Subsequent costs
Trademarks
Costs incurred subsequent to initial acquisition are
capitalised only when it is probable that future
economic benefits or service potential associated
with the item will flow to the Commission and the
cost of the item can be measured reliably.
Trademarks are capitalised on the basis of the
costs incurred to register the trademark with the
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand.
The costs of day-to-day servicing of property, plant
and equipment are recognised in the surplus or
deficit in the statement of comprehensive revenue
and expense as they are incurred.
The carrying value of an intangible asset with a
finite life is amortised on a straight-line basis over
its useful life. Amortisation begins when the asset is
available for use and ceases at the date that the asset
is derecognised. The amortisation charge for each
financial year is recognised in the surplus or deficit
in the statement of comprehensive revenue and
expense.
Depreciation
Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis on
all property, plant and equipment at rates that will
write off the cost of the assets to their estimated
residual values over their useful lives. The useful lives
and associated depreciation rates of major classes of
property, plant and equipment have been estimated
as follows:
Equipment
2.5–10 years 10–40%
Furniture and fittings
5–17 years 5.9–20%
Leasehold improvements 5–12 years 8.3–20%
Library books
5 years 20%
Motor vehicles
5 years 20%
Leasehold improvements are depreciated over
the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated
remaining useful lives of the improvement,
whichever is the shorter.
The residual value and useful life of an asset is
reviewed, and adjusted if applicable, at each financial
year-end.
Intangible assets
Software acquisition
Acquired computer software licenses are capitalised
on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and
bring to use the specific software.
Costs associated with maintaining computer
software, the development and maintenance of the
Commission’s website, and staff training costs are
recognised as an expense when incurred.
52
Amortisation
The useful lives and associated amortisation rates
of major classes of intangible assets have been
estimated as follows:
Acquired software
2–5 years 20–50%
Trademarks
10 years 10%
Impairment of property, plant and equipment
and intangible assets
Cash-generating assets
The Commission does not hold any property, plant
and equipment or intangible assets that are cashgenerating. Assets are considered cash-generating
where their primary objective is to generate a
commercial return, otherwise they are considered
non-cash generating.
Non-cash-generating assets
Property, plant and equipment and intangible
assets that have a finite useful life are reviewed
for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may
not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised
for the amount by which the asset’s carrying
amount exceeds its recoverable service amount. The
recoverable service amount is the higher of an asset’s
fair value less costs to sell and value in use.
Value in use is determined using an approach based
on either a depreciated replacement cost approach,
restoration cost approach, or a service units
Human Rights Commission