ACC Self Employed Insurance Options

ACC has a couple of charming little lost earnings compensation insurance policies available to self employed people. Now the names of these policies alone will not excite you but here is a little run down on the differences & benefits behind ACC CoverPlus (CPlus), WorkPlace and ACC CoverPlus Extra (CPX)….. yep, there’s ‘extra’. Essentially the ‘extra’ in CPX means that: · You can negotiate a prearranged cover amount rather than the plain old 80% of your income – which could change from year to year incidentally · This amount is set and can not be changed…wahooo! · Cover is tailored to meet the individuals needs within a partnership · Once agreed the sum insured is guaranteed and is paid regardless of ongoing earnings or comparisons of earnings in different years. There is no requirement to prove a financial loss….phew, nice and simple. · ACC continue to pay 100% until you are declared fit to get back to work. · If you are newly self-employed the level of cover can be based on future contracts that indicate guaranteed income or a cheeky ACC formula · Whichever option you choose, ACC will provide assistance with treatment and rehabilitation costs. All in all, this is boring but a pretty essential conversation and consideration to make. We have insurance experts and advisors on hand that we can introduce you to if you would like, just drop us a line

Skyline expands brand portfolio with Totally Tourism purchase

By Idealog, August 30, 2011 @ 10:11 am

Mark Quickfall (left) and Ken Matthews at Skyline Queenstown. Photo: infonews.co.nz

Skyline Enterprises – perhaps best known as the operator of the Gondola restaurant and luge in Queenstown – is to purchase fellow tourism and adventure company Totally Tourism.

The two companies have entered a sale and purchase agreement that will take effect on August 31 should closing conditions be met.

Skyline chairman Ken Matthews said Totally Tourism, which operates iconic sightseeing and adventure brands including Mitre Peak Cruises, Milford Sound Scenic Flights, Challenge Rafting, Harris Mountains Heli-Ski, Air Fiordland, Wanaka Flightseeing and Glacier Helicopters, would make a great addition to the Skyline portfolio.

“The businesses within the Totally Tourism portfolio are well established, strongly branded tourism operations which will allow our company to expand throughout the Aoraki Mt Cook, West Coast, Southern Lakes and Fiordland regions," he said.

"Skyline is about providing world class leisure and entertainment experiences and these companies offer us a range of new opportunities to deliver this promise in the tourism sector,” he said.

Totally Tourism was established in 1999 by Mark and Jackie Quickfall and Matthews said it would continue to operate without any discernible range.

Mark Quickfall would stay on with the company in the key areas of relationship management and strategic direction.

Quickfall said he was comfortable passing ownership to Skyline, which held similar values to Totally Tourism.

“We are confident that Skyline has the resources and skills to take these businesses to the next level,” he said.

Skyline Enterprises, established in 1966, owns Skyline Gondola Restaurant and Luge in Queenstown as well as sister property Skyline Skyrides in Rotorua.

Show me the money!!!

It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there. The business money-go-round is a little stretched and we often see a domino type effect as businesses pay businesses which pay businesses. There are some tricks to minimize your exposure and like any relationship, it comes down to communication.

Here we look at ways you can increase the likelihood that the people with whom you do business will be able to pay their debts.

1. Put it in writing

Set it right, from the start! Clearly state in writing your terms and conditions of trade and when payment is required (your credit policy), making sure that the terms are relevant to your business and industry. Include your terms on all quotes, estimates, agreements and related documentation.

2. Who are you actually lending money to?

Extending credit is quite simply giving someone a loan. In our day to day life, we would think long and hard before handing over any money to someone we didn’t know based on a handshake but we all know we are guilty of doing so to make sales. A simple and inexpensive credit check will ensure that businesses are able to clearly weigh up the risk and reward of a new relationship.

3. Invoice promptly to get paid faster

Getting the invoice out promptly and ensuring the details are accurate will improve cash flow, customer relations and even retention in no time. Remember to add important details such as the amount due, along with the date and preferred payment method or even some payment options.

4. Know who owes

Set up a system that lets you identify who owes you money easily. It is okay to follow up late payment. Take a deep breath and make the phone call. Communicate politely!

5. The bottom line…

Being vigilant about your accounts receivable is vital. Where there has been a breach of your agreed terms you need to follow up promptly and effectively.

There is a clear connection between the age of the debt and the likelihood you will be able to collect payment: the older the debt, the less likely it is you will be able to collect it.

Our Rental Property Guide

Its about structure, its about making informed decisions and it's about understanding the ins and outs of the rental property game. With moving targets, moving goal posts and an election year in store for us we suggest you school up!

Enjoy the read.....

Our Rental Property Guide

Behind the scenes....

It’s here…another teaser for the highly anticipated film, The Hobbit. Kiwi director, Peter Jackson has posted a third behind the scenes video on the making of The Hobbit. Fans will get a taste of what the dwarves have been up to on and off camera.

Like the Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit is filmed in New Zealand under the expert eye of director Peter Jackson. The Hobbit is released in December, 2012. Exciting news!

The 13-minute clip largely focuses on the dwarves, while the last video, which was posted earlier this month, followed the crew on their hunt for suitable locations.

The hobbits are seen both in and out of costume. They're depicted fighting and eating and being directed by Jackson, while out of costume they answer questions about what their favourite moments have been so far and which hobbit they would invite to dinner.

Take a moment to check out a Kiwi project and support the New Zealand film industry. Cheers!

What's in a name?

It’s about time. Enough with the weirdo baby names. Looks like you can no longer peg your wee ones a name like Lucifer, Messiah, General or King.

The National Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages has began banning names and giving parents looking to use unconventional name for their children a hard time. Apparently, the list of banned baby names went into action immediately.

Curious to know what you can no longer name your child? The list includes names such as: Baron, Bishop, Duke, General, Judge, Justice, King, Knight and Mr. for being too similar to introductory titles. Fair enough.

Also, names with involving asterisks, commas, periods and other punctuation marks are out… too bad for parents planning to name their little ones with the likes of 89, 4real, C, D, I and T. Also, fair enough.

The new regulations may be a response to the attention the country received in 2008 for allowing names Violence and Number 16 Bus Shelter. Now that’s a little weird.

To date, the agency has rejected names with the likes of Superman, Metallica and Elvis as well the name Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116 (which is pronounced Albin, clearly).

Looks like future parents to be will have to stick to traditional forms of embarrassing their kids.

Xero and Next Window get R and D funding...hooray!

A second $50 million round of research and development grants has been announced by the government, benefiting a total of 19 tech companies in fields from manufacturing to biotechnology, electronics and software development.

The lion's share was awarded to Auckland-based, Canadian-owned touch-screen display pioneer Next Window, which will receive $5.93 million.
Other major recipients included accounting software firm Xero, which is to get $4 million; animal health specialist Ancare Scientific ($5 million); Argenta, which develops animal welfare products ($4.7 million) and Mako Networks ($4.3 million).
Science and Innovation Minister Wayne Mapp announced the Technology Development Grants yesterday, following an initial $92.5 million commitment to 26 businesses in December last year.

He said they emphasised the importance the government attaches to research, science and technology.
“The only way we can create the jobs, higher incomes and better living standards New Zealanders deserve is through building faster and sustainable economic growth," he said.

“To that end, it is vital that high-tech, exporting companies maintain their competitive edge in global markets.”
The scheme was originally announced as part of Budget 2010, providing a $321 million boost to R&D. The government plan involved awarding $189.5 million in funding over four years to meet 20 percent of R&D spending by medium to large research-intensive firms that can show their activities result in wider benefits to New Zealand.

The latest series of GST-exclusive grants range from between $300,000 and $5.9 million. They are valued at 20 per cent of the R&D spend of each business, up to a maximum of $2.4m per year for three years. The final amount each business will actually receive depends on their actual R&D expenditure.

Companies with average annual revenues of at least $3 million a year and average annual R&D intensity (eligible R&D expenditure divided by revenue) of at least five percent over the past three years are eligible for the grants.

Brett O’Riley, deputy chief of executive business investment and innovation at MSI, says the support will allow companies to keep on doing what they are good at: developing and exporting innovative and profitable products and services.

Full list of recipients on idealog Article written by Esther Goh

Beer Buzz in QT

Q-town wants you to know what all the beer buzz is about…and turns out it’s about beer. Lots of it. The annual Queenstown Beer Festival and a homebrew competition will kick off later this month.

The festival is linked with the Winter Games, which will put more than 60 of New Zealand’s finest brews on display (and sample!) including Wanaka’s own Beerworks. Brewskies anyone?

The beer festival will mirror the likes of Germany’s Oktober Fest, with long tables and plenty of livey music; however, don’t expect Oktober Fest madness, the festival will be very family friendly and fun. The Depending on the turnout and popularity of event, there is talk to introduce more breweries, increase the duration of the festival and even move the event to October…hmmm.

All the deets can be found here: www.beerfestival.co.nz

What’s up with the puppet?

When we saw the latest series of Air AN’s promo videos which feature US Celebs which we recognized, but we were wondering who is that puppet? Well, the puppet is Rico, Air New Zealand’s promo mascot.

The latest video features The Hoff (David Hasselhoff) and puppet Rico, are chatting it up by the pool. They are reclined on the fancy new Skycouch seats, which give passengers the in-air luxury of converting three normal airplane seats into one recliner couch. We like this idea.

This latest string of marketing promo videos from Air NZ has been released to Youtube. The company has continued to be a leader in connecting with the public through online marketing techniques. Some videos can only be viewed online and hopes to find success through these innovative videos.

Be on the look out for Snoop Dogg, Lindsay Lohan and Giuliana Rancic to be in video shorts with Rico on their YouTube channel