Latest news with #WaipapaTaumataRau
Newsroom
3 days ago
- Business
- Newsroom
It's time to back Auckland's innovation moment
Opinion: I attended Mayor Wayne Brown's Innovation Forum, the day he updated his Manifesto for Auckland, and the proposal to form an Auckland Innovation Alliance. In it, he said the Government needed to focus on three areas: technology and innovation, housing and growth, and immigration and tourism. I came away encouraged that the leader of Auckland was putting innovation on the agenda, as crucial in the imagining and delivery of our city's future. I love Auckland and believe in its potential. I was born and raised in the Bombay Hills, back before we had a 'Super City', studied at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, met my husband working in the Viaduct during the America's Cup, and now live in Te Atatū. Over the past year, like many Aucklanders, my family and I have made the most of what this city offers: swimming at our beaches, bush walking in the Waitākeres, Eden Park concerts, scooter rides along the waterfront, and the playful chaos of the Dog Disco pop-up in Aotea Square. We joined 40,000 other 'geriatric millennials' in the Domain for the Synthony Festival and got behind the launch of Auckland FC. I share this not to age myself, but because I genuinely believe we live in a vibrant, creative, and world-class city. Yes, Auckland has problems. it also has enormous potential, and that potential hinges on people. The mayor's moves to put innovation and economic transformation at the heart of Auckland's agenda will go a long way towards attracting further talent. For years, different groups have published reports diagnosing our economic underperformance and pointing to untapped innovation capacity. The Committee for Auckland's State of the City reports have benchmarked us against global peers, while the Auckland Chamber Tech Council, led by Simon Bridges, has brought together business leaders who are investing time, capital, and energy to help Auckland step into its future. The proposed Auckland Innovation Alliance, a partnership between Auckland Council, the Government, business, and universities, could be the catalyst the city needs. In cities like Singapore, Dublin, and Copenhagen, similar alliances have driven bold, coordinated action. Why should everyday Aucklanders care? Because innovation isn't just about startups and tech, it's about people. A truly innovative city creates high paying, meaningful, and future-proof jobs, not just for software engineers, but for educators, health workers, tradespeople, and students. It leads to better services, smarter infrastructure, and more vibrant communities. Above all, it offers opportunity. The Time for Growth report identifies three globally competitive sectors where Auckland can lead: CreativeTech, FinTech, and HealthTech. Innovation in these areas, and further afield, is how we will keep people here and attract others. But we must do it on our own terms – we can't and don't need to mimic Silicon Valley. We can lead with a model shaped by Aotearoa's values, grounded in partnership, sustainability, and inclusion. Te Ao Māori values like kaitiakitanga (guardianship), manaakitanga (care), and whanaungatanga (connection) offer us a blueprint for innovation that puts long-term impact and intergenerational wellbeing ahead of short-term gains. The mayor's vision to make Auckland the innovation capital of the South Pacific is bold, and timely. His proposals—stronger government partnerships, targeted investment, and an Advanced Technology Institute—are the right moves. A key part of this vision is forging more intentional partnerships between universities and industry, not by expecting them to be and become the same, but by understanding their distinct roles. When they come together, we spark innovation, and build a pipeline of talent that powers the city's future. At the Mayor's Forum, a map of the city's innovation ecosystem showed just how much is already here, university incubators, research and development labs, startup hubs, and investors. Take Outset Ventures, once a garage for tinkerers, now a 5000 square metre deep tech campus backing world changing companies like Toku Eyes, Wellumio, and Zincovery. Add to that Icehouse Ventures, Bridgewest, and others who've invested in hundreds of early-stage ventures and it's clear: the foundations are strong, the momentum is real. Universities are central to this momentum, as both knowledge producers, and as anchor institutions in the civic and economic fabric of Auckland. At the University of Auckland, initiatives like UniServices, the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, the Product Accelerator, and MedTech iQ help turn research into real world impact. The Newmarket Innovation Precinct is fast becoming a hub for this work. AUT, through AUT Ventures and a new investment fund, is backing new emerging technologies into startups. Together, these institutions are not only developing ideas, but shaping the people who will drive them. And that's the point: innovation doesn't happen without people. It doesn't happen without belief in our talent, or commitment to supporting it. If we harness the current momentum, Auckland won't just be a great place to live. It will be a city where ideas take root, capital flows, and talent from around the world chooses to stay.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Surprising! Getting sunlight can fight THESE infections, says study
We have seen people practicing all sorts of things to strengthen their immune systems, such as taking supplements, getting routine checkups, and even believing in superstitions. A recent study by the researchers of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland , has uncovered how daylight exposure can enhance the immune system's ability to fight infections. This research, published in the science of immunology, reveals that neutrophils, the most common white blood cell, possess internal clocks that respond to daylight, boosting immune strength during daytime hours. What, how, and why? Scientists observed immune cells in real time using transparent Zebrafish, which share significant genetic similarities with humans. What they discovered was astonishing: These cells are more active and effective during daylight, suggesting that our immune system is optimized to combat pathogens when it comes into direct contact with daylight. The zebrafish model enabled the researchers to manipulate light cycles and visually monitor the impact of circadian interference on immunity. What is a zebrafish? Zebrafish, scientifically known as Danio rerio, are small tropical freshwater fish that are widely used in studies, especially in the fields of genetics, biology, and immunology. A unique fact about this organism is its genetic similarity to humans. About 70% of human genes have a counterpart in zebrafish, making them valuable for studying human diseases. The findings have profound implications. People whose circadian rhythms(which refers to a natural process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and other biological functions) have been disrupted, like night-shift workers, international travellers who have crossed multiple time zones, or those with limited access to natural daylight, can experience impaired immune function. It also provides a new level of insight into controlling chronic inflammatory disorders, which tend to be worsened by circadian desynchronization. Experts propose that routine exposure to natural light, particularly in the morning (early morning before 10 am), may be a straightforward, non-drug approach to maintaining immune function. This is consistent with current guidance regarding the value of light for regulating sleep, mental health, and, it now appears, resistance to infection. The research team thinks this finding may lead to new avenues in creating light-based treatments or therapies that coordinate drug delivery with the body's own immune peaks, ultimately making drugs work better. Since the world is still struggling with infectious diseases, this research highlights a basic but usually ignored instrument in public health: sunlight. While too much UV exposure has its own dangers, a moderate daily dose of daylight could be a good friend to supporting immunity. What are the relevant findings of this research? The study further identifies the gene Per2, a crucial neurohormone that produces reactive oxygen species molecules that kill bacteria and expresses hmgb1a, which is a known protein that supports immune response. In addition, the scientists found a conserved cis-regulatory element, a genetic "switch" that is responsible for regulating the timing of hmgb1a expression. This element contains sites for binding both BMAL1, a core clock protein, and NF-κB, a protein complex that is key to immune response regulation. These elements, combined, make certain that neutrophils are prepared to combat infection during the organism's active, daylight phase. When the neutrophil BMAL1-binding motif was mutated, the light-priming effect was attenuated, resulting in a considerable decline in the bactericidal capacity of the cells and hmgb1a expression. This highlights the pivotal role of this light-sensitive molecular timer in immune function. These results have important implications for those with perturbed circadian rhythms, including shift workers and patients with chronic inflammatory disorders. Daily exposure to natural sunlight might enhance a more robust immune response and guide novel therapeutic approaches. The question stands: Will you 'sunbathe' to improve your immune system? One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Scoop
26-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Plastic Levels In Indoor Auckland Air Much Higher Than At Outdoor Site
Press Release – University of Auckland The average concentration of plastic was 830 nanograms per cubic metre of air, more than ten times higher than a reading at an outdoor site elsewhere. Scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland are investigating just how much plastic New Zealanders are inhaling, especially indoors where most people spend most of their time. Dr Joel Rindelaub and Dr Gordon Miskelly, of the School of Chemistry, tested the air in two chemistry labs for microplastics small enough to be inhaled, particles similar in size to fine silt or sand or pollen. The average concentration of plastic was 830 nanograms per cubic metre of air, more than ten times higher than a reading at an outdoor site elsewhere. A nanogram is one billionth of a gram. 'Most of us spend most of our time indoors, that's how we live,' says Rindelaub. 'And since indoor levels of microplastics are generally higher than outdoors, we need to know much, much more about our exposures and the potential health risks.' Importantly, chemical additives, which may pose greater health risks than the plastics themselves, were also detected. Phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals used to make plastics flexible, were present at an average level of 334 nanograms per cubic metre. Globally, scientists have yet to standardise methods for measuring microplastics, with many past studies undercounting by failing to pick up the very smallest particles, which are also the most numerous. In addition to detection in the human liver, blood, faeces, and placenta, microplastics can lodge in the lungs and US scientists have analysed brains containing the equivalent of five plastic bottle caps. Rindelaub hopes the fast and simple chemical technique trialled in his research using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry becomes more common internationally. Seven types of plastic were detected in the laboratory air, likely coming from sources such as building materials, lab equipment and packaging, according to the study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. The highest concentrations were of polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene. A separate study by Rindelaub and his colleagues, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, tested coastal air at a site about 50 km west of Invercargill. Here, the average concentration of inhalable microplastics was 65 nanograms per cubic metre of air – comparable to an average of hugely variable urban readings around the world. Based on wind direction, the Southern Ocean seemed to be the key source of the plastic, acting as a reservoir of particles, likely propelled into the air via breaking waves. Rindelaub and his colleagues found about 4,625 microplastics per square metre of surface area per day in the Southland study, similar to about 4,885 in a previous study in Auckland. The Auckland amount was the equivalent of 3 million plastic bottles falling from the sky a year. 'Detecting similar amounts in a remote area and a big city indicates there is a lot of plastic coming to us from the ocean,' Rindelaub says. What can you do?
Scoop
25-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Plastic Levels In Indoor Auckland Air Much Higher Than At Outdoor Site
Scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland are investigating just how much plastic New Zealanders are inhaling, especially indoors where most people spend most of their time. Dr Joel Rindelaub and Dr Gordon Miskelly, of the School of Chemistry, tested the air in two chemistry labs for microplastics small enough to be inhaled, particles similar in size to fine silt or sand or pollen. The average concentration of plastic was 830 nanograms per cubic metre of air, more than ten times higher than a reading at an outdoor site elsewhere. A nanogram is one billionth of a gram. 'Most of us spend most of our time indoors, that's how we live,' says Rindelaub. 'And since indoor levels of microplastics are generally higher than outdoors, we need to know much, much more about our exposures and the potential health risks.' Importantly, chemical additives, which may pose greater health risks than the plastics themselves, were also detected. Phthalates, endocrine disrupting chemicals used to make plastics flexible, were present at an average level of 334 nanograms per cubic metre. Globally, scientists have yet to standardise methods for measuring microplastics, with many past studies undercounting by failing to pick up the very smallest particles, which are also the most numerous. In addition to detection in the human liver, blood, faeces, and placenta, microplastics can lodge in the lungs and US scientists have analysed brains containing the equivalent of five plastic bottle caps. Rindelaub hopes the fast and simple chemical technique trialled in his research using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry becomes more common internationally. Seven types of plastic were detected in the laboratory air, likely coming from sources such as building materials, lab equipment and packaging, according to the study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. The highest concentrations were of polycarbonate, polyvinylchloride, and polyethylene. A separate study by Rindelaub and his colleagues, published in the journal Environmental Pollution, tested coastal air at a site about 50 km west of Invercargill. Here, the average concentration of inhalable microplastics was 65 nanograms per cubic metre of air – comparable to an average of hugely variable urban readings around the world. Based on wind direction, the Southern Ocean seemed to be the key source of the plastic, acting as a reservoir of particles, likely propelled into the air via breaking waves. Rindelaub and his colleagues found about 4,625 microplastics per square metre of surface area per day in the Southland study, similar to about 4,885 in a previous study in Auckland. The Auckland amount was the equivalent of 3 million plastic bottles falling from the sky a year. 'Detecting similar amounts in a remote area and a big city indicates there is a lot of plastic coming to us from the ocean,' Rindelaub says. What can you do? Avoid using plastic when possible; don't eat food from heated plastic containers since they leach chemical additives; ventilate your home and if possible, get a home air purifier, says Rindelaub.
Hans India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Daylight can boost immune system's ability to ward off infections: Study
New Delhi: A team of researchers has discovered how daylight can boost the immune system's ability to fight infections. The finding paves the way for development of drugs that target the circadian clock in neutrophils to boost their ability to fight infections, said the study led by scientists at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. The team focused on the most abundant immune cells in our bodies, called 'neutrophils', which are a type of white blood cell. These cells move quickly to the site of an infection and kill invading bacteria. The researchers used zebrafish, a small freshwater fish, as a model organism, because its genetic make-up is similar to ours and they can be bred to have transparent bodies, making it easy to observe biological processes in real time. 'In earlier studies, we had observed that immune responses peaked in the morning, during the fish's early active phase,' says Associate Professor Christopher Hall, from the Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology. 'We think this represents an evolutionary response such that during daylight hours the host is more active so more likely to encounter bacterial infections,' Hall added. However, the scientists wanted to find out how the immune response was being synchronised with daylight. With this new study, published in Science Immunology, neutrophils were found to possess a circadian clock that alerted them to daytime, and boosted their ability to kill bacteria. Most of our cells have circadian clocks to tell them what time of day it is in the outside world, in order to regulate the body's activities. Light has the biggest influence on resetting these circadian clocks. 'Given that neutrophils are the first immune cells to be recruited to sites of inflammation, our discovery has very broad implications for therapeutic benefit in many inflammatory diseases,' Hall noted. Current research is now focused on understanding the specific mechanisms by which light influences the neutrophil circadian clock.
