News
Someday Somewhere
I have huge respect for people who are prepared to put everything on the line to follow their dreams, and I come across a number of these people when I’m writing this column. One such person is Kimberley Eagle who recently took over Jaks Island in Bridge St, opposite the courthouse, and rebranded it as […]
Scutt wines
Scutt Wines is a tiny producer you may not have heard of before because owners Johnson Scutt and Georgie Hoby Scutt only recently made their wines available for you and me to buy after adding winemaking to their business interests. In Johnson’s case it is turning the clock back to being a hands-on winemaker once […]
A Way Forward
It is now seven months since we lost Sari, time has just flown by but at the same time her loss seems so fresh. And not just for me, many clients worked with Sari as their financial and business advisor for more than 30 years so we know you all miss her guidance and friendly […]
Sari Hodgson FCA 1960-2023
Firstly, thank you to the many, many people who have sent cards, emails and texts to me and our staff acknowledging Sari’s sudden and unexpected passing in April and the contribution she made to so many businesses and community organisations over a lot of years. As a Chartered Accountant Sari’s focus was always on her […]
Business Assist and Mentoring
Some of you may not be aware of a service that supports businesses in the area and is subsidised by councils. Nelson Tasman Business Trust (Business Assist) is exactly what it says – they exist to help businesses, small and large. You simply make contact through their website https://www.ntbt.co.nz/ . You will be offered a […]
Spotlight on 185 Hope
185 Hope is a market garden and farm shop owned by Gavin Williams and Angela Penman since 2003 – 20 years ago! Gavin and Angela originally had market gardens and a farm shop established by Gavin’s family on Main Rd Stoke near Placemakers. When industry started to expand, they bought land at 185 Main Rd […]
Cable Bay Café
Annette Meyer may be a familiar face to people who go to the Isel Twilight Market or Kirby Lane. She’s the lady who sold delicious, homemade cheesecakes, bagels and treats from her tiny Just Be Food & Drinks caravan. When I wrote about her in 2019 I told you that she came to New Zealand […]
Planning for Taxation for Savage & Savage Clients
Planning for Taxation for Savage & Savage Clients Death and taxes are the two guaranteed things in life, and we’d like to help our clients to plan more successfully for taxes. (death is a bit beyond us 😊) We are happy to sit down with you and discuss your individual needs. Make an appointment with […]
Buy & Shop Local This Summer
Christmas Day is just around the corner and I’m not sure what has happened to 2022, but for me it seems to have evaporated. However, when you think back about the changes in the last 12 months the biggest impact on families has been the unrelenting price increases in absolutely everything, especially food. Hopefully as […]
Spotlight on business : The Framing Rooms
The Framing Rooms and Quiet Dog Gallery Making your artworks look really special is what Gill Starling and James Taylor aim for at The Framing Rooms. The skills of five people combine to give customers a fabulous service. They frame everything you may want to hang on your walls. They frame fine art through to […]
E-Invoicing
There has been a lot of noise made by the government lately about E-Invoicing. There seems to be a lot of confusion and people think that if they are already sending their invoices by e-mail they are e-invoicing, so what is the big deal? Actually E-Invoicing is a little different. And it is not an […]
Neudorf’s growing legacy among the Moutere vines
As Neudorf Vineyards celebrate the release of the 40th vintage of their iconic Moutere Chardonnay I can’t help reflect on how impressed I am by the way Tim and Judy Finn have allowed the business to evolve so it can prosper into the future, hopefully for the next 40 years. I use the term ‘evolved’ […]
Changes in GST record keeping
Good news for the trees, the planet and your storage cupboard!! IRD are introducing changes in GST record keeping in two stages that will reduce the amount of paper storage required for businesses. There have been some smaller changes regarding GST effective 30.3.22 Buyers of goods had to keep a physical tax invoice to be […]
Trust Tax Return Rules
The rules have changed for information required when filing a Domestic Trust tax return. At the time of filing a trust tax return we are now also required to provide detailed information (name, address, IRD number etc.,) to IRD on the following: “Settlors” (people contributing to the Trust assets) “Beneficiaries” only if they have received […]
World Class Wine List
The Nelson Hospitality Association held a celebration of all things excellent in the industry every two years before the industry was severely impacted by the Covid pandemic. At the celebratory dinner awards were handed out to the best front-of-house person, the best barperson, best security professional, best young chef, best chef and best restaurant among […]
Support your local hospitality businesses
We all know a lot can happen in a very short time and things have changed significantly for people I wrote about in the last two weeks; firstly I spoke to a number of winery owners to find out what was happening with this year’s vintage and they were all very happy but said they […]
Do you need to update your RWT deduction rate?
From 1 April 2021 a new top tax rate of 39% was introduced for individuals who earn over $180,000 a year. If you may earn over $180,000 in the 2021 – 2022 year, it is recommended that you update your RWT rate with your bank (you should be able to do this in online banking) […]
Covid-19 protocols in our office
The new Covid-19 traffic light system introduced by the Government has caused much confusion, however, despite that and now that Covid-19 has emerged in the Nelson region it is important we all take sensible precautions to avoid spreading the virus. We have decided we will be open for anyone to visit our office without a […]
Foxy Boxy
As we get very close to Christmas and the annual struggle to find the perfect gifts for people we care about, there are lots of local options, be it wine or gourmet treats to enjoy over a few days I think a food and beverage gift is a lot better than a trinket that will […]
Street Food on Washington
A couple of years ago I wrote about a couple who relocated from Auckland to Nelson, chef Ben Smith and his wife Bridget have since taken over the old store in Washington Valley and set about turning it into a real community food spot; Street Food on Washington is a lot more than just a […]
Xero Price Increase from September 2021
Xero have advised a price increase is coming, from 23 September 2021, the monthly retail price of Xero Business Edition plans in NZ are changing. Starter plans increase by $1.50 Standard plans increase by $2 Premium plans increase by $3 And, from 16 March 2022 the monthly price of Cashbook plans is changing. Non-GST Cashbook […]
Warren Buffett Says You Should Practice the 4 Habits That Separate the Best From the Rest
Lessons from the Oracle of Omaha that will yield good returns. BY MARCEL SCHWANTES@MARCELSCHWANTES Warren Buffett, the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, turns 91 in August. Remarkably, at an age where most people’s cognitive functions have entirely regressed, where many are now at the hands of caretakers, Buffett still captures the world’s attention as the fifth richest person on the […]
Salvito’s Pizza Bar
When John Esposito opened a pizza bar named after his two sons (Salvi and Vito) he was determined to bring authentic Italian flavours that reflect his family’s heritage and he has done exactly that with spectacular success. The pizzas at Salvito’s are wonderful. The Esposito name will be familiar to many Nelsonians, the family is […]
Little Nessie Cafe – The Wee Coffee Monster
I love positive people and I don’t think anyone who opens a new café in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic could be described as anything but positive. Gareth and Hayley Lewis decided to do just that and opened Little Nessie Café at the Black Cat shops on Annesbrook Drive in August 2020. Anyone would […]
Xero and Multi-factor Authentication
Xero is making Multi-factor authentication (MFA) mandatory for New Zealand customers in 2021 As more people around the world embrace digital technologies, the number of cyber-attacks continues to increase. One of the most common types of cybercrime is phishing, designed to access your online accounts and steal your personal and business information. Xero are custodians […]
Personal Tax Rate increase
From the 1st April the top tax rate is set to increase from 33% to 39%. If you have a company that pays dividends you should do this before the end of March so it can still be taxed at 33% Talk to us urgently for tax advice around this and other matters relating to […]
Minimum Wage Increases on 1st April
As previously announced by the government the adult minimum wage will increase, from $18.90 to $20.00 per hour on 1 April 2021. The starting-out and training minimum wage rates will also increase on 1 April 2021, from $15.12 to $16.00 per hour. As an employer, you need to ensure your payroll systems and processes are […]
Pic’s & Whittakers
A few of the key factors in the success of any business are being able to adapt, innovate and strive for continual improvement, even if you have the market sector cornered, and that is exactly what Pic Picot and his merry band of peanut butter wizards do at Pic’s Peanut Butter World. The Pic’s story […]
COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment now available
Following the latest Covid-19 outbreak in Auckland, and the Government’s rapid response, today we received the following information from IRD about this wage subsidy. On 8 February 2020 the Government announced a new COVID-19 Short-Term Absence Payment (STAP) to support employers and self-employed workers. The STAP is available from 9 February 2020, through Work and […]
A great source of business news
If you’re looking for information about about law changes, setting up a business, places to get help and so much more then you should check out www.business.govt.nz/news This is a government run site that highlights all the information business owners need. We recommend subscribing to the regular e-newsletter.
Residential Tenancies Amendments Act 2020
If you own a residential rental property you should be aware of the significant changes enacted last year, but here is a summary of the major changes and dates. NOTE: – These are different to the Healthy Homes requirements that are covered under different legislation Landlords and tenants need to understand the recent changes to […]
Covid-19 Short-Term Absence Payment
Financial support for businesses to pay people in situations where they cannot work from home and need to stay at home while waiting for a COVID-19 test result. What is it? The Payment is a one-off amount of $350 for each eligible worker (full or part time) that is unable to work from home while […]
HARRY’S FISH SHOP
Howard (Harry) Morris has been a fixture in the Nelson restaurant and food scene for a couple of decades, initially as the chef at The Cut restaurant that he owned with Rob Fanselow then the two of them opened Harry’s in Hardy St before relocating to the top of Trafalgar St. When Harry sold Harry’s […]
Xero Starter Plan update
Did you know Xero have recently made some big changes to their starter plan*? No business is too small for this Xero Starter plan, whether you work alone or employ a whole team you can spend less time working in spreadsheets and more time working on projects. What’s changed? Unlimited bank reconciliations Xero has removed […]
Proper Crisps seed crackers
Any business owner will tell you that to succeed you need to keep moving your business forward; if you sell a service then you need to make sure you keep improving and delivering value for money, but if you make a product then you need to keep innovating because human nature means we get a […]
Xero – Saving Files in Xero
Did you know that Xero has an inbuilt online file management system? With Xero file library you can keep all your files (i.e. receipts, bills, images) organised in Xero. The file library is located under your organisation name on the left-hand side of your blue taskbar. Your Xero file library contains an Inbox and Contracts […]
Blackenbrook Vineyards
A few weeks ago Ursula Schwarzenbach asked me if I would like to visit them to taste their 2020 vintage wines, of course I said yes (who wouldn’t!) so last week I met Ursula and her husband Daniel at their winery to talk about the 2020 vintage and taste some wines. Over the years I […]
Our In-House Software Training and Support Specialist
Ellie Harris has been working for us for a number of years and as a recent B.Com graduate, with experience managing our tax system and working with clients on various compliance matters, she has now become our in-house software specialist. Ellie has a number of Xero certifications, has experience working with MYOB products and has […]
Saed’s Falafel – Kirby Lane
If you like a tasty Falafel then you will already know about Saed Alazza and his bright red food cart that is usually located on the corner of Trafalgar and Bridge Streets, well it was located there. Saed has relocated his business to become a permanent part of the growing food cart business scene in […]
ACC Annual Invoicing & Estimations
ACC will start sending out annual invoices in October (usually these are sent in July but were delayed due to Covid-19 and lockdown). If you think that the liable payroll for your business has been impacted by Covid-19 and your wages and salaries paid for the 20/21 year therefore will be less than for 19/20, […]
Rustic Cuisine
Rustic Cuisine on Rutherford St is owned by my two favourite French people, Mylene and Greg Auphan who used to own La Gourmandise. Their latest venture is to develop a range of French style foods in jars ready for you to take home and enjoy. It goes without saying that when you are developing a […]
Lock down recipe – left overs and pantry items
One of the benefits of spending so much time at home, and not being able to just pop down to the shop whenever we want to, is having time to cook tasty dishes from things we find in the pantry, fridge or freezer. And in our case spending some time searching through the wine cellar […]
Beyond Covid-19
Well it has certainly been an interesting seven weeks; dealing with level 4 lockdown conditions and then easing into level 3 before finally getting back to a level of normal activity under level 2 conditions. Obviously things will never go back to business-as-usual as it was before Covid-19 raised its ugly head but we are […]
Covid-19 update – Level 2 & Open for Business
It has been a couple of weeks since we sent you an update and a number of things have happened in that time, prime among the the announcement of the rules that will apply when we head into the Covid-19 Level 2 environment. All businesses will need to alter how they work and it’s important […]
Covid-19 update – 26.04.20
This is just a quick update to recap on a few things we have put in this update email over the past few weeks. Closed Our office will remain closed during Level 3 restrictions. Our senior staff are working from home so we can still provide essential support and, for those of you have already […]
Covid-19 Weekly Update 20.04.20
As these unusual times continue there are a few things to remember – stay safe and shop local, shop local, shop local! While we are in this lock down situation together we need to remember to help one another come out of it in as best shape as possible. The best way to do that […]
Covid-19 update – 14.04.20
Well it continues to be an interesting time we are working our way through. The great news is that the Covid-19 lockdown appears to be having a positive effect by controlling the spread of this illness. While all the signs are good we still have a long way to go, firstly to get through the […]
Covid-19 Weekly Update – 05.04.20
Well it certainly has been an interesting week and a half as we all get used to working and living differently during the Covid-19 lockdown. It seems that every day the government is providing more clarification as to things we can do day-to-day and, most importantly for you, how you can use the wage subsidy. […]
Covid-19 Update – 30.03.20
We certainly hope you are all well and sticking to the rules, everyone doing the right thing now will help businesses get up and running again. Having said that we are expecting the current four week lock down to be extended, to possibly eight weeks, and then restrictions to come off slowly I.E. – reverting […]
Covid-19 Update 23.03.20
These are certainly curious and challenging times for everyone in the community and we know businesses will need all the support they can get to survive through the next few months. At Savage & Savage we are being pro-active and have set up systems to allow us to operate with a similar level of service […]
Gelato Roma
I first wrote about Gelato Roma back in March 2016 and a lot has happened with this exciting Nelson business in the intervening years, so I thought it was time to find out more and tell you about it. Let’s start by having a quick look back at the history of Gelato Roma. The business was established in […]
Xero updates
Hubdoc From 18th March Hubdoc will be included for free with Xero business plan subscriptions. Hubdoc is a document collection and management software that reads and extracts key information from your receipts, invoices and emailed invoices and statements and converts it to files that links to your transactions in Xero. Get in touch to find […]
IRD changes – Free seminar & webinar in March
Chamber of Commerce Seminar The Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce is hosting an IRD seminar at NMIT on the 12th March on the IRD’s business transformation and further changes to be implemented in April. This includes changes to payroll, Kiwisaver and Student Loan accounts in myIR. It will be a great opportunity to learn more […]
Residential Loss Ring-fencing
From the 19/20 year onwards losses from a residential rental property can no longer be offset against other income such as salary, wages or other business income. The loss from one rental property can be offset against other residential rental income if you choose to use the portfolio basis (if you own more than one […]
Agreements for Sale & Purchase of Property
The Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Property that’s used for the vast majority of property transactions is the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand / Auckland District Law Society (REINZ/ADLS) Agreement for Sale and Purchase and the form is reviewed regularly to ensure it remains an effective agreement as times change. Changes take into […]
Kawai Cottage
If you are looking for delightful accommodation in Nelson that isn’t just another motel or hotel room then check out Kawai Cottage. It’s a stunning cottage in Nelson city, lovingly renovated and furnished by clients of Savage & Savage. Kawai Cottage is an original kiwi cottage in all her original glory but with a bit […]
Residential rental loss ring-fencing
Many of you will have heard about the ring-fencing of losses made from residential rental properties which applies from 1 April 2019. Deductions for residential properties are now ring-fenced so they can only be used against income from that property, or sometimes a portfolio of properties. Deductions that exceed the income from that property/portfolio of […]
Xero & MYOB updates
Xero now integrates with BP fuel card. If you have a BP fuel card you can set up the connection from the BP Customer Portal and when you get your statement from BP it will automatically create a draft bill in Xero. Pretty handy if you are allocating fuel costs and it will automatically match […]
Sari Hodgson Awarded FCA Status
Each year the Council of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand recognises outstanding achievement in the profession of accountancy by awarding Fellowships to its members. Fellowships, are awarded to members who are nominated by their peers for outstanding career achievement or contribution to the profession. The 2019 awards are to be formally announced in a […]
2019 Vintage Wines in Nelson
At the risk of repeating myself I love this time of the year, everything in the garden is starting to sprout into life again after being dormant during the winter, the daylight hours are longer, daylight saving has started, the sun is warming us once again and most importantly the first of the 2019 vintage […]
Diving deep into Marlborough’s booming seafood industry
Think Marlborough, and you might immediately think “wine”. Boasting some of the best-known and oldest vineyards in the country, the viticulture industry looms large in the region. But dwell on the stats for a moment, and it becomes obvious just how important a part the seafood industry plays in Marlborough’s economic successes as well. Blenheim-based […]
Inland Revenue to probe hospitality sector for businesses hiding cash sales
First published in Stuff 4th October 2019 This serves as a word of warning to anyone who owns a business where cash is regularly received as payment for goods and services Four members of the Thai restaurant family have been sentenced to prison or home detention after a $2.3 million tax evasion case brought by […]
Insurance consumers should welcome Fire and Emergency NZ review
The Insurance Council of New Zealand and Internal Affairs Minister, Tracey Martin, applaud government review of current levy funding regime. From the ashes of a Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) restructure has risen significant merger costs that, under the current funding regime are recuperated through a levy imposed on all home, contents, and auto […]
Debt Management and Recovery
How do I ensure customers understand the importance of paying my invoices on time? Customers juggle cash flow requirements on a frequent basis monthly, weekly or sometimes daily. When cash flow becomes tight, some of your customers may choose whether they pay you and other creditors based on what effect non payment will have on […]
Moving on from cheques
IRD recently announced their decision to no longer accept cheque payments for any form of tax from 1st March 2020. We will be in touch with those who for one reason or another (ie no rural broadband) can’t pay online to help you identify other payment methods. Here’s what IRD had to say in their […]
The Nelson Ark
At Savage & Savage we are a dog-friendly office, you are welcome to bring your well behaved dog with you when you come to see us. Our staff love cuddles with furry friends and because we love dogs we support The Ark. We have a collection jar on our front counter for the month of […]
Supporting Volunteer Service Abroad
The Solomon Islands ranks among the 30 poorest countries in the world.
Celebrating 25 Years of Creativity at Downings
Congratulations to Tony, Vanessa and everyone at Downing Creative and thanks for the work you do for us and for trusting us as your financial advisers
Excellence in Bed & Breakfast Hosting – Award Winners
Bed & Breakfast Association New Zealand and Vision Insurance are pleased to announce Bellbird Lodge, Kaiteriteri, owned by Anthea & Brian Harvey, has been awarded the 2019 Supreme B&B Business of the Year.
Callaghan Innovation’s R&D Student ‘Experience’ Grants
R&D Student ‘Experience’ grants support students and recent graduates, by funding businesses to engage a student in a R&D activity, giving them the work and technical experience, and in exchange a business will receive new talent, capabilities & fresh thinking to assist you with your R&D endeavours.
The ‘Cloud’ without a silver lining
There are numerous cloud suppliers including firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Apple, Xero, One Net, Spark etc. The list is huge and ranges from giant companies to quite small, niche operators. It’s estimated that by 2019 83% of data traffic will be cloud based (currently it’s at 65%).
Ring-Fencing Residential Property Deductions
The proposed changes to residential property losses will once they are enacted likely to apply from 1 April 2019
Mainzeal – Directors & Officers Liability Insurance
Limit of Liability is considerably less than the $36m awarded. Therefore the directors are likely to be personally liable for any shortfall.
Update on Fire Service Levies and Reforms March 2019
The Internal Affairs Minister, Tracey Martin recently announced the government will review how FENZ is funded, seeking to move away from collecting funds via insurance.
What to Say When #4
My employee has said he won’t be coming in on the Tuesday but I need him to work. He is a permanent employee who normally works on a Tuesday. What can I say?
Airbnb – sleepless insurance risks
Many New Zealanders are using accommodation websites such as Airbnb, Bookabach or similar to host guests in their homes for a little extra income or to assist with mortgage repayments. However, inviting strangers into your home can bring added risks, and insurers, and brokers alike, are encouraging property owners to make sure their home is safe and protected when listed.
Zoom Consulting
Business Systems Software Specialist and Consultant Emily Thompson is a business systems and software superstar. Using Xero accounting software and other add on software platforms, she can design a software solution for your business, implement the systems, then train you and your staff. She supports businesses within the Nelson/Tasman region and throughout New Zealand with […]
Ir-file discontinuation for filing Employer Monthly Schedules and payday filing reminders
The ir-file service in myIR will be discontinued on 11th March. That means if you file your February Employer Returns online before 11th March, you can file under ir-file as you do now. If you file after the 11th March you need to use ‘payroll returns’ account in the Business tab section of myIR. March […]
ERA Bill Passes into Law
How might the changes impact our clients?
Personal Grievances – When a Win is actually a Loss
A recent personal grievance case between Philipa Johnson and the National Business Review (NBR) resulted in a win for the employee, which actually ended in a financial loss for her when all was said and done. The Employment Relations Authority determined the employee was unjustifiably dismissed. However, the sting in the tail for the employee […]
Payday Filing Q&A
What’s changing? You need to file employment information more frequently When does it start? 1 April 2019 You can switch early, but most software and paper returns are not available until 1 April 2019 What is payday info? Employment information, similar to the current employer monthly schedule When do I file it? […]
Bullying, WorkSafe and Personal Grievances
Recently WorkSafe announced that it will ‘typically only investigate bullying and harassment claims where there is diagnosis of serious mental harm’. This significantly limits the complaints they will investigate. Although the clear acknowledgement of this is new, it is consistent with WorkSafe’s actions to date. WorkSafe has never prosecuted anyone for bullying, despite receiving over […]
Emma Heke in NZ Lifestyle Block Magazine October 2018
Our client, Emma Heke, is featured in the NZ Lifestyle Block magazine this month. With great photography by Daniel Allen this article tells Emma’s story about making teas from her home in Nelson. Buy your copy to find out more about this very successful small business making its mark in NZ and click here to […]
Carol Shirley & Gourmet Catering – Nelson Mail 18.07.18
I first met Carol Shirley, the owner of Gourmet Catering, many years ago when she took over running the café at the old Maitai Bowling Club at the bottom of Trafalgar St, she made delicious food for members of the club as well as members of the RSA and City Clubs that shared the bowling club’s […]
What to Say When
Below is the first in our series of one liners we use in response to challenging behaviours. We hope they come in handy for your own work situations. If you have any of your own that work please email them in and we can include them. Passive Aggressive Colleagues We have a passive aggressive person on […]
What is work?
There will be significant implications for many employers following a recent Employment Court Case. If your employees attend training, meetings, work functions or travel for work purposes you may need to reconsider how you pay them. The case involved the Smiths City Group. Every morning prior to opening, the sales manager at each of their […]
International Automatic Exchange of Information
New Zealand has signed up to the Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) – a global OECD initiative to combat tax evasion. Inland Revenue has been running an AEOI awareness campaign since 9th June 2018 with a primary focus of this campaign being to generate awareness among New Zealand tax residents most likely to have offshore […]
Accountants to comply with AML/CFT legislation
Some time ago New Zealand has passed a law called the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 (AML/CFT). The purpose of the law reflects New Zealand’s commitment to the international initiative to counter the impact that criminal activity has on people and economies within the global community. The first sector required to […]
Chapman ER News – Employer Successful in Constructive Dismissal Case
We have seen an increased occurrence of employees resigning and then raising a PG, stating that their resignation was constructive dismissal and unjustified. In many instances they haven’t previously raised their concerns with their employer or the issues raised appeared minor with the employer believing each was addressed at the time as no further concern […]
Volume wins big
The old saying that nice things come in small packages couldn’t be more apt in the case of another client who has been successful, this time at the 2018 Retail Hotlist Awards. The very small shop in Church Street that is home to Volume – The Space for Books belies the stature of this perfect […]
Hopgood’s & Co win big
We are delighted our client, Hopgood’s & Co, has had huge success at the Silver Fern Awards. They were named Best Restaurant in New Zealand, Aaron Ballantyne was named as the Best Head Chef and they won the award for Best Dish in the competition. Think about all those top restaurants in Auckland and from […]
The Minimum Wage Increases from 1 April 2018.
While the Government must review the Minimum Wage annually the new Government has already pledged to get it up to $20 per hour by 2020. The first step to this target is the increase that comes into effect from 1st April 2018 The new minimum wage rates are: Adult – $16.50 an hour Starting-out – $13.20 […]
Employment Relations Amendment Bill
The first wave of changes to legislation in the employment arena were announced last week. There was nothing unexpected, except for possibly the usefulness of NZ First to act as a hand brake for more widespread changes. One of Labour’s flagship policies was the abolition of the 90 day trial period. The great news for […]
AIM Method of Calculating Provisional Tax
Many of our clients may have seen or received information from IRD about the AIM method of Provisional Tax calculation This method will become available for use on 1st April 2018. We are not recommending it to our clients for the following reasons: Most SMEs (Small Medium Enterprises) qualify to use Standard Provisional Payments without any Use […]
Personal Liability for Employment Breaches
Most business owners, directors, managers and employees are unaware that they can be personally liable for penalties and the payment of legislative entitlements. A person who incites, instigates, aids, or abets any breach of an employment agreement is personally liable for a penalty of $10,000 for each breach.
Get the IRD payment dates right
We would like to remind everyone to make sure that when you are making tax payments to IRD they check that you have selected the correct tax type (e.g. INC for Income Tax, GST for Goods & Service Tax, DED for employer Deductions that include Kiwisaver contributions as well as PAYE etc). Also, it’s very […]
Nelson Pine Industries Business Awards
At this year’s Nelson Pine Industries Business Awards hosted by the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce two of our clients won awards; Emma Heke won the Innovation Award for her range of specialty herbal teas and Shane & Annette McCrae from McCraes Blinds and Drapes were awarded a special Business Excellence Award in the large […]
Employer Owes $2.4 Million To Employees
In a recent investigation into wage payment irregularities at SOE Landcorp, the Labour Inspector found significant issues. The Inspector determined that over the last seven years Landcorp had been incorrectly calculating the entitlements of approximately 1,400 employees. There appear to be two main areas where Landcorp incorrectly calculated the entitlements: a) Landcorp did not include […]
Precinct Dining Co. Motueka
Motueka has had an important role in this region’s food industry for many years, primarily as a place food is grown and processed, but in recent times it has also become home to some wonderful eating establishments including Precinct Dining Co. Located on the corner of High Street and Greenwood St in part of the […]
“Confrontational” Parking Warden Ordered to Pay $11,500
The Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ordered Yoon Cheol Hong to pay Auckland Transport (AT) $11,500 following a determination that found Mr Hong was not unjustifiably dismissed from his job as an Auckland Transport parking officer, neither was he unjustifiably disadvantaged before his dismissal. Mr Hong worked as a parking officer, patrolling Auckland city streets and […]
Paying contractors or working as a contractor
IRD’s latest update to tax agents includes some clarification around contractors and withholding tax. There is a misunderstanding that all contractors are now subject to withholding tax. This is not the case. The change is only for contractors hired by a labour hire business. From 1 April 2017, contractors working for a labour hire business […]
Minimum Wage Increase is Just the Beginning
This article was published on the 2nd November by Chapman ER and sets out some of the employment related financial issues employers are going to face under the new Labour Government. We recommend you stay up-to-date on matters that effect employers by subscribing to the Chapman ER newsfeed by clicking here and completing the request […]
How to Pay Employees for Upcoming Public Holidays
Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Monday this year with Boxing Day and the Day after New Year’s falling on a Tuesday. Labour Day is always on a Monday and falls on 23 October this year. If you are unsure how your employees should be paid over these statutory holidays, first refer […]
Scam emails supposedly from IRD
In recent months there has been a huge increase in the number of scam emails being sent purporting to be from IRD. Some are very realistic (see example below). If you get any emails like this DO NOT click on the links in the email or reply to it, you could be downloading a nasty […]
Steve Coyne – Harbour Light Bistro
Harbour Light Bistro on Wakefield Quay may not be hanging over the water but the views are spectacular from the elevated dining room where diners at every table can be entranced by the environment as well as the wonderful food. I remember when Buzz Falconer set up the restaurant many years ago and while it […]
Huge Fines for Categorising Employees Incorrectly as Contractors
The sole director and shareholder of Direct Auto Importers and Cheap Deals on Wheels, Vishaal Sharma, had claimed that his employees were contractors and had denied owing them their minimum entitlements. Following a Labour Inspectorate investigation however, the Labour Inspectorate disagreed. The failure to categorise his employees correctly resulted in fines of $65,000 to his […]
Heke Homemade Herbals – Nelson Mail 04.07.17
This is a column written by Neil Hodgson and first published in the Nelson Mail, about one of our clients Emma Heke and her business Heke Homemade Herbals. These herbal teas have become firm favourites in our office and we think you should try them too. I have known Emma Heke for many years, I have always […]
Changes to Parental Leave Payments
There are two main changes to parental leave payments that have taken effect as of 1 June 2017. The start of the parental leave payment Employees may use up their leave entitlements prior to the start of their 18-week parental leave payments starting, even if this takes them past the baby’s arrival. Leave entitlements include […]
Information about IRD’s provisional tax advertising campaign
You may have seen the recent IRD advertising campaign about changes to provisional tax. We think the ads are misleading. There are no changes to who is required to pay provisional tax, a tax payer will still be required to pay provisional tax if your tax at the end of the previous year was more […]
Tax Refund Companies – First published on Stuff website 13.06.17
The matter of how Tax Agents, particularly tax refund companies has been raised in the media again and the most recent article comes with a warning about how your refund could be paid into their bank account even if you do your own tax return online. At Savage & Savage we never receive client tax […]
Test Your Knowledge – The Privacy Act 1993
The purpose of the Privacy Act 1993 is to promote and protect individual privacy – in particular to establish principles on: collection, use, and disclosure of information relating to individuals and access by individuals to information held about them. Below are some common misconceptions and facts about your Privacy, rights and requirements courtesy of the Privacy Commissioner NZ. Q 1. True […]
Employment Agreements Require Updates Now
We encourage you to update your employment agreements immediately as last years amendments to the Employment Relations Act are due to come into force for existing employees very soon. The new requirements, which relate to working hours, cancellation of shifts and restrictions on secondary employment, will apply from 1 April, 2017. The wording of some […]
Deductibility of Farmhouse Expenses
IRD have released a Statement considering the deductibility of expenses relating to a farmhouse that forms part of a farming business. The general rules of deductibility and apportionment applies, ie you will be able to claim a percentage based on values and usage. However, the minimum deduction of 25% for all farmers has been reduced to, […]
Tax Refund Companies
Yes, it’s that time of year again – the tax refund companies are back advertising! Remember, if you are a client of ours, that we automatically check your tax situation so will advise you if there are any refunds due. These tax refund companies take a percentage of any refund due. So, if you have […]
Payroll – End of Year & Start of New Year
Employer monthly schedules and ir-files filed with IRD are based on the payment date of the pay run (not the pay period end date). After you have finalised the last pay for March and printed your end of year reports (make sure this includes leave liabilities/balances), go ahead and file your ir-file with IRD as […]
7 April Tax Payments
IRD will again be sending reminder letters or texts to some entities with tax to pay on the 7th April. This means you may receive two payment notifications, one from us and one from IRD for the same payment. Please follow the instructions on the email/letter received from Savage & Savage.
Migrant Worker Exploitation Cases Becoming More Prevalent
A migrant worker who was forced to pay her employer a premium to secure herself a job has been awarded $42,813 by the Employment Relations Authority. Kapilaben Patel was employed as a chef by Curry Pot on Lincoln Ltd for three years from 2011 until mid- 2014. The ERA found that Patel and her husband […]
Inland Revenue GST Online Changes & Services Unavailable
Inland Revenue is improving their GST online services. While the update takes place, all IRD systems will be unavailable from 3pm on Thursday 2 February until 8am on Tuesday the 7 February. You will not be able to access any myIR online services or contact IRD through their call centers. The system update will cause draft […]
Minimum Wage Increase from 1 April
The Government have announced that the minimum wages will increase by 50 cents to $15.75 an hour from 1 April 2017.
Cafe Deducted Pay for Breaks Worker Was Never Allowed to Take
Natalie Cornelius was employed as a crew member in a café in Napier. She became concerned by her employer’s practice of deducting 30 minutes wages from her pay each day. This was allegedly to cover breaks which she is adamant she was never allowed to take. Ms Cornelius tried to raise her concerns in writing […]
Barbican Training Centre
Barbican Training Centre is an organisation we love to recommend to our clients, they provide outstanding training for people new to business or those who want to improve their business management and IT skills. The popular no fee, 36 week, ‘Certificate in Small Business Management’ is starting again in March 2017. The programme is designed […]
Could your Volunteer or Woofer be an Employee?
Did you know, that anyone working in return for food and accommodation is likely to be an employee? This means they are entitled to the same minimum employment rights as a paid employee and you need to register as an Employer, file Employer forms with IRD and pay PAYE, check they are allowed to work […]
Gifts of Food & Drink
IRD have recently clarified their position on gifts of food and drink, ie hampers, Christmas ham etc, and these gifts now fall under the Entertainment rule and are only 50% deductible as there is a private benefit. It makes no difference whether the gift is to staff, suppliers or customers. Gifts other than food and […]
Easter Trading Law Change
A recent change to the Shop Trading Hours Act 1990 now enables councils to decide whether shops in their district can open on Easter Sunday. The change is from Easter 2017, depending on each individual council. We will update you closer to the time with our councils’ local policies. For employers who plan to open on Easter […]
The Power of Values in Driving Organisational Change
Most people instinctively understand the concept of values, after all we all have them, but most people tend to think of them as something that relates to a person and not an organisation. However, many successful businesses and organisations, across a range of sectors, are successfully using organisational values as a base to improve the […]
IRD focus on cash jobs continues
IRD are continuing to focus on cash jobs among builders and other tradespeople. They are looking into record keeping and tax compliance in these industries with the most recent focus being on Christchurch. It’s never too late to voluntary disclose income that might not have been declared previously in your tax returns. A voluntary disclosure […]
Are You Guilty of the Following?
Here are five of the most common slip ups employers have been making recently. 1. Not having your employee sign the employment agreement prior to starting is liable to result in problems including: a. Any 90 day trial period clause would be void b. Terms and conditions could be difficult to enforce and costly to negotiate after […]
Nelson Arts Festival
Once again we are delighted to be able to sponsor a show at the 22nd annual Nelson Arts Festival. The show we are sponsoring this year is Songs For The Fallen, described as “An outrageous, corset-busting cabaret about a woman who knew one thing: good girls don’t make history. Paris in 1847. Marie Duplessis – […]
KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant changes
A number of changes to the eligibility criteria for the KiwiSaver HomeStart Grant took effect on 1 August 2016. The key changes are: House price caps The existing house price caps will be increased by $50,000 to the new levels of $400,000, $500,000 and $600,000. (See fact sheet for details) These house price caps are to […]
Progress at The Suter and Road Works in Bridge Street
The Suter staff are getting ready to move back to the original home of the gallery beside the Queen’s Gardens. It is an exciting time for everyone involved in the redevelopment and the fruition of many years of hard work, planning, designing and building a new home for the region’s treasured works of art. The Suter will […]
Chapman ER – Test Your Knowledge
Q. My employee has resigned without giving notice. Can I deduct an amount equivalent to their notice from their final pay? Click here to find the answer. Q. Do I have to keep leave records for each of my employees? Click here to find the answer. Q. Can an employee be entitled to public holidays after their […]
IRD Website
IRD have developed a new website called ‘Changing for You’ which outlines IRD’s ideas on how managing your tax may become simpler for small businesses in the future Please visit www.changingforyou.ird.govt.nz to have a look as IRD would appreciate your feedback on the site
Scam emails
It is obvious to most when we receive emails from someone purporting to have $250 million waiting for us to collect that it is a scam email and we just hit the delete key, however scammers are getting much more creative. An article in the June issue of Consumer about a builder’s email account being hacked, an […]
Victory Primary School benefits from $15,000 donation from local business
Below is a recent article from the Nelson Mail about one of our clients, Vortex Spas making a very generous donation to help local kids. Photo is courtesy of Nelson Mail & Fairfax Media Congratulations Andrew, what a great initiative. A generous donation from a local business has helped Victory Primary School provide food for disadvantaged pupils. […]
Chapman ER courses we can recommend
The Ultimate Team Leader This workshop is our most popular and develops your team leaders and supervisors in areas that enable them to be better than average; they can become the ultimate team leader. Date: Wednesday 15 June 2016 Venue: Chapman Employment Relations, 56 Waimea Road, Nelson Time: 9am – 12.30pm Cost: $265 + GST (discounts apply for […]
Company information
Something you may not be aware of is just how much information about companies is freely available public information. The information about all companies on the Companies Office website includes Company number and date the company was formed Shareholder names, addresses and number of shares held (not value) Director names and addresses Documents filed for a […]
Tax Refund Services
Tax Refund Services are advertising heavily at the moment. Rest assured, that if you are a client of ours that we prepare tax return(s) for, we will calculate your tax refund/payment due. If you believe you are owed a tax refund for past years, before you became a client but within the last 5 years, we can […]
Ways to Manage a Remote Workforce
If you operate a business that requires your employees or yourself to be mobile or work remotely from home, then you may be familiar with the unique challenges this can present. With the advanced technology available; companies cutting back on expensive office space and overheads; employees demanding more flexible working arrangements and wasted hours spent […]
Changes to Provisional Tax
The Government has recently announced a proposal to change the way provisional tax is calculated and paid. The new method is called the Accounting Income Method and is based on accounting income per a business’ software and payments would be made more regularly throughout the year. Implementation is not due until 1 April 2018, so we […]
Modernising Parental Leave
The Employment Standards Legislation Bill which came into effect on 1 April 2016 brings some changes to Parental Leave, including: Parental leave payment period extended to 18 weeks Parental leave payment extended to non-standard workers and those who have recently changed jobs Entitlements extended to a wider range of permanent arrangement carers with primary responsibility of […]
Fair & Productive Work Places
The 1 April 2016 legislative changes also address the zero hour contracts and includes changes to hours of work commitments and what employers can expect from employees and aims to increase certainty for both parties. When the employer and the employee agree to hours of work, those hours must be stated in the employment agreement […]
Health & Safety
With the new Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 now in force, it is a good time to review workplace practices and the roles of its’ people. Following is a brief summary and links to where you can find out more about the details. The aim of the new Act is to improve New Zealand’s woeful health […]
Employer’s Decision to Dismiss Upheld by Employment Relations Authority
The case background A Wanganui care worker with almost 30 years’ experience was sacked when a frail and elderly man she looked after claimed he felt “unsafe, neglected and scared” by her. The man says the worker, Tuahine Hansen, would order him to make her cups of tea and do housework. Mrs Hansen claims the […]
Minimum wage increase
The Government announced that the adult minimum wage will go up by 50 cents to $15.25 an hour from 1 April 2016. The starting-out and training hourly minimum wages rates will also increase from $11.80 to $12.20 per hour from 1 April 2016.
Paid parental leave increases to 18 weeks
Paid parental leave will increase from 16 to 18 weeks in April. To be eligible for this increase, the baby must be due or born on or after 1 April 2016. If you have pregnant employees due on or after 1 April, who intend to take parental leave, check they’re aware of the: increase in the […]
When a Resignation is a Resignation
This Employment Relations Authority case is based on a sad set of background facts, but demonstrates when an employer can deem a resignation as exactly that. Corrine Tribe had only been working for her employer for four weeks when she was diagnosed with cancer, advised her tongue would need to be removed and other tissue […]
Misuse of Employers Information Costs Employee Millions
It’s something employers everywhere worry about; an employee uses their customer details and other business information for their own financial gain which also negatively impacts their business. In one case recently the Employment Relations Authority found an employee, Michael Mitchell, had breached his duty of good faith and fidelity to his employer, Nova Energy. Mr […]
Barbican Training Centre
Barbican Training Centre is an organisation we love to recommend to our clients, they provide outstanding training for people new to business or those who want to improve their business management and IT skills Their 2016 training menu is ready to go with information and enrollment sessions starting NOW! Their programmes are still FREE and are […]
Agriculture Sector, Health and Safety News – Are you Ready for April 2016?
As the clock ticks ever closer to the 4th April 2016, we should all be preparing our farm business models, and educating ourselves and our staff as to how each workplace will meet compliance with the recently passed new Health & Safety law – The Health & Safety at Work Act. Across the whole rural […]
Health & Safety
From the 1st April stringent new rules come into force with regards Health & Safety in the Workplace. This is something that affects every business, even our office based business, so you need to make sure you understand the new legislation and take steps to ensure your workplace is a safe environment for you and […]
IRD Compliance Focus
Each year IRD target a few specific issues relating to tax payer compliance, carrying out investigation and audit activities to recover unpaid tax and penalties. For every $1 spent by Inland Revenue on compliance focus activities they are recovering approximately $8 from non-compliant tax payers. In the next year they will receive a funding boost […]
Company Director Changes
From 28 October 2015 all New Zealand companies must have at least one director who lives in New Zealand, or who lives in Australia and is a director of an Australian registered company. We have been working with our clients to help ensure these requirements are met. However, if your situation changes, for example you […]
IRD bright line test
The new bright line test for buying and selling residential property has been passed into law. The rule says that you’ll pay tax on the profits when you buy and sell a residential property within two years, unless: it’s your main home and you have used it as your main home for 50% or more […]
Health & Safety Law update
Update kindly provided by Chapman ER. The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 has been passed into law and will come into effect on 4 April 2016. WorkSafe NZ want to see a 25% reduction in NZ’s workplace serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities by 2020. If Australia’s improvements are any indication on what we might […]
Protect against Cyber Attacks
Cyber attacks, like email hacks, computer viruses and misuse of credit card details are getting more and more common. Research shows that 8 in 10 New Zealanders have experienced a cyber attack of some kind. By taking the following steps you could stop hackers getting through and reduce the impact if any do sneak through. […]
Closing or selling your business?
We see many employers who decide to close down or sell their business and haven’t realised their good faith obligations extend to consulting with their employees before they make the final decision. In a recent case a Whangarei woman whose employment was terminated because the business was closing down has been awarded more than $6000 for humiliation and other entitlements because she […]
Foodbank Donations
Even in Nelson, the place we love to call home and where we own businesses, or work and play there are people who miss out on some of the very basic things many of us take for granted – like food on the table! The Nelson organisations who provide precious food to those who need […]
Foreign superannuation audit activity has begun
If you have moved to New Zealand from another country you should be aware of the concession IRD put in place whereby taxpayers who transferred their foreign superannuation interests to New Zealand and did not address the taxation implications were given the opportunity to include 15% of the amount transferred in their 2014 or 2015 Tax […]
Changes to Property Rules & Bright-Line Test
From the 1st October 2015 new rules come in to force surrounding the buying and selling of property in New Zealand, including a new test designed to catch and tax individuals making profits from the sale of properties that they have owned for only a short period of time. From October 1 all NZ residents […]
Xero Pricing Update
Accounting software company Xero have announced they will be increasing their subscription prices come 1st December 2015 to help support the ongoing development and innovation of their software. What this means for Xero users is that most will be required to increase their monthly subscription payments from between $2-5 (plus GST) per month – depending […]
6 Things Employers Must Know About Annual Holidays
Employers must know what these provisions are or risk personal grievances or prosecutions 1. Advice of rights Employers must advise employees of their entitlements under the Act and that information is available from the union if they are a member, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). To show this has been done […]
Nelson Arts Festival
Once again Savage & Savage Chartered Accountants are sponsoring a show at this outstanding festival. This year we have sponsored a show called The Wine Project. “Recently returned from a sell-out season in Edinburgh, Java Dance Company captures audiences with dance theatre that clambers in to your senses. Sarah Copeland began fermenting this new work […]
Nelson College student cooks like a champion
Nelson College student M’Chakkapong Klahan has once again been part of a winning team at the secondary schools culinary challenge for the third year in a row. He and team mate Louis Clarke won a Gold medal at this year’s challenge finals. Mentored by Kevin Hopgood at Hopgood’s Restaurant where he works part-time M’Chakkapong is obviously […]
Performance management vs disciplinary issues
You are aware of an issue with an employee but are unsure how to deal with it – is it a performance issue or a disciplinary issue? Does it even matter? Yes, it matters. There are two distinct processes – one for managing poor performance and one for dealing with bad behaviour – and it […]
Nicola’s Cantina
The following article was published in the Nelson Mail earlier this month and features a client of Savage & Savage. It is a story we think is worth sharing again. Nicola’s Cantina, or just ‘Nicola’s’ as everyone calls it, has very quickly become a favourite dining spot for food lovers in the region. Mexican food […]
Local B&B Operators Receive National Award
Anthea and Brian Harvey of Bellbird Lodge, Kaiteriteri are congratulated by Nick James, Chairman of the Nelson-Tasman Bed & Breakfast Association, on receiving their award. Local couple and clients of Savage & Savage, Anthea and Brian Harvey from Bellbird Lodge in Kaiteriteri, were surprised and honored to be presented with a Special Award at the annual conference […]
Health and Safety Reform Bill
As you may have seen in the Media coverage the Health and Safety Reform Bill has been reported back to Parliament which has made some improvements and clarifications. The Health and Safety Reform Bill will replace the old Health and Safety Act and is part of a number of changes aimed at reducing New Zealand’s […]
Legislation Updates
Health & Safety Reform Bill delay: The proposed law changes to workplace health and safety have been delayed for at least two months because of concerns within the National Party caucus about its effect on small businesses and farmers. The main areas being reconsidered are believed to be: Exemptions for businesses with 20 staff or […]
Changes to Annual Company Returns
More detail in Companies Office annual returns From 1 July, annual returns to the Companies Office must include extra information about company directors so if we manage your annual company return we will be asking you for extra information. The following is from a recent Business Insider Newsletter from www.business.govt.nz : Filing an annual return will […]
Business Banking to Broker
Anna McClure was our Business Banking Manager for a number of years when she worked at the ANZ Bank. We had a great relationship with her and were sad to see her leave the bank however we are delighted she is now working for a local business finding solutions for both personal and business finance. […]
Purple Cake Day & WOW tickets
We are big supporters of the Kenbe La Foundation and Purple Cake day. The team has a great deal to offer you this year. Here’s what they have to for you: We’re from the Purple Cake Day children’s charity. Are you or your staff planning to see the World of WearableArt Awards Show in Wellington this […]
Employer Win – Restructuring Valid
Employment news kindly provided by Chapman ER A top coach made redundant from Swimming New Zealand after a poor performance at the Commonwealth Games has lost his claim of unjustifiable dismissal. Funding of Swimming New Zealand’s High Performance programme is dependent on success measured by Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The most transparent of those measures […]
Hopgood’s awarded region’s first Chef’s Hat Award
Congratulatoins to our client, Hopgood’s Restaurant. It has been a great week for Kevin and Jane, their head chef Aaron and their staff. Not only were they named as runner up for the Best Regional Restaurant Award at this year’s Cuisine restaurant Awards but they were awarded the region’s first Chef’s Hat, the New Zealand […]
IRD and Tax Refunds
IRD are now only paying refunds you may be due for into a bank account, they are no longer issuing cheques. This means it is vital we have your correct bank account number on record for the account you want refunds paid to. Please ensure you advise us of the preferred bank account number(s) when you deliver your […]
IRD and tax free allowances
IRD are currently looking at tax free allowances paid to employees and whether they are actually tax free. To be a tax free allowance it has to be a reimbursement of an employment related expense, this can be actual cost or a reasonable estimate (however if it includes a portion above the employment related cost […]
How to promote your business using the internet
The ANZ offer a range of FREE workshops that are open to every business, ANZ customer or not. The next workshop free business training workshop is designed to help you understand how you can best make use of the internet to grow your business Today more people find products and services online than through traditional […]
10 Tips for Dealing with Workplace Gossip
This article is sourced from Chapman ER Unlike this classic joke, gossip can be anything but funny when it happens in your workplace. It can undermine morale and cause loss of productivity. Regardless of the nature of the gossip, the following tips can help deal with the issue. The first few suggestions apply to leadership […]
Hopgood’s Restaurant
The following article about one of our clients, Hopgoods Restaurant was written by Neil Hodgson and published in the Nelson Mail at the end of April in his regular Taste of Nelson Column. We think it is a story worth sharing again. Hopgood’s Restaurant or as everyone calls it ‘Hopgood’s’ is a restaurant you can […]
IRD and Cash Jobs
You will most likely have seen the item on the news lately about IRD targeting cash jobs in some areas of Auckland and while IRD are concentrating on Auckland they will not be ignoring other parts of New Zealand and they certainly are looking at certain industries such as construction, hospitality and similar industries where […]
Congratulations
Congratulations to Rebecca Coram, one of our Senior Accountants, on attaining full membership to the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand. Rebecca has worked very hard to achieve this goal and we are all very proud of her.
ANZAC Day holiday pay
ANZAC Day this year is on Saturday 25th April and this is the first year ANZAC Day has fallen on a weekend since the observance of the day has been ‘Mondayised’. This can be a bit complicated so here is a quick and hopefully easy to understand summary. If you are usually open on a […]
Are you ready to GROW your business now for free?
Ready to take the next step in business? This programme is designed for owners and managers of businesses that want to ramp up their business. Are you Ready to grow your business now for FREE? This FREE part-time 24 week programme gives you time to work “on your business”. It’s designed for serious business owners […]
$168k for Privacy Breach
From Chapman Employment Relations latest newsletter: The Human Rights Tribunal’s decision that NZCU Bayside breached the privacy of their previous employee Karen Hammond was not a surprise. The level of compensation however was staggering. The awarding of $168k compensation, surpassed the previous highest award by an astonishing $128k. The company admitted to the breach, but […]
A New Zealand Collectible Art Show – The Framing Rooms: June 2015
The Framing Rooms are looking for expressions of interest in their second Collectible Art Sale. It will feature New Zealand Artists and include traditional and contemporary work. Their aim is to gather together a dynamic mix of artworks that people find exciting and that they would love to own. They are able to exhibit up to 40 […]
IRD refund changes
IRD have removed the option to request an income tax refund by cheque and they will now issue refunds by direct credit where they have a valid bank account number on file. If IRD do not have a valid bank account number the refund will be issued by cheque. There are a couple of potential […]
Minimum Wage Increase
The adult minimum wage will increase from $14.25 to $14.75 an hour from 1 April 2015. The starting-out and training hourly minimum wages will increase by 40 cents to $11.80 an hour.
Mondayising Anzac & Waitangi Day
From Chapman Employment Relations: This year Anzac Day falls on a Saturday. Do you know how to pay your staff regardless of whether they work on Saturday 25th or not? To understand your obligations around these public holidays read on. From 1 January 2015 the public holiday for ANZAC Day and Waitangi Day will be […]
Working for Families 2016
If you receive weekly or fortnightly Working for Families payments and you or your spouse / partner have received business income (ie income other than wages and bank interest) you need to send IRD evidence of your business income for the 2015/16 year before 31 March 2015 or your payments will stop after this date. Your income evidence can […]
Child Support Changes
Child support laws will change from 1 April 2015 and if you’re paying or receiving child support you should have received your new assessment or entitlement by now. The formula that IRD uses to calculate child support now takes into account both parents income which in theory is a good thing, however the way it is […]
Chapman ER Top Picks for Must Have Interview Questions
Targeted interview questions tell you about the person behind the CV. They should help reveal the candidates true personality, strengths, weaknesses, knowledge, skills and abilities. You should always include questions that are specific to the position, however below are 11 suggestions that can be used across a variety of industries and position types. 1. From […]
IRD Compliance Focus for 2014-15
Inland Revenue tell us they want to make tax simpler, more open and more certain for everyone. One way they do that is by sharing their compliance focus, so that it’s clear for everyone the key areas they’re looking at and key things people need to do to get their tax and entitlements right. Now’s […]
Paid Parental Leave increase
Paid parental leave for a baby expected or born, or for a child adopted, on or after 1 April 2015 can now be taken for up to a maximum of 16 weeks (previously 14 weeks). This means if baby is expected before 1 April 2015, but arrives on or after 1 April 2015, parent(s) are entitled […]
Employment Law Changes
Significant changes took place to employment law in New Zealand on the 6th March 2015 when the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2014 will come into effect. Here is a brief summary of the main changes: Flexible work: the right to request flexible working arrangements will be extended to all employees and it will be easier to request by […]
IRD System Changes
Due to planned system changes all IRD services will be unavailable from 6 am Saturday 15 November to 6 pm Sunday 16 November. This includes myIR, B2B and the contact centres.
IRD Look Alike Email
There is currently a phishing email (again) being sent out that claims to be from Inland Revenue. It suggests you have a tax refund due and a link to click on. Do not click on any links, as this in itself may trigger a virus download. Inland Revenue will never send an email that asks […]
Seven Deadly Sins of Business
The following was originally published in the Sydney Morning Herald but we think it applies to every business no matter where it is located. Sins – every business owner is guilty of them now and again. But which deadly sins could bring your business down? If there was a small business bible, these would surely […]
Child Support reform changes are coming
IRD have announced that major changes are being made to the child support scheme, starting next year. These changes are the first major overhaul of the child support scheme in 20 years. They reflect that life has changed a lot for families during this time. Currently child support payments are based on the paying parent’s […]
What happens if you don’t pay IRD?
You are likely to have seen the recent news coverage about the arrest, at the airport, of Terry Seripisos when he arrived back in New Zealand after being overseas for a number of months. It appears his arrest was for unpaid Child Support payments he was supposed to pay several years ago. While most people […]
IRD Payments
From 1 October 2014 you’ll need to make sure Inland Revenue receives your payment on or before the due date to avoid penalties and interest. Posting it on the due date is no longer good enough; IRD must have your payment on or before the due date.
Employment Matters – Absences
Employment matters with thanks to Chapman Employment Relations An employee had applied for annual leave to go overseas, but I turned it down because I already have two staff off at that time. He has come back to me and said he is going anyway. I am really angry about his attitude and I really […]
New Zealand Tax Residency
To be treated as a New Zealand Tax Resident an individual needs to be in NZ for 183 days in a 12-month period or have a permanent place of abode. There has been some recent development around the issue of permanent place of abode to establish New Zealand Tax Residency. If you are leaving NZ […]
Medical Incapacity – Four Common Mistakes
Employment matters with thanks to Chapman Employment Relations Are you looking to possibility of exiting an employee who is not attending work often enough (or at all), due to injury or ill health? Read here to learn about four common mistakes that are made in the process of medical incapacity. Not meeting with the employee […]
New Financial Reporting Standards: Simpler, Cheaper – or Not
There’s been quite a bit of publicity in the media about how, for the 2014/2015 financial year, Companies and Partnerships will be able to have simpler (and therefore cheaper) Annual Accounts prepared. Unfortunately the reality is a little different. It is true that the reporting requirements will be less for some fairly large Companies compared […]
Workplace Health & Safety Reform 2014
Health & Safety in the workplace rules and regulations are changing. The Health & Safety at Work Act is currently open for submissions and the proposed changes are significant. WorkSafe NZ is the new regulator and this organization has already been established, the proposed new Act provides wide ranging powers to WorkSafe NZ and includes […]
Employment matters Q&A
Employment matters with thanks to Chapman Employment Relations Q. What can void 90 Day Trial Period? Answer: o If the employee has previously worked for you (or a subsidiary). o If the employee was not given a written employment agreement before commencing employment. Once they have started work they are considered an employee and so […]
Hot tips for increasing productivity
With Barbican Training Centre Increasing productivity is what keeps you ahead of the pack. It’s what keeps you afloat when the others are sinking. But staying productive can be a real challenge. At the end of the day, there’s a good chance that you are not satisfied with what’s been accomplished. If that’s the case, […]
Is it OK to become a Trustee or Director?
Obviously it is fine for you to become a director of a company you own. Becoming a director does come with responsibilities but as long as you operate within the law and meet your obligations as a director everything should run quite smoothly. Do note however that the responsibility for a company trading within the […]
Recruitment & Misrepresentation – Buyer Beware
Employment matters with thanks to Chapman Employment Relations Misrepresentation by a job applicant is a serious matter, but you still need to get the procedure right when managing the situation. Mr Richardson was employed by Fonterra as a Tanker Driver. Prior to employment Mr Richardson was asked if he had any previous criminal convictions, he […]
IRD changes to payment dates
We recently received the following notice from IRD “Changes to the Inland Revenue payment service at Westpac From 1 October 2014 customers will no longer be able to make cheque payments or drop off returns or forms at a Westpac branch. They will be able to continue making cash and eftpos payments at Westpac. […]
End of year check list
At the end of each financial year there are a number of things you need to do and some things you can do to make our job easier and to ensure the information you give us is both complete and accurate. Please ensure you complete the Client Questionnaire form(s) we have sent you. You will […]
Employment reference no longer confidential
Employment matters with thanks to Chapman Employment Relations An interesting (in our view disturbing) case from the Human Rights Review Tribunal which suggests references and the details of other candidates in a recruitment process are not as confidential as we all thought. Kevin Waters, aged 62, unsuccessfully applied for two positions with Alpine Energy, a […]
Parental leave payment increase
From the 1st July 2014, the maximum parental leave payment for eligible employees and self-employed people is now $504.10 gross per week, while the minimum payment is $142.50. To learn about parental leave in more detail or to find out more information visit the Department of Labour website.