This year’s annual conference will be held on 6 December 2024 at the Aotea Conference Centre in Auckland. The NZPPA conference is the largest premier payroll event in New Zealand.

Conference updates:

• MBIE (Labour Inspectorate Compliance) and ACC will be speaking at this year’s conference on some of the most essential areas that affect payroll.
• We will have a full house (In-person) for our conference this year (as always), with only 25 seats left!
• We have added more speakers and exhibitors to the conference page and programme. The final version will be finalised this week!
• If you cannot attend the conference, you can still be part of the event by selecting the live-streaming option to book, click here

This Year’s Conference Theme:

“Takin’ Care of Business”

There are several main misconceptions about payroll, with many people thinking payroll is just the payroll system or all that a payroll practitioner does in data entry, and now that AI will finally replace any need for a payroll professional being needed as a position in a business.

This is complete rubbish!

Payroll is a business-critical activity, and the payroll professional is the key component (at the centre of the payroll function) that coordinates, manages, and problem-solves the numerous areas that make up payroll to ensure employees are paid correctly and on time.

How a Payroll Professional is Takin’ Care of Business

A professional payroll practitioner follows a structured process to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing. Here are just some of the key areas in how the payroll practitioner does this:

1. Data Collection and Validation

• Gathering Employee Information
• Tracking Time and Attendance
• Reviewing Changes

2. Processing Payroll

• Calculating Pay
• Determining taxes
• Government deductions
• Applying for agreed payments

3. Compliance and Reporting

• Tax Compliance
• Employment Law compliance (especially the Holidays Act)
• Superannuation (including KiwiSaver)
• Reporting (Payday Filing etc)

4. Auditing and Reconciliation

• Review for Accuracy
• Reconcile Accounts

5. Management & Employee Support

• Answering Queries
• Providing Documents

6. Continuous Improvement

• Payroll System Updates
• Professional Development
• Legislative updates

Tools Used

• Payroll Software
• Time-Tracking Systems
• Accounting Software
• HRIS

Key Skills Applied

• Analytical Skills
• Attention to Detail
• Problem-Solving
• Confidentiality

By following this process, a payroll professional ensures employees are paid correctly and on time while meeting legal and regulatory requirements.

---

PLATINUM SPONSOR

When it comes to payroll and HRIS, you need a system that meets your needs, and that you can get up and running without significant investment in consultancy, customisation, hardware and software. At the same time, you want a system that can easily be integrated with other related systems in place at your organisation. Datacom payroll has developed a range of products to easily control your payroll. Whether you’re a small, medium or large business; we have a pay system just right for your organisation.

• EasiPay® – Outsourced payroll for businesses of all sizes.
  DataPay® – Sophisticated payroll and HRIS software.

Datacom has been offering payroll and HRIS systems and services for nearly fifty years and has offices in all major cities throughout Australia and New Zealand. Let us provide you with a payroll and HRIS system that you will never grow off and that will leave you with more time for business.

Website: https://datacom.com/nz/en/products/datapay

GOLD SPONSOR

Employment Hero is the smarter way to manage HR, people, payroll and productivity. Designed for NZ SMEs and outsourced payroll bureaus, Employment Hero services over 200,000 businesses and collectively manages more than 1 million employees across New Zealand and globally. Automate payroll processes via Employment Hero’s platform, so you can save time on manual administrative work while also reducing the risk of human error. You’ll never lose timesheets or leave requests ever again, with everything consolidated on the platform – including Automated pay runs.

• Automated payday filing
• Built-in leave and holiday pay calculations
• Rostering, time and attendance
• So much more

Website: employmenthero.com/nz

SILVER SPONSOR

Fusion5 is a New Zealand developer and provider of Payroll and HR solutions, as well as providing whole business consultancy, technology solutions, and managed services. Our array of solutions includes Jade Star – Payroll & HR, TimeFiler – Time & Attendance, MyWorkplace – Time & Attendance, Org Chart Now – Organisational Charting Solution, and our premier Payroll and HR solution Jemini. At Fusion5, you will receive New Zealand-based support and account management combined with a strong team of people who understand the complexities of providing payroll to New Zealand organisations.

Contact details

• Gabriella Barbara
• Account Director
• [email protected]
• Phone: 64 4 473 4552

---

Venue For This Year’s Conference:

THIS YEAR’S CONFERENCE VENUE: AOTEA CENTRE, AUCKLAND

As always, NZPPA events are fully catered, and any dietary requirements can be provided for.

The Aotea Centre is a purpose-built performing arts and events centre. NZPPA has run the annual conference from this venue twice before.

Venue Address: 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland

Parking and transport

The Civic Car Park is a short distance from Aotea Square, Aotea Centre, The Civic and Auckland Town Hall, and other Aotea Arts Quarter venues, making it a great option for attending shows and events.

FREE Airport Shuttles (morning and afternoon of the conference)

We have always provided FREE airport shuttles in the morning and afternoon of the conference for out-of-town attendees (from and to the Auckland Domestic Airport). On booking, you can indicate if you want to use this service, and we will send you the pick-up time and location of the shuttles that will be available on the day.

---

Conference Exhibitors (Exhibitors Are Back in Force at This Year’s Conference)

Timecloud: A comprehensive workforce management platform empowering businesses with accurate time tracking, payroll automation, intelligent rostering, and job costing insights. Enhance productivity, optimize scheduling, and drive employee well-being with valuable workforce data.

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 021 425905
Website: https://jointimecloud.com/

Thankyou Payroll is a leading Kiwi payroll provider supporting over 7000 small businesses with their payroll compliance. As a PAYE Intermediary, we take care of payday filing, PAYE, KiwiSaver, and IRD payments, freeing up time for you to focus on your business. Our irresistible pricing, outstanding customer service, and straightforward software are built for small business success.

Beyond payroll, we offer free payroll for charities, advocate for carbon positivity, and are transitioning our ownership to a charitable trust investing an estimated 1.2m annually. By payrolling together, we create meaningful outcomes for Aotearoa.

Website: www.thankyoupayroll.co.nz

CleverTime is an advanced time attendance system designed to help businesses of all sizes optimize their workforce operations. From time and attendance tracking to job costing and employee scheduling, CleverTime provides a comprehensive suite of tools that simplify the complex process of managing a workforce. Our platform is built to be user-friendly, customizable, and scalable, ensuring that it meets the unique needs of every business.

At CleverTime, our mission is to empower businesses by providing them with the tools and insights they need to manage their workforce more effectively. We believe efficient workforce management is the cornerstone of business success, and our goal is to help you streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance productivity.

Phone:+(64)98890055
Website: www.clevertime.com

Alxemy is a New Zealand-based consultancy that delivers efficiency across the employee lifecycle.  We are customer-driven and vendor-agnostic, working with a range of software providers to create the best solutions for your organisation’s needs.

Website: www.alxemy.co.nz

Frontier Software, established in 1983, is a leading provider of human capital management and payroll solutions. Our flagship product, ichris (International Comprehensive Human Resource Integrated Solution), offers a modular and flexible approach to HR and payroll management, catering to diverse business requirements. With a presence in multiple countries, including New Zealand, we serve a wide range of industries, ensuring compliance with local regulations and delivering exceptional customer support.

Address: 87 Grafton Road, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 373 5191, 021 101 7959
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://nz.frontiersoftware.com/

ACC provides comprehensive, no-fault personal injury cover for New Zealand residents and visitors. No matter where an injury occurs, ACC is committed to supporting people to minimise both the incidence and impact of injury.

ACC is also proud to work with leaders and organisations that are using effective health and safety practices to prevent injuries, care for those who’ve had an accident and support people in their recovery.

Website: https://www.acc.co.nz/for-businessCrystal Payroll – Payroll Made Simple for NZ Businesses, our mission is simple: to make payroll crystal clear for New Zealand businesses. With one of the world’s most complex tax and payroll systems, managing payroll can feel overwhelming. But we’re here to change that. Our cloud-based payroll system offers total clarity—no murky areas, no foggy moments, and no confusion.

From PAYE and leave calculations to IR filings and KiwiSaver contributions, Crystal Payroll ensures you’re always compliant and up-to-date with the latest legislation. As an NZ IRD-accredited intermediary, we work closely with the IRD and accountants to keep everything running smoothly, so you don’t have to worry about fines or missed updates.

Tailored to New Zealand’s businesses and industries, Crystal Payroll offers intuitive payroll management from any device, anywhere, anytime. With affordable pricing and friendly, local support, we’re committed to helping you manage your payroll with ease.

Step out of the haze of complexity and into total payroll clarity with Crystal Payroll.

Contact details

• Chris Murphy
• Tel: 09 480 0123 Ext 028
• Mob: 020 480 0133
• Phone: 0800 799 899

Website: https://crystalpayroll.com/

More Exhibitors will be added soon…

This Year’s MC to keep our conference on track and focused: Luke Bird

At our 2023 conference, Luke Bird helped energise the event with his great style and humour, so we asked him back for this year!

An award-winning vocalist with a penchant for musical theatre, Luke is a trained comedic actor and opera singer with an infectious chirpy and witty sense of humour!

Luke has a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts and his diversity, passion and flare for entertaining has seen him take on a variety of roles from the exuberant Widow Twankey in Aladdin to singing alongside New Zealand’s finest with Opera North.

This Year’s Conference Keynote Speaker: Brooke van Velden

Right Honourable Brooke van Velden, Workplace Relations and Safety is the Minister of Internal Affairs and for Workplace Relations and Safety.

Qualified in international trade and economics, Brooke has also been a factory worker and corporate affairs consultant.

She was elected to Parliament as an ACT Party MP in 2020, returning as MP for Tāmaki in 2023.

This Year’s Conference Motivational Speaker: Brooke Neal

Brooke Neal – Olympian, Former Blacksticks Star, Mindset & Wellbeing Coach

Brooke is an Olympian, mindset coach and franchise owner of a wellness hub called O-Studio in Hamilton. She uses her experience in elite sports, motherhood and business to inspire people to be healthier in their lives while pursuing their dreams to the highest level.

On the hockey field, she played 176 games for New Zealand over an impressive 10-year period. During this time, she placed 4th at the 2016 Olympic Games and won Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Struggling with burnout, self-doubt, grief and chronic pain, the hustle-and-grind approach of the high-performance environment led her to breaking point, where she was forced to make a decision. Does she quit? Or does she find a different way to become one of the best defenders? Instead of working harder and putting in the most hours, she started her own business, practised daily mindfulness and became a yoga teacher.

Surprisingly, by finding more balance in her life, her performance on the field improved dramatically and became known as ‘the rock at the back’. Now, she is able to share her tools and knowledge and relate them to people in the business world, speaking at conferences throughout New Zealand.

‘Motivational and practical’ is what Brooke is all about. People are inspired by her story of struggle and perseverance, and they also leave fuelled to make actual changes in their lives for the better.

Conference programme: 

• • • The Final Conference programme, click here

Event Speakers

Sanam Ahmadzadeh Salmani, Employment Counsel at Employment Hero – a seasoned employment lawyer with a passion for making employment law less daunting! As an in-house employment lawyer for Employment Hero, she advises across ANZ, SEA, and the UK, helping make employment easier for SMEs. In 2023, she founded and launched Law Lenz: Employment Law Done Right, New Zealand’s go-to employment law podcast.

Sanam’s mission is to empower employers, HR professionals, and leaders to harness employment with confidence and ease. She believes that education is the secret ingredient to ensuring compliance and fostering a positive workplace culture.

Peter Oxley is the ACC Business Engagement and Partnerships (BEP) Regional Manager for the Auckland region. He has worked in numerous capacities whilst at ACC including Relationship Management, H&S Auditing, and Injury Prevention functions.

He is also the subject matter expert for BEP in relation to ACC’s recent ‘Recovery at work’ campaigns. Outside of work, Peter is involved in his local rugby and cricket clubs in coaching and administrative activities.

Cheryl O’Brien – Head of NZ Payroll and Credit Management & Debt Recovery, Fletcher Building, New Zealand

Cheryl is a finance and credit professional with over 30 years’ experience in NZ, Australia and Europe holding a BA (Hons) in Business from the University of West London, CICM (Grad) and is a member of NZPPA, AICM and RITANZ. Cheryl has held senior roles in trade credit insurance, professional services, telecoms, building and construction sectors across multiple jurisdictions and has written several articles on current issues in credit management.

Cheryl is the Head of Fletcher Building’s NZ Payroll function as well as the Credit Management and Debt Recovery function and is an accomplished transformation specialist who loves creating high-performing, agile teams. Cheryl is passionate about adding value to the business through back-office transformation and preparing the workforce and functional processes for digitalisation.

Gabriella Barbara, Account Director, Fusion5 works with Fusion5 in the HRIS space.  She has been working with Payroll, HR and Time & Attendance solutions since 2004 here in NZ and prior to that with Software solutions in Australia.  Gabriella has a passion for ensuring customers get the best out of their chosen payroll solutions.  Outside of work, she loves to make the most of enjoying the outdoors.

Lisa Black, Payroll Manager, Farmers Trading Company is the Payroll Manager at Farmers Trading Company, a long-standing Datapay customer, where she leads the payroll, time and attendance advisory service team for one of New Zealand’s most iconic retail brands. Farmers has looked after generations of Kiwis through a wide range of quality merchandise for 115 years. The business has 4,344 employees, with the majority working in the 59 retail stores nationwide.

With extensive experience in payroll management, Lisa excels at navigating the complexities of compliance and implementing best practices. Her expertise in streamlining payroll processes, along with her dedication to accuracy and efficiency, makes her a valuable contributor to discussions to understand the ever-changing payroll industry.

Nitika Shah, Senior Product Marketing Manager, SaaS Products, Datacom spearheads product marketing and customer research for Datacom’s enterprise payroll solution, Datapay.

With a keen focus on understanding industry challenges, insights, and opportunities, she is dedicated to capturing the voice of payroll practitioners to drive innovation with Datapay and optimise payroll experiences for organisations across New Zealand.

Chris Mar, Datapay Principal Consultant, Datacom has been with Datacom for over two decades and was the driving force behind the successful construction and implementation of Datacom’s Enterprise Payroll solution Datapay as well as Smartly specifically designed for the SME market.

Chris now works on our product and strategy and, in particular, the legislative compliance of our payroll products and services. Chris has been on several government working groups related to tax calculations and employment law in Australia and New Zealand.

Annette Highman, Associate Director, People & Culture, Datacom has been with Datacom for several years, witnessing its growth and evolution from a home-grown New Zealand business into an internationally recognised organisation. Specialising in HR and payroll, she has adeptly navigated numerous changes in legislative remuneration.

Annette understands the pressures that professional payroll practitioners face in ensuring accurate and timely payments and offers insights and experiences that resonate deeply within the payroll industry.

Cost for this year’s conference

The NZPPA conference has always been value for money while still being a premier event. As stated, this is a limited-seat event, so book ASAP.

*All in-person attendees will also receive a conference gift.

Live streamed option and recorded conference

• • • Now, a standard feature at NZPPA events, the conference will also be live-streamed, so if you cannot be at the conference (in person), you can still be part of the event.
    • Also, after the event, all attendees who attend in person or via live stream will receive a link to the conference recording.

*If you book two or more attendees at this event, we can offer 25% off for the second attendee onwards; just email [email protected]
**Group Booking Discount, If you want to bring a group to this year’s conference, we can offer you a group discount. Please email [email protected] to find out more.