Direct Advisory

We had great day out on the golf course on Friday for the annual ANZ Daffodil Day Golf Tournament, supporting the Cancer Society. 💛


Craigs Investment Partners DTI Lawyers ANZ Aotearoa

As part of the Get Active Challenge, the Direct Advisory team headed along to a social pickleball tournament, moving for Women's Refuge this July. Their work provides safe accommodation, advocacy, and 24-hour crisis support for women and children affected by family violence, so every step and every dollar raised goes towards something that really matters.

It was also a great chance to connect with other local businesses, all while working towards a shared goal.

Women's Refuge New Zealand

Great morning at FMG Stadium last week for the 2degrees Shaping Business Panel, facilitated by the Waikato Chamber of Commerce.

The focus was on what's in your control: your processes, your people, and how you're using technology to drive productivity. NZ businesses are backing themselves to find opportunity there, rather than waiting for conditions to improve.

Of course, the pressure is real too. Spending is down, margins are tight, and the global political environment isn't making things easier. Utilities, lease, and insurance came up as the biggest cost pressures across the board.

That's exactly the conversation we have with clients every day. If you want to talk through what that looks like for your business, get in touch.

Last week we headed up to Puketutu Island, Auckland for the Xero Partner Advisory Summit.

Big themes on the day: AI, the economic landscape and what it all means for accounting and the businesses we work with.

The more we are across these conversations, the better we can help our clients navigate what's ahead.

Last Thursday Ian was out at FMG Stadium Waikato, facilitating a panel discussion for Employment Hero's Hero Exchange event.

The topic? Using AI in your employee journey, and how NZ businesses are actually making it work in the real world.

Joining him on the panel were Neil Webster from Employment Hero, Grant Johnson from Rocketspark and Karly Boast from Bold & Co. Lots of great conversations about moving past the AI hype and focusing on what genuinely helps your team and your business.

Thanks to Employment Hero for putting on a fantastic event. Always good to be in the room for these conversations.

Whether you're a sole trader or a company director, how you pay yourself matters more than you might think. 💡

Taking regular drawings or a salary keeps your personal finances cleaner and makes planning a whole lot easier.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach, so getting advice early can save you a headache down the track.

Questions? We can help.
📧 [email protected]
💻 directadvisory.co.nz

Budget 2026 - here are the five tax and business takeaways worth knowing.

Swipe through for the highlights, then head to the blog for our full breakdown.

More detail to come on each topic over the coming weeks as things develop.

https://www.directadvisory.co.nz/post/budget-2026---key-takeaways

Back in the real world this week after an absolutely epic weekend in Brisbane for NRL Magic Round.

Eight games, one stadium, and more footy than you can handle, safe to say the out-of-office was well earned.

McLuskie Dalziel Lawyers | FV Design + Build | Frank Risk Management

IRD can audit up to 7 years back. Keeping tidy, complete records isn't just good practice, it's protection. Digital records are fine as long as they're legible and accessible. Cloud accounting software like Xero makes this easy.

Questions? We can help.
📧 [email protected] 💻 directadvisory.co.nz

Wrapping up our Starting a Business series with one that's close to our hearts: systems and technology.

Getting the right tools in place from the start can save you a serious amount of time, money, and headaches down the track. From accounting software and CRMs to cybersecurity and payroll, there's a lot to consider and the good news is, most of it is more accessible than ever for local businesses.

We've pulled together 15 key systems worth thinking about when you're setting up shop. Head to the link to read the full blog.

https://www.directadvisory.co.nz/post/systems-technology