Accounting staff get into gear as Cup countdown continues

THE 65 staff in the KPMG Tauranga office got into the swing of the World Cup on Friday - nearly all turned up for work dressed as rugby players.
They were celebrating their firm's appointment as the official tournament supplier of accounting and tax advisory services for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The Tauranga staff provided a colourful display and true to form the blue and gold of the Steamers was the dominant jersey.
It was handy that a KPMG partner, Mark Thomas, was a director of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and he could borrow a swag of jerseys.
Steamers players, lock Calum Retallick and centre Brett Mather, a new signing from Otago, judged the rugby fashion show.
Accountants Lisa Heslop and Daniel Anton won the day.
Lisa, who has worked for KPMG for two years, turned up in a felt poncho with a rugby field marked out on it.
Her headgear was designed as a goal post with little flags on top. "It took my husband and myself two nights to sort it out. The lines of the rugby field are perfectly scaled as per the guide," she said.
Daniel, a recent graduate who started with KPMG two months ago, produced some shock tactics. He turned heads by wearing a Mohican hairpiece coloured in red, yellow and black.
"It was designed to intimidate - as well as providing useful aerodynamics when running straight for the line," he said.
The Rugby World Cup work will be spread over KPMG's five offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.
Mr Thomas said his staff would become more involved when a team was having a training camp in Tauranga and needed accounting advice.
"Any of the overseas players earning money in New Zealand have to pay tax here. We have to ensure that they fill out non-resident tax forms so they can get a tax credit back home," said Mr Thomas.
KPMG chief executive Jan Dawson said her firm had a longstanding association with rugby in New Zealand.
 She said the tournament was a unique opportunity to showcase New Zealand to the world and would be a catalyst for significant economic growth in the same way as the America's Cup here.
"Right now, we believe there are businesses throughout New Zealand standing on the sidelines wondering how they can get involved.
"Teams and thousands of tourists will be hosted by towns and cities throughout the country over the 45 days of the tournament, providing a spread of opportunities," said Ms Dawson.
"However, businesses need to start their planning now if they are to take full advantage of the economic and other benefits that will flow from this global sporting event," she said.