Ground-breaking test shows new low-damage New Zealand construction practice can withstand earthquakes

A team of QuakeCoRE researchers have just completed a significant test of New Zealand building construction that shows new design methods will withstand future earthquakes without the damage observed during the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquake sequences. A two-storey precast concrete building was tested on one of the world’s largest and most flexible shake table arrays.

Matakana Region set for Housing Boom

Once a quite farming down with a school and a couple of shops, Matakana has transformed into a getaway for city dwellers craving a rural fix. With it’s popular Saturday morning markets, stylish cinemas and newly refurbished Pub, Matakana is now undergoing significant residential development.

Crown Finance Launches Freedom Home Loans

Well-established company, Crown Finance Limited is pleased to announce the launch of Freedom Home Loans. Freedom Home Loans is set to be a leading industry player, with years of experience from its parenting company staff and its promise of seeking some of the best home loan rates for New Zealand home buyers. The tireless and tedious negotiating and searching for the best home loan rates is a service Freedom Home Loans will provide for free to its customers so that they can have – to put it simply – more freedom.

New online marketplace asks people to share the wealth

New online rental marketplace OURTHINGS (https://ourthings.co.nz) is asking people to join the sharing economy, building community and reducing wastage in the process. In a world increasingly conscious of economic sustainability and the issues associated with mass consumerism, ourthings breaks the “buy and toss” cycle with its community rental marketplace letting anyone borrow or loan anything, from anywhere.