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
Read moreBlog
Fat Pocket Blog
Financial education and insights for New Zealand investors.
Featured Articles
All Articles(124)
Economy
Commerce Commission tells fuel retailers to pass on price falls as oil costs drop
The Commerce Commission is watching fuel retailers closely after oil prices fell, saying businesses must pass on lower wholesale costs to pump prices the same way increases were reflected when costs rose.
18 Jun 20263 min read
fuel-pricescommerce-commission+3
Read articlePersonal Finance
Milk price push drives food inflation to 3.6% annual — rents barely moving
Food prices rose 1 percent in May month-on-month, with milk the single biggest driver. Annual food price inflation is running at 3.6 percent, while rents are at record-low increases of 0.3 percent a year.
18 Jun 20263 min read
food-pricesinflation+4
Read articleMarkets
Red Bank cuts fixed mortgage rates, heats up competition after ANZ increases
A major 'Red Bank' has cut some of its longer-term fixed mortgage rates, intensifying competition in the home loan market just weeks after ANZ raised all its fixed offerings.
18 Jun 20262 min read
mortgage-ratesbanks+4
Read articlePersonal Finance
BNZ fined $2.6m for nine years of incorrect interest on non-profit accounts
BNZ has been fined $2.6 million after admitting it calculated interest on some non-profit accounts using the wrong method for nine years, underpaid 23,103 customers by $5.39m, and has now repaid the full amount plus interest.
17 Jun 20263 min read
bnzbanking+5
Read articleKiwiSaver
KiwiSaver provider told to pay $500 after 30-working-day delay on hardship withdrawal
A KiwiSaver provider took more than 30 working days to process a woman's hardship withdrawal, prompting a disputes tribunal to order $500 compensation for the stress caused.
17 Jun 20263 min read
kiwisaverhardship-withdrawal+3
Read articlePersonal Finance
Budget 2026 raises FIF threshold to $100,000 — what that means for overseas investors
The de minimis cost threshold for New Zealand's Foreign Investment Fund rules doubles from $50,000 to $100,000 from 1 April 2026 — the first increase since 2000.
15 Jun 20264 min read
fiftax+4
Read articlePersonal Finance
Fuel Prices Set to Fall as Hormuz Reopens — And Farm Theft May Ease Too
The US-Iran peace deal has sent oil prices lower and could bring relief at the pump for New Zealand households. For farmers, a quieter side-effect may be less incentive for rural fuel theft.
15 Jun 20263 min read
fuel-priceshormuz+3
Read articleInvesting
When your KiwiSaver balance drops and the urge to switch kicks in
Short-term market dips are a normal part of investing — but research consistently shows that switching KiwiSaver funds in response to volatility tends to cost more than it saves. Here's what to understand before making a move.
14 Jun 20264 min read
kiwisaverinvesting+5
Read articleMarkets
May 2026: Another Flat Month for NZ House Prices
The Real Estate Institute reports a 1.3% monthly lift in median price to $775,000, but sales volumes are down 12.6% year-on-year as buyer caution and cost-of-living pressure persist.
14 Jun 20263 min read
housing-marketreinz+4
Read articleEconomy
Marlborough mussel industry gets fast-track nod as warming oceans threaten spat supply
Six new mussel farms have been referred to New Zealand's fast-track process, with backers projecting $589m in annual exports and nearly 1000 jobs — but the driving pressure is climate change warming the waters that sustain one of Marlborough's biggest industries.
13 Jun 20263 min read
aquaculturemarlborough+5
Read articleEconomy
Q1 GDP due next week: why economists are calling it 'the calm before the storm'
Economists expect New Zealand's March quarter GDP to grow around 1%, but the data will largely predate the Middle East conflict that broke out in February — and the full economic impact is expected to show up in later releases.
13 Jun 20263 min read
gdpeconomy+5
Read articlePersonal Finance
Thinking about solar? Here's what to know before you install
As power prices rise and installation costs fall, more households are considering solar. But the economics depend heavily on your roof orientation, shading, and how you use electricity — and getting the right size system matters more than you might think.
13 Jun 20263 min read
solar-panelsrenewable-energy+4
Read articleStay Updated
Get the latest financial tips, rate changes, and investment insights.