just because they have a job," spokesperson Nick Hanne said in a statement. "Employers don't own employees' time when they are commuting to work, and the choice to heckle Winston Peters has nothing to do with Tonkin + Taylor." Hanne said the Free Speech Union would be contacting Tonkin + Taylor, "urging them to respect their employee's speech rights, and not to set a poor example to other Kiwi businesses". "The heckler was wearing a Tonkin + Taylor lanyard at the time, but it's common practice for employers to ask employees to wear items like lanyards to help with workplace identification for reasons such as security. "Companies can't have it both ways: requiring employees to be identifiable for branding or security purposes, but not when expressing lawful personal views on their own time." Tonkin + Taylor declined to make further comment, as the matter was under investigation. We are aware of an incident at a media event at Wellington Railway Station this morning. We have confirmed the person involved is a Tonkin + Taylor employee. We are investigating in line with our Code of Conduct and for privacy reasons we won't be commenting any further. At Tonkin + Taylor we take our responsibilities as a major New Zealand employer seriously. We do not condone behaviour that falls short of our Code of Conduct. We sincerely apologise to the event organisers, attendees, the Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister Bishop, for the disruption caused. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
