| Newsletter 23 January 2025 |
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Kia Ora and Gong Xi Fa Cai, everyone!
As we welcome the Chinese New Year, we embrace the joy of new beginnings and the rich cultural traditions that come with this festive season. The Chamber is excited to kick off a year filled with exciting events, initiatives, and opportunities to bring our vibrant community together. Whether you're looking to connect with fellow members and business leaders, celebrate new milestones, or simply enjoy great company, we’ve got something in store during the year of the snake!
Carina and I wish you a prosperous and joyful Chinese New Year, filled with health, happiness, and abundant fortune! May this year bring fresh opportunities, unforgettable memories, and continued success!
恭喜发财, 新年快乐! (Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xin Nian Kuai Le!)
Upcoming Events: Wahine Night – Thursday, 6th February, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM. We are excited to offer an exclusive event for members of the MĀIA Women’s Network, this invite-only Wahine Night kicks off 2025! This event celebrates wahine toa (strong women) and fosters connection, collaboration, and community. With limited spaces available, don't miss this chance to connect in an elegant setting at the Fisher & Paykel Showroom. Email us for me information nzed@nzchamber.org.sg.
Waitangi Day Family Celebrations – Sunday, 16th February, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Join us for our Waitangi Day Family Celebrations 2025, proudly brought to you by the New Zealand Chamber Singapore and the Australian International School. Admission is FREE, but don’t forget to RSVP via our registration link to secure your spot! This will be the ultimate day to honour the spirit of Aotearoa and experience the best of Kiwi culture right here in Singapore. Expect an afternoon of Kiwi treats, live entertainment, games, and fun for all ages!
Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, togs, and plenty of good vibes for an unforgettable day of fun and fellowship and Kiwi-style celebrations!
New Members Networking Breakfast – Wednesday, 19th February, 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM Our New Members Networking Breakfast is back! This event is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow new members, build relationships, and expand your professional network. Enjoy a delicious breakfast, coffee, and tea while making meaningful connections to kick-start your day. This event is proudly brought to you by our newest Silver Sponsor Harcourts Landed and is free for new members. Be sure register here as space is limited.
2025 Singapore Budget Breakfast Briefing -Thursday, 20 February, 8:15 AM – 10:00 AM As we approach the much-anticipated 2025 Singapore Budget announcement, we invite you to join us for Hawksford's annual breakfast briefing. This session will provide valuable insights into the key highlights of the Budget and explore its potential impacts on your business and industry.
Registration for this event will be opening soon - Don't miss this opportunity to network, share perspectives, and get ahead of what the Budget means for your business!
Melissa Holck Executive Director New Zealand Chamber of Commerce, Singapore |
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| Cross-Chamber Lunar New Year Networking Celebration |
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Last evening, the Cross-Chamber Lunar New Year Networking Celebration brought together an incredible crowd from the Canadian, Irish, Italian, New Zealand, and South African Chambers of Commerce at Muddy Murphy’s Irish Pub.
With drinks in hands, delectable nibbles, and lively conversations, the atmosphere was buzzing with energy and connection. Guests also enjoyed the excitement of lucky door prizes and the chance to forge meaningful relationships across industries.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to kick off the year in style! Here’s to a prosperous and collaborative 2025.
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| New Members Promotion! Join the NZ Chamber today! |
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Welcome 2025 with new opportunities and connections! The NZ Chamber Singapore is thrilled to introduce our New Year, New Connections promotion, designed to help new members kickstart their year with purpose and community.
- A complimentary bottle of wine from Pop Up Wine, perfect for toasting to new beginnings.
- An invitation to attend a New Members Breakfast for free during the year, where you can meet fellow new members and expand your network.
This campaign is exclusively for new members and does not apply to renewing memberships.
Don't miss this chance to enjoy exclusive benefits, attend engaging events, and join a community that supports professional and personal growth.
Promotion Period: January 1 – March 31, 2025 Sign up now to start the year with meaningful connections!
*********************** Terms & Conditions: - Offer applies to new Individual and Couples Members only.
- Membership must be paid in full for one year to qualify.
- Complimentary wine will be supplied directly by Pop Up Wine at the end of the campaign (March 2025).
- The wine type will be selected by Pop Up Wine and is subject to availability.
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| Waitangi Day Family Celebrations 2025 |
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FREE EVENT
Date: Sunday, 16 February 2025 Time: 1pm - 4pm Venue: Australian International School
Join us for the Waitangi Day Family Celebrations 2025, proudly brought to you by the New Zealand Chamber Singapore and the Australian International School. This is the ultimate day to honour the spirit of Aotearoa and experience the best of Kiwi culture right here in Singapore.
This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever! Whether you're a Kiwi, a friend of New Zealand, or simply curious to experience our vibrant culture, everyone is welcome to join the festivities.
What's in store? - Fun for all ages: Face painting, bouncy castle**, arts & crafts, games, and the ever-popular Slip-and-Slide**!
- Delicious Kiwi treats: Savor sausage sizzles, craft beers, fine wines, bubbles, and premium NZ Gin.
- Live entertainment: Groove to the sounds of great Kiwi music and soak in the laid-back vibes.
- Market stalls: Explore Kiwi-inspired goods, and grab freebies from our sponsors.
- Raffle Draw: Stand a chance to win 2 x Return Economy Flights to New Zealand, courtesy of Air New Zealand!*
Why attend? - Celebrate the unique bond that unites Kiwis and our wider community.
- A fantastic day out for families, couples, and individuals alike.
- A chance to connect, relax, and share in the true spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality).
Admission: FREE for all! But don't forget to RSVP via our registration link to secure your spot.
Bring your sunscreen, togs, and plenty of good vibes for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and fellowship. Food and drinks will be available for purchase (cashless payments accepted at selected stalls).
Let's come together to make this Waitangi Day celebration one to remember. See you there!
*Terms & conditions apply for flight redemption. **Parents' supervision required for bouncy castle and slip-and-slide. AIS and the NZ Chamber are not liable for any injuries sustained during these activities.
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| New Members Networking Breakfast |
| FREE FOR NEW* MEMBERS!
Date: Wednesday, 19 February 2025 Time: 8am - 9.30am Venue: Eden Restaurant, Pullman Singapore Orchard (Level 4)
Welcome to the NZ Chamber's New* Members Networking Breakfast event! This is the perfect opportunity to meet and connect with fellow new members, build relationships, and expand your professional network.
Don't miss out on the chance to make meaningful connections and gain valuable insights. Register now and kick-start your networking journey with the NZ Chamber!
Registration includes: A delicious breakfast, and coffee and tea to kick-start your day. Great conversations and the opportunity to meet fellow members.
Not a member yet, and want to join us? Simple: Become a chamber member now by clicking here.
* refers to members who have joined since September 2024 (and if you did not attend the last Members Breakfast).
Entry permitted via registration only. |
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Members News & Promotions |
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| Cafe Melba: Unicorn Festival |
| It’s going to be a magical day at Cafe Melba! We’re hosting a super fun Unicorn Festival on January 30th, and you won’t want to miss it! There will be magical treats, vibrant drinks, and plenty of colorful surprises to make your day extra special.
Come join us for a blast of fun and let’s make this event unforgettable! See you there! Available at both Mediapolis and Goodman Art Centre. |
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| Chinese New Year Delights from Café Melba! |
| Ring in the festivities with Café Melba’s exclusive Chinese New Year cookies—thoughtfully crafted to delight your teams, families, and friends this season. Perfect for gifting or sharing, these treats are sure to add sweetness to your celebrations.
Place your order today by visiting one of our Café Melba locations or get in touch with Jenna directly at 8386 4017 or jenna@tadcaster.com.sg. Don’t miss out on this limited-time offering! |
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| New Zealand Tax Update - By Des Trigg |
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The NZ Herald Introduces a New Term: "Bleisure" – When Work Meets Leisure
At the start of 2025, the NZ Herald coined the term "Bleisure," a concept referring to the blending of business and leisure. This term is especially relevant for NZ expats and business migrants seeking to maximise expense deductions against NZ-sourced income. While this primarily applies to residential or commercially owned NZ properties that are rented, it can also extend to any income-generating investment in NZ.
A common—and often contentious—deduction involves travel costs from one’s current country of residence to NZ. These trips often include opportunities to visit family and friends, complicating the claim for a tax deduction.
To secure a deduction, travel expenses (airfares, accommodation, and incidentals) must first meet the criteria of being incurred to derive assessable income (e.g., rental income or interest from investments). If there is a dual purpose for the travel, the second test determines whether the expense is primarily incurred to derive income.
In the case of "Bleisure," expenses may require apportionment. Attempting to justify a deduction retroactively to satisfy an Inland Revenue Department (IRD) query is unlikely to succeed. It’s crucial to undertake pre-trip planning and documentation, ideally well before the travel date.
Example If the primary purpose of travel is to: - Check on tenants,
- Meet property management personnel, or
- Arrange urgent renovations,
then travel fares should be deductible. However, accommodation and incidental expenses incurred on days not related to property inspections (e.g., visiting family) would be considered private expenses and are not deductible.
In summary, for "Bleisure" travel to qualify for deductions, careful preparation and documentation before travel are essential.
Disclaimer This update is provided by Des Trigg, CA Tax Consultant of Auckland. The content is for information only and should not be acted upon without professional advice. Neither the author nor any staff accepts any liability to any other party. Des Trigg CA Tax Consultant Mobile: +64 21 768 967 Email: des@destrigg.co.nz |
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| Not a member yet? Join now and become part of our vibrant and supportive community! |
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$99 per person Good for anyone with an interest or connection to New Zealand: - Individuals aged 26 & under who are solo-entrepreneurs, business people, students or anyone looking to regularly network with New Zealanders.
- Connect with the NZ community, culture and stay up to date with NZ-related business activity in Singapore and SEA.
$200 per person Good for anyone with an interest or connection to New Zealand: - Solo-entrepreneurs, business people, students or anyone looking to regularly network with New Zealanders.
- Connect with the NZ community, culture and stay up to date with NZ-related business activity in Singapore and SEA.
$330 per couple Good for couples with an interest or connection to New Zealand: - Join with your partner to receive an annual discount.
- Enjoy the same benefits and opportunities as the Individual membership.
- Both people do not have to be Kiwis.
$990 per Company, includes 3 Corporate nominees Good for any business with an interest or connection to New Zealand: - Connect and network with New Zealand Business people living in Singapore.
- Promote your product and services within the New Zealand Community.
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Copyright © 2019 New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Singapore. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a NZ Chamber member or have otherwise opted in through contact with our office. |
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Our mailing address: New Zealand Chamber of Commerce Singapore One George Street/ #21-04 Singapore 049145 Singapore |
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