So here we are in 2025 – a quarter of a way through the century – and hopefully all refreshed and raring to go.
The first big event in your calendar might/should be the third Women in Extractives event. Hosted by the AQA, MinEx and Straterra and supported by IOQNZ and AusIMM, this event recognises how we should all be encouraging diversity and inclusion in our workforces.
I hope your company will be represented in Christchurch on March 20, not least by some who have been nominated for one of the three awards. Nominations close on Friday 21 February. You can contact office@aqa.org.nz for the event details and entry form.
QuarryNZ this year will be back at Claudelands in Hamilton from 9–11 July and is shaping up to be as big and beneficial as ever. I’d recommend getting your Early Bird Registrations from
www.quarrynz.com and booking your airfares if needed.
Claudelands is also again the venue for the Future Roads conference on 19-20 November, an event quite a few in the quarry sector now see value in attending.
That includes the AQA. Wayne Scott was pleased to hear at Future Roads 2024, NZTA’s Andrew Clark (National Manager of Maintenance and Operations) say he wants to work with quarries to reduce the risk aggregate supply poses for the Government’s infrastructure plan. It’s encouraging to know that officials as well as Ministers are getting the message that they can’t build anything without us.
That’s particularly so with roads. There was a renewed case put at the Future Roads conference for concrete roads, especially in high and heavy traffic areas. A panel discussion at the conference was chaired by AQA Technical Adviser Mike Chilton (more on that next issue.) Meantime, he reports on the latest quarry production stats in his usual Technical Update (page 41.)
I’m also proud to see that the AQA has done the hard yards for our sector for when we increasingly need to show customers the environmental impacts of the products we supply. Our CEO Wayne Scott has worked with consultant Bernie Napp to develop an industry Life Cycle Assessment which can be quoted in tenders or used as a template for development by individual companies. (See story page 38)
At the same time, the pair have been doing some work with our friends in the NZ Limestone Producers Association seeking changes in the current measure of emissions from agricultural lime. The hope is we will see new field trials in New Zealand to provide more robust and realistic measurements. (see story page 40)
Finally, it’s appropriate for Aggregate News to mark the retirement of Tony Hunter after 38 years in the industry, much of it as GM at Blackhead Quarries in Dunedin. As you’ll read, he’s a forthright, fifth-generation quarrying man and his contribution to the industry includes many years on the AQA Board. Fortunately, we will retain him there for a little while yet, but I wish to acknowledge Tony for his commitment and service to quarrying.
It is pleasing to note that his contribution is being continued by his sons, Joe and Jimmy, who provide a sixth-generation in the quarrying industry.
If anyone can match that record dating back more than a century and a half, please let us know; you’ll deserve a story too. Also contact Q&M editor Alan Titchall for the magazine’s veteran profiles.
Jayden Ellis
Chair, AQA