Shelling out more:
The world’s first full-sized electric tugboat has been named one of Time magazine’s best inventions for 2022.
Named Sparky, the tugboat was the result of a six-year collaboration between Ports of Auckland and Dutch company Damen Shipyards.
Time’s list was compiled from nominations from all over the world, with a particular focus on the electric vehicle industry, green energy and the metaverse.
Sparky is anticipated to save about 465 tonnes of CO2 in diesel emissions annually. Sparky was a dream come true, Ports of Auckland general manager Allan D’Souza said.
‘‘Back in 2016, when we first pitched the idea for a fully electric tugboat, we were told we were dreaming. To see Sparky in real life and outperforming expectations is brilliant,’’ he said.
‘‘It is all smiles now but it was not all plain sailing, there were challenges along the way when Covid-19 hit, borders closed and we could not get to the ship building yard to see her progress in person. To see her moving ships for us is wonderful.’’
The expected cost of operating Sparky was less than a third of the cost of running a diesel tug.
Ports of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray said he was ‘‘delighted’’ with the outcome.
‘‘Sparky is the first e-tugboat of its type in the world and was a truly innovative project for us.
‘‘She is helping us step towards the ports’ decarbonisation of operations and towards our long-term emissions reduction goals, Gray said.
This reporter’s role is Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air.
Food prices increased by their largest rate in 14 years last month, Stats NZ says.
Prices increased 10.1%, the biggest rise since 2008, and more significant than had been expected.
Grocery prices were up 9.7% compared to October 2021, fruit and vegetables up 17%, restaurant meals and ready-to-eat food up 7.5%, meat, poultry and fish up 10% and nonalcoholic beverages up 8.7%.
‘‘Increasing prices for barnraised eggs, cheddar cheese, and two-minute noodles were the largest drivers within grocery food,’’ consumer prices senior manager Nicola Growden said.
Stats NZ noted that the price rises were becoming more broad – 15 of 162 prices reported were higher.
Month on month, food prices were up 0.8% in October compared to September. After adjusting for seasonal effects, they were up 1.8%.
Fruit and vegetable prices fell 5.2% but lifted 1.3% when seasonally adjusted.
ANZ economist Finn Robinson said it was common to see food prices fall in October, reflecting a seasonal fall in the price of fruit and vegetables.
‘‘That’s been quite disrupted over the past year so we were expecting to see something stronger than usual but the fact it went up 0.8% in the month, that was quite a bit stronger than expected – that shows how all the cost pressures that food producers are facing are