Welcome back to our Weekly Digest.  Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward.

New Zealand Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine

New Zealand’s medicines regulator, Medsafe, has approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for domestic use once it arrives in the country.

The mass vaccination program was planned to start in the third quarter, but the government is anticipating having some doses earlier in order to vaccinate border workers and other front-line staff.

New Zealand Q4 Unemployment Rate Drops to 4.9%

New Zealand’s jobless rate dropped to 4.9% in the December 2020 quarter from 5.3% in the previous quarter, beating analysts forecast of 5.6%.

New Zealand’s efficient response to the pandemic has prevented the high number of infections and deaths seen in many other nations, and allowed the economy to return to pre-pandemic normalcy quickly.

International Investors See New Zealand As Safe Haven

As New Zealand ranks first in Lowy Institute’s COVID Performance Index of almost 100 countries for successfully handling the pandemic, a separate annual report from the law firm, MinterEllisonRuddWatts, shows New Zealand was seen as a haven for international investors during the COVID-19 crisis.

It is also expected that returning Kiwis would continue to drive a mini-boom in small business sales, which is good news for the country’s economic recovery.

3 Ways Busy Entrepreneurs Can Save Time

As a small business ourselves, we understand how hectic your day-to-day operations can get.

Given there will never be more than 24 hours in a day, we’ll share some effective tips to help you accomplish more and save time to do the things you love.

1.  Delegate
As a business leader, one of the key skills you need to learn is delegation.  Small business owners tend to think that no one can do the job as well as they can.

However, wearing too many hats may mean something important could fall through the cracks.  So learn which ones to delegate based on your employees’ skills and focus on the core aspects of your business.

2.  Use the power of technology

In the modern business landscape, cloud-based systems and apps are your best friends.  When used properly, they can simplify and streamline processes, helping you get the job done with ease.  Research on the best tools that can automate repetitive tasks and have more time in your hands.

3.  Outsource
Outsourcing is a more cost-effective approach to expanding your team compared to hiring an in-house staff.  When you outsource non-core yet essential tasks, you’re allowing yourself to focus on what you do best, like growing your business.

If you want to learn more about how our advisors can help ease your burden, get in touch with us today!

Get in touch

Contact us if you have any questions or want to discuss the next steps for your business.