Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Fuel taxes prompt call for better use of public transport

23 May 2018

Fuel taxes prompt call for SMEs to make better use of public transport

The New Zealand Coalition Government’s recent announcement on additional fuel taxes has been met with dismay by many in the small business sector, but one chartered accounting and business advisory firm believes that not only is it a good thing, it can be mitigated if businesses use public transport more.

Director of Auckland based NexGen Group, Vinay Iswar, says congestion in Auckland costs business – including trades and retail – more than $2 billion a year in lost productivity, so fixing it can't be a bad thing.

“Late deliveries, dead time on the road and high freight costs (because trucks spend hours longer on the road), are some of the consequences of congestion. Imagine the benefits if we can fix the congestion problem by even a small amount.

“We complain about the traffic every single day, but I am urging my clients to see this as an opportunity to achieve better productivity in the short term and the long term.”

Responding to news that Kiwis nationwide will be paying 9 cents tax in the dollar and another 10 cents, plus GST, if you’re in Auckland, Mr Iswar says that he’s done the numbers and can’t see any significant impact on small businesses.

“Your average small business probably spends between $10,000 and $20,000 a year on petrol which, based on around 20 cents tax in the dollar, equates to $1,000 to $2,000 per year. It’s a small price to pay to get rid of congestion.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Mr Iswar says for those who are running really lean, the problem can be dealt with through planning and business processes. For example:

1. Adjust your travelling patterns to reduce congestion and travel time
2. Use public transport and tackle your emails while you’re about it
3. Avoid passing on the increases to the consumer to differentiate yourself

Adjust your travel patterns

“Begin by recording your time on a time sheet or app. Trades people are particularly poor at this. Record how long the job took and how long you spent travelling, and then plan a day and a week in advance when you can.

“Focus all of your appointments in the same area for the day or morning. Study the traffic patterns on your routes and adjust your behaviour accordingly – spending less time stuck in traffic will save you petrol. Use this fuel tax as an excuse to measure, plan and tighten up your business processes.”

Use public transport

Mr Iswar says the car is less convenient than we give it credit for.

“If you’re in a service business particularly, plan your day so you can use public transport – whether that’s buses, trains, taxis or Uber. Use the time to clear your emails and make phone calls instead of driving distracted.”

Don’t make your customer pay

Mr Iswar says that with some thought, businesses could win goodwill and grow their market share by not passing on the increases.
“Tell your customer that you will be absorbing the cost and not increasing your prices. You will find your competitors using this as an excuse to hike prices, so be different.”

For more information: http://nexgen.nz/

Ends.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.