Conference Updates:

• The updated draft programme is now available. You can view the current version here.
  We have a great group of exhibitors at this year’s conference, including: Alxemy, Tanda, Crystal Payroll, Datacom (our Platinum Sponsor), Robert Walters, Frontier, Business Toolbox, TimeFiler, and Donorbees.
• Get the latest information on the developments with the new Employment Leave Bill from our keynote speaker, the Hon Brooke van Velden, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety.
• Special rate added for staying at the Pullman for this year’s conference!
• We have added a 50% off one-day option for those who can only attend one day!
• We have a special surprise for dinner on the first evening of the conference (5 Dec), more about this in next week’s epayroll.
• We have a robust lineup of speakers for this year’s conference, including MBIE (Labour Inspectorate), IRD, the Privacy Commissioner, and updates on employment law and tax compliance, the latest update on the payroll job market (Robert Walters), as well as a refresher on time management and many more….
• Datacom, our Platinum sponsor, has also sponsored a coffee cart for this year’s conference (but there is a catch to get it), more on how you get a FREE coffee next week.
• Luke Bird announced as MC for this year’s conference!
• 5 Star Conference venue has been confirmed, see section below. Details regarding parking have been added.
• Our range of exhibitors will give attendees a full range of payroll solutions and associated payroll support options, along with lots of FREEBEES and contests.
• If you want to do a group booking for your team, we can offer a 25% discount. Please email: [email protected]
• As always, all attendees at the conference will receive a NZPPA conference gift.
• The workshop programme for 5 Dec will be released on 3 Nov. We have already confirmed the following: ACC running a workshop, the team from Fletcher Building, KPMG (Holidays Act Remediation), TimeFiler (Holidays Act – How to calculate and use RDP) and even a special Excel workshop, + more to be published next week.
• On the second day, NZPPA will be running a Special NZPPA Breakfast Event where we will cover an overview of NZPPA Certification, Top 3 PayTech Questions for 2025, and an overview of NZPPA Training options, including the 2026 training programme and two new courses that will be available from 2026.

This Year’s Conference Theme

The payroll pulse – Insights, Innovation, and Impact

This year’s conference focuses on current insights into where we stand in payroll today, what innovations will change what we do going forward, and their impact on the business-critical work that all payroll practitioners do to pay employees correctly and on time.

INSIGHTS – What Are We Learning About Payroll Today?

1. Strategic Value of Payroll

• Payroll is no longer just a back-office function—it’s becoming a strategic lever for employee experience, compliance, and financial forecasting.
• Real-time payroll data is being used to monitor labour costs, optimise workforce planning, and inform decisions.

2. Legislative Complexity

• Businesses are struggling to keep up with legislative changes, including employment law (a replacement to the Holidays Act).

INNOVATION – What’s Changing or Being Reinvented in Payroll?

1. Automation & AI

• Automated payroll processing reduces human error, ensures compliance, and improves accuracy.
• AI is being used to detect anomalies, suggest corrections, and forecast future payroll liabilities.

2. Cloud-based, Unified HCM Systems

• Payroll is being integrated with HR, benefits, time tracking, and finance in cloud platforms.
• Real-time reporting, mobile access, and self-service portals are standard features.

IMPACT – How Are These Changes Affecting Businesses and Employees?

1. For Businesses:

• Cost savings through reduced manual processing and fewer compliance penalties.
• Lower risk due to fewer payroll errors and legal missteps.
• Better decision-making, supported by payroll data informing labour cost analysis and workforce planning.

2. For HR & Payroll Teams:

• A shift from administrative tasks to strategic advising.
• Improved capability through real-time tools, analytics, and automation.

3. For Employees:

• Faster access to payroll information improves financial wellness and satisfaction.
• More payroll transparency builds trust in the organisation.
• Enhanced mobile and digital access makes managing pay more convenient.

This year’s annual conference will have speakers talking on a range of topics related to the theme.

This Year’s Conference Venue

Pullman Hotel – Corner Waterloo Quadrant, & Princes Street, Auckland

If you are attending this year’s conference from out of town, the Hotel has special rates for conference attendees. Use this link with the code below.

CODE: AKSCF7
Details are:

• 15% off Flexible Rates
• Pre-payment required at time of booking
• Free cancellation up to 7 days in advance of arrival
• Rates are subject to availability/change

This Year’s Keynote Speaker

Right Honourable Brooke van Velden, Workplace Relations and Safety Hon Brooke van Velden 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 MC Will Keep the Conference Running Smoothly and on Track

Luke Bird is a charismatic and award-winning vocalist with a passion for musical theatre, opera, and comedy. His infectious energy and sharp wit make him a standout entertainer, celebrated for his versatility across multiple performance disciplines.

A graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts, Luke’s career has been shaped by his flair for storytelling and his dynamic stage presence. From his exuberant portrayal of Widow Twankey in Aladdin to sharing the stage with New Zealand’s finest operatic talents, he has built a career defined by creativity and excellence. Trained under the esteemed NZ Opera Diva, Joan Kennaway QSM, Luke has performed at prestigious events such as the Lockwood NZ Aria competitions, the 2012 NZ Opera Rigoletto, and as a guest artist for Opera in the Park and Opera in the Garden. His operatic journey has seen him perform alongside luminaries like Ben Makisi, Lilia Carpinelli, Dame Malvina Major, and Dame Helen Medlyn, as well as being a regular feature in Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park.

Luke’s theatrical career spans some of the most iconic musicals, including Hairspray, Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll and Hyde, The Full Monty, and Cabaret. His role as Monsieur André in The Phantom of the Opera showcased his talent for bringing comedic yet nuanced characters to life. In Cats, he played Bustopher Jones, sharing the stage with renowned performers Tina Cross and Shane Cortese. His versatility extends to modern theatre productions, including his work with Auckland Theatre Company in Shrew’d and a celebrated turn as Gabriel Von Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus.

This Year’s Conference Motivational Speaker:

• TBA

Conference Programme: 

• You can view the current programme here.

Conference Workshops Running (5 Dec)

Confirmed workshops (subject to change):

• ACC
• Holiday Pay Clarity: Getting RDP and ADP Right (The Holidays Act is still here! Understand when ADP is appropriate and how to calculate RDP correctly for FBAPS leave.)
  
• TAKING BACK CONTROL OF PAYROLL: Identify key blockers to effective payroll processing and develop strategies to mitigate or remove these blockers to ensure payroll is processed efficiently and accurately. Using innovation and online tools to explore and create effective tools to enhance employee experience, compliance, and workforce planning

To be confirmed:

• • Termination Pays (and the new extra pay method)
  • KiwiSaver (overview of end-to-end payroll steps)
  • Payroll selection (key points to consider)
  • Allowances (taxable, non-taxable, reimbursing) and common issues

• Quick checks for Holidays Act compliance
• Employment agreement essentials (clauses, types of employees
• Excel essential payroll tools

Event Speakers

Ian Johnson, with a career spanning New Zealand, Australia, and the UK, is known for his practical approach and problem-solving mindset. Over three decades, he has helped medium-to-large organisations align their Time and Attendance processes with payroll, ensuring compliance with legislation such as the Holidays Act.

When he’s not streamlining systems, Ian makes the most of his own “relevant daily pay” by kayaking, paddleboarding, or sailing with family and friends.

TimeFiler is a leading SaaS provider of cloud-based employee rosters, timesheets, attendance management and award interpretation.

• Workshop name: Holidays Act – How to calculate and use RDP.
• Brief: The Holidays Act is still here! Using ADP doesn’t ensure compliance. How to calculate and use RDP for sick and other FBAPS leave types.

Anita Paling is a Product Manager at TimeFiler, working closely with customers and cross-functional teams to shape and enhance time and attendance solutions. She focuses on understanding user needs, defining product requirements, and collaborating with development to deliver intuitive, efficient, and impactful features.

 

Gabriella Barbara has over two decades of experience in relationship management, business development, and enterprise payroll solutions. At Fusion5, she leads strategic initiatives across New Zealand and Australia, helping customers modernise their payroll and HR systems—most notably through Jemini, Fusion5’s next-generation platform.

Her career spans channel management, supply chain, finance, and people operations, with a strong focus on ROI-driven transformation and compliance. Gabriella is known for her ability to build enduring customer relationships and deliver impactful outcomes through technology and process efficiency.

Outside of work, Gabriella enjoys running, reading, travelling, and sharing good food experiences with friends—and relaxing with her cats.

Lisa Knight, Bachelor of Laws, Commerce, and Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand, is a Director in KPMG’s People, Employment and Mobility Tax team. She specialises in employment tax issues, taxation of individuals, and supporting organisations to manage the complex tax implications of employees working across borders.

She advises corporations on the tax implications of employee share schemes and on updating these to reflect changes in tax rules. This includes working with companies to develop employee share schemes that align with strategic objectives while achieving the desired tax outcomes.

Willy Blurb, with over 4 years of experience at Robert Walters across London and Auckland, Willy is committed to building long-term relationships and delivering consistently exceptional service for his clients and candidates. Willy’s expertise spans our qualified and transactional community, supporting a diverse range of companies.

Willy has a track record of delivering across tight briefs and niche roles that include accounting, tax, treasury, risk, M&A, and commercial finance.

John Rynearson manages Alxemy’s Dayforce practice, leading a team of consultants and working closely with clients, partners, and prospects to deliver workforce management solutions that improve how people work.

With a career that spans teaching, payroll software development, and consulting, John brings both technical expertise and a natural talent for communication. Originally from Houston, Texas, he began as a high school history teacher before moving into PayGlobal, where he held roles across support, development, and account management. After several years living in Japan, John relocated to Christchurch in 2008, where he has built a career around leading teams and delivering enterprise payroll and HR solutions.

Outside of work, John is a baseball fan loyal to the Houston Astros, a keen traveller in search of New Zealand’s best meat pies, and someone who believes in the importance of organisational culture. His ability to blend technical knowledge with a personable, approachable manner makes him a trusted advisor to clients and a leader who inspires his team.

David Jenkins, NZPPA CEO (BBS, BEd, BAppSci, GradDipALT), formed NZPPA in 2007 when he saw there was no organisation looking after the needs of payroll personnel and departments in New Zealand.

With more than twenty-five years of consulting experience at a senior level in New Zealand, Australia, and globally, he specialises in payroll and human resource management, employee relations, personnel learning and development, and information technology (payroll and HRIS).

His career path has involved him in work for some of the largest organisations in a wide range of industries in both New Zealand and Australia.

He now acts as the CEO of NZPPA (in title only, as he still does the dishes after training!).

More to be added shortly!

Our Conference Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Datacom is Australasia’s largest homegrown tech company, bringing together a broad range of technology, insight and expertise to deliver innovative and sustainable technology solutions to corporate and government customers throughout New Zealand and Australia.

Datapay powered by Datacom, is a modern cloud-based payroll solution developed specifically for medium to large enterprises. Tailored to meet the unique needs of payroll leaders, Datapay empowers them to modernise payroll through precise configuration, seamless system integration, and ongoing high-touch support from local payroll experts.

Datapay has a track record of success, and 1 out of 6 employees in New Zealand has their pay processed by Datacom.

Link to website: https://datacom.com/nz/en/products/datapay

Gold Sponsor

Employment Hero is redefining how employment works. As the leading platform for HR, payroll and hiring, we help over 300,000 businesses worldwide simplify workforce management, reduce administrative costs and hire faster. Our solution supports every stage of employment, making it easier for businesses to grow and for people to find meaningful work. With deep expertise in employment operations, we are building a future where employment is simpler, more accessible and more rewarding for everyone. We offer:

• • Powerful HR and payroll software
  • AI-driven recruitment and onboarding

• Automated payroll calculations, leave management and processing
• Employee engagement and retention tools
• Managed payroll and HR advisory

Link to website: employmenthero.com/nz

Silver Sponsor

At Fusion5, we empower organisations across New Zealand and Australia to transform their people operations through smart, scalable, and locally supported HCM solutions. Our Human Capital Management practice brings together deep domain expertise, innovative technology, and a commitment to customer success.

We offer a comprehensive suite of Payroll and HR solutions, including our flagship platform Jemini, as well as Jade Star, EmpowerHR, Timecloud, TimeFiler, MyWorkplace, and Org Chart. These tools are designed to streamline everything from payroll and time tracking to organisational planning and workforce planning.

What sets us apart? Our people. With a dedicated team of consultants, account managers, and support specialists based right here in New Zealand, we understand the unique compliance, cultural, and operational needs of Kiwi businesses. Whether it’s navigating the Holidays Act, implementing Fair Pay Agreements (Australia), if you have an Australian business or subsidiary, integrating across your solutions, or optimising workforce planning, we’re with you every step of the way.

Fusion5 is more than a technology provider—we’re your strategic partner in building a future-ready workforce

Link to website: https://www.fusion5.co.nz/

This Year’s Exhibitors

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.

Contact Details:

• New Zealand Office:
  • Address: 87 Grafton Road, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
  • Phone: +64 9 373 5191, 021 101 7959
  • Email: [email protected]

Link to website: https://nz.frontiersoftware.com/

Transforming Payroll, HR and Workforce Management Across Aotearoa

Alxemy is a trusted New Zealand–based consultancy specialising in HRIS, Payroll, and Workforce Management solutions. We partner with leading platforms, including Dayforce, Employment Hero, and MYOB PayGlobal, helping organisations streamline operations, ensure compliance, and empower their people.

Our PMP-certified project leaders, functional consultants, and technical experts deliver tailored solutions – from system selection and implementation to technical optimisation and managed payroll services. We combine deep local expertise with global best practice to deliver seamless transitions and long-term value.

At Alxemy, we believe in transforming complexity into clarity, enabling organisations to focus on what matters most: their people.

Link to website: https://alxemy.co.nz/

TimeFiler is a cloud-based SaaS provider offering workforce management software for tasks like employee rosters, timesheets, leave management, and award interpretation. It integrates with other business systems and is popular in industries like construction and healthcare, due to its real-time validation, mobile app accessibility, and flexible features.

Link to website: https://www.timefiler.com/

 

At Robert Walters, we connect people and organisations to achieve their unique potential. With a global presence across 30 countries, we deliver recruitment, outsourcing, and talent advisory services to businesses of all sizes – from start-ups to global leaders. Whether it’s finding the right professional, building an outsourced team, or rethinking strategies around diversity or remuneration, we provide trusted solutions tailored to each story. By truly understanding the goals and challenges of those we partner with, we help organisations succeed and individuals shape career-defining pathways. The biggest opportunities start with a story – tell us yours today.

Link to website: http://www.robertwalters.co.nz/

More will be added shortly…

Cost of This Year’s Conference

Early bird (In Person):

• NZPPA members: $685.00 + GST (One-day option available at half price)
• NZPPA non-members: $885.00 + GST (One-day option available at half price)

Standard Conference cost:

• NZPPA members: $880.00 + GST
• NZPPA non-members: $1080.00 + GST

*If you book two or more attendees at this event, we can offer 25% off for the second attendee onwards; just email [email protected]

When booking an NZPPA event, the NZPPA T&Cs apply.  To see the full set of T&C, here