Spreading our wings

It’s nice to be able to unshackle one’s self from the workstation occasionally and head out of the big city to report on business initiatives in the regions. That’s exactly what yours truly did for this month’s cover story on the West Coast. My thanks to Facebook for enabling me to fly down to one of the most beautiful places in New Zealand, and to Development West Coast for facilitating a tour of some of Westport’s cleverest businesses.

I came away with a healthy appreciation of how hard the business community is working on the Coast to build scale and create new opportunities through technology. And it is a community in the truest sense – people genuinely helping each other to succeed.

This was most evident at the #BoostYourTown workshop hosted by Steve Adams at the well-appointed EPIC Westport business hub.

Any preconceptions I may have had of the West Coast being a relic from the glory days of mining were completely blown away. I now look forward to following the fortunes of the region as it continues to take advantage of digital and social technologies to help usher in a new era of business growth.

Also this month, Kevin Kevany reports on the initiatives happening on Aotea/Great Barrier Island – a remote business community with a unique story and character, and again, one that’s harnessing digital marketing to generate more business.

Digital technology is indeed the great enabler, no matter where your business happens to be!

This month’s issue also takes an in-depth look at accounting and payroll – with a special focus on the planned switchover to payday filing by Inland Revenue on 1 April next year.

Payday filing is not just about upgrading your payroll software – it will impact many aspects of your business including IT, payroll and HR – and our coverage includes a two-page Payday Filing Checklist to help you get your head around what’s required to comply.

Don’t leave it too late – as was the case when similar legislation was introduced in the UK and Australia. Talk to your payroll provider now.

Happy reading!