Training and Beyond

13/07/2026

Every business faces busy seasons. Having someone who can step in, quickly understand what's needed, and keep things moving can make all the difference.

We're so grateful to receive this lovely feedback from Samantha at Mondo Advisory.

Our CurioVate approach is built on asking the right questions, understanding each business, and delivering practical support that makes life easier.

Thank you, Samantha, for trusting us with your business and for taking the time to share your experience. 💙

Melanie Morris

06/07/2026

✨ Curiosity before automation

🤖 CurioVate is Training and Beyond's approach to becoming AI-ready:

🔍 Understand how your business really runs

🧱 Fix capacity and process first

🚀 Then innovate with confidence

🎥 Watch the video, then tell us — are your systems ✅ AI-ready, or ⚠️ AI-risky?

💬 Comments and messages welcome → trainingandbeyond.co.nz

17/06/2026

16/06/2026

Introducing CurioVate™ — where curiosity meets innovation.

I've been sitting on an idea for a while, and today I want to share it.

CurioVate™ is a concept I've trademarked, born from two words: curious and innovate. Because right now, with AI reshaping how we all work, the businesses that thrive won't be the ones who simply react. They'll be the ones who stay curious, and turn that curiosity into action.

Here's the problem: most of us are already at full capacity. Part-time or full-time, we're stretched. So where do we magically find the time to learn new tools, explore innovations, or test the features that could actually give us back our day?

We mean well. We sign up for webinars. We save the recordings. We start the training modules and promise we'll come back to them.

That's why I built a small daily habit I call The Curiosity Cycle, the practical engine behind CurioVate™:

🔍 10 minutes researching a new feature, tool, or community
🛠️ 10 minutes trying it out in your own practice
✍️ 10 minutes capturing your insights (with AI's help)

Thirty minutes a day. One small step that compounds into significant capability over time.

And it's already paying off. Five of my own Curiosity Cycles led me to connect Claude (Anthropic's AI) to my Xero organisation, my inboxes, calendars, OneDrive and asana, handing over the repetitive thinking, and the procrastination that creeps in with overwhelm. These five changes clear my mind, lift my productivity, and give me back time to focus:

📥 A daily triage across my multiple inboxes, sorted into what actually matters: business development opportunities, people waiting on me for information, revenue opportunities or risks, and general admin I can read later.

📅 A daily look at the week ahead across my calendars — flagging clashes and any events I haven't allowed travel time for.

💰 A daily cash and receivables snapshot, straight from Xero.

✅ A weekly Asana review of every task assigned to me, what I've actioned, what still needs attention, and what could move the needle on business development, revenue or risk.

📋 An end-of-month status report on my bookkeepers' client checklists in OneDrive, Claude reads each one, tells me which are complete, and flags anything I need to attend to.

None of this replaces my judgement. It clears the mental clutter, so the things that don't need to take up space in my head simply don't, freeing me to focus where I add the most value.

AI isn't here to take over our roles. It's here to give us back time, so we can focus on the work where humans shine brightest: supporting clients, deepening relationships, providing value in verification and adding real value.

Capacity planning is no longer just about scheduling. It's about evolving.

Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing more about CurioVate™ and how curiosity, executed mindfully and deliberately, builds capacity for the future, for your business, your clients, and your wellbeing.

I'd love to know: what's one tool or idea you've been meaning to explore but haven't found the time for? Drop it in the comments… let's stay curious together.

Melanie Morris

09/06/2026

Did the KiwiSaver increase on 1 April 2026 slip past you? You're not alone — and we can help. 💚

On 1 April, the default employee and employer KiwiSaver contribution rate rose from 3% to 3.5%. If you run a business on Xero Payroll and that 0.5% increase was missed, there's a simple way to put it right.

Here's how it works: we calculate the 0.5% shortfall, then make a one-off payment to Inland Revenue through an unscheduled pay run.

We're already doing this for a number of New Zealand businesses, and we'd be very happy to have a conversation about how we can help you too.

Contact us now: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/contact-us/

Melanie Morris

04/06/2026

A change has landed to Stripe surcharging in Xero. 👇

It was all or nothing — surcharging is either on for every invoice or off completely.

You are now able to...

➡️ Switch surcharging on/off per invoice
➡️ See processing costs in real time as you invoice
➡️ Choose exactly when to pass on fees

Those little payment fees add up faster than you'd think — so more control means more money staying in your business.

Check out the video to see the set-up in action.

Want a hand setting this up in Xero? Drop us a message — we'd love to help.



Xero Melanie Morris

01/04/2026

We’re excited to introduce the newest member of the Training and Beyond team, Rebecca Rickerby 👋

Rebecca joins us in Bookkeeping & Client Support, bringing over 10 years’ experience across professional services, with a strong background in trust accounting and financial administration.

With this experience, Rebecca has developed a real strength in keeping things organised, accurate, and running smoothly behind the scenes. From reconciliations and reporting through to payroll support and day-to-day processing, she enjoys helping bring clarity to the numbers so our clients can feel more in control of their business.

What really stands out about Rebecca is her natural ability to connect with people. She builds great relationships with clients and teammates alike, and is always approachable, reliable, and ready to help.

Rebecca enjoys working both independently and collaboratively, and is always keen to keep learning and growing, which fits perfectly with our values at Training and Beyond.

As Mel shared:
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome Becka to the team. She is a great fit for our culture and flexible working arrangements.”

We’re thrilled to have Rebecca on board. Join us in giving her a big warm welcome to the team! 👏

26/03/2026

As we approach the end of the financial year (31 March), now is the time to make sure your accounts, payroll, and systems are in good shape. 👇

There are a few important updates this year that businesses should be aware of:

• KiwiSaver contribution rates increase to 3.5% from 1 April 2026
• Eligible 16–17 year old employees will now receive employer contributions
• Minimum Wage Increase (from 1 April 2026) to $23.95 per hour (up from $23.50).
• GST deadlines are approaching (8 May filing)
• Year-end financials will set the foundation for your next 12 months

It’s not just about compliance. This is your opportunity to:
– clean up your accounts
– review your payroll setup
– and make sure your data is actually working for your business

We’re already seeing that small issues in Xero or payroll can create bigger problems at GST and year-end if left unchecked.

That’s why we’re encouraging clients to book in a Payroll or Xero Health Check. It’s a practical way to:
• ensure compliance with upcoming changes
• fix any reconciliation or reporting issues
• improve how your systems are working day to day

👉 You can read the full update here: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/end-of-financial-year-preparation-kiwisaver-updates/

If you’d like help reviewing your setup before year-end, get in touch or book a time with us via the blog.

Melanie Morris Xero

19/03/2026

Wonderful dedication to the working day. ⏰Supporting me to help our clients with Bookkeeping and Training. ❤️

17/03/2026

Payroll isn’t just software. It’s about getting it right for your team.

That’s why our Payroll Health Checks are led by our payroll specialist, Suze.

Suze works closely with businesses using Xero Payroll and regularly helps identify issues such as incorrect leave balances, holiday pay errors, and payroll settings that don’t quite align with NZ requirements.

A Payroll Health Check gives you confidence that everything is set up and running as it should.
If it’s been a while since your payroll was reviewed, it might be time for a check.

Get a payroll health check now: https://trainingandbeyond.co.nz/xero-payroll-health-check/

Melanie Morris Xero