Poll: Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

There’s growing debate about whether New Zealand’s extended Christmas break (and the slowdown that comes with it) affects productivity.

Tracy Watkins has weighed in ... now it’s your turn. What’s your take? 🤔

Are our Kiwi summer holidays helping us recharge, or holding the economy back? ☀️🥝

• We work hard, we deserve a break!
• Hmm, maybe?
• Yes!

Vote View Results

• 72.7% We work hard, we deserve a break!
  72.7% Complete
• 16.2% Hmm, maybe?
  16.2% Complete
• 11.1% Yes!
  11.1% Complete

678 votes

7000 pensioners overcharged in another Inland Revenue error

Brian from Mount Roskill

Almost 7000 pensioners have been affected by another Inland Revenue error.
Last week, RNZ reported that 4500 people had overpaid tax after their imputation credits had been incorrectly recorded in their prep-populated tax returns.
Others got in touch and said they had also experienced a problem, this time with the way that NZ Super was recorded for ACC purposes.
One man said he had been charged $301.68 in ACC earner levy for $18,854.98 of gross income from NZ Super that should not have attracted a levy at all.
He said he was not able to control this when he completed his return and did not realise the error until the process was complete.
He said he did not think a lot more about it but when he saw RNZ's reporting of the other error, he realised that there had been at least two this year.
"This really starts to suggest a deficiency in change control of IRD systems."
Another couple said they wanted assurance that Inland Revenue had taken steps to stop it happening again.
======================================
Inland Revenue said 6778 people were affected.
======================================
"There was an issue identified earlier this year where we were not populating the 'earnings not liable' figure correctly for some customers. We fixed those returns for the customers in July 2025."
Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand tax leader John Cuthbertson said ACC was not paid on NZ Super because it was not liable income.
"However, if you're working and receiving NZ Super, your earnings from that work do attract levies."
"The advancements in digitalisation and MyIR have been quite incredible, except when it goes wrong like this. You shouldn't need a Chartered Accountant to check prepopulated forms, but the average person might not know that super income does not attract ACC levies. We used to say 'google it' but many taxpayers are now using AI to do a basic check of their tax returns, asking simple questions like 'Should I pay 'x' levy on 'y' income?"
Angus Ogilvie, managing director of Generate Accounting Group, said it was concerning that issues seemed to be leading to erroneous data being prepopulated into Inland Revenue's system.
"The new software employed was a very costly and complex project. However, taxpayers should expect that there is a high level of diligence applied to get their tax obligations right. Let's hope that the department is devoting urgent resource to correct these issues".
======================================================

Secure your homes over summer

The Team from New Zealand Police

Police are reminding people to keep their homes secure during the summer months.

Inspector Glenda Barnaby, Christchurch Area Prevention manager, says daytime burglaries are just as common as nightime burglaries.
“Burglaries can be committed at any time of the day, and coming into warmer months there is more opportunity for thieves."
"Although a majority of burglaries involve forced entry through windows and doors, we are starting to see more incidents at insecure premises. Police deal with cases where burglaries are committed in broad daylight, sometimes even while the victim is at home. Good weather means open doors and windows, which makes homes more vulnerable to burglars.”

Inspector Barnaby says there’s a few things people can do to reduce their changes of a burglary being committed.
⚠️ If you’re going outside for gardening, relaxing in the sun, or working in the garage, take a moment to lock your doors and secure your windows first.
⚠️ Do the same at night when you go to bed - keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains. Fitting window stays means you can get a breeze coming through, while keeping your windows secure.
⚠️ Get to know your neighbours - let them know if you’re going away and look out for one another.”

If you see any suspicious activity, people or vehicles in your neighbourhood, don't hesitate to contact Police.
If you witness or suspect any illegal activity, please call 111 if it is happening now, or make a report through 105 either online or over the phone, if it is after the fact.