On Friday 22 October, the Government announced a support package for Auckland businesses affected by alert level restrictions, and as the country transitions to the new Covid-19 Protection Framework. Activate Tāmaki Makaurau has been set up to connect existing Auckland businesses with that support. It is an opportunity to assist the business community to navigate the […]

Covid has changed the landscape of our world. Our everyday living situations, from how we interact with other people, to how we run our businesses has changed in an all-encompassing way. I could write pages and pages on the changes heaped upon us, but we are aware of these things already, its almost become old […]

This time three years ago, I travelled to the great Italy with a good friend of mine to celebrate a milestone birthday. Fast forward, and we are sitting at level three lockdown in Auckland, and have been for nearly seven weeks. It’s times like these that really make you appreciate the freedom we once had. […]

Well, here we are again – another lockdown. From the first Level 4 lockdown that began on 25th March 2020, we have spent over 100 days cooped up in our homes, restricted. For me, above all, this time around has been the most challenging, both professionally and personally. And rationally, it ‘shouldn’t’ be, right? I […]

It’s likely that you’re receiving plenty of emails about what different service providers are doing to keep safe, washing hands and being kind. We’re hoping that this is a little different. ​There seems to be the extremes of business situations; you’re either rushed off your feet and in high demand, or quiet and unsure. If […]

As we roll into a new financial year and start to wrap up the data for the 2021 financial year, it is prudent to look at the changes to compliance that may affect your financial reporting. The Covid pandemic has created extraordinary economic circumstances, and there is still uncertainty around the future and the impact […]

I visit China at least once a year and write an article “20XX China Insights”, but obviously, I had to give it a miss this year. I decided to write about my 2020 insights in general instead, and this turned into reminiscing, taking account of what I have done with my time, and reminding myself […]

As Alfred E. Neuman famously said, “What, me worry?” In October, I facilitated a discussion with Bruce Sheppard (CEO of Gilligan Sheppard) and Evana Lithgow (Managing Partner of Working Minds) to add to our series on life and business post-lockdown. The discussion centred around how do we deal with, and face the uncertainty of the […]

Gilligan Sheppard’s Michael Vukcevic facilitates a discussion with Evana Lithgow (from Working Minds) and our own Bruce Sheppard. Optimism can be dangerous, but so can panic which tends to leave you in a situation where you do nothing…

As I’m starting to feel a bit like a yoyo – working in the office, working from home,  back in the office, then back to working from home again (you get the picture), I thought I would share some of my thoughts with you. I know there is a lot of positive stuff out there […]