In the wise words of Miles Davis, “Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing.” This sentiment rings especially true for Kiwi business owners juggling multiple responsibilities while trying to grow their ventures in New Zealand’s unique business landscape.
Running a business in New Zealand presents its own set of challenges and opportunities. With our geographical isolation and relatively small domestic market, Kiwi business owners often wear more hats than their counterparts elsewhere—managing everything from operations and marketing to customer service and financial planning.
Let’s explore how you can make the most of your limited hours and create a more balanced, productive approach to managing your business.
Recent studies reveal some eye-opening statistics: business owners typically spend only 32% of their time working ON their business (the strategic activities that drive growth) and just 34% on tasks that are both important and urgent. The rest? Lost to low-value activities, unforeseen interruptions, and the daily grind of business operations.
Even more concerning, around 80% of a typical workday is spent on tasks with little to no value, while only 20% contributes meaningfully to company growth. This inverted productivity ratio (sometimes called the “Reverse Pareto Principle”) explains why many Kiwi business owners find themselves working 50+ hour weeks without seeing proportional business growth.
But there’s good news: just 10-12 minutes of daily planning can save up to two hours that would otherwise be wasted. That’s potentially 10 extra hours each week to focus on what truly matters—growing your business or spending quality time with family and friends (something we Kiwis value highly).
Before you can manage your time better, you need to understand where it’s currently going. Many business owners are surprised when they conduct a time audit, as the perception of how we spend our time often differs from reality.
Create a log of your activities for at least one typical week. Be honest and detailed—include everything from client meetings and email responses to social media scrolling and coffee breaks. Apps like Toggl or even a simple spreadsheet can help track this information.
While logging your time, categorise activities as:
This exercise often reveals that small, seemingly insignificant activities—like checking emails every few minutes or getting caught in unproductive meetings—consume surprising amounts of time.
New Zealand’s business culture embraces the “number 8 wire” mentality—our innate ability to innovate and make do with limited resources. Apply this same resourcefulness to your time management by distinguishing between urgent and important tasks.
Try using the Eisenhower Matrix to categorise your tasks:
Remember that what’s “important” varies from business to business. For a café in Wellington, important tasks might revolve around food quality and customer experience. For a tech startup in Auckland, important tasks might focus on product development and investor relations.
Many Kiwi business owners fall into the trap of thinking they must do everything themselves. This do-it-yourself ethos serves us well in many contexts, but can become a significant barrier to growth in business.
Consider the true cost of your time. If you value your time at $100 per hour (a conservative estimate for many business owners), does it make sense for you to spend hours on bookkeeping tasks that you could outsource to a local professional for $40-60 per hour?
New Zealand has a growing network of virtual assistants, freelancers, and specialised service providers who can take routine tasks off your plate. Companies like Project Seven and other virtual assistant services offer everything from administrative support to social media management, allowing you to focus on the activities that truly require your expertise.
Even if you’re not ready to hire permanent staff, consider project-based outsourcing for:
New Zealand may be geographically distant from technology hubs, but we’re known for quick adoption of digital solutions. The right technology can dramatically improve your time management.
Consider these technology solutions popular among Kiwi businesses:
When evaluating new technology, consider not just the cost but the potential time savings. A $50 monthly subscription that saves you 5 hours of work represents excellent value if your time is worth more than $10 per hour (and it certainly is).
New Zealand consistently ranks among the top countries for work-life balance—it’s part of our cultural DNA to value time outside of work. As a business owner, however, maintaining this balance requires intentional boundaries.
Set clear work hours and communicate them to clients and team members. Just because you can check emails at 10 PM doesn’t mean you should. Creating healthy boundaries protects your time and makes you more effective during working hours.
Consider implementing some of these boundary-setting strategies:
Effective time management isn’t just about working more efficiently—it’s about creating the space to think strategically about your business and maintain the quality of life that made you want to be your own boss in the first place.
Start with small changes. Even implementing one or two strategies from this guide can create significant improvements in your productivity and satisfaction. Remember, the goal isn’t to fill every minute with work but to ensure that the time you do spend working delivers maximum value for your business and ultimately, for your life.
By mastering your time, you master your business, giving yourself the freedom to grow professionally while enjoying the lifestyle that makes New Zealand such a special place to live and work.
This article is proudly brought to you by BIZWEB Small Business Hub, where we simplify success for small businesses across New Zealand. Through our practical resources, templates, and tools, we’re dedicated to helping entrepreneurs streamline operations and focus on growth. Explore our content and stay informed with the best in Business Fundamentals, Advertising & Marketing, Productivity & Management, Technology & Tools, Business Inspiration, and our Resource Library!