Financial Accounting Policies




3358 NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 127 14 AUGUST 2008

Other financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on an effective yield basis. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments through the expected life of the financial liability or, where appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount of the financial liability.

(g) Property, Plant and Equipment

Land is valued at cost. Buildings, office equipment, art and artefacts, and motor vehicles are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the item. In the event that settlement of all or part of the purchase consideration is deferred, cost is determined by discounting the amounts payable in the future to their present value as at the date of acquisition. Art and artefacts are recognised at cost except for donated items acquired at nil or below market value which are recognised at fair value with the corresponding value recognised in the income statement.

Depreciation is provided on property, plant and equipment, including freehold buildings but excluding land.

Depreciation on buildings, office equipment and motor vehicles is calculated on a diminishing value basis so as to write off the net cost or other revalued amount of each asset over its expected useful life to its estimated residual value. Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the period of the lease or estimated useful life, whichever is the shorter, using the diminishing value method. Art and artefacts are depreciated using the straight line method. The estimated useful lives, residual values and depreciation method is reviewed at the end of each annual reporting period.

Rental property is included in property, plant and equipment in accordance with NZ IFRS as the rental property is held to provide a social service rather than for rental income or capital appreciation or both.

The following estimated useful lives are used in the calculation of depreciation:

| Office equipment | 5–15 years |
| Motor vehicles | 7 years |
| Buildings | 0–30 years |
| Art and artefacts | 100 years |

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the trust and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.

The asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. Refer to the accounting policy below on impairment of tangible assets.

Gains and losses on disposal are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised within other income or other expenses.

(h) Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities are presented using the direct method.

Definition of terms used in the cash flow statement:

– Cash means cash on deposit with banks net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

– Investing activities comprise the purchase and sale of property plant and equipment, and investments.

– Financing activities comprise the change in equity of the trust.

– Operating activities include all transactions and events that are not investing or financing activities.

(i) Impairment of Other Tangible Assets

At each reporting date, the trust reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is an indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the trust estimates the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the asset belongs. Where a reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, assets are also allocated to individual cash generating units, or otherwise they are allocated to the smallest group of cash generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted. If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (cash generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at fair value, in which case the impairment loss is treated as revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but only to the extent that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (cash generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at fair value, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

(j) Goods and Services Tax

Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of goods and services tax (GST), except for receivables and payables which are recognised inclusive of GST. The net amount of GST recoverable from or payable to the Inland Revenue



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Online Sources for this page:

Gazette.govt.nz PDF NZ Gazette 2008, No 127





✨ LLM interpretation of page content

💰 Notes To and Forming Part Of the Financial Statements for The Waikato Community Trust Incorporated (continued from previous page)

💰 Finance & Revenue
Accounting Policies, Financial Liabilities, Property, Plant and Equipment, Cash Flows, Impairment, Goods and Services Tax