Pro Experts

Franchising – what’s in the fine print?

Despite being prevalent throughout New Zealand, there is no legislation that governs or regulates franchises, with the result that there is no requirement for the terms of a franchise to be fair and reasonable. What is a Franchise? Every franchise should be a replica of the Franchisor’s business, therefore giving customers of the franchise a consistent experience. The Franchisee gains...

5G – the need for speed

There has been quite a bit of discussion and some excitement around 5G coming and what that might mean for us here in New Zealand. Firstly, what is 5G. Simply 5G is the fifth- generation mobile network. In 1987 1st generation was deployed in New Zealand and this was all about voice, 2nd generation in the 90s was digital enabling...

Entrepreneurs Alive and Thriving at EIT

The Hawke’s Bay economy is changing and EIT is adapting to meet the era of the entrepreneur. “Over the past decade there has been a massive global shift to entrepreneurial ecosystems,” said Jonathan Sibley, EIT’s Director of Research and Associate Professor, School of Business. “It’s been estimated that 50 percent of all jobs created in OECD countries over the last...

Making cents of the market

It is the process of anticipating what could lie ahead, and the creation of methods and processes to help minimise the potential negative effects of future influence... but can you ever truly 100% futureproof a portfolio? The truth is you can’t completely 100% future-proof any portfolio, because investment involves risk no matter how low, and the future is uncertain. But...

What’s New in Planning?

Proposals for developing a ‘national planning template’ were first introduced following a 2013 discussion document ‘Building Competitive Cities: Reform of the Urban and Infrastructure Planning System’, with consultation on the development of National Planning Standards commencing on 6 June 2018 and submissions on Draft Standards closing on 17 August 2018. The themes emerging from the consultation indicated that: current plans...

Protecting your assets in the event of insolvency

Despite being law in New Zealand for well over a decade, the Personal Property Securities Act 1993 (“PPSA”) remains a mystery to some and misunderstood by many. The minimal time and costs involved in protecting your interests under the PPSA can make a significant impact when compared to the economic loss you could suffer when the correct procedures have not...

Commercial property values under fire

From 1 July 2017, the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 (FENZ) came into force replacing the Fire Services Levy. The Act replaces the Fire Services Act 1975 and the Forrest & Rural Fire Act 1975. It has been designed to ensure New Zealand has a modern, fit for purpose, and well-funded fire service that addresses long standing issues...

The art of letting go

When the time comes for employees to make a change and resign their employment it generally occurs under a shroud of secrecy. People go to great lengths to ensure their current employer is the last to know. This isn’t an ideal scenario for any of the parties. The employee has to sneak away to interviews, they can’t use the current...

Co-ownership agreements

You should always protect your investments as best you can and your entry into a new business venture is no different. Any new business always starts with good intentions and hope for a positive outcome. However, no matter how strong the bond between you and your business partner(s), every relationship goes through its ups and downs and you should try...

Diversifying more than your portfolio

As many readers will know, as well as being a Hawkes Bay based financial adviser who has been servicing Bay clients for over 10 years, I also have a national role with AdviceFirst. Today, AdviceFirst includes the now rebranded Spicers business and has a strong presence with 15 offices throughout New Zealand. As part of that amalgamation between Spicers and...