Created by metal minds for metal minds – join us for practical conversations that get to the nuts and bolts of the metals industry here in New Zealand. Connect with leaders & experts from across the globe who talk overcoming key industry challenges, and influencers who cast their eyes to the future. Perfect if you’re time poor but want to keep your finger on the pulse. Prepare to be challenged, informed & inspired!
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Steel Circularity in NZ; The Pathway to Net Zero
NZ has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world. So why are we shipping our scrap steel overseas to be recycled? Cambridge University researcher Michael Allison modelled 28 scenarios to find the decarbonisation pathway for Aotearoa New Zealand's steel industry. In this episode he shares what he found, what the Electric Arc Furnace actually unlocks, and what fabricators, engineers and…
NZS 3404 Seismic Weld Design; What the Research Shows
Aotearoa New Zealand is one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. The performance of steel structures during an earthquake depends, in large part, on the weld. So how confident are we in the science behind how those welds are designed and sized? In this episode, HERA's lead research engineer Hafez Taheri walks through the Seismic Research Programme; what 30 years of testing has shown…
In today's Humans of Steel edition of Stirring the Pot, we sit down with Noel Davies, director of Hydro Link, former chair of HERA, and one of Aotearoa New Zealand's most quietly influential business leaders. Noel joined the Navy at 16, made lieutenant commander by 28, then bought a tiny engineering division out of receivership and grew it past $100M. He chaired HERA for 30 years as the only…
In this episode of Stirring the Pot , we’re joined by HERA’s leadership team for a wide-ranging kōrero on AI, sustainability and what’s really changing inside engineering right now. The conversation looks at how quickly AI has moved from curiosity to capability. What felt unclear just a year ago is now shaping real projects, real workflows and real decisions. The team talks through where AI is…
In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re having a kōrero with Richard Templer , Chief Executive of Engineering New Zealand | Te Ao Rangahau , about how Aotearoa funds its engineering system and why the levy on steel producers plays a bigger role than many realise. Richard explains how the levy underpins HERA’s research, capability building and industry support, and why this kind of stable…
Beyond Carbon: Rethinking Sustainability Through Planetary Accounting
🌏 A kōrero on why sustainability is about more than just carbon When it comes to sustainability, carbon gets most of the attention. But the reality is our planet’s health depends on nine interconnected systems, from oceans and forests to air quality and biodiversity. And many of them have already crossed critical limits. In this episode of Stirring the Pot , we sit down with Dr Kate Meyer ,…
Digital Steel Passport: Rethinking construction for a circular future
In this episode of Stirring the Pot we are having a kōrero with Osama Mughrabi, Mick Fritschy and Caroline James about one of the biggest shifts facing construction: digital product passports. With costs rising, resources tightening and pressure mounting to build more sustainably, the idea of reusability and circular economy is no longer on the fringes. It is becoming central to how we prepare…
In this episode of Stirring the Pot , we’re having a kōrero with Professor Charles Clifton — legendary structural engineer, longtime HERA collaborator, and newly named Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. From early experiments to revolutionising the way Aotearoa designs for seismic and fire resilience, Charles reflects on his incredible four-decade career in engineering. We explore the big…
In this episode of Stirring the Pot we’re having a kōrero with Matt Ensor. AI strategist and industry innovator — he unpacks what the rise of AI really means for the construction sector. From practical tools to mindset shifts, Matt shares his take on where we’re already seeing AI in action (even if we don’t realise it), the challenges we need to prepare for, and how to take the first step if your…
In this episode of Stirring the Pot, we’re having a kōrero with Maryam Hasanali. Maryam is a structural research engineer at HERA and the brain behind the scenes driving our newly launched software tool, CompWebPen. Join us as we dive into the thinking, coding, and collaboration that brought CompWebPen to life – a tool designed to simplify the analysis and design of composite steel–concrete beams…