Last night WHK hosted an event "Budget 2010 - How will it Impact Your Property Interests?" There was a fantastic turnout over 70 people from various sectors in the Property Industry. It was signalled early on this year that there would be major changes to the taxing of property in this year's Budget, and we weren't disappointed!  

The 2010 Budget has been described by the Government as the largest overall in 25 years. Therefore, there was a lot to cover.

Amanda Watt along with Andrew Sayers

WHK would like to congratulate the 2010 winners of the NBR 24/7 Audacious Business Idea Challenge.  

“As gold sponsor, WHK is proud to support this fantastic event which nurtures the next generation of entrepreneurs,” says Jarod Chisholm, WHK Associate Principal and Audacious Judge.

The challenge provides budding student entrepreneurs with assistance and knowledge to set up their own businesses, plus the opportunity to compete for a prize pool of $50,000.

The challenge is split in two

The highlights for Budget 2010:

• Personal tax cuts across the board from 1 October 2010 with the top rate dropping from 38% to 33%
• An Increase in GST from 12.5% to 15% from 1 October 2010
• A cut in the company tax rate from 33% to 28% from the start of the 2011/12 income year
• A suite of measures against property investment including removal of depreciation on all building and tightening of QC and LAQC rules
• Removal of all 20% depreciation loading on all new depreciable assets acquired from

WHK’s Emissions Trading Scheme specialist Mike Knobloch comments that it is essential for farmers and forestry owners to start taking action as they may qualify for carbon credits, or need to manage potential liabilities.  With the ETS recently being passed into law, participation for those that have pre-1990 forest plantings is mandatory unless an exemption is granted.  “This is particularly important, as the financial implications can be very significant” Mike advises.

For Easter the team at WHK donated their Easter eggs to kids in the childrens ward at Dunedin Hospital. 

With help from the Easter bunny, WHK staff handed out over 80 chocolate eggs to kids and their families. 

TV ONE News were on hand to capture the moment as kids eagerly received their treats, hugs and smiles from the Easter bunny.

The proper use of trusts and how to stop them being "busted" were key messages from WHK special trust seminar at Dunedin's Public Art Gallery.  

Over 100+ people gained valuable trust advice from Jarod Chisholm, Associate Principal Tax Consulting and key note speaker Denham Martin, Auckland Barrister & Trust expert.

The key to having trusts upheld, Denham said, is to treat everything as if it were at arms length. It is important that at the point of challenge there is nothing that disproves

If you're keen to run a business alongside your studies or after you graduate, then the 2010 NBR Audacious Student Entrepreneurs Challenge is designed for you.

As Gold sponsor, WHK is helping budding young entrepreneurs with assistance and knowledge to set up their own business.

Audacious ‘Food for Thought' is one of the services being provided to support Otago's students.  In return for 20 or 50 minutes of time with an Audacious business coach, a student will shout them a coffee or lunch,

Export Runway is a training programme that provides hands on international experience to make your export journey a successful one.

Developed by WHK Business Growth, the programme draws on WHK's wide pool of talent and partner network such as Westpac, James & Wells, Base3usa and more, and features true accounts from exporters who have walked the talk.

 

2010 Training Titles

• Exporting to Australia, US, UK, India, China and Japan
• Tax Planning for the Australian, US, UK and Asian

WHK congratulates client New Zealand Honey Company - 2009 Winner Deloitte Fast 50

"What a fantastic example of a group of Southern folk who are not afraid of the tyranny of distance, but rather see it merely as a challenge to conquer through unique marketing initiatives and value adding to what is otherwise a commodity product", says Scott Mason, Principal, WHK Otago.

The New Zealand Honey Company's revenue had grown nearly tenfold between 2007 and 2009, more than exceeding the judging

WHK Otago is proud to support the season of "Four Flat Whites in Italy" at the Fortune Theatre, Dunedin.

When: Starts 13 November - 12 December 2009

Where: Fortune Theatre, Cnr Stuart St and Moray Place, Dunedin

Further details: More info on the WHK 'Four Flat Whites in Italy' play click here

WHK invited guests and clients to the sold out gala opening night 13 November 2009.  Guests were asked to bring a non-perishable item as a donation for the Otago foodbank as entry to the play. 

As from 1 November 2009, it is illegal for drivers to talk, send or read text messages on handheld mobile phones, or other portable electronic devices whose functions include being a telephone, while driving a vehicle.

 

Employees operating vehicles on the Company's behalf should understand that making telephone calls from a travelling vehicle is extremely dangerous and may cause accidents. In line with this Company's concerns for the safety of its employees and to ensure compliance with

Leading business and accounting advisers WHK Gosling Chapman (part of the WHK Group Limited) will simplify its name to WHK from 1 September, 2009.

Chief Executive, Gay Rankin says: "Since joining the WHK Group, the firm has seen tremendous benefits from working increasingly closer with our sister firms throughout New Zealand.

Findings of a recent Fraud market research survey indicates middle level managers are the most common corporate fraudsters. WHK Otago audit director Phil Sinclair told the Otago Daily Times recently that fraud remained a major source of financial and reputational loss to New Zealand businesses, yet many organisations continued to believe that it had not happened and would not happen to them.

The firm (formerly WHK Gosling Chapman) has appointed Gay Rankin to run the accountancy firm when founding Principal, Rowan Chapman, steps down from his leadership role in September.