Boostnest

🚀 We're Hiring – Junior Accountant | Wellington

BoostNest Chartered Accountants is growing, and we're looking for our next team member.

This isn't your typical junior accounting role.

You'll gain hands-on experience across accounting, finance, payroll, cloud accounting systems, and business advisory while working directly alongside experienced Chartered Accountants. You'll see how real New Zealand businesses operate and have opportunities to contribute beyond traditional compliance work.

We're looking for someone who is:
✔ Curious and eager to learn
✔ Organised with excellent attention to detail
✔ Comfortable managing deadlines
✔ Looking to build a long-term career in accounting
✔ A great fit for a small, collaborative team

Whether you're a recent Commerce graduate with some office experience or someone working in AP/AR, bookkeeping, or finance administration who's ready for the next step, we'd love to hear from you.

At BoostNest, we invest in our people through mentoring, training, modern technology, AI, and exposure to a wide variety of industries and clients.
📍 Wellington C*D

📅 Applications are being reviewed as they're received, so don't wait until the closing date.

If this sounds like you (or someone you know), please apply via SEEK https://bit.ly/4gmNurK

If you know someone who'd be a great fit, we'd really appreciate you sharing this post.

nz.seek.com

Interest rates, certainty, and sleeping at night

One of the questions I’m asked most (and one I can’t answer as advice) is:
“What mortgage rate should I take?”

My honest response: it depends — but it’s rarely just about chasing the cheapest number.

For context, I’ve personally fixed ~80% of my longer-term debt at 4.99% for five years, because that’s debt I fully expect to hold close to term. That decision wasn’t about forecasting rates. It was about certainty, cashflow visibility, and passing the sleep-at-night test.

A few observations that shaped my thinking 👇

1️⃣ Cheap doesn’t always mean better
Short-term rates feel attractive, especially when the market is convinced cuts are coming. But interest rate cycles have a habit of running further — and lasting longer — than consensus expects. Betting on perfectly timed rollovers is still a bet.

2️⃣ Context matters more than predictions
Your balance sheet, income stability, risk tolerance, and how much uncertainty you can genuinely live with all matter more than a headline rate. Certainty has a cost — but it also has value.

3️⃣ Zoom out on history
A useful anchor:
👉 Over the long term, New Zealand homeowners have typically paid around 6–7% on average mortgage rates.
The ultra-low rates of the 2010s weren’t “normal” — they were the exception, driven by unusual global forces that may not repeat in the same way.

Against that backdrop, rates around ~5% don’t look extreme. They look… fairly ordinary.

4️⃣ Inflation is likely to be stickier than we’d like
Even if inflation cools, the forces pushing prices up — labour constraints, regulation, government debt, geopolitics — haven’t disappeared. That argues for caution when assuming rates will fall quickly and stay low.

5️⃣ Certainty isn’t about fear — it’s about strategy
Locking in longer isn’t saying “rates won’t fall”. It’s saying:
“I value knowing what my repayments are, and I’m comfortable paying a small premium for that clarity.”

That won’t suit everyone — and it doesn’t have to.

Bottom line
There’s no universally “right” rate. But there is a right level of risk for you. If uncertainty nags at you, listen to that signal. If volatility doesn’t bother you, structure accordingly.

Rates come and go.
Stress compounds faster than interest.

This is a personal opinion only, not mortgage advice.

📬 We’re Back in Your Inbox!
It’s been about 10 years since we sent out our first newsletter (yes, really 😅). While it’s been on a bit of a hiatus—we won’t say how long—we’re excited to officially relaunch it today!

We’ll be dropping updates every couple of months to keep you in the loop on what’s ahead in tax, business trends, and the wider economic landscape.

🔗 If you'd like to subscribe, you can do so here: http://eepurl.com/jfH_4o

We’re excited to celebrate a major milestone — Anjali has successfully passed her entrance requirements asn is now officially a CPA member! 🙌

This achievement highlights her hard work, dedication, and drive to excel in her professional journey. It’s no small feat, and we’re incredibly proud to have her as part of the BoostNest team. 🌟

Anjali, your commitment to growth and excellence inspires us all, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll achieve next! 🚀

Please join us in congratulating Anjali on this incredible accomplishment! Drop a 🎉 or 👏 to share the excitement!

🎉 Big Congratulations to Karen Robinson! 🎉

The BoostNest team is thrilled to celebrate a fantastic achievement — Karen Robinson has officially been accepted as a member of CPA Australia! 🙌

This milestone reflects Karen's dedication, hard work, and commitment to excellence in the accounting profession. Becoming a CPA is no small feat, and we couldn’t be prouder to have Karen as part of our team, bringing her expertise and passion to everything we do. 🌟

Please join us in congratulating Karen on this incredible accomplishment! Drop a 🎉 or 👏 in the comments to show your support!

Our office will be closed, Tuesday, 19th November, due to the situation in Wellington City. We hope to reopen on Wednesday, 20th November, during regular hours.

While we fully support the right to peaceful protest, we kindly urge participants to consider the broader impact of their actions. Once your message has been delivered, we encourage everyone to leave the city promptly and return home. This helps minimise disruptions, reduce unnecessary carbon emissions, and mitigate the significant environmental and economic costs borne by Wellingtonians, which are estimated to be in the tens of millions of dollars.

We appreciate your understanding.

Ever wonder what accountants do on rainy, wet, Monday nights? it's not all spreadsheets and Netflix (or driving into ditches).

🔔 Business Lending Rates Hit 33-Year Highs! 🚀📈

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) reveals that business lending rates have soared to levels unseen since 1991! 🏦 The SME overdraft rate now stands at a staggering 12.7%, making borrowing tougher for businesses. Meanwhile, housing rates are at 8.63%, creating a significant gap. 🏠

💡 Why the Spike?

- Increased Capital Requirements: New rules have banks holding more capital, driving up costs.
- Global Financial Crisis Impact: Higher defaults and risks.
- Competition Issues: Lack of strong competition in the banking sector.

🌍 Real Voices:

A business owner shares, "My overdraft rate is 14%... It's just too high when my daughter's mortgage is 7-8%."

🔍 Expert Insights:

Massey University’s David Tripe highlights that the spread between business and home loans has widened significantly, while former ANZ economist Cameron Bagrie points to regulatory settings pushing banks towards the housing market.

👥 What's Next?

With these rates, it's crucial to navigate borrowing smartly. At BoostNest, we're here to help you understand the landscape and make informed decisions. 📊

Reach out to BoostNest Chartered Accountants Ltd for expert advice on managing your business finances in these challenging times! 📞💼



Source - Businessdesk

The budget is out! The big focus is on individual tax cuts and funding for early childhood care.

Curious about how the tax changes will affect you?

Visit https://www.budget.govt.nz/ to calculate your fortnightly savings.

Budget 2024 - 30 May 2024 Budget 2024 sets out the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy, ease the cost of living, deliver better health and education services, and restore law and order. This is a Budget that will lay the foundations for growth in our country.

📢 Important Update on New Zealand Home Loans

🚨 Debt-to-Income Restrictions Coming July 1st 🚨

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) will introduce new debt-to-income (DTI) ratio restrictions starting July 1st. This move aims to control high debt-to-income lending by banks, ensuring financial stability.

🏠 Key Changes:

Up to 20% of new loans to owner-occupiers can exceed a DTI ratio of 6.
Up to 20% of new loans to investors can exceed a DTI ratio of 7.
📊 Loan-to-Value Ratio (LVR) Updates:

Eased restrictions allowing more low-deposit loans.
20% of owner-occupier loans can have an LVR above 80%.
5% of investor loans can have an LVR above 70%.
🔄 Why This Matters:
These changes aim to balance the housing market by making it easier to get low-deposit loans while preventing borrowers from taking on too much debt.

RBNZ Deputy Governor Christian Hawkesby emphasizes the complementary nature of DTI and LVR restrictions, ensuring financial stability through various economic conditions.

Stay informed and plan accordingly! 📈🏡