Hushtec Transparent Acoustic Barriers Address Noise Control In Construction And Industrial Sectors
New Zealand-based noise control specialist Hushtec has announced the deployment of its acoustic barriers in a range of industrial and construction settings, aiming to address ongoing challenges around noise pollution and workplace safety.
According to the company, its transparent noise barriers have been adopted in environments where visibility and light transmission are essential, such as factories, construction sites, and food processing plants. The barriers are designed to reduce noise emissions while allowing for clear sightlines and the passage of natural light, supporting both operational efficiency and compliance with health and safety regulations.
Recent case studies highlight the role of Hushtec's solutions in large-scale urban construction projects, where noise from activities like pile driving, crane operation, and demolition can exceed regulatory limits and impact surrounding communities. In these contexts, the company's acoustic barriers have been used alongside other products, including modular noise walls and custom shrouds, to create flexible and effective noise management strategies.
The company reports that its barriers are constructed from high-performance, transparent materials and can be customised to fit specific site requirements. This adaptability has proven valuable in projects that require both temporary and permanent installations. Hushtec's approach to heavy machinery noise control includes the use of shrouds and acoustic tents tailored to equipment such as cranes and pile drivers, reducing noise exposure for workers and minimising disruption to nearby residents and businesses.
Hushtec states that all products are developed to meet or exceed local and international noise control standards. The company's transparent barriers are currently used across sectors including construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and food production, providing solutions for both regulatory compliance and operational needs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals applications doubled
One of the organisations vetting KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals has said applications to dip into the retirement fund have more than doubled in the past two years. This comes as some fund managers have expressed concern about social media "how to guides" advising people to go into more debt or fudge their financials so they can crack open the retirement piggy bank early. Inland revenue figures show that in April 2025 hardship withdrawals were up $300 million on the year before. Public Trusts acts as a supervisor for various KiwiSaver schemes and decides which hardship withdrawals are signed off. General Manager of Corporate Trustee Services David Callanan spoke to Lisa Owen. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Overseas investment decisions made twice as fast after directive from David Seymour
Watch Acting PM David Seymour speak after Cabinet meeting: Overseas investment decisions are being made twice as fast, following a directive from David Seymour to Land Information New Zealand (LINZ). Seymour, who holds portfolio responsibility for the Overseas Investment Act, told LINZ last year to process 80 percent of consent applications in half the statutory timeframes for decisions. He said the financial year beginning 1 July 2024 was on-track to meet expectations, with 88 percent of applications processed in half the timeframe. "Processing times have reduced by 39 percent faster than the previous financial year. The average timeframe has reduced from 71 working days in the last financial year, to 28 working days this financial year," Seymour said. "Since this financial year began, processing times have reduced by 39 percent faster than the previous financial year. The average timeframe has reduced from 71 working days in the last financial year, to 28 working days this financial year." Seymour is standing in for Christopher Luxon at this week's post-Cabinet press conference as Acting Prime Minister, but has made the announcement in his capacity as Associate Minister of Finance. He said the improvements to processing times were largely due to a new risk-based approach LINZ was taking to verifying information and streamlining consent processes, recognising that most applications were low-risk. There had been a drop in total applications for residential land development (122 between 1 July 2024 and 19 June 2025, down from 146 in the previous financial year), which Seymour said was due to poor property market conditions. He expected the numbers to bounce back as the property marked rose. LINZ still had the full statutory timeframe to process 20 percent of applications, which would allow them to manage the more complex and high-risk applications. With Parliament sitting this week for the first time in three weeks, Seymour's Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Bill will also have its first reading. The Bill seeks to introduce a modified national interest test so low-risk transactions can be assessed quicker. The screening process for less sensitive assets would also be simplified. The current screening quota for investments in farmland and fishing quota would stay in place. Seymour said New Zealand currently had one of the most restrictive overseas investment regimes in the OECD. "We've paid the price in lost opportunities, lower productivity, and stagnant wages. This Bill is about reversing that," he said.
NZ Herald
an hour ago
- NZ Herald
Kaibosh gets a clean-energy boost in the fight against food waste
Five million kilograms of food saved. Eleven million meals delivered. And now, two electric vans on the road. Since 2008, Wellington-based food rescue charity Kaibosh has rescued the equivalent of 250 fully loaded supermarket trucks of food, keeping it out of landfill and getting it to people in need. 'One in four children in Aotearoa often or sometimes go without food,' says Susie Robertson, Kaibosh's chief executive. 'For Māori children, it's one in three. For Pacific children, it's one in two. That's the reality we're facing.' Kaibosh runs seven days a week, collecting surplus food from supermarkets, growers and markets, sorting it at one of three regional bases, and redistributing it to 154 partner charities across the Wellington region. All food is donated and distributed free of charge. 'We don't purchase food, and we don't charge anyone for it,' says Robertson. 'Everything we collect is rescued and everything we give out is free to community groups, food banks, marae and others supporting people in need.' Now, with the help of Meridian Energy's Community Decarbonisation Fund, Kaibosh is also cutting its transport emissions, a key step in staying true to its 'zero food poverty, zero food waste' mission. 'It's a no-brainer,' says Robertson. 'We're already fighting climate change by keeping food out of landfill. Switching to electric vans means we're not undoing that good work on the road.' The Decarbonisation Fund provided Kaibosh with two electric vans, supporting its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint while continuing to collect and distribute large volumes of fresh food. The environmental benefits are just as powerful. Food waste in landfill is a major source of methane, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. 'Methane does immediate harm to the atmosphere,' says Robertson. 'So every kilo of food we save makes a difference, not just to people, but to the planet.' Meridian's support means Kaibosh can keep expanding its reach without undermining its environmental mission. Electric vans had always aligned with the organisation's values, but the high upfront costs limited adoption. 'Most community groups are running off the smell of an oily rag,' says Robertson. 'EVs are expensive. We couldn't have done this without Meridian's help.' The Decarbonisation Fund helps community organisations cut emissions through real-world electrification, from solar panels to EVs and energy-efficient upgrades. The fund is powered by the net proceeds of Meridian's Certified Renewable Energy product, which enables businesses to match the amount of electricity they use with an equivalent amount of electricity put into the national grid from one of Meridian's hydro stations or wind farms which have been independently verified as producing 100% renewable electricity. All net proceeds go towards decarbonisation projects like Kaibosh's, and since 2022 the fund has invested a total of nearly $3 million. 'There's a real alignment in values between Meridian and Kaibosh,' says Robertson. 'We're both about reducing emissions and creating a more sustainable Aotearoa. It's a great fit.' Those values also run deep for Robertson herself. 'I've worked in youth health and development, but I've always cared about the environment too,' she says. 'Kaibosh brings those two worlds together - people and planet.' Robertson says nearly three-quarters of the food Kaibosh provides to communities is made up of produce, dairy, meat and eggs, the kind of food many families now struggle to afford. 'We're not just giving out calories, we're giving people real, nutiritious food, food they'd feel proud to serve their whānau.' Kaibosh's partner services range from housing organisations to marae. The need is growing fast. 'We're seeing families where both parents are working and still can't afford to put food on the table,' she says. 'They're one unexpected bill away from real hardship.' That's why partnerships like the one with Meridian matter so much. 'With support like this, we can do even more,' says Robertson. 'More food rescued, fewer emissions, and more dignity for the people we're here to serve.'
