Northland Chartered Accountants Limited

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Northland Chartered Accountants Limited Accounting Services, Xero Training, Business Setup and Business Advisory

I spent last night clearing out the bathroom. We have a leak, so I wanted everything to be in order so the tradies can j...
26/08/2026

I spent last night clearing out the bathroom. We have a leak, so I wanted everything to be in order so the tradies can just come in and do their thing.

When doing people's accounts, I also want to just get in and do my thing.

Would it surprise you to know us accountants get slowed down when your books are out of order?

This is when the bank hasn’t been reconciled properly, transactions have been coded to strange places, important receipts are missing, or there are months of queries to work through. This can add weeks, or sometimes months (or years!), to doing your accounts.

In some scenarios this is annoying. In other scenarios, it's a big deal when you're wanting your accounts urgently for your bank, your audit or other funding purposes.

Here are my recommended good habits:

- Reconcile your bank accounts weekly while you can still remember what you bought.
- Create invoices in Xero. If you're running a separate invoicing system outside of Xero, there are nearly always issues matching these up.
- File your receipts as you go. Whether you're storing your receipts directly in Xero or in a shoebox, make it a habit to file them. It only takes a few seconds versus having to phone people for copies a year later.
- Code transactions carefully. If you're not sure, flick your accountant an email so you're not coding it wrong for a whole year.
- If something looks weird, it's probably wrong. If you delete a transaction and your bank no longer balances, something is materially wrong. Call your accountant so you don't end up with unreturned income or expenses at year-end.

Good bookkeeping means better information during the year and a much smoother process when you suddenly need reliable financial statements.

And if bookkeeping really isn't your thing? That's completely fine. Talk to your accountant. We can recommend a good bookkeeper who can keep everything tidy and up to date for you.

Speaking of good bookkeepers, here’s a throwback to 'coffee' earlier this year with one of my favourites bookkeepers.

(And before anyone zooms in on the coffee card – don’t worry, there are no funds left on it! 😂)

Your accountant will thank you. And you'll find your end-of-year process with them a lot less traumatising. 😉

Let’s be honest — all the governance and regulatory stuff can be pretty heavy. The good news is it’s now all been pulled...
30/03/2026

Let’s be honest — all the governance and regulatory stuff can be pretty heavy.

The good news is it’s now all been pulled together in one place to make life a bit easier.

There’s a recently updated online resource that brings together the key CA ANZ and NZICA governance documents, including the CA ANZ Supplemental Royal Charter, By-laws, Regulations, NZICA Rules, and professional and ethical standards like the NZICA Code of Ethics… for all the excitement, see the link below

https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/member-services/member-obligations/members-handbook

Here’s a quick reflection from our recent day in in Waitangi creating “A Connected North”. We were a room full of people...
23/03/2026

Here’s a quick reflection from our recent day in in Waitangi creating “A Connected North”.

We were a room full of people who genuinely care about Northland’s future coming together to collaborate and shape a shared story for our region.

From rich kōrero to bold ideas captured on post-it notes (and even an artist sketching the conversations as they unfolded!), the energy in the room was inspiring.

Northland has so much potential — and days like this remind me that when we work together, we can build a truly prosperous North. Stay tuned to see what comes next. Thanks NorthChamber!

n.b. if you’ve never had an artist draw up
your thoughts in real time I thoroughly recommend it!

So we think we know AI?AI is changing the way accounting works, but it’s not all straightforward. One of the newer chall...
16/03/2026

So we think we know AI?

AI is changing the way accounting works, but it’s not all straightforward. One of the newer challenges is something called “shadow AI” — tools being used without the right oversight, which can create some real risks.

This piece looks at how organisations can bring AI into the workplace in a way that’s confident, secure, and actually helpful. It’s a practical read if you’re thinking about how AI might support efficiency, build capability, and help your practice grow sustainably.

https://www.acuitymag.com/technology/managing-ai-risks-in-accounting

(I love taking photos, for for this post I let AI have full reign on coming up with a post about itself, which is why it's so painfully artificial!)

Keeping up with tax changes is essential for smaller practices, yet carving out the time to do so can be difficult. The ...
12/03/2026

Keeping up with tax changes is essential for smaller practices, yet carving out the time to do so can be difficult.

The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) NZ Tax Roadshow 2026 makes it easier.

Join us at one of 13 in-person events around New Zealand this May. You’ll receive practical updates on key tax developments and what they mean for your practice. The sessions are designed to simplify the detail, helping you stay informed while keeping your focus where it belongs — on your clients and your business.

I’m trying to shuffle my calendar to get this booked in – I hope to see a few familiar faces there

Learn more and register here: https://store.charteredaccountantsanz.com/courses/nz/NZ-Tax-Roadshow-2026

It's that time of year!It was lovely to have an event in Whangārei that intentionally brought people together to celebra...
09/03/2026

It's that time of year!

It was lovely to have an event in Whangārei that intentionally brought people together to celebrate International Women’s Day. The room had a great energy, with plenty of opportunities to connect and reflect on the impact women are making in business and the wider community.

Heather Claycomb’s talk was both inspiring and practical. If you’ve ever heard her story, you’ll know it has a way of making you look in the mirror and reflect on whether you’re truly living out your purpose. Her journey of turning her PR agency into a social enterprise that donates 100% of its profits to charity is a powerful example of what purposeful business can look like.

Thank you so much to Barbara and the Whangārei Business Women’s Network for making this event happen

Many small business owners know AI can be useful (I use it everyday) — but struggle to apply it in a practical, day-to-d...
10/02/2026

Many small business owners know AI can be useful (I use it everyday) — but struggle to apply it in a practical, day-to-day way.

The real challenge isn’t the technology itself. It’s knowing where AI actually fits in your business and which tools will deliver long-term value, not just novelty.

That’s where a new government-backed AI Advisory Pilot comes in.

This pilot is designed to help New Zealand small businesses, build practical AI capability, lift productivity and support sustainable growth.

The programme provides access to trusted AI specialists and offers co-funding of up to 50% (capped at $15,000) to develop and implement an AI plan tailored to each business, its people, and its customers.

Key details:
- $765,000 allocated from existing MBIE funding
- Runs from 19 January 2026 to at least 30 June 2026
- Expected to support a minimum of 51 SMEs

The pilot aligns with New Zealand’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (2025) and focuses on practical, confidence-building adoption — not hype.

If you’re interested in the strategy, the adoption document can be found here:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/assets/new-zealands-strategy-for-artificial-intelligence.pdf

There are still a few businesses that don’t have online payments enabled.Accepting payments online makes it easier for c...
03/02/2026

There are still a few businesses that don’t have online payments enabled.

Accepting payments online makes it easier for customers to pay and helps businesses get paid faster. Simple, instant payment options reduce delays and improve the overall customer experience.

Online payment options include credit and debit cards, services like PayPal, and repeat payments through direct debit. Payments are processed by merchant service providers, which handle transactions on your behalf. Some focus on card payments, others on direct debit. Choosing a provider that integrates with your accounting software means you can add payment buttons directly to your invoices.

Most providers don’t charge set-up fees, but transaction fees do apply. Credit and debit card fees are typically around 2–4% of the invoice, while direct debit fees are usually under $2 per transaction. These costs should be factored into your pricing and profit calculations and are often tracked automatically by your accounting software. To manage fees, some businesses limit online payments for higher-value invoices or use platforms that allow fees to be on-charged.

The main benefit of online payments is improved cashflow. While not all customers will pay immediately, average payment times usually improve. Customers also value the convenience, which can make your business easier to deal with.

There are plenty of quick and easy solutions that can be added to your existing Xero subscription. You know who to contact if you need a hand :)

Northland Monopoly Board giveaway – winner announced!Congratulations to Kathryn Trewin — the winner of our Northland Mon...
24/12/2025

Northland Monopoly Board giveaway – winner announced!

Congratulations to Kathryn Trewin — the winner of our Northland Monopoly Board competition👏

Thanks so much to everyone who entered and supported the giveaway. It was lovely to see so much local enthusiasm!

Monopoly Northland Giveaway!We are very proud to have sponsored both the Cape Reinga Lighthouse playing token and the Ca...
07/12/2025

Monopoly Northland Giveaway!

We are very proud to have sponsored both the Cape Reinga Lighthouse playing token and the Cape Reinga Lighthouse Property Tile on the NorthChamber Monopoly Board.

Cape Reinga Lighthouse is very special to us — that’s why it’s on our logo. It reflects our location and as well as the imagery of guidance and business navigation we’re here to provide.

If you’re looking for a Monopoly board for Christmas head to Mitre 10 Whangarei, or https://www.northchamber.co.nz/monopoly/

We have a Monopoly board to give away on social media.
To enter the draw on either Northland CA's LinkedIn or page:
Step 1 - Follow our page
Step 2 - Tell us who you would play Monopoly Northland with!

Entries close at 9.00am on Monday, 15 December 2025.
Open to NZ postal addresses only

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PO Box 202
Whangarei Heads
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