February 2012 E Newsletter

Welcome to 2012

We hope you enjoyed a nice holiday and managed to recharge your batteries, despite the less-than-ideal weather.

There was a fair bit of excitement in our office at Christmas-time, with the early but safe arrival of baby Jack Dudley. Kate is currently having some time at home and will return to the office in March.

Also happening in March is the change to the give-way rules for drivers! Please click on this link for a summary.

Warning about Hoax or Suspicious Emails

Walker Wayland would like to remind all our clients to very careful about giving out their personal details and IRD number.

We are aware that emails can circulate which attempt to trick recipients into giving personal information. These emails are known as phishing (committing fraud to get financial information). For example, an email may claim to have come from Inland Revenue or a Tax Refund Agency asking you to click on a link to a fake website address. These emails can also claim that they are from a local bank. Currently a hoax email is circulating stating that it is from Kiwibank.

Do not click on this link or reply. Delete the email and then clear from your trash folders. If you are unsure in regards to an email that you have received, call Walker Wayland and we can advise you or help you get in contact with someone who can.

Changes to Student Loan Scheme

Recent changes of the Student Loan Scheme Act 2011 will take effect from April 2012. The changes were introduced to improve the way the loans are managed.

The main change is that for salary and wages earners, the loan repayments made by their employer each pay period will be considered the repayment obligation. Most salary and wage earners will no longer require a personal tax summary at the end of the year.

So you have a website...but how effective is it?

The more you update your site the better your ‘googlability’, as static sites get lost in search engines. So quite apart from the fact that no one likes a stale site, completing regular audits and updates improves how easily your customers can find you.

Employers Liable for Copyright Breaches by Employees

The Copyright (Infringing File Sharing) Amendment Act 2011 came into force on 1 September 2011. The Amendment Act allows copyright owners to seek compensation from those who infringe their copyright through illegal file sharing. As account holders, employers will be liable in instances where employees use work internet connections to infringe copyright.

Employers should amend policies and review employment agreements to ensure clear rules are in place about illegal file sharing and to ensure that the employer is indemnified for any damage suffered.

Client Profile

Signium Executive Search International Ltd has been a client of Walker Wayland since the company was established in 1976. They are an executive recruitment company specialising in research-based executive search, and have identified and appointed key executives and non-executive directors for leading public and private sector organisations.

They understand the ethos of New Zealand business extremely well. Appointments made to the private sector organisations, particularly those seeking Chief Executives for owner succession, have been very successful outcomes for both company and retiring owners.

Click here for more information www.signium.co.nz