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Dave is a self-employed plumber based in New Zealand, balancing the demands of running his own small business with the complexities of tax, trade licensing, and family life. This hub covers the national essentials he relies on, from trade certifications to tax obligations and national support systems.
Staying compliant is the only way to keep the van on the road and the business operating legally.
Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board Registration national · PGDB
Who qualifies Qualified plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers.
What you get Legal authorization to perform plumbing and gas work.
What it actually costs you Annual practicing license fee; requires proof of competency.
Common gotcha Forgetting to renew by March 31st results in immediate loss of license.
WorkSafe Health and Safety Compliance national · WorkSafe New Zealand
Who qualifies All tradespeople and business owners.
What you get Regulatory safety standards and site safety guidelines.
What it actually costs you Time spent documenting site-specific safety plans.
Common gotcha Assuming you don't need a formal plan for small residential jobs.
Electrical Workers Registration Board (EWRB) Rules national · EWRB
Who qualifies Plumbers doing minor electrical work.
What you get Guidelines on what electrical work a plumber can legally touch.
What it actually costs you Strict adherence to AS/NZS 3000 standards.
Common gotcha Doing electrical work beyond your limited license scope.
New Zealand Building Code national · Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
Who qualifies All building and plumbing contractors.
What you get The technical standards required for all plumbing installations.
What it actually costs you Must keep up to date with periodic code amendments.
Common gotcha Using outdated standards for G13 or G12 compliance.
Site Safe Passport national · Site Safe NZ
Who qualifies Tradespeople entering commercial construction sites.
What you get Industry-recognized health and safety certification.
What it actually costs you Course fees and a one-day training session.
Common gotcha Many commercial sites won't let you on without a current card.
Gas Certification System national · Energy Safety
Who qualifies Certified gasfitters.
What you get Legal certification of gas installations.
What it actually costs you Cost of gas certificates and lodgement fees.
Common gotcha Failing to issue a certificate of compliance for every gas job. Keeping the taxman happy is essential to avoiding audits and fines.
myIR Secure Online Services national · Inland Revenue Department (IRD)
Who qualifies All business owners and sole traders.
What you get Platform for filing GST, income tax, and PAYE.
What it actually costs you Requires RealMe login and accurate bookkeeping.
Common gotcha Missing GST filing deadlines leads to automatic penalties.
ACC CoverPlus Extra national · Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)
Who qualifies Self-employed tradespeople.
What you get Income protection if injured on or off the job.
What it actually costs you Annual levy payments based on declared income.
Common gotcha Default CoverPlus only pays 80% of earnings; Extra allows you to set your own level.
New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) national · MBIE
Who qualifies All businesses and sole traders.
What you get Unique identifier for business transactions and invoicing.
What it actually costs you Free to register.
Common gotcha Not updating contact details when moving the workshop.
Small Business Cashflow Scheme (SBCS) national · IRD
Who qualifies Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees.
What you get Low-interest loans for working capital.
What it actually costs you Requires proof of revenue impact.
Common gotcha Repayment terms are strict if the business closes.
KiwiSaver for Self-Employed national · Inland Revenue
Who qualifies Self-employed individuals under 65.
What you get Government contribution of up to $521 per year.
What it actually costs you Voluntary contributions from your business income.
Common gotcha Forgetting to make the voluntary contribution before June 30th.
Business Expense Deductions national · IRD
Who qualifies Sole traders.
What you get Tax relief on tools, vehicle running costs, and home office.
What it actually costs you Strict record-keeping of receipts.
Common gotcha Mixing personal and business vehicle expenses without a logbook. When the back goes out or the kids get sick, I need to know the public system has my back.
Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand) Services national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies All NZ residents.
What you get Free emergency care and subsidized GP visits.
What it actually costs you Co-payments for GP visits and prescriptions.
Common gotcha Assuming all services are free; specialist care often has long wait times.
Community Services Card national · Ministry of Social Development (MSD)
Who qualifies Low to middle-income earners.
What you get Cheaper GP visits and prescription costs.
What it actually costs you Application form and proof of income.
Common gotcha Income thresholds change; check eligibility annually.
Working for Families Tax Credits national · IRD
Who qualifies Families with dependent children.
What you get Weekly or fortnightly financial assistance.
What it actually costs you Annual income estimate updates.
Common gotcha Underestimating income leads to a tax debt at the end of the year.
Prescription Subsidy Scheme national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Families with high medicine costs.
What you get Caps the cost of prescriptions per year.
What it actually costs you Must track prescription counts at the pharmacy.
Common gotcha Not asking the pharmacist to register you for the cap.
National Travel Assistance Scheme national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies Patients traveling long distances for specialist care.
What you get Reimbursement for travel and accommodation.
What it actually costs you Must be referred by a specialist.
Common gotcha Keep all receipts; they won't pay without proof.
Need to Talk? 1737 national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Anyone in NZ.
What you get Free 24/7 counseling via text or phone.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha People often wait until they are in crisis to call. Sometimes clients don't pay or suppliers mess up; I need to know my rights.
Disputes Tribunal national · Ministry of Justice
Who qualifies Small businesses and individuals in disputes.
What you get Low-cost legal resolution for claims up to $30,000.
What it actually costs you Small filing fee; no lawyers allowed.
Common gotcha Not having a written contract makes your case much harder.
Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) Advice national · Commerce Commission
Who qualifies Business owners and consumers.
What you get Legal framework for product and service quality.
What it actually costs you Time to understand your obligations as a service provider.
Common gotcha Thinking you can contract out of the CGA.
Privacy Act Guidance national · Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Who qualifies Businesses holding customer data.
What you get Advice on how to store client info safely.
What it actually costs you Compliance with privacy principles.
Common gotcha Sharing client photos on social media without permission.
Employment New Zealand national · MBIE
Who qualifies Employers and employees.
What you get Standard employment agreements and legal rights.
What it actually costs you Time to read up on current minimum wage and leave laws.
Common gotcha Using an outdated employment contract template.
Companies Office Registry national · MBIE
Who qualifies Registered companies.
What you get Official business registration and annual return filing.
What it actually costs you Annual filing fee.
Common gotcha Failing to file the annual return gets the company struck off.
Fair Trading Act Information national · Commerce Commission
Who qualifies All businesses.
What you get Rules against misleading advertising and pricing.
What it actually costs you Must ensure all quotes are transparent.
Common gotcha Making claims about 'guaranteed results' that can't be backed up.
One honest app. Real lives, real businesses. Free for what people need, paid only for what runs a business — on our own model, our own metal.
Where we run
Bangalore + Czechia
Our own metal · GDPR · DPDPA
