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The airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate … View moreThe airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate around 55 percent of its usual domestic capacity (compared to pre-COVID-19 levels) from July and August. On Monday the airline began operating to all 20 of the domestic ports it previously flew to. Jetstar said it will operate 75 flights a week, about 60 per cent of its pre-Covid 19 schedule, now that we are resuming life in Level 1. Customers with bookings on the remaining 40 per cent of flights have been contacted and offered a range of options including credits for later journeys.Promotional fares include Auckland to Wellington from $21, Auckland to Christchurch from $21, Christchurch to Wellington from $32, Auckland to Dunedin from $45 and Auckland to Queenstown from $48. The airline said it will closely monitor demand, with further domestic flights likely to be added to the schedule in coming months. Jetstar group chief executive Gareth Evans said the airline was ''well and truly ready to take off''. "Passengers would notice a number of wellbeing initiatives as our flights resume, which have been developed based on best-practice medical advice and customer feedback, such as masks and sanitising wipes. "This is in addition to the measures we already have in place such as extra cleaning and Hepa filters on board which remove 99.9 per cent of all particles, including viruses.'' The airline was introducing more flexibility into bookings, enabling customers to book with greater confidence."
Jetstar's New Zealand domestic schedule from 1 July includes:
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• Auckland to Christchurch (24 weekly return flights)
• Auckland to Dunedin (3 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Wellington (27 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Queenstown (14 return weekly flights)
• Christchurch to Wellington (7 return weekly flights)
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The sale runs until Wednesday. The return of Jetstar comes as Air New Zealand expands its domestic network with flights to Timaru and Taupo resuming, and the airline building up to running at more than 55 per cent capacity. Across the Tasman Qantas and Jetstar are flying just 15 per cent of their normal domestic capacity as interstate restrictions remain tight. Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Nikki Goodman said Alert Level 1 will mark a return to normal with regards to domestic flying. "Social distancing is no longer a requirement, unaccompanied minors will once again be able to travel domestically, and customers will be able to travel around New Zealand again with pets as checked baggage." Domestic lounges, with the exception of Auckland where renovations are underway, will reopen and hot food will be available again. Goodman asked people to be patient as the airline increased flights. "As we get back into more frequent flying, please be patient with us, as our contact centre and customer care teams continue to receive a high volume of enquiries. If your travel isn't urgent, we'd appreciate if you would wait to contact us so that those with imminent travel can be prioritised. We're thrilled to welcome more people on board, but please remember to be kind to our frontline employees – and if you are unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms please do not travel."
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The following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...
COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension
A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly… View moreThe following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...
COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension
A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly impacted by COVID-19 after the Wage Subsidy ends.
The Wage Subsidy Extension will be available from 10 June 2020 until 1 September 2020 so employers can keep paying their employees.
Applications open from 10 June 2020.
Loss of revenue criteria changed 5 June
The Government announced a change in criteria from a 50% revenue drop to a 40% revenue drop.
This means you must have had a revenue loss of at least 40% for a continuous 30 day period. This period needs to be in the 40 days before you apply (but no earlier than 10 May 2020) and must be compared to the closest period last year.
Other key points
• If you're applying for an employee you've already applied for the Wage Subsidy for, you can't apply for them until their 12 week Wage Subsidy has finished.
• It will cover 8 weeks per employee from the date you submit your application.
• It will be paid to you as a lump sum at the same weekly rate as the Wage Subsidy.
• If you've given an employee notice of redundancy before you apply, you can't apply for those employees unless the redundancy notice is withdrawn.
• You'll need to agree to certain obligations, such as to:
o pass the subsidy on to your employees
o retain your employees for the duration of the subsidy
o do your best to pay your employees at least 80% of their normal pay
o take active steps to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your business.
Repayments
If your employee's usual wages are less than the subsidy, you must pay them their usual wages. Any difference should be used for the wages of other affected staff.
If there are no other employees to use the subsidy for, then the remaining amount should be paid back.
Self-employed
If you're self-employed, the income you regularly draw from your business may be less than the amount you receive for the Wage Subsidy Extension. In this case, the remaining amount should be paid back.
Receiving more than one COVID-19 payment
You won't be able to receive more than one COVID-19 payment from us for the same employee at the same time. This includes the:
• Wage Subsidy
• Leave Support Scheme, and
• Wage Subsidy Extension.
Related links
COVID-19 Wage Subsidy
COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme
The following is the extract received from IRD.
Kia Ora Koutou
Today we have updates on the following topics:
… View moreThe following is the extract received from IRD.
Kia Ora Koutou
Today we have updates on the following topics:
• Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBCS) deadline extended
• Covid-19 response variations
• New self-service options for customers facing hardship
Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme deadline extended
The Government has announced a six-week extension for the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme (SBC). Applications opened on 12 May 2020 and can now be submitted up to and including 24 July 2020.
All other conditions remain the same. For details of the loan conditions visit: www.ird.govt.nz...
The loan is providing relief to eligible businesses experiencing financial pressures during COVID-19. We have seen continuing demand particularly from businesses with up to five full time equivalent employees.
Already we have received over 73,000 applications, and 95% of these have been approved. This represents $1.19B disbursed. The average loan is around $17,000.
Most loans are processed overnight with businesses receiving their funds well within five working days of the loan being approved.
We advise applicants to read the conditions and eligibility carefully before submitting their application.
Commonly owned groups of businesses and organisations
We’ve been asked for additional guidance on the treatment of commonly owned groups of business and organisations.
The purpose of the loan scheme is to assist small to medium sized businesses of up to 50 full-time-equivalent employees.
A commonly owned group of businesses is (generally) considered to be one where each business has the same combination of owners. It does not matter whether those owners have the same proportion of ownership in each business.
In addition, a business may also be treated as being in a commonly owned group if it is in substance part of a larger group of businesses. For example, this may occur where
• The group has a dominating shareholder or group of shareholders and the businesses operate together as if they were one.
• The group of businesses involves a complex ownership structure where the overall control is centralised, and the businesses are in substance one enterprise.
We ask loan applicants to evaluate this requirement honestly and in good faith, on the basis that the loan scheme has been designed to assist small to medium sized businesses and is not intended to benefit large businesses or organisations, which control multiple small to medium sized businesses or organisations.
Where a business or businesses which are in substance part of a larger group receive loans in contravention of the policy intent, the Commissioner may reconsider their eligibility for the loans and may ask the businesses to repay the loan amounts early.
Where a commonly owned group of businesses and organisations collectively have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees, each business or organisation will be entitled to apply for a loan based on the number of employees employed by each individual business.
Where a commonly owned group of businesses and organisations collectively have more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees, none of the businesses in the group will be eligible for a loan.
Examples are available in the Questions and Answers document on our website: www.ird.govt.nz...
COVID-19 response variations
To help customers manage the impacts of COVID-19, the Commissioner now has a discretion to vary a requirement under an Inland Revenue Act (including, for these purposes, the Unclaimed Money Act 1971). This discretion is found at ss 6H and 6I of the Tax Administration Act 1994 and applies from 17 March 2020 to 30 September 2021.
To date two variation determinations have been published:
COV 20/01: Variation to section HB 13(3)(b) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (election to be look-through company)
COV 20/02: Variation to section EI 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (Timber income spreading)
Information on the process to request a variation and the publication of any variation determinations is available on our tax technical website:
www.taxtechnical.ird.govt.nz...
COVID-19: New self-service options for customers facing hardship
Use of money interest and penalties remission due to COVID-19
If your client’s ability to pay tax on time has been impacted by COVID-19, you will soon be able to submit a request for remission of penalties and interest through MyIR.
From Wednesday 10 June, under the “I want to” menu there will be a new option, 'Notify of impact by COVID-19'.
By making a request for remission you will be asked to confirm that:
• Some, or all of the amounts owing were due on or after 14 February 2020,
• Your client’s ability to pay by the due date, either physically or financially, has been significantly affected by COVID-19,
• You have contacted the Commissioner as soon as practicable to request relief and your client will pay the outstanding core tax as soon as practicable.
Once the web submission has been processed, an indicator will be added for the client, along with a start date.
Instalment arrangements
A similar process will apply for setting up instalment arrangements.
From Wednesday 10 June a new check box will be available at the end of the self-service instalment arrangement process: “I have been affected by COVID-19”.
If you select this option, you will be asked to complete the same disclaimer as above.
The arrangement will take effect automatically overnight. If the arrangement defaults, and the core tax is not paid, the penalties and interest will be reinstated from the original due date.
Please ensure this information is shared with your colleagues.
Ngā mihi
Corey Sinclair
National Leader
Community Compliance
The select committee tasked with examining New Zealand's racing laws has recommended a more consider…
Around 100 to 130 jobs will be lost from the head office under the changes. Between 700 and 950 roles, or 410 full-time equivalent jobs, also face the cut "as a result of store closure and operating model changes", The Warehouse Group announced in an NZX statement today. While the closure… View moreAround 100 to 130 jobs will be lost from the head office under the changes. Between 700 and 950 roles, or 410 full-time equivalent jobs, also face the cut "as a result of store closure and operating model changes", The Warehouse Group announced in an NZX statement today. While the closure of three stores were previously announced, six more are now likely to close. The Noel Leeming Henderson clearance centre and Tokoroa store, The Warehouse Whangaparaoa, Johnsonsville and Dunedin Central stores and Warehouse Stationery Te Awamutu store are on the chopping block. Chief executive Nick Grayston says the job losses come as the business plans to move to a different operating model from April 31. "Based on our insights into changing shopping habits and the anticipated economic impacts caused by Covid-19, we are accelerating some changes that had already been planned." The company says it's seen "strong trading" across its brands since the country shifted to Level 2, but warns it's believed to be the result of "pent-up demand" rather than a long-term trend.
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Waterhole is open for business and we are taking bookings for New Clients, please see our website for details.
Hi Neighbours, It might be raining but the record dry which is depleting Auckland's water supply is not going away in a hurry. Is it "just a dought?": Read the story below:
Simply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers … View moreSimply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.
Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers between 1-30 June 2020 at Resene owned ColorShops.
Trees That Count are an environmental charity on a mission to plant millions more native trees throughout New Zealand. Trees That Count runs the country’s only marketplace which provides a place for anyone to fund or gift native trees. This support is matched with planters throughout the country who are restoring, and growing, precious wildlife corridors or pockets of native forest, turning small projects into mighty ones.
Did you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...
At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must … View moreDid you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...
At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must go up and up and up”.
Well, they weren't wrong there.
Today, Waiheke Island brings to mind sunny vineyards and beachy weekend getaways. The image of Waiheke as an “island paradise” has its origins in 1920s marketing, but the island has long been desirable even as its character has changed over the past centuries.
As we go into the long weekend and begin to venture further afield again, why not have a read of how Waiheke came to be the place it is today, in this blog about its recent history by our Project Curator, Jane Groufsky.
www.aucklandmuseum.com...
My wife Denise Monteguti Dias lost her wallet at New Lynn Fresh or Laundromat on 3 Margan Ave. Please, if anyone finds it, please let me know. Thanks.
It's inspirational to meet a family that's taken the plunge to leave the rat race and establish themselves in the country. This couple not only managed to keep their jobs, but also build a stunning house on the Coromandel Peninsula that has caught the eye of NZIA judges.
Is there a carpet layer locally in Titirangi that could stretch our lounge carpet?
Not a big jobq
Don't let those picked-over supermarket shelves stress you. It's easier than you might think to grow fresh veggies and herbs for yourself and your family.
By Lynn Coulter
The good news is that many fruits and veggies are easy to grow, even for beginners, and they’ll thrive whether … View moreDon't let those picked-over supermarket shelves stress you. It's easier than you might think to grow fresh veggies and herbs for yourself and your family.
By Lynn Coulter
The good news is that many fruits and veggies are easy to grow, even for beginners, and they’ll thrive whether you’re gardening in a backyard plot or in containers on your patio, porch or apartment balcony.
Grow beans in a snap
You might be surprised to know you don’t need a big garden to grow green beans. Bush beans are space-savers, but you can also grow beans vertically, by choosing pole varieties and training their vines onto a trellis, fence, or other support. Full sun, regular waterings and moderately rich soil will pay off in a plentiful harvest, and beans don’t need much fertiliser, although they’ll benefit from a side-dressing of compost in mid-season if you didn’t work a lot of compost into the soil before you planted. Check your seed packet to know approximately when your variety will be ready to harvest, and keep the plants picked so they’ll keep producing. Freeze your green beans to enjoy them all year long.
Plant prolific zucchinis
Zucchinis have a reputation for being so easy to grow, and so prolific, gardeners joke about having to leave their extras on a neighbour’s doorstep, ring the bell, and run away. Just one plant can yield 2.5-4.5kg of zucchinis in a single growing season. Plant their seeds directly in your garden or a large container. They need full sun and moist, easily-draining soil amended with compost. Give them a couple of centimetres of water each week, if there’s no rain, and harvest when the fruits are small (botanically speaking, zucchinis are fruits) and the skins are tender. You can freeze zucchinis or bake them into breads, slice them into strips for pasta, grate them for fritters or chop them into vegetable chillis. They’re also delicious when you know how to roast vegetables until they’re crispy and caramelised.
Raise crunchy radishes
Many gardeners love fresh radishes for that crunch that you get when you bite into them – but these simple root veggies are good for more than eating. Because the seeds sprout quickly – often within a week – you can use them in the garden to mark the rows of other crops that don’t come up as fast. Simply sow the seeds outdoors about 1-2cm deep as the temperature cools. Wait ten days and plant again for a continuous crop. They’ll thrive in a sunny spot that has loose soil amended with organic matter. Thin the seedlings to 5cm apart, so their roots won’t be crowded, and keep the plants evenly moist. Some varieties are ready to harvest just three weeks after planting.
Cultivate cucumbers
Like zucchini, cucumbers are prolific and easy to grow. Just give them a spot with moist, fertile soil and lots of sunshine. Start the seeds a couple of centimetres deep into the ground. They’ll sprout in a few days. Keep them happy with regular waterings and, if you didn’t work a lot of organic matter into the soil before you planted, side-dress them with a balanced, soluble fertiliser when the fruits set. The cucumbers are ready to harvest when they’re still small and the skins are tender. To keep a steady supply for the table, make successive plantings. If you’re short on space, train vining cucumber varieties onto a support like a fence or trellis, or plant a bush variety in a container or raised bed. Use your cukes in salsas, salads, gazpacho and smoothies or turn them into pickles.
Crack out some capsicum
Capsicums thrive in sunny climes, so make sure they have a warm, sunny spot not prone to wind or frost. They can also be grown in pots. Capsicums like a deep, warm, well draining soil, mulch and room to breathe, so leave about 50–60cm between your capsicums when planting out. Prepare the soil a month before planting by throwing in some fertiliser, then mulch.
Plant tasty tomatoes
The hardest thing about growing tomatoes might be choosing your favourite kind. There are cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, heirlooms with rich flavours, Romas for stews, pasta and sauces, and hearty beefsteaks. Gardeners in cool regions may want to start with transplants to save time over growing tomatoes from seeds. The plants need full sun and soil that drains easily. For best results, your soil should contain lots of compost and be slightly acidic, with a pH of 6.2 to 6.8. As the plants grow, apply a fertiliser recommended for tomatoes as directed on the label. This raised garden bed with an automatic watering system makes it easy to grow compact or patio-type tomatoes, even in a small space.
Sow lettuce for salads
Lettuces are great for beginning gardeners. They grow fast, take full sun but tolerate some shade, and can be tucked between other fruits and veggies or into containers. They’re also available in lots of tasty, colourful varieties. If you don’t have an ideal garden spot – for example, your soil contains a lot of clay or rocks – use a raised bed instead. Add good quality planting soil, you won’t have to dig. The loose soil will also make it easy to pluck any weeds that pop up. Sow your lettuce seeds in early autumn or spring and keep the plants watered regularly. Lettuce started in spring will last until the summer heat arrives and autumn-sown lettuce will grow until a killing frost. Harvest the outermost leaves first but don’t pull up the plants, so they can keep producing.
Set out onions
Make a little hole in the ground, tuck in a bare-root onion seedling, and stand back. In two or three weeks, the small plants will be ready to pull and use as green onions, or you can wait until the bulbs are bigger and then harvest them. Mature onions will let you know they’re ready when their tops turn yellow and bend over. Just brush off the soil and put the onions, with the tops still attached, in a warm, dry, well-ventilated place to cure for a week to 10 days. Then remove the top foliage and roots and store the onions in a cool, airy place until you’re ready to use them. Slice and fry them for onion rings, chop them for salsas and salads, or grill, roast or pickle them. Chopped or sliced onions can be refrigerated in sealed containers for seven to 10 days.
Fill a windowsill with herbs
A herb garden makes a thoughtful gift for a housebound friend or a fun and easy growing project you can enjoy without leaving home. Although the types of herbs you’ll want to include may vary, good choices include basil to make into pesto, mint to steep for tea or dill to add flavour to homemade pickles. So many herbs are easy to grow, you may not want to stop.
Happy Gardening
Baptist Lobo
Practicing Chartered Accountant
During April 2014 and November 2019, ANZ issued duplicate repayment insurance policies to customers that didn't provide any additional benefits or covers, and charged premiums on those policies, the FMA said today.
It's also alleged ANZ issued and didn't cancel policies for … View moreDuring April 2014 and November 2019, ANZ issued duplicate repayment insurance policies to customers that didn't provide any additional benefits or covers, and charged premiums on those policies, the FMA said today.
It's also alleged ANZ issued and didn't cancel policies for ineligible customers, also charging premiums on the policies. "ANZ sold a product that, for some customers, offered no benefit," FMA general counsel Nick Kynoch says. The FMA says the breaches range back to at least 2001, but the Financial Markets Conduct Act only came into effect from April 2014. The duplicate payment policy was identified around September 2017 and the ineligible customers issue around May 2018, the FMA says. But neither were disclosed to the FMA or Reserve Bank during a widespread review into the conduct and culture of New Zealand's retail banks in 2018. FMA says it was first notified by ANZ of the issues in June 2019. ANZ is being charged under the Act for making "false and misleading representations about the cover of the policies". "While ANZ has embarked on their own remediation programme, and ultimately self-reported this matter, the case points to a failure of internal systems and controls resulting in customer harm over a significant period of time," Mr Kynoch says. "In this instance, we felt it appropriate to put the matter before the courts." ANZ says it's already compensated customers around $440,000 in total, but admits there was a delay in reporting the issue to the FMA. Around 390 customers had duplicate policies and another 439 were ineligible to claim the insurance. The FMA's case relates to 307 customers. ANZ says it no longer offers the insurance. "We’re very sorry this happened," ANZ's Ben Kelleher said in a statement today. "We actively review our processes and systems to try and identify issues that could impact our customers. Where we find problems, we work to fix them for our customers." The FMA has filed the proceedings in the High Court and is seeking declarations of contravention of the Financial Markets Conduct Act, pecuniary penalties and costs.
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