The Resource Hub is a central platform for National Strategy partners to access and share trusted national and international research, insights, and resources supporting financial wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We welcome contributions from National Strategy partners highlighting new research, case studies, resources, or data. Find out more about the publishing guidelines and key principles and the research community of practice here.
This report examines barriers and enablers to Pacific peoples’ participation in financial capability rogrammes in Aotearoa New Zealand, fi p nding uptake improves when services are culturally grounded, aiga centred and framed around holistic wellbeing, with trusted community delivery and Pacific leadership central to effectiveness.
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, FINANCIAL RESILIENCE, FINANCIAL WELLBEING, PACIFIC PEOPLE
This technical paper explains how financial inclusion is measured in Aotearoa New Zealand, detailing data sources, methodology, limitations and the application of Māori data sovereignty principles underpinning the Reserve Bank’s base set of indicators on access to cash, banking and credit.
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
This Reserve Bank of New Zealand report introduces a base set of financial inclusion indicators to track how well New Zealand’s financial system enables access to cash, banking and credit, highlighting persistent gaps by income, ethnicity, age and region, and providing an evidence base to support more inclusive, resilient policy and system design.
FINANCIAL INCLUSION
This policy note assesses the impacts of Budget 2025 KiwiSaver changes, finding higher default contributions will lift retirement balances for most members. However, cuts to government contributions risk widening inequities for low-income earners, women, Māori and the self-employed.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING, KIWISAVER
This research report highlights how economic abuse creates significant financial barriers for women leaving violent relationships.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING, NZ RESEARCH, WOMEN
This research, commissioned from MartinJenkins as part of the 2025 RRIP, shows that women retire with significantly lower incomes due to cumulative life course factors including pay gaps, caregiving, housing and KiwiSaver settings. It identifies six critical stages where targeted, equity focused policy interventions could materially improve outcomes, particularly for wāhine Māori and other underserved groups.
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, FINANCIAL WELLBEING, NZ RESEARCH, WOMEN
Money Matters 2025 shows emergency savings are critical to financial wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Nearly half lack a buffer, with women, Māori, Pacific peoples and younger adults facing greater insecurity, while even small savings significantly boost confidence and resilience.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING, NZ RESEARCH
This research report from Massey University’s FinEd Centre tracks young New Zealanders’ financial knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and wellbeing over time. It finds gradual improvements in financial literacy and confidence, but ongoing gaps between knowledge and behaviour, highlighting the need for sustained, life stage appropriate financial education.
FINANCIAL EDUCATION, YOUNG PEOPLE
This policy note provides longitudinal evidence on how lack of access to affordable childcare in a child’s first two years affects mothers’ longterm employment, showing lasting negative effects on mothers’ work at school age, with disproportionate impacts for Māori and Pasifika mothers.
NZ RESEARCH, WOMEN
This Jarden–Impact Lab report analyses social return on investment across 100+ Aotearoa New Zealand charities. It shows funding is concentrated among people with the highest needs and argues that targeted, collaborative investment decisions can significantly improve long-term wellbeing and sector impact.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING, NZ RESEARCH
This Treasury discussion paper introduces ‘He Ara Waiora’, a wellbeing framework grounded in Te Ao Māori. It critiques and extends the Living Standards Framework by centring tikanga, whanaungatanga, mana, and intergenerational wellbeing, and invites dialogue on embedding Māori worldviews in economic and tax policy.
FINANCIAL WELLBEING, MĀORI
This Sense Partners report reviews MSD’s Debt Solutions Services pilot, finding it highly effective in reducing problem debt and improving client wellbeing. It shows significant debt and repayment reductions, strong client experiences, and recommends ongoing support, improved data collection, and sustainable funding for a national approach.
FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, NZ RESEARCH