Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Christchurch is one of Christchurch's most established and trusted chartered accounting and business advisory firms, based on Level 2 at 329 Durham Street North in the CBD. Locally owned but part of the worldwide Baker Tilly International network, the firm pairs high-end technical capability with what it calls a personal touch, supported by a large team of dedicated professionals who service both business and personal tax requirements.
The Christchurch office covers the full range of modern accounting work: audit, assurance and risk management; business advisory including core and small business accounting, outsourcing, and reporting and modelling; comprehensive tax services from compliance and employment taxes through to international tax, disputes and Audit Shield; corporate advisory spanning mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, valuations, governance and financial modelling; plus business recovery, human resources, IT services and specialist areas such as cryptocurrency, a dedicated Australia services team, NZ market entry and trust administration. Offshore tax advice is available through the firm's international network.
Beyond client work, the office holds multiple workshops and seminars throughout the year on important business topics and publishes seasonal newsletters. It is recognised as Canterbury Trusted by Business Canterbury for service excellence and responsible business practices, and is Toitū certified for managing and reducing its carbon output. Client testimonials speak of decades-long relationships, advisors who know the business inside out, and steady guidance through the earthquakes, Covid and other upheavals. Visitor parking is at the rear of the building, off Chester Street West.
On the second floor of a building at 329 Durham Street North, in the heart of Christchurch's CBD, works one of the city's longest-standing chartered accounting practices. Baker Tilly Staples Rodway Christchurch describes itself as one of Christchurch's most established and trusted accounting and business advisory firms — and the client stories surrounding the practice suggest that reputation has been earned over decades, not months.
What sets the firm apart is its blend of scale and locality. The Christchurch office is locally owned, yet it is also part of the worldwide Baker Tilly International Limited network. That combination means clients get high-end capability — the technical depth you might expect from a much larger centre — delivered, as the team puts it, with a personal touch.
The office covers the full breadth of modern accounting work. Its audit, assurance and risk management team handles auditing, assurance, financial reporting and risk services. The business advisory team looks after core accounting, small business accounting, outsourcing, and reporting and modelling. On the tax side, specialists deal with everything from tax compliance and employment taxes to international tax, tax audits, disputes and rulings, and products such as Audit Shield and tax pooling.
There is also meaningful depth beyond standard compliance work. Corporate advisory services include mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, business valuations, financial modelling, and company directorships and governance. Specialist services cover areas many firms won't touch: cryptocurrency, a dedicated Australia services team, help for overseas businesses expanding into New Zealand, and trusteeships and trust administration. Business recovery, human resources and IT services round out the offering, and clients can access offshore tax advice through the firm's international network.
A large team of directors, managers, associates and consultants staffs the Christchurch office, spanning business advisory, taxation and specialist services. Names that appear again and again in client feedback include directors Wendy Skinner, Dorian Crighton, Dave McCone, Craig Hamilton, Jon Robertson and Jon Teear, taxation director Spencer Smith, and managers such as Sarah Hastie, Kathleen Poi, Amanda Nolan and Lily Qiu.
The testimonials tell a consistent story. A veterinary practice credits Dave McCone with decades of sustainable profitability and systems that enabled rapid, smart financial decisions. A farming family of more than 28 years credits Gary Watson and the team with guiding them through the global financial crisis, the earthquakes, Covid and the cost-of-living crisis. Others describe advisors who treat clients as if they were their only client, and financial strategists who keep clients one step ahead.
The firm is deliberately active in sharing knowledge. It runs multiple workshops and seminars throughout the year on important business topics, publishes seasonal Christchurch newsletters, and posts regular articles — recent pieces cover Tax Freedom Day, construction-sector resilience and managing performance issues for employers. Its stated values emphasise mutual respect, pride in work, a positive attitude and engagement with the community.
The office also carries external recognition. It is Canterbury Trusted, an acknowledgment from Business Canterbury for service excellence, responsible business behaviour and best business practices, and it is Toitū certified — evidence of a genuine drive to manage and reduce its carbon output.
The office is at Level 2, 329 Durham Street North, Christchurch, with parking at the rear of the building, accessible off Chester Street West. You can phone the team on +64 3 343 0599 or email [email protected]. One practical note for clients: NZ Post no longer delivers to the physical address, so correspondence should be sent to Baker Tilly Staples Rodway, PO Box 8039, Christchurch, 8440.