Commerce

ECONOMICS

The aim of teaching Economics is to give the students the knowledge and skills, including impacting to learn the ability to explain and analyze economic issues and arguments. Students who do Economics learn the ability to evaluate economic information and organize, present and communicate ideas and judgments clearly.

The subject provides a sound foundation of economic ideas and prepares students to have a good understanding of modern day economic issues at micro level and macro level in any economy. Economics is introduced at year 11 and the students cover the NCEA Level 1 Economics. The subject is offered from year 11 to year 13.

ACCOUNTING

The Accounting syllabus allows students to gain skills that include; an ability to apply accounting concepts, principles and practices; an understanding of the role of accounting as an information system for monitoring, problem-solving and decision making and the place of accounting in changing economic, social and technological environments; an ability to examine and evaluate accounting policies and practices critically and analytically; improved skills of communication, analysis, interpretation and presentation of both qualitative and quantitative accounting information.

Accounting is introduced in year 11. The subject is offered up to year 13 scholarship level. Accounting graduates are amongst the highest paid in New Zealand.

FINANCIAL CAPABILITY

Financial capability is an issue for everyone. An ageing population will mean some new challenges and greater pressure on the public purse.

We believe the role of private provision, which simply means the amount we need to provide for ourselves out of our own savings, will increase.

The future holds some very real challenges for our children and our grandchildren.

They are our future retirees and the time for them to start thinking about saving for retirement is now. For many people getting to retirement in good shape is about ‘little and long’. We’d like wealth to happen ‘big and fast’, but it very rarely does. It’s worth noting that ‘little and long’ is not a very appealing idea for our active consumers of today.

We are working hard to build everyone's financial capability so that they reach their 60s with choices.

We have an increased focus on low income and vulnerable New Zealanders, who risk reaching retirement with little or nothing.

In our mission to build financial capability and ensure New Zealanders are prepared for retirement, we are working to deploy some best-practice behavioural economics by considering questions like:

• How do social norms affect behaviour?
• How do we mitigate people's present bias, where today seems more important than tomorrow?
• And what do we do about the mentality of scarcity that robs people of their ability to plan for the long term? 

The subject is compulsory for year 11 and 12 as they do it for one term worth 6 credits. It is offered full class in year 13 worth 18 credits.

BUSINESS STUDIES

Business Studies is a foundation subject introduces student to Accounting and Economics. It is taught from year 9 up to year 10. The subject prepares students for the NCEA which are introduced at year 11.The Business Studies syllabus is designed to allow students to have a good knowledge and understanding of the nature and scope of the modern business environment, and the role business plays in society.

The subjects introduces students to economic, environmental, ethical, governmental, legal, social and technological issues, and encourages a critical understanding of organizations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value. The subject helps to develop the candidates’ skills in using financial, marketing and management information in a practical business setting.

It also allows students to develop the ability to examine the management of organizations and, in particular, the process of strategic management and decision-making in the context of a dynamic external environment.

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