Employment Disputes in NZ: Prevent Costly HR Mistakes Employment disputes in New Zealand are one of the most expensive risks businesses overlook. Most owners think about risk in financial terms — cashflow, debt, tax obligations, profit margins. But personal grievance...
Most Kiwi businesses do not start with spreadsheets and strategy decks. They start with an idea, a few good people, and a willingness to give something a crack. Parrotdog is one of those stories. I first connected with Matt Stevens through a FinTech accelerator...
An owner dependent business can look healthy on paper while still feeling heavy in real life. If everything relies on you being present every day, you’re not building a business yet... you’ve built an expensive job. The uncomfortable realisation On paper, many...
Young teenagers, suited up for their end-of-season football awards. Polished speeches. Firm handshakes. Quiet pride. But before the applause and trophies, the Jon Stanhope their coach stood to speak. He spoke about pride. Professionalism. What it means to lead with...
The end of the year brings a natural pause. Work slows, routines loosen, and the pressure lifts just enough for us to notice how fast we’ve been moving. It also highlights something else: how constantly we’ve been plugged in. Between emails, apps, streaming,...
Ever noticed how the best cafes feel like more than just a place to get coffee? The regulars know each other by name, the baristas ask about your weekend, and there’s always a quiet buzz of connection in the air. It’s no accident these cafes are doing more than making...
A few weeks ago, I found myself back at school camp, not as a student, but as one of the adults helping out at Tui Ridge. If you know me and my ADHD, you’ll understand why being surrounded by dozens of energetic kids is what I’d call a full sensory experience. It was...
November is more than a countdown - it’s a chance to reset For many Kiwi business owners, November can feel like a sprint to the finish line. But it’s also a smart time to pause, reset, and realign before the chaos of summer and the new year hits. This NZ business...
Running a business in a small town can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do—and one of the loneliest. In a previous column, I shared thoughts on burnout, referencing a Massey Business School study that found 57% of Kiwi workers are at high risk. Here in...
Many business owners I speak to around Whakatāne are running flat out — long days, full books, and still not much left at month’s end. It’s a familiar challenge. And more often than not, the issue is that their hourly rate doesn’t reflect the true cost of labour in...
Selling a family-owned business is rarely just a financial move. It’s a deeply personal one. Whether it’s been passed down through generations or built up over the past decade, the process of stepping away can stir up questions about legacy, control, and family...
Small-Town Business Loneliness: Why Trust Is the Cure Small-town business loneliness is one of the most overlooked challenges facing Kiwi entrepreneurs. Running a business in a small town can be one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do. It can also be one of...
You don’t need to be in politics to deal with conflict. It’s something we all have to manage at some time. And disagreement is not a bad thing. It’s just an opportunity to learn. Still, it helps to have a way of handling tension that doesn't escalate it. In this...
Looking to boost your innovation culture? You’re not alone. Many New Zealand businesses find themselves stuck in routine—doing things the same way because that’s how it’s always been done. But change doesn’t have to mean big budgets or huge upheaval. This post shares...
I watched a chef the other day absolutely nail a dish. Technique, timing, flavour—everything was spot on. When I complimented him, he just shrugged and said, “It’s not rocket science.” He’s right. It’s not rocket science. But it is a science. Skill, instinct,...
At the heart of every successful business lies one universal truth: numbers don’t lie. Whether you're aiming for growth, stability, or something in between, your financial data holds the key to where you’ve been—and where you’re heading. Accountants are often seen as...
Setting goals can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be boring or overly complicated. That’s where SMART goals come in – they’re a proven way to stay focused and achieve what you’ve set out to do. And by adding a touch of creativity, you can...
In today’s fast-paced world, workplace interruptions are more common than ever. These disruptions—whether it’s a quick question from a colleague, a ping on your phone, or yet another meeting—take us off track, often leaving us scrambling to refocus. But the good news...
At Calc, we work every day to navigate that fine line between efficiency and empathy. Yes, we need to hit targets and ensure our company thrives financially, meeting quarterly goals and achieving growth milestones. But we also need to listen attentively to each...
Work-life balance: it’s a phrase that gets thrown around a lot. For many, it conjures images of strictly set hours and weekends free from work. But what if balance isn’t about sticking to a rigid 9-to-5? What if it’s more about finding your rhythm than following the...