Pro Experts

NOW Co-Founder Embraces Study at EIT

Widely known in the business community as the co-founder of NOW, Ben Deller delights these days in telling people he is a student. Having left the successful telecommunications company early last year, the 38-year-old is now dovetailing business consultancy work with part- time postgraduate studies at EIT. Ben enjoyed his 14 years heading NOW’s sales and marketing team, but over...

Pro Finance

Goals-based Investing – A New Approach to an old Question

When discussing a client’s financial planning needs, and specifically what portfolio to establish, an adviser is required to navigate through the client’s specific needs and goals. This is with an ultimate view to provide a portfolio from within the specific discipline and processes that will meet the client’s expectations, while importantly avoiding as much risk as possible. While focusing on...

Pro Business advice

Addressing partner misalignment

Whether you want to grow, to retain market share or even explore exit options, it's important that you have a good idea of what's going on in your business now. Sometimes this can be difficult when you have more than one stakeholder, as is the case with many small to medium sized businesses with multiple owners. Certainly, it is important...

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

On death a person’s assets form their “estate” which is subject to the wishes or intentions of the deceased’s Will or if they do not have a Will by the “rules on intestacy.” While many would acknowledge that they should have an up-to-date Will, it is surprising how many people do not have a current Will or one at all....

Are You a Good Leader?

If you are a business owner or manager you are responsible for leading others in pursuit of the organisation’s success. Whether it’s a small business with a few employees or a large entity with multiple divisions, if you are the leader of a team you are having an impact on a daily basis by what you do, or don’t do....

Android or Apple?

For the un-initiated Android and Apple are both operating systems that are leaders in mobile phone, tablet and PC operating Systems. Android is now owned by Google and has been the market leader in the mobile phone space for a long time and continues to rise. Its market leadership is larger due to range and price of devices rather than...

Working together is a better solution

Water Conservation Orders (WCO's) are mechanisms under the Resource Management Act designed to recognise and protect outstanding values of particular bodies of water. Commonly associated with movements in the 1980’s to protect the country’s most wild and scenic rivers from hydroelectric dam initiatives, they are legal instruments that can be used to set rules that Councils must abide by. A...

Pro Business advice

Real-time accounting software helps streamline businesses

Real time accounting software and other business applications can help run your business and make your life a whole lot easier. The overwhelming increase in industry specific add on applications which integrate with accounting software enables business owners to create their own customised accounting platform. Here are some key apps to consider in order to streamline your entire hospitality operation;...

Pro Property

New legislation sets timeline for fixing earthquake prone buildings

It’s an acknowledged fact that New Zealand is prone to seismic activity and ultimately ensuring the safety of people is our priority and our buildings need to be safe for occupants and users alike. As from July 1, 2017 the Building (Earthquake-prone Buildings) Amendment Act 2016 came into effect and the legislation affects owners of earthquake-prone buildings, territorial authorities (TAs),...

Pro Legal

New Bill to manage Meth contamination

On 23 May 2017, the Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (No. 2) was introduced to Parliament. This Bill proposes amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act and is significant as it seeks to, as stated by Nick Smith MP who introduced the Bill, to “ensure our tenancy laws better manage methamphetamine contamination, liability for careless damage and the tenancy of unsuitable properties”....