Disclaimer: This article is written by Bruce Sheppard in a personal capacity. It does not constitute financial advice, and he is not a licensed financial adviser. Please seek independent financial advice before making any investment decisions. Global markets are rattled. Trump’s trade policies have introduced a level of uncertainty not seen in years, and for […]

For years, New Zealand’s grocery market has been dominated by just two players: Foodstuffs and Woolworths. Today, Foodstuffs owns New World, Pak’n Save, 4Square and Gilmours, and Woolworths owns Woolworths and SuperValue. Together they hold 88% of the entire food and produce market outside Auckland and 71% within it. It began when the Commerce Commission […]

For business owners, few areas of tax cause more confusion than the line between entertainment and networking expenses. Get it right, and you can legitimately reduce your tax liability. Get it wrong, and you risk an Inland Revenue (IRD) audit or missed deductions. Here is what you need to know. The fundamental rule: It’s about […]

And why the merger with Gilligan Sheppard is the next chapter in helping growing businesses succeed… Julian doesn’t own a  Porsche, nor a Haines Hunter. After being part of a $300 million company sale, the only thing he upgraded was his garden shed. “I’m not that guy,” he says with a laugh. Instead, he spent […]

Since 2018, foreign buyers have been effectively locked out of New Zealand’s residential property market. The ban was a response to soaring house prices that made homeownership increasingly unaffordable for ordinary New Zealanders. But a new exemption has opened a carefully controlled gateway: holders of the Active Investor Plus Visa can now purchase residential property […]

Why do some businesses consistently outperform their competitors while others, despite strong products and capable people, struggle to hold direction? Guest writer Murray Fulton of Advantage Business has spent years working with business owners across industries of all sizes and he points to the same recurring problems: leaders who lack consistency, shy away from transparency, […]

Merger establishes Gilligan Sheppard as a true one-stop shop for small to medium-sized businesses across APAC. Auckland, New Zealand – Gilligan Sheppard, one of New Zealand’s leading business advisory and accounting practices, today announced its merger with CFO 4 U, a specialist fractional CFO services provider. The merger combines Gilligan Sheppard’s established expertise in business […]

Business owners are asking the same questions heading into 2026: Are we at the bottom? Is it safe to invest yet? When will things turn around? After years of treading water, just trying to stay afloat, the frustration of not knowing when to make a move is wearing thin. Here’s what Bruce thinks is happening. […]

I’ve noticed a real difference between the conversations I have with business owners before Christmas and after. Pre-Christmas, there’s a lot of emotion. People are busy, stressed, and just want quick answers. They haven’t had time to sit with what they’re really feeling. There are a lot of assumptions. There’s something about the summer holidays […]

Practical advice from Joshua Huang, Business Advisory Manager at Gilligan Sheppard. December is a busy month for everyone. Between wrapping up projects, organising the office Christmas party, and trying to squeeze in some time with family, it can be easy to let a few important tax dates slip through the cracks. Joshua Huang, who leads […]