The battle over a chicken-alike label is a sign of the meat wars to come

Meat substitute company Sunfed Meats is being taken to the Commerce Commission, accused of misleading consumers over its chicken-free chicken. Jihee Junn looks at how such stoushes are becoming increasingly common as the meat and dairy industries begin to fight back. Here’s a puzzle for you: can meat still be meat if it isn’t actually … Read more

Sunfed Meats is scaling up as its ‘beef’ and ‘bacon’ prepares to hit shelves

Following the raging success of its chicken-free chicken, Sunfed Meats has announced its expanding production, with cow-free beef and pig-free bacon also on their way. Carolyn Robinson loved it. Nigel Latta loved it. And judging by its Facebook page, every vegan in the country seems to love it as well. Since Sunfed Meats launched earlier this year, … Read more

Forget killer robots – it’s humans you should be worrying about instead

When it comes to understanding artificial intelligence, is science fiction just a pesky distraction from the real dangers out there? Microsoft’s authority on all things AI seems to think so, reports Jihee Junn. “With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon,” declared Elon Musk back in 2014. “In all those stories where there’s the guy … Read more

Lonely give the lowdown on lingerie

Luxury brand Lonely is launching its first-ever maternity range, so co-founder Helene Morris talked to Jihee Junn about how and why it’s catering to mothers (as well as busting a couple of bra-based myths in the process). Last year, Auckland-based lingerie brand Lonely went viral for a simple ad campaign featuring two women in their … Read more

Inside the Microsoft machine

Jihee Junn visits Microsoft’s sprawling headquarters in Seattle to find out how the tech giant is clawing its way back to relevance. In Cupertino, California, Apple is on the verge of completing its mothership – a glistening monolith of immaculate Norman Foster design. Its seamless curves and wall-to-wall glass ruthlessly dominate the city’s landscape: a description … Read more

What we know about Auckland’s economy – in graphs (UPDATED)

Jihee Junn takes a look at some nifty graphs from ATEED’s latest report and gleans some interesting insights about the city’s economy and future. *Update: a previous version of this article used outdated information from ATEED regarding Auckland’s ethnic makeup. ATEED has now updated the graph and figures in its report. Last week, Auckland Tourism, … Read more

The plot to make TVNZ cool again

Eager to outrun the tide of media irrelevance creeping at its doorstep, TVNZ has finally come round to the new world order by going ‘big on local, big on audiences, and bigger OnDemand’. Jihee Junn sits down with some of the company’s biggest execs to hear about their plan for the future. Ever the quick-witted … Read more

The Kiwi face mask breathing new life into clean air

Combining the power of US capital and Kiwi engineering, O2O2 Facewear is on the forefront of anti-pollution technology. Jihee Junn talks to CEO Dan Bowden about how the future of filtration is transparent.  In densely populated megacities like Beijing, surgical face masks have become a regular sight. But despite their near ubiquity, woven cloth masks … Read more

Love or Heartbreak: has TVNZ ripped off the UK’s biggest summer reality hit?

A lazy knockoff or a legal maelstrom in waiting? Jihee Junn delves into the details of Love Island vs. Heartbreak Island. Amy Winehouse once crooned that love was just a losing game. But for reality TV producers all around the world, love – in its broadest sense – has been a winning one. Over the past year, … Read more

What social enterprise can learn from Britain’s Big Society

While the state has a responsibility to fund public services, that doesn’t necessarily mean it should be delivering them. Jihee Junn reports on Social Enterprise UK CEO Peter Holbrook’s talk at the University of Auckland to find out what we can learn from David Cameron’s controversial 2010 project. Three years ago, the government announced its … Read more

Will Labour’s fair pay policy really bring New Zealand to a standstill?

With one side calling it a working class win and the other fearing a return to the 1970s, Jihee Junn attempts to separate fact from fiction when it comes to Labour’s Fair Pay Agreements. Earlier this year, former Labour leader Andrew Little got up on stage at E tū union’s Auckland headquarters to share his … Read more

The start-up that wants to give you free tampons

With an aim to empower both women in the workplace and girls in school, two young entrepreneurs have launched a drive to provide free sanitary products through corporate partnerships. Jihee Junn talks to Jacinta Gulasekharam of Dignity to find out how it all works. Menstruation! Lady business! That time of the month! Whatever medically accurate … Read more

PledgeMe heads to Australia – but is Australia ready for PledgeMe?

With Australia finally opening its doors to equity crowdfunding, Kiwi startup PledgeMe has announced it’s expanding across the ditch. Jihee Junn talks to founder Anna Guenther about the long road to expansion and what to expect. There’s no better way to vouch for your product than to take said product to task yourself. It’s exactly … Read more