FeaturedKiwiSaver
Understanding KiwiSaver: A Complete Guide for 2026
Everything you need to know about KiwiSaver - how it works, choosing funds, and maximizing your returns for retirement.
24 Feb 20263 min read
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Fat Pocket Blog
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Personal Finance
Floating rate mortgages: why fewer NZ borrowers are choosing them
New data shows the share of floating rate mortgages in fresh lending has fallen sharply from its 2025 peak, as rising fixed rates change the calculus for borrowers.
16 Jul 20263 min read
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Read articleEconomy
Working but can't afford rent: the households official data misses
While headline rent figures show flat or falling prices, a new report highlights tens of thousands of working households struggling with housing costs that official data may understate.
16 Jul 20263 min read
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Read articleEconomy
NZ wage growth 'worst in the world' — what the OECD data shows
New Zealand recorded the worst real wage growth of any OECD country over five years, with pay packets 6.4% below 2021 levels when adjusted for inflation.
16 Jul 20264 min read
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Read articleMarkets
Fixed mortgage rates: wholesale pressure builds after RBNZ hike
One-year fixed mortgage rates sit between 4.65% and 4.79% as banks face rising wholesale funding costs, with markets pricing in further OCR increases through 2026.
15 Jul 20264 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
Why trust trustees must decide together — and what happens when they don't
Trustees who make big decisions without consulting their co-trustees risk having those decisions overturned. A recent reminder from Auckland barrister Anthony Grant explains why unanimity matters.
11 Jul 20263 min read
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Read articleMarkets
Westpac passes full OCR hike to floating mortgage rates
Westpac became the first major bank to lift its floating home loan rate by the full 25 basis points following the RBNZ's July OCR increase, with other banks following.
9 Jul 20263 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
The real cost of lending money to family and friends
Before you lend money to someone close, consider these five factors to protect both your wallet and your relationships.
7 Jul 20264 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
What happens to your pet when you die? NZ estate planning
Pets rank higher than finances and relationships in many New Zealanders' emotional lives, yet only one in 20 wills include them. Here's how the law treats pet estate planning.
2 Jul 20263 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
Why the big banks have stopped competing on mortgage rates
New Zealand's major lenders have converged on almost identical fixed mortgage rates, with little incentive to undercut each other while the housing market sits in its winter quiet period.
1 Jul 20264 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
IRD's debt collectors are getting more active. What you need to know
Inland Revenue is collecting more overdue tax than it was a year ago, with a crackdown on PAYE, GST and student loan debt. The consistent advice from IRD and tax advisers alike: if you owe money, make contact first.
1 Jul 20264 min read
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Read articleKiwiSaver
Can the government take your KiwiSaver? What the rules actually say
A reader asked whether New Zealanders should worry about the government accessing their KiwiSaver savings in a financial crisis. The short answer is no — but the conversation raises a few other things worth understanding about the scheme.
30 Jun 20264 min read
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Read articlePersonal Finance
Who is actually poor in New Zealand? The numbers behind the headline
A new report from NZ's social service charities puts the number of people in material hardship at 473,000 — and shows how the structure of the benefit system can sometimes keep people trapped. Here is what the data actually says.
30 Jun 20264 min read
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