Te Atatu South, Auckland

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Wondering about something in your neighbourhood?

Whether it's a new building going up or a strange noise you keep hearing, ask your neighbours here.

1622 days ago

Why a higher rates rise is right for Auckland

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, We would all like to pay less for something - like a rates bill. But you get only what you pay for and the option of a 2.5 per cent rise instead of 3.5, brings risk. What do you think? Read the story below:

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1621 days ago

Jetstar's piles in NZ with fares from $21 while Air NZ allows unaccompanied children to fly again

Brian from New Lynn

The airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate … View moreThe airline's return will be welcomed by travellers who had faced higher fares over the past six weeks as Air New Zealand was unable to fly with full planes. It comes as Air NZ says unaccompanied minors will be able to travel again - as will pets as checked bagged. Air NZ plans to operate around 55 percent of its usual domestic capacity (compared to pre-COVID-19 levels) from July and August. On Monday the airline began operating to all 20 of the domestic ports it previously flew to. Jetstar said it will operate 75 flights a week, about 60 per cent of its pre-Covid 19 schedule, now that we are resuming life in Level 1. Customers with bookings on the remaining 40 per cent of flights have been contacted and offered a range of options including credits for later journeys.Promotional fares include Auckland to Wellington from $21, Auckland to Christchurch from $21, Christchurch to Wellington from $32, Auckland to Dunedin from $45 and Auckland to Queenstown from $48. The airline said it will closely monitor demand, with further domestic flights likely to be added to the schedule in coming months. Jetstar group chief executive Gareth Evans said the airline was ''well and truly ready to take off''. "Passengers would notice a number of wellbeing initiatives as our flights resume, which have been developed based on best-practice medical advice and customer feedback, such as masks and sanitising wipes. "This is in addition to the measures we already have in place such as extra cleaning and Hepa filters on board which remove 99.9 per cent of all particles, including viruses.'' The airline was introducing more flexibility into bookings, enabling customers to book with greater confidence."
Jetstar's New Zealand domestic schedule from 1 July includes:
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• Auckland to Christchurch (24 weekly return flights)
• Auckland to Dunedin (3 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Wellington (27 return weekly flights)
• Auckland to Queenstown (14 return weekly flights)
• Christchurch to Wellington (7 return weekly flights)
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The sale runs until Wednesday. The return of Jetstar comes as Air New Zealand expands its domestic network with flights to Timaru and Taupo resuming, and the airline building up to running at more than 55 per cent capacity. Across the Tasman Qantas and Jetstar are flying just 15 per cent of their normal domestic capacity as interstate restrictions remain tight. Air New Zealand General Manager Customer Experience Nikki Goodman said Alert Level 1 will mark a return to normal with regards to domestic flying. "Social distancing is no longer a requirement, unaccompanied minors will once again be able to travel domestically, and customers will be able to travel around New Zealand again with pets as checked baggage." Domestic lounges, with the exception of Auckland where renovations are underway, will reopen and hot food will be available again. Goodman asked people to be patient as the airline increased flights. "As we get back into more frequent flying, please be patient with us, as our contact centre and customer care teams continue to receive a high volume of enquiries. If your travel isn't urgent, we'd appreciate if you would wait to contact us so that those with imminent travel can be prioritised. We're thrilled to welcome more people on board, but please remember to be kind to our frontline employees – and if you are unwell or have Covid-19 symptoms please do not travel."
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1622 days ago

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

Baptist from Avondale

The following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...


COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly… View more
The following is the extract from Work & Income Website for further details please click on the link below
www.workandincome.govt.nz...


COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Extension

A Wage Subsidy Extension payment will be available to support employers, including sole traders, who are still significantly impacted by COVID-19 after the Wage Subsidy ends.

The Wage Subsidy Extension will be available from 10 June 2020 until 1 September 2020 so employers can keep paying their employees.

Applications open from 10 June 2020.

Loss of revenue criteria changed 5 June

The Government announced a change in criteria from a 50% revenue drop to a 40% revenue drop.

This means you must have had a revenue loss of at least 40% for a continuous 30 day period. This period needs to be in the 40 days before you apply (but no earlier than 10 May 2020) and must be compared to the closest period last year.

Other key points

• If you're applying for an employee you've already applied for the Wage Subsidy for, you can't apply for them until their 12 week Wage Subsidy has finished.

• It will cover 8 weeks per employee from the date you submit your application.

• It will be paid to you as a lump sum at the same weekly rate as the Wage Subsidy.

• If you've given an employee notice of redundancy before you apply, you can't apply for those employees unless the redundancy notice is withdrawn.

• You'll need to agree to certain obligations, such as to:

o pass the subsidy on to your employees

o retain your employees for the duration of the subsidy

o do your best to pay your employees at least 80% of their normal pay

o take active steps to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on your business.

Repayments

If your employee's usual wages are less than the subsidy, you must pay them their usual wages. Any difference should be used for the wages of other affected staff.

If there are no other employees to use the subsidy for, then the remaining amount should be paid back.

Self-employed

If you're self-employed, the income you regularly draw from your business may be less than the amount you receive for the Wage Subsidy Extension. In this case, the remaining amount should be paid back.

Receiving more than one COVID-19 payment

You won't be able to receive more than one COVID-19 payment from us for the same employee at the same time. This includes the:

• Wage Subsidy

• Leave Support Scheme, and

• Wage Subsidy Extension.

Related links

COVID-19 Wage Subsidy

COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme

1622 days ago

Small Business Cash Flow Scheme (SBCS) deadline extended and other updates

Baptist from Avondale

The following is the extract received from IRD.

Kia Ora Koutou



Today we have updates on the following topics:
View more
The following is the extract received from IRD.

Kia Ora Koutou



Today we have updates on the following topics:

• Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBCS) deadline extended

• Covid-19 response variations

• New self-service options for customers facing hardship

Small Business Cashflow (Loan) Scheme deadline extended



The Government has announced a six-week extension for the Small Business Cashflow (loan) Scheme (SBC). Applications opened on 12 May 2020 and can now be submitted up to and including 24 July 2020.



All other conditions remain the same. For details of the loan conditions visit: www.ird.govt.nz...



The loan is providing relief to eligible businesses experiencing financial pressures during COVID-19. We have seen continuing demand particularly from businesses with up to five full time equivalent employees.



Already we have received over 73,000 applications, and 95% of these have been approved. This represents $1.19B disbursed. The average loan is around $17,000.



Most loans are processed overnight with businesses receiving their funds well within five working days of the loan being approved.



We advise applicants to read the conditions and eligibility carefully before submitting their application.

Commonly owned groups of businesses and organisations



We’ve been asked for additional guidance on the treatment of commonly owned groups of business and organisations.



The purpose of the loan scheme is to assist small to medium sized businesses of up to 50 full-time-equivalent employees.



A commonly owned group of businesses is (generally) considered to be one where each business has the same combination of owners. It does not matter whether those owners have the same proportion of ownership in each business.



In addition, a business may also be treated as being in a commonly owned group if it is in substance part of a larger group of businesses. For example, this may occur where

• The group has a dominating shareholder or group of shareholders and the businesses operate together as if they were one.

• The group of businesses involves a complex ownership structure where the overall control is centralised, and the businesses are in substance one enterprise.

We ask loan applicants to evaluate this requirement honestly and in good faith, on the basis that the loan scheme has been designed to assist small to medium sized businesses and is not intended to benefit large businesses or organisations, which control multiple small to medium sized businesses or organisations.



Where a business or businesses which are in substance part of a larger group receive loans in contravention of the policy intent, the Commissioner may reconsider their eligibility for the loans and may ask the businesses to repay the loan amounts early.



Where a commonly owned group of businesses and organisations collectively have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees, each business or organisation will be entitled to apply for a loan based on the number of employees employed by each individual business.



Where a commonly owned group of businesses and organisations collectively have more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees, none of the businesses in the group will be eligible for a loan.



Examples are available in the Questions and Answers document on our website: www.ird.govt.nz...



COVID-19 response variations



To help customers manage the impacts of COVID-19, the Commissioner now has a discretion to vary a requirement under an Inland Revenue Act (including, for these purposes, the Unclaimed Money Act 1971). This discretion is found at ss 6H and 6I of the Tax Administration Act 1994 and applies from 17 March 2020 to 30 September 2021.



To date two variation determinations have been published:



COV 20/01: Variation to section HB 13(3)(b) of the Income Tax Act 2007 (election to be look-through company)

COV 20/02: Variation to section EI 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007 (Timber income spreading)



Information on the process to request a variation and the publication of any variation determinations is available on our tax technical website:

www.taxtechnical.ird.govt.nz...



COVID-19: New self-service options for customers facing hardship

Use of money interest and penalties remission due to COVID-19



If your client’s ability to pay tax on time has been impacted by COVID-19, you will soon be able to submit a request for remission of penalties and interest through MyIR.



From Wednesday 10 June, under the “I want to” menu there will be a new option, 'Notify of impact by COVID-19'.

By making a request for remission you will be asked to confirm that:

• Some, or all of the amounts owing were due on or after 14 February 2020,

• Your client’s ability to pay by the due date, either physically or financially, has been significantly affected by COVID-19,

• You have contacted the Commissioner as soon as practicable to request relief and your client will pay the outstanding core tax as soon as practicable.

Once the web submission has been processed, an indicator will be added for the client, along with a start date.



Instalment arrangements



A similar process will apply for setting up instalment arrangements.



From Wednesday 10 June a new check box will be available at the end of the self-service instalment arrangement process: “I have been affected by COVID-19”.



If you select this option, you will be asked to complete the same disclaimer as above.



The arrangement will take effect automatically overnight. If the arrangement defaults, and the core tax is not paid, the penalties and interest will be reinstated from the original due date.



Please ensure this information is shared with your colleagues.



Ngā mihi

Corey Sinclair

National Leader

Community Compliance

1622 days ago

Hello Fresh Discount $59.99 off

Charmaine from Swanson

Hi guys.. Follow the link to receive $50 off your order..
It’s so delicious


www.hellofresh.co.nz...

1622 days ago

More than 1000 jobs to go at The Warehouse Group as company restructures

Brian from New Lynn

Around 100 to 130 jobs will be lost from the head office under the changes. Between 700 and 950 roles, or 410 full-time equivalent jobs, also face the cut "as a result of store closure and operating model changes", The Warehouse Group announced in an NZX statement today. While the closure… View moreAround 100 to 130 jobs will be lost from the head office under the changes. Between 700 and 950 roles, or 410 full-time equivalent jobs, also face the cut "as a result of store closure and operating model changes", The Warehouse Group announced in an NZX statement today. While the closure of three stores were previously announced, six more are now likely to close. The Noel Leeming Henderson clearance centre and Tokoroa store, The Warehouse Whangaparaoa, Johnsonsville and Dunedin Central stores and Warehouse Stationery Te Awamutu store are on the chopping block. Chief executive Nick Grayston says the job losses come as the business plans to move to a different operating model from April 31. "Based on our insights into changing shopping habits and the anticipated economic impacts caused by Covid-19, we are accelerating some changes that had already been planned." The company says it's seen "strong trading" across its brands since the country shifted to Level 2, but warns it's believed to be the result of "pent-up demand" rather than a long-term trend.
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1622 days ago

Swimming Lessons

Manager from Waterhole Swimming Centre Ltd

Waterhole is open for business and we are taking bookings for New Clients, please see our website for details.

swim through winter special.pdf Download View

1630 days ago

Auckland's drought rings alarm bells - is anyone listening?

Todd Niall Reporter from Auckland Stuff

Hi Neighbours, It might be raining but the record dry which is depleting Auckland's water supply is not going away in a hurry. Is it "just a dought?": Read the story below:

1623 days ago

Paint it Green with Resene this June!

Resene

Simply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.

Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers … View more
Simply visit your local Resene owned ColorShop, choose your favourite green testpots and for each one you buy Resene will donate $1 to the New Zealand Trees That Count programme.

Offer applies to all Resene green 60ml testpots (excludes metallic and wood stains) purchased by retail customers between 1-30 June 2020 at Resene owned ColorShops.

Trees That Count are an environmental charity on a mission to plant millions more native trees throughout New Zealand. Trees That Count runs the country’s only marketplace which provides a place for anyone to fund or gift native trees. This support is matched with planters throughout the country who are restoring, and growing, precious wildlife corridors or pockets of native forest, turning small projects into mighty ones.
Find your store

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1627 days ago

Water restrictions

Ronald from Massey

Dear council, I haven't washed my car since you told us we were short of water. You also told us you were ordering restrictions, fair enough. However do you want to explain to me why I have just driven down Lincoln Rd in Henderson and saw that the wash depot. A commercially run vehicle wash … View moreDear council, I haven't washed my car since you told us we were short of water. You also told us you were ordering restrictions, fair enough. However do you want to explain to me why I have just driven down Lincoln Rd in Henderson and saw that the wash depot. A commercially run vehicle wash station is fully operational, every wash bay was full with happy citizens cleaning their vehicles. Did you all go to the same school as the halfwits that have advised us on social distancing and other ways to manage Covid. Or is it one rule for some and another for the rest of us. Either we are short of water or we aint.

1628 days ago

Interactive map shows where Auckland's new speed limits will be

Fiona from Henderson

Wow, my old neighbourhood is going to be 30km/h very soon.
That's going to put a crimp into the speed racers, that and those damn awful speed humps!
Maybe we should start looking for a horse or 2 along with grazing grounds & stables - all very eco friendly 😂😂
From June 30 there will … View more
Wow, my old neighbourhood is going to be 30km/h very soon.
That's going to put a crimp into the speed racers, that and those damn awful speed humps!
Maybe we should start looking for a horse or 2 along with grazing grounds & stables - all very eco friendly 😂😂
From June 30 there will be lower speed limits in Te Atatu South as well Auckland's CBD - most speed limits will go down from 50km/h to 30km/h.
Here is the interactive map: atgis.maps.arcgis.com...
Here is the original article: www.msn.com...

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1632 days ago

The Story of Surfdale

The Team from Auckland Museum

Did you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...

At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must … View more
Did you know that Surfdale in Waiheke Island received its name via a competition? The winner was awarded a section of land near the beach...

At 8 pence a day on top of a small deposit, a Surfdale section was also promoted as a sound investment – so close to downtown Auckland that “values must go up and up and up”.

Well, they weren't wrong there.

Today, Waiheke Island brings to mind sunny vineyards and beachy weekend getaways. The image of Waiheke as an “island paradise” has its origins in 1920s marketing, but the island has long been desirable even as its character has changed over the past centuries.

As we go into the long weekend and begin to venture further afield again, why not have a read of how Waiheke came to be the place it is today, in this blog about its recent history by our Project Curator, Jane Groufsky.

www.aucklandmuseum.com...

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1624 days ago

wallet lost

Rodrigo from Avondale

My wife Denise Monteguti Dias lost her wallet at New Lynn Fresh or Laundromat on 3 Margan Ave. Please, if anyone finds it, please let me know. Thanks.

1624 days ago

Living the dream

Colleen Hawkes Reporter from Homed

It's inspirational to meet a family that's taken the plunge to leave the rat race and establish themselves in the country. This couple not only managed to keep their jobs, but also build a stunning house on the Coromandel Peninsula that has caught the eye of NZIA judges.

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