← New Zealand hubs Massage Therapist
New Zealand English (English) $ NZD
Feleti is a self-employed massage therapist navigating the balance of running a small business while keeping his family healthy and secure. This hub covers the essential national support systems, tax obligations, and health protections he relies on daily.
Managing self-employed income and tax obligations is the biggest administrative hurdle for a sole trader.
myIR Secure Online Services national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies All self-employed individuals and taxpayers.
What you get Real-time tax balance and filing history.
What it actually costs you Free; requires RealMe login and IRD number.
Common gotcha Forgetting to file a 'nil' return when business is slow leads to automatic penalties.
ACC Self-Employed Levy national · Accident Compensation Corporation
Who qualifies All self-employed people earning over a certain threshold.
What you get No-fault personal injury cover for work and non-work accidents.
What it actually costs you Annual invoice based on your earnings and industry risk code.
Common gotcha Assuming you are covered for illness; ACC only covers accidents, not sickness.
Small Business Cashflow Scheme national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
What you get Low-interest loans to support cashflow during lean periods.
What it actually costs you Application via myIR; must meet specific turnover criteria.
Common gotcha The loan must be repaid within the agreed term to avoid higher interest rates.
GST Registration national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Businesses with annual turnover exceeding $60,000.
What you get Ability to claim back GST on business expenses.
What it actually costs you Requires accurate record keeping and periodic filing.
Common gotcha Once registered, you must charge GST on all services, effectively increasing your prices.
KiwiSaver for Self-Employed national · Inland Revenue / Private Providers
Who qualifies NZ citizens or residents under 65.
What you get Voluntary retirement savings scheme with government contribution matching.
What it actually costs you Self-managed contributions; no employer match.
Common gotcha You have to manually set up a direct debit to contribute since there is no payroll.
Business.govt.nz Tools national · Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Who qualifies All NZ business owners.
What you get Free templates for contracts, health and safety plans, and tax calculators.
What it actually costs you Free; just time to navigate the site.
Common gotcha Templates are generic; they need to be tailored to the massage therapy industry. As a massage therapist, Feleti's body is his tool; he needs to know how the public health system works.
Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) Services national · Health New Zealand
Who qualifies All NZ residents.
What you get Free or subsidised GP visits, hospital care, and emergency services.
What it actually costs you Co-payments for some GP visits and prescriptions.
Common gotcha Wait times for elective surgeries can be long; many use private insurance for faster access.
Community Services Card national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Low-to-middle income earners meeting specific thresholds.
What you get Reduced costs for GP visits, prescriptions, and some dental care.
What it actually costs you Application form via Work and Income; evidence of income required.
Common gotcha It does not cover all medical costs, only specific subsidised items.
Prescription Subsidy Scheme national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Anyone who pays for 20+ prescription items in a year.
What you get Free prescriptions for the remainder of the year once the threshold is met.
What it actually costs you Keep track of receipts or ask your pharmacy to track them.
Common gotcha You must track the count yourself if you use multiple pharmacies.
Need to Talk? 1737 national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Anyone in NZ needing mental health support.
What you get Free 24/7 phone and text counselling.
What it actually costs you Free; confidential.
Common gotcha It is for immediate support and triage, not long-term therapy.
National Travel Assistance national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies Patients referred for specialist treatment far from home.
What you get Financial assistance for travel and accommodation costs.
What it actually costs you Requires referral and proof of travel.
Common gotcha Must be pre-approved before travel in most cases.
National Immunisation Schedule national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies All residents.
What you get Free access to recommended vaccines for children and adults.
What it actually costs you Free at GP or community clinics.
Common gotcha Some adult boosters may have age-specific eligibility.
Feleti needs to know what benefits or tax credits his family can access to manage household costs.
Working for Families Tax Credits national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Families with dependent children under 18.
What you get Weekly or lump-sum payments based on income and family size.
What it actually costs you Annual application; must update income estimates regularly.
Common gotcha Underestimating income leads to a 'debt' at the end of the year that must be repaid.
Best Start Payment national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Parents of children born after July 2018.
What you get Weekly payment for the first year of a child's life.
What it actually costs you Application via IRD; linked to birth registration.
Common gotcha It stops automatically when the child turns one.
Childcare Subsidy national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Low-to-middle income families with children in licensed care.
What you get Subsidised hourly rates for preschool childcare.
What it actually costs you Requires proof of income and child's enrolment.
Common gotcha Subsidy is capped at a certain number of hours per week.
Family Tax Credit national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Families with children under 19.
What you get Financial support for raising children.
What it actually costs you Part of the Working for Families package.
Common gotcha Must notify IRD of any change in custody or income.
School Donations Scheme national · Ministry of Education
Who qualifies Parents of students in participating decile 1-7 schools.
What you get Schools receive funding so they don't ask parents for donations.
What it actually costs you None; automatic for eligible schools.
Common gotcha Schools can still ask for payments for camps or extracurricular activities.
Orphan's Benefit national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Carers of children whose parents cannot care for them.
What you get Weekly payment to assist with the child's upbringing.
What it actually costs you Requires evidence of guardianship/care status.
Common gotcha Strict criteria on why the parents are unable to provide care. Rising costs of living mean Feleti needs to know about energy and housing support.
Winter Energy Payment national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Superannuitants and those on main benefits.
What you get Extra weekly payment during winter months to help with heating.
What it actually costs you Automatic if you receive a qualifying benefit.
Common gotcha It is taxable income.
Healthy Homes Standards national · Tenancy Services
Who qualifies All tenants in private rentals.
What you get Legal requirement for landlords to provide insulation, heating, and ventilation.
What it actually costs you None; it's a landlord obligation.
Common gotcha Tenants often don't know they can report non-compliance to the Tenancy Tribunal.
Accommodation Supplement national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Low-income earners struggling with rent or mortgage costs.
What you get Weekly payment to help with housing costs.
What it actually costs you Means-tested; requires proof of housing costs.
Common gotcha Strict asset limits apply.
Warmer Kiwi Homes national · EECA
Who qualifies Low-income homeowners.
What you get Grants for insulation and heating installation.
What it actually costs you Must use approved service providers.
Common gotcha Limited funding available annually; first-come, first-served.
Tenancy Tribunal national · Ministry of Justice
Who qualifies Any tenant or landlord in a dispute.
What you get Legal resolution for tenancy issues.
What it actually costs you Small filing fee.
Common gotcha Hearings are public record.
Rates Rebate Scheme national · Department of Internal Affairs
Who qualifies Low-income homeowners.
What you get Partial rebate on local council rates.
What it actually costs you Application via local council.
Common gotcha Must re-apply every year.
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
