| Keep up-to-date with us and what's happening in the education sector |
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- 2024 Annual Accounts
- Important Notices
- Xero Tip of the Month: Accessing the History and Notes Feature
- Track Your Carbon Footprint FREE for 12 Months with Sumday + Xero
- New Resource: AFS School Revenue Finance Handbook
- Welcome to the Team to Swapnil Naik
- Looking ahead
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Reminder: Publishing the Annual Report & Audited Accounts:
If you’ve received your signed audited accounts from the auditor, please remember to submit these to the Ministry via the new School Planning and Reporting Application. For your reference, we’ve included a link to our previous Chalkboard newsletter, which explains the new process - please click HERE to access it.
In addition, please ensure that the reports are published on the school's website.
If your school does not have a website, the Ministry of Education can host your annual report on the Education Counts website. To request this, email: planning.reporting@education.govt.nz. Following the submission of your annual report and receipt of the final invoice from your auditors, the Ministry will release the audit fee support funding. Please upload the payment advice from Pourato to Google Drive. |
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July Operational Grant Funding Notices:
If you haven't already done so, could you please upload the July operations grant reports to Google Drive or attach them to the transaction in Xero.
Should you need any guidance on how to do this, we have included our Pourato & Secure Data Portal Checklist below, which you can access by clicking the button. Please ensure all required items are uploaded (staffing entitlement, operational funding, funding summary and July PE Funding letter). |
Pay Equity Settlements and Collective Agreements On 1 July, school's will have received the next instalment of estimated funding for non-teaching pay equity settlements and collective agreements. This instalment includes the annual wash-up calculation based on complete payroll data for the 2024 year. Please upload to Google Drive the payment advice from Pourato as well as the letter detailing the estimated funding from the Secure Data Portal.
Kahui Ako and resource teacher disestablishment process
Impacted schools should soon receive notice of disestablishment of Kāhui Ako and resource teacher roles, confirming the Budget 2025 announcement that funding has been reinvested.
Effective 28 January, all Kāhui Ako will be formally disestablished. This means after 31 December, schools will no longer receive Kāhui Ako maintenance allowances, travel grants, or networking and induction funding for Kāhui Ako roles. After 27 January, schools will no longer receive resourcing for the operation of Kāhui Ako or for RT Lit and RT Māori roles.
Boards and principals seeking support to work through what this means for leaders and teachers they employ can contact Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – New Zealand School Boards Association (formerly NZSTA). To access more information about the disestablishment, clicking the buttons below. |
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XERO TIP OF THE MONTH: ACCESSING THE HISTORY AND NOTES FEATURE |
Did you know every invoice, bill, and transaction in Xero includes a built-in audit trail?
It's a feature some users might overlook, but the History & Notes feature lets you easily see who made changes, what was updated, and when - helping your school’s finance team stay connected and organised. To view the history for any transaction: - Open the transaction (invoice, bill, or payment) you want to check.
- Scroll down to the History & Notes section at the bottom of the page.
- Click History & Notes to view a detailed timeline of changes.
This feature ensures everyone is on the same page and provides invaluable context for financial reviews – especially crucial during audits or when delegating tasks. |
TRACK YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT FREE FOR 12 MONTHS WITH SUMDAY + XERO |
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Looking to reduce your school's carbon footprint but not sure where to begin?
We’ve got good news. Thanks to Xero’s new partnership with Sumday, you can now access powerful carbon accounting tools - completely free for 12 months!
Whether you're just beginning your sustainability journey or looking to enhance your current efforts, this is a great place to start. Sumday is a customisable carbon accounting platform that integrates with Xero, making it easy to track and report your emissions. |
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With sustainability becoming a growing priority across the education sector and broader community, this is a fantastic opportunity to kick-start your journey to net zero — without the stress or extra cost. All you need is an active Xero subscription. Simply connect to Sumday via the Xero App Store, and you’re good to go.
This offer is available from 2 April 2025 to 1 April 2026.
To learn more about this offer and to get started, click the button below. |
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NEW RESOURCE: AFS SCHOOL REVENUE FINANCE HANDBOOK |
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New Resource Alert! We’re pleased to announce that the Accounting for Schools Revenue Finance Handbook is now available for download from the Resources Hub on our website! This practical, easy-to-read guide is designed to help school leaders and finance staff manage revenue more effectively and explore alternative income opportunities.
Whether you're aiming to boost revenue or build financial resilience, the handbook offers clear, actionable strategies to strengthen your school’s financial position. |
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To access and download a copy of this valuable resource, click on the button below. |
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WELCOME TO THE TEAM TO SWAPNIL NAIK |
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| Originally from India, Swapnil moved to New Zealand in 2019 to pursue new opportunities in accounting and finance-related roles.
After completing a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from the Auckland Institute of Studies and a Master’s in Professional Accounting from the University of Waikato, Swapnil gained hands-on experience in various roles across audit, finance, and taxation - building a strong foundation in both technical accounting and business advisory. As our new Business Services Accountant, Swapnil will be working with you to prepare monthly reports and provide crucial financial information as well as insightful strategic advice to support your school. |
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Outside the office, Swapnil plays the Indian classical instrument tabla, enjoys learning new languages including German and Spanish - and stays active through cricket, rugby, and basketball. |
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271 Willis Street, Wellington 6011 |
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