fbpx

Own a small business?
Hit a roadblock and need some help?
Talk to our experts for free!

Manaaki means supporting others, no matter what’s happening in your life. You support our country, and we hope you’ll allow us to support you.

Register

how it works

1

Click ‘Sign In’ on the top menu to make a free account.

2

Ask your question below.

3

Our experts will reply ASAP, so check in every day for updates.

Sign in/Register to ask for help

Please login to post a question, if you do not have an account then please register here.

Livestream
TBC
Facebook Live
Join Stream

Meet your SUPPORT NETWORK

Pat MacFie

view profile
industry - Business Growth

Claire Dilks

view profile
industry - Finance & Funding

Vishal Chaddha

view profile
industry - Business Growth

Leslie Preston

view profile
industry - Tourism
Experts213
Questions964

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

LETS GET DOWN TO BUSINESS.

Avatar

DIGITAL AND TECHNOLOGY

Kia oraCan you tell me of any software that currently exists that is like ZOOM, but allows multiple voices to be broadcast at the same time. For example ZOOM allows multiple users to be visible but cannot manage the multiple “audio” inputs. An example is then when we want people to learn a waiata together but when practicing (via ZOOM) only one person can be heard…and the reality is, no-one but a solo singer or lead wants to be heard individually.Ngā mihiRia  

Question submitted by @riatomoana 01/03/2021 @ 6:44 pm
26
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

LEGAL

how do i set up a credit application for my business to give to new customers?

Question submitted by @coverall 01/03/2021 @ 11:48 am
41
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

CREATIVE SERVICES

Kia ora, I am a Maori designer/strategist and ive been working in the creative industries for the last 10 years. Im also a teacher, a disrupter and a change maker. I’ve built wellbeing strategies for international education providers, i’ve created a Maori and Pacific creative community (and event platform) and i’m now trying to develop a collaborative for maori designers—Im passionate about solving problems in my community. I’ve recently quit my job to pursue work in the community and I run a fulltime freelance design service covering strategy, design, photography and AR/digital production. Im currently trying to rely less on my agents to find me work in the ‘western studio land’ and im seeking out more community social driven work where I work directly with maori businesses. Where can I find this work? I know its out there and I know there’s heaps but for some reason i’m just struggling to find it. What are the spaces I can explore to connect with people in this space?

Question submitted by @awesam 23/02/2021 @ 2:31 pm
57
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

LEGAL

Hi there team I am just wondering if anybody can help me with a legal situation with shipping. I’ve been working with a printing broker to organise printing some children’s books about 1600 of them. We met mid last month and after seeing some printed proofs of the book she said that from her timing these books would have been here the week of the 15th of February.Outside of this I have organised with another party that I would have 800 books ready for them this coming week off the basis off this brokers timing. I gave it about a two week buffer.Since then she has decided that I needed a bound printed proof before they print/send the rest of the books. I am going to lose this deal with this company buying 800 books because I don’t have these books in my possession. from the right the excuses and timing goes I don’t think these books are going to arrive for another two to three weeks which or not go down well with the timing of my marketing for this book.This broker has said that it’s due to covid-19 and Chinese New years but I felt that for someone who has said they have been in the printing industry for 20 years that they would have fact it all of this in.From her timing the books should have been here about a week or so ago at the very longest according to our email trail.I have found a local printer who can do my order within a few days. I am just wondering now if I am legally bound to the agreement still. I have only asked for a quote and agree to the quote verbally and why email but I have not signed anything in person nor have I paid a deposit.If someone could please help me understand the legal process or probably just understanding if she has any grounds to still invoice me and follow a legal proceeding off this situation.

Question submitted by @tlaulu 22/02/2021 @ 7:17 am
78
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

BUSINESS GROWTH

Kia OraI’m just wounder whether the team at Manaaki could help me with the growth of our family run company?Here’s a bit of a back story of my journey so far. My name is Norman Kete, I’m an Owner/Director of a Workplace Health & Safety Training company, but our predominantly focus is on crane training & assessing. We are based out of Taupo but travel up & down the country. I’ve been apart of the crane industry for over 15 years, & during that time, I was also a crane operator. But at the end of 2013, due to a non work related injury, I lost my right eye. So because of the fact that I had monocular vision, I couldn’t go back to operating the 100 to 130ton cranes I was once operating. I ended up on ACC for a year or so, but was approached by a training company to become a crane trainer /assessor. I worked for that training company for 3 years before I decided to go out on my own. So my wife & I started Leverage Training Ltd. We’ve had a really great start, especially over our first 2 years & managed to gain a great client base; but that was pre Covid-19. Post Covid-19 has seen our sales drop around 40%.Anyway, we’ve been struggling with our Leverage Training presence online & I’ve had quite a drop in the way of gathering new customers, especially since Covid. My loyal customers are keeping us going, but I need to reach out to new companies to secure move work.So again, I was hoping Manaaki might have some suggestions to help us grow in this current climate. Cheers! Kind RegardsNorman KeteLeverage Training Ltd.

Question submitted by @normleveragetraining-co-nz 22/02/2021 @ 7:13 am
107
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

HR & TALENT

Hi there, I’m currently with an immigration consultancy business and we are currently brainstorming around developing our services to support organisations in bringing staff from overseas across the critical worker criteria (we are not a placement/recruitment firm but more on the advisory side). Currently, as you may know, the current climate can be challenging but it would definitely be helpful to us to get information from businesses around this topic.I am currently reaching out to business owners and trying to see if 1) have you brought in anyone overseas through the critical worker criteria from INZ 2) Is your business able to find local skilled talents and do you feel the need to hire from someone overseasThank you in advance and I definitely would love to hear your insights on this matter.

Question submitted by @markb 19/02/2021 @ 6:34 pm
100
VIEW
4
VOTE
Avatar

FOOD & BEVERAGE

Business plan

Question submitted by @blairc 19/02/2021 @ 5:41 am
61
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

I’m a social media agency looking for help with Google Ads. 

Question submitted by @kyliescallywagsocial 18/02/2021 @ 4:21 pm
41
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE (COMMUNITY, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, FOR PROFIT)

Hi there,we are a business that have been in operation since the covid lockdown occurred last year.We’ve been travelling around the Upper North Island i.e Tamaki Makaurau, Waikato, Hauraki, Taranaki, Tauranga and the Far North, delivering Hikoi/ Workshops for Men and women to help them release trauma, and deliver tools to help with mental health.The response to our events has been phenomenal and we’re looking to do more of our mahi in 2021 having already delivered a mens workshop in the Far North during Waitangi weekend, and we have our first hikoi booked in for Raglan on the 28th February.We need help with our governance structure, attracting funding and just general guidance on how to steer our waka.Can you help us with any of the above?Look forward to hearing back from you.nga mihi,Franky Bourke

Question submitted by @thekaitiakiproject 17/02/2021 @ 1:10 pm
71
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

Hi, how can I reach new audiences without spending lots of money? I have an ecommerce business selling quality goods for cats and their people (fangandfur.co.nz). I’ve done paid social media and google advertising in the past, but the returns have never really been worthwhile. looking for new ideas!

Question submitted by @caroline 16/02/2021 @ 5:25 pm
86
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

Hello Manaaki experts! My name is Lilah and I am a 10 year old schoolgirl.  I have been on a mission since 2019 to get more drinking fountains installed in our parks around the country (Auckland (for example) only has fountains in 5% of its parks) when I started The Public Water Project.  I decided to campaign for more fountains as I am passionate about preventing single use plastic entering our oceans and landfill. Drinking fountains also encourage healthy habits amongst children.  Initially, I was talking to companies about sponsoring fountains but last year made this more difficult so I also decided to launch a social enterprise to generate income that I can then use to buy fountains.My business is called Water Us and I am selling eco-friendly toilet paper (in gorgeous paper packaging designed by well known NZ artist, Reuben Paterson), with 50% of the profits going to buy drinking fountains for our parks and playgrounds.  I have launched a crowd-funding campaign on Pledge Me to pre-sell products which you can see here.  I want to raise $30,000 to fund the first bulk production run.  Once I have some stock, I will launch an online shop that will sell direct to my customers and I also want to offer a subscription service.  I would like some advice please on how to create good online marketing campaigns for facebook and instagram which will help me build my subscription business.  My mum has built a basic site for me on Shopify which you can see here as a temporary site until after my Pledge Me campaign finishes when we can then build an actual shop.    Thank you for your time.  

Question submitted by @lilahwaterus-nz 16/02/2021 @ 11:28 am
152
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

Hi I run a cleaning franchise. I started about 5 years ago and have never had any online presence until recently.Our business was effected last year so I have now setup a facebook page (the franchise won’t allow us to have our own website)What I would like to know is what is the best way to utilize the page and grow my audience which is predominantly commercial businesses. I’m also not to sure on what content I should be posting to keep my audience engaged?Kind Regards 

Question submitted by @garyc 16/02/2021 @ 10:01 am
75
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

DIGITAL & ONLINE MARKETING

Hi I have a cleaning franchise. I have been doing in for 5 years with out any social media presence. Last year I decided to setup a Facebook page to increase my business presence as we took a bit of a knock due to Covid.Any ideas on our tp grow my page and what content I could post? I don’t think my audience wants to see me vacuuming, cleaning etc everyday?Thank you for this awesome platform 

Question submitted by @garyc 16/02/2021 @ 6:29 am
66
VIEW
0
VOTE
Avatar

PROPERTY

HiMy name is Ben, who is the owner of small company in Auckland. Our business is international education agent mainly for Japanese market. As you know that our industry depends on NZ border which still remains close.However, our main concern is the high rental cost for our office in the middle of Auckland central. We still have almost 1 year term remaining to terminate. We asked the building owner to terminate our contract with 2 months rental penalty. but no answer for a long time.We would like to seek some information or good ideas to terminate our contract term and move out current office as soon as possible to service our business.I would really appreciate it if you could help our situation.Kind regardsBen Tokunaga

Question submitted by @bt13 15/02/2021 @ 2:22 pm
94
VIEW
2
VOTE

how it works

1

Click ‘Sign In’ on the top menu to make a free account.

2

Ask your question in the box under “Need advice, ask for help”.

3

Our experts will reply ASAP, so check in every day for updates.