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Having said all that, I think it unfair to characterise my comments as being 'on everything as if I know everything'; I am knowledgeable and I make no apology for that. I also have an inquiring mind and don't often go with the flow. This too is something I pride myself on, though it continually gets me into trouble and quite often serves me pretty well. But, you know, no skin off my nose.
A good day to you, you famous person ;-)
Never really heard that someone calls themselves to be knowledgeable... That's usually something someone says of someone else as a good characteristics. Generally people with pure knowledge are quite humble too.
Opinionated vs knowledgeable.
For real?
Tell us more!
Apparently so. Got a text at 6:13pm from a colleague saying she saw me on TV, then a couple more for friends, Layla's school friends mom's, etc etc
I didn't know the interview was for tv or news! Thought it was just for some student project or something.
I don't want to nitpick what is your perfectly valid opinion, but using a share price as a proxy for the prognosis of a company, industry or economy is not appropriate.
It assumes the market is rational and all-knowing, and I don't think anyone can claim to have those skills in these times. It discounts aspects such as prescribed assets for pension type funds who have little choice in what to invest, and given interest rates are pretty low in this corner of the world, holding cash provides little return. In the hyper-inflation days in Zim, the stock exchange there had awesome returns in paper, if only because there was nothing else to buy.
Having said that, looking at how the simple indices have reacted over the last few months, the US and NZ markets have not had such a high % fall from peak as compared to Aus.
All that I was saying is that I think Interns comment that "everyone" is struggling is not correct. I know of a few that have had higher returns / revenue, I used the shares market as an indicator to where anyone can start to look at those companies.
I don't have the time nor do I think the hub will allow the character space on this thread to mention all including aspects to every side of what I'm referring to, hence me simplifying it here. I assumed for the ones that generally comment on everything as if they have "know how" of everything wouldn't need a full explanation.... Anyhow, I've been wrong before too.
While I partially agree with your comments Wayne, the hammer blow to tourism makes me wonder. We do have a resilient farming sector (including forestry [forestry will suffer, reduced demand] and fishing), though, despite the best efforts of Labour and the Greens to hamstring and interfere with its productivity, and that is a major saving grace. But other sectors, like manufacturing, retail, services, etc, are going to feel the pinch big time. We are not going to have much immigration because job demand drives immigration demand. AirBNBs are going to come onto the market, more rentals and sales.
Tourism was our biggest deal. Think of all the camper vans, rental cars, motels and hotels, etc etc. All empty. All gone. Number 8 wire ain't gonna fix this, maybe a pair of Red Bands and a job mucking out the pigs, I dunno.
I think Straya is going to get out of this better and faster, personally. But who knows.
You are generalising a lot here.
Some manufacturing and supply companies in NZ are some of the only in the world that are better off now than before Covid-19 (go look at share prices).
I've seen very negative (basically only negative) comments from you about NZ lately, as if it bit you in the as.
Like Wayne said, I'd rather be here than anywhere else in the world right now.
5
My experience from my years of building Lego, I do not understand how people in NZ can get away with building houses (support walls etc) with those blocks all in one line. They don't overlap half-half. Surely it takes strength away from the build, especially in places that needs it where lands move distantly.
We had 2 already. Was just asking about possible other solutions or what other people might be using in the industry.
So I was kinda put in charge as our companies COVID-19 champion.... Meaning I had to make the whole process on how to get us back into business and into the office, part of that a new remote induction of course... So I used the following to show what has changed in the Auckland office... https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=7WcwKLdwLVf&brand=0
If you guys want something like this for your own companies, check out BVT's LinkedIn page to see everything we can offer... There's more with regards to for plans, pop-up hand basins, etc.
7
Anybody familiar with the MTB trails in Rotorua? Saw a map with some trails and recon best might be to get in touch with somebody familiar with these - quite keen on a trip to Rotorua once we are allowed
Ah, I'd love some time there again. Must have changed quite a bit now since I was last there almost 2 years+9 months ago 
I can't take any more of this lockdown!!! I need out. We need out! Even our little daughter is going crazy! A drive in the car is like a drug. The word "school" sends her running for her bag and shoes and then she paces to the car.
I feel for her!
I need to go to work!!
I need sushi when I want it!
........
All in all it's really powerful.
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It does look great! Thanks for the info! I am sure I'll be in contact
Unity and Unreal are the 2 most popular engines for converting CAD/BIM models into VR environments. It takes a bit of know-how though.
Other tools like Revizto (very popular design & construction issue tracking tool) have VR capability. Great tool for multi-disciplinary collaboration.
If it's purely for visualisation though, Enscape is one of simplest to use, and produces pretty decent results in real-time (depending on PC performance).
Are those the sorts of tools you were referring to, or are you talking more about a virtual meeting room type setup?
Also, is the CAD 2D or 3D?
No, not meeting room type setups. It will be to set up a construction site and to do designs or inspections layouts etc
Any of you folk know anything about creating virtual rooms?
Something that can maybe drag a CAD drawing into a virtual room etc?
So I started 2 weeks ago at a new company, my 1st job was to tell my team of 11 engineers that their salary will be cut to 80%...
We have plenty of projects still lined up to keep us all working from home but the top management is estimating that this whole thing will last a few months and hence want to secure cash flow. We have no assets, the people are the main expenses.
It's quite a difficult time to start leading a team in a completely new industry for me too. Working hours are long!
3
Anyone wants to swap Rands for NZ dollars? (I want Rands)
Hot damn! that's awesome!
Well it's no secret that I'm a huge fan of the CHC, and it just keeps getting better. The work they have done on the river/terrace side of the CBD is awesome. Massive transformation form when I first moved there, nearly 4yrs ago.
So if I had my choice, this would be my top 5.
- Christchurch
- Cromwell/Mt Pisa
- Wanaka
- Queenstown/Frankton/Arrowtown
- Richmond/Nelson
The order of those may change depending on what I'm thinking at the time, but here are the reasons that No's 2-5 are not No.1.
Cromwell - Beautiful. Way more affordable than Queenstown or Wanaka, but not far form them (so international airport within 1hr). Has most of what one needs. Lakeside houses (Mt Pisa) and lifestyle blocks are abundant, but not overcrowded. Downside is that it will still feel small and possibly isolated. Property there is also on the rise, so it may not be affordable for much longer.
Wanaka - It's no secret that Wanaka is an amazing town. Similar to the above, it's within 1hr of the QT airport. The downside is that the property there is already crazy expensive, and the town has almost gentrified too much. there's a slight smugness that veils it.
Queenstown - It's like Disneyland for people that love adventure! like Wanaka though, the downside is that property is ridiculous, and the town's popularity may get tiresome to a resident when there are constant streams of tourists.
Richmond/Nelson - Both these towns are awesome. To me they're kinda one-and-the-same (don't let the locals hear that though). they're big enough to have the modern conveniences. there's also so much variety nearby, form the Marlborough Sounds, to awesome beaches (Abel Tasman), to great mountainous areas (Nelson Lakes National Park). Plus they're 2 of the sunniest places in NZ. I'm not sure of the property growth side of things though. I'd have to look into that
and finally, why if I were in your position, I would pick Christchurch:
- International Airport - Check
- Good Schools (CHC Boys & Girls high schools and others).
- Big enough to have almost everything you could need.
- Redeveloped parts of town are awesome
- Hagley Park!
- Decent weather almost year round (winter gets a little nippy, but at least not incessantly rainy like Auckland)
- House prices are still affordable in some decent areas
- Residential water is free
- The Port Hills are awesome for hikes and bike rides with the family.
- City is flat-flat-flat and has plenty of cycle lanes, so commuting by bike is very viable.
- Decent bus network, and buses have bike racks on the front.
- Fairly central on the South Island, so QT, nelson, the glaciers, etc are all drivable for a long weekend.
- Ski slopes within 1hr in winter.
So yeah, for a family I think it's a good option... but yeah, I'm a little biased, haha!
I vote CHCH, then I can visit when travelling for my new job 
To all the kiwi peeps.
On TVNZ on demand is a series called “people on bikes” that profiles great kiwi rides around the country. It’s worth a watch!
Watched the 2nd episode yesterday, now I just want to go on another cycling trip!
We live in an amazing country!
Has anyone here in NZ bought some some nice panniers for a bicycle that can carry a laptop and keep it dry and clean? (Or maybe you have seen some somewhere?)
no man. You put your stuff in a big dry bag that comes with the trailer. I attached an image without the bag so you could see the structure.
Lol- you are such an engineer.
Just a comment, I think the way that mounts onto your frame will be **** if you want to lie your bike down at a stop where there isnt a tree or other support to have your bike stand up.
The one sided connection with the spring thingy is way better, the two has independent movement.
But what if it rains, then you have to make another plan for the things inside.
Edit: never mind rain! Dust! My bikes are still so so dusty from the last trip
Yeah, I was looking yesterday at a little trailer for stuff. Also gearing up for a few overnighters.
Why don't you just use the one we have?
We are thinking of doing one over Easter weekend...
To all the kiwi peeps.
On TVNZ on demand is a series called “people on bikes” that profiles great kiwi rides around the country. It’s worth a watch!
Ah that sounds good! We are already looking into our next trip.
So everyone in the construction business in NZ...seems like I will be joining you folk in March
Deal. Let's do it then...
If there is a group of you that are keen to 'do it for fun', I will be keen too!
I am not up to a good fitness at this moment, but I think I can have some fun and enjoy a beer or 2 at the end
We are trying to get our little girl use to us doing all sorts of outings (hence the Hauraki trail adventure last weekend). I think it is good for her to see us participating and mingling with people.
So the main thing probably why I am in NZ is that I can do outdoors activities without suspecting someone will attack me or my loved ones...Sooo in saying that we are cycling part of the Hauraki trail coming Friday and Saturday with out 1.5 year old little girl. (Thames to Waihi)
Distance wise it is not far for us pedaling, but we are not sure how Layla will cope with all the way in the seat and trailer on the gravel roads and paths so we are keeping it short for the 1st go. If all goes well (which we think it will) we will be planning the 2nd trip soon soon.
(Layla has been a good passenger on the bikes from a very young age, @ 9 weeks old we cycled 32km with her around a French Island.... what were we thinking!)
New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.
in Chit chat
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Our little one just wants to go to the "parkie". Shame, she's found it hard to understand why she coudn't go swing, slide or climb. She loooooves the worm type slides, ones I would never have gone down at her age.