← New Zealand hubs Videographer
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Kahu is a freelance videographer based in New Zealand, balancing creative passion with the realities of self-employment. This hub covers the essential national support systems, tax obligations, and industry-specific resources that help him navigate life as a creative professional.
Managing GST and income tax is the biggest headache for any freelancer, so getting these right is non-negotiable.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Registration national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies Businesses with annual turnover exceeding $60,000.
What you get Ability to claim back GST on camera gear and production expenses.
What it actually costs you Free to register; requires filing returns every 2, 6, or 12 months.
Common gotcha You must charge GST on all your invoices once registered, which can make your services look 15% more expensive to non-GST clients.
myIR Secure Online Services national · Inland Revenue Department
Who qualifies All taxpayers and business owners.
What you get Central dashboard for tax payments, student loan balances, and income tax filing.
What it actually costs you Free; requires RealMe login.
Common gotcha Forgetting to file a 'nil' return when you have a quiet month still triggers penalties.
Companies Office Register national · MBIE
Who qualifies Anyone wanting to incorporate as a limited liability company.
What you get Legal separation between personal assets and business liabilities.
What it actually costs you $100-$150 registration fee plus annual return filing fees.
Common gotcha You have to file an annual return every year even if the company is dormant.
ACC Freelancer Levies national · Accident Compensation Corporation
Who qualifies All self-employed earners.
What you get No-fault personal injury coverage for accidents on or off the job.
What it actually costs you Annual levy based on your declared income and industry risk code.
Common gotcha If you don't declare your income correctly, your payout for lost earnings will be significantly lower.
New Zealand Business Number (NZBN) national · MBIE
Who qualifies All businesses and sole traders.
What you get A unique identifier that simplifies interactions with government agencies.
What it actually costs you Free to register.
Common gotcha Many freelancers forget to update their contact details on the register, leading to missed notices.
KiwiSaver for Self-Employed national · Inland Revenue / Private Providers
Who qualifies NZ citizens or residents under 65.
What you get Government contribution of up to $521 per year if you contribute $1,042.
What it actually costs you Voluntary contributions; management fees vary by provider.
Common gotcha You don't get an employer match, so you must remember to make the voluntary payments yourself. Creative work is feast or famine; these grants help bridge the gap between commercial gigs.
Creative NZ Arts Grants national · Creative New Zealand
Who qualifies Individual artists and creative practitioners.
What you get Grants between $5,000 and $75,000 for specific projects.
What it actually costs you Extensive application process including budget and project plan.
Common gotcha They rarely fund 'business as usual' costs; it must be a specific, new creative project.
NZ Film Commission Development Funding national · New Zealand Film Commission
Who qualifies Filmmakers with a script or concept in development.
What you get Financial support to move a project from script to production-ready.
What it actually costs you Requires a professional pitch and industry-standard documentation.
Common gotcha Competition is extremely high; you need a strong track record or a very compelling script.
NZ On Air Funding national · NZ On Air
Who qualifies Producers creating content for NZ audiences.
What you get Funding for digital, television, or radio content.
What it actually costs you Requires a distribution partner (e.g., a broadcaster or platform).
Common gotcha You cannot apply without a confirmed platform interested in airing the content.
New Zealand Screen Production Grant national · New Zealand Film Commission
Who qualifies Productions meeting specific spend thresholds in NZ.
What you get A rebate on qualifying production expenditure.
What it actually costs you Rigorous audit of all production spending.
Common gotcha The threshold for domestic productions is lower than international ones, but still requires significant scale.
Copyright Licensing NZ Grants national · Copyright Licensing New Zealand
Who qualifies Creators working on educational or cultural projects.
What you get Small grants to support the creation of new works.
What it actually costs you Application fee may apply; requires proof of copyright ownership.
Common gotcha These are often smaller, niche grants that are easily missed.
NZ Music Commission Grants national · New Zealand Music Commission
Who qualifies Videographers creating music videos for NZ artists.
What you get Funding to help cover production costs for music videos.
What it actually costs you Artist must be NZ-based and have a release plan.
Common gotcha The artist usually has to apply, not the videographer. Long hours on set and heavy gear take a toll; knowing how to access public health is vital.
Publicly Funded Healthcare national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies NZ citizens and residents.
What you get Free or heavily subsidised hospital care and emergency services.
What it actually costs you Covered by taxes; GP visits still have a co-pay.
Common gotcha Public hospitals have long wait times for non-urgent elective surgeries.
Community Services Card national · Ministry of Social Development
Who qualifies Low-to-middle income earners meeting specific thresholds.
What you get Cheaper GP visits and prescription medicines.
What it actually costs you Free to apply; requires income verification.
Common gotcha Your income fluctuates as a freelancer, so you may lose eligibility if you have a high-earning month.
Mental Health Support (Primary Care) national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies Anyone experiencing mental health distress.
What you get Access to free brief intervention counselling.
What it actually costs you Referral through a GP.
Common gotcha The 'brief' intervention is usually limited to 3-6 sessions.
ACC Subsidised Physiotherapy national · Accident Compensation Corporation
Who qualifies Anyone with an injury covered by ACC.
What you get Reduced cost for physio treatment for work-related injuries.
What it actually costs you Small co-pay per session.
Common gotcha You must have an ACC claim number from your GP or the clinic to get the subsidy.
Prescription Subsidy Scheme national · Ministry of Health
Who qualifies Anyone who pays for more than 20 prescriptions in a year.
What you get Free prescriptions for the remainder of the year after hitting the 20-item threshold.
What it actually costs you Keep track of your receipts.
Common gotcha Many people don't realise they can ask the pharmacist to track this for them.
National Travel Assistance national · Te Whatu Ora
Who qualifies Patients needing to travel long distances for specialist treatment.
What you get Reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs.
What it actually costs you Requires specialist referral and pre-approval.
Common gotcha It doesn't cover all travel costs, just a contribution. As a freelancer, I don't have an HR department, so I need to know my rights regarding contracts and IP.
Employment NZ Contractor vs Employee Guide national · Employment New Zealand
Who qualifies All independent contractors.
What you get Clear definitions to ensure you aren't being misclassified as an employee.
What it actually costs you Free information.
Common gotcha If you work exclusively for one client, you might be legally considered an employee, which changes your tax and ACC status.
IPONZ Trademark Basics national · Intellectual Property Office of NZ
Who qualifies Business owners wanting to protect their brand name/logo.
What you get Legal protection for your business branding.
What it actually costs you Application fees starting around $100-$200.
Common gotcha A trademark is not the same as copyright; it only protects your brand identity, not your creative video work.
Consumer Protection Rights national · MBIE
Who qualifies All consumers and small business owners.
What you get Information on your rights when buying equipment or software.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha The Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) often doesn't apply to business-to-business purchases.
Privacy Commissioner Guidance national · Office of the Privacy Commissioner
Who qualifies Anyone handling client data or footage.
What you get Rules on how to store and manage client data securely.
What it actually costs you Free.
Common gotcha Videographers often forget that raw footage containing people's faces is subject to privacy laws.
Disputes Tribunal national · Ministry of Justice
Who qualifies Anyone with a legal dispute under $30,000.
What you get A low-cost way to resolve payment disputes with clients.
What it actually costs you Small filing fee (approx $45-$180).
Common gotcha You cannot have a lawyer represent you at the hearing; you must present your own case.
NZ Law Society Referral Service national · New Zealand Law Society
Who qualifies Anyone needing legal advice.
What you get Access to lawyers specializing in contract law for creatives.
What it actually costs you Initial consultation fees vary by lawyer.
Common gotcha Don't wait until you're being sued to find a lawyer; have a standard contract template reviewed first.
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
