Latest news with #PacificPeoples
Scoop
29-07-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Kiwibank Index Reveals Growing Consumer And Business Savings Momentum Amid Cost-Of-Living Pressures
Press Release – Kiwibank Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich says: Were encouraged to see progress. Young people are showing real savings discipline, and financial confidence is on the rise. Larger businesses are also moving beyond survival mode, with growing optimism. … Kiwibank's latest State of Savings Index reveals a mixed but promising picture of financial resilience across Aotearoa New Zealand. Savings momentum is building, especially among young Kiwi and larger businesses, but gaps remain for women, Māori, and Pacific Peoples. Now in its second year, the Index tracks how New Zealanders are balancing daily financial pressures with long-term goals. For the first time, it includes insights from Kiwi businesses, offering a broader view of national financial wellbeing. Kiwibank Chief Executive Steve Jurkovich says: 'We're encouraged to see progress. Young people are showing real savings discipline, and financial confidence is on the rise. Larger businesses are also moving beyond survival mode, with growing optimism. After a tough stretch, that's a promising sign. 'The data shows some Kiwi still face barriers, and that drives us to continue to deliver practical and inclusive support – from Co-Own, helping people team up to buy a home, to reshaping our credit card offering to deliver benefits that provide greater value to more customers. 'Beyond payments, we're challenging the status quo. For example, we're removing barriers to open banking* by not charging accredited third parties to make standard API requests. It's all part of building a banking system that works better for more Kiwi.' The consumer research found: • 94% of New Zealanders agree it's important to be financially prepared for unexpected events, yet less than half (43%) are saving regularly – highlighting a significant gap between intention and action. • Younger Kiwi are showing strong signs of financial resilience and those under 30 are more likely to have a defined savings target (76%), save more than last year (23% vs. 17% overall), and rank second only to over-60s (93%) when it comes to sticking to a budget (85%). • Women (71%), Māori (79%), and Pacific Peoples (82%) are struggling to save, compared to the national average (63%) and men (55%). • Overall, 51% of Kiwi now have a specific savings goal, a significant 16-point increase year-on year, with Māori (56%) and Pacific Peoples (55%) more likely than average to set targets. • 53% of New Zealanders are prioritising long-term goals like retirement and home ownership, compared to 41% focused on short-term needs. • 48% of Kiwi have dipped into long-term savings (excluding KiwiSaver) in the past year to cover short-term expenses, with Māori (62%) and Pacific Peoples (61%) more likely to do so. • 68% say they could cover a $500 emergency expense, but 63% still struggle to save, with the high cost of living (69%) remaining the top barrier. • 47% say they are fully aware of what KiwiSaver fund they're invested in and how it is performing. 'Kiwi clearly understand the importance of being financially prepared, with 94% saying it matters, but less than half are saving regularly, demonstrating a gap between intention and action. At the same time, we're seeing encouraging signs of resilience, especially among younger New Zealanders. Those under 30 are setting savings goals, sticking to budgets, and saving more than last year. It's a shift toward greater financial confidence. 'But not everyone is experiencing that momentum. Women, Māori, and Pacific Peoples are disproportionately struggling to save, and many are dipping into long-term savings to cover short term costs. The cost of living remains the biggest barrier, with food prices up 4.6% in the past year and inflation lifting to 2.7% year-on-year from 2.5% over the June quarter. 'However, the good news is that for now, the risk of persistently high inflation appears low, especially with significant spare capacity still in the Kiwi economy and signs that price increases are becoming less pronounced. And falling mortgage interest rates are offering a measure of relief to homeowners, helping to ease pressure and potentially stabilise household finances. We anticipate further rate relief as the RBNZ looks through volatile movement ahead of its next OCR decision. 'The rise in goal setting (up 16 points year-on-year) is a powerful signal that Kiwi want to take control of their financial futures. We have an ambitious target to support two million Kiwi with inclusive products, practical tools, and initiatives – from Goal Tracker, which helps individuals visualise and stay on track with savings goals; to our Notice Saver and Online Call accounts that promote better savings habits; to Thrive HQ which provides education and planning resources; and financial education in schools through our partnership with Banqer**.' The business research found: • 52% of businesses report being financially stronger than a year ago, with 43% seeing higher customer spending. However, this momentum is largely driven by larger organisations: o 82% of businesses with 100+ employees report improved financial positions, compared to just 26% of sole operators. o 72% of large firms say customer spending is up, while 30% of sole operators report a decline. • The divide extends to financial resilience: o 89% of large firms say they could handle a $10,000 expense, compared to just 25% of sole operators. o 17% of sole operators are not saving at all, versus 0% of large firms. • Despite these challenges, small businesses remain forward focused: o 57% of all businesses are prioritising cash flow, 38% are building financial buffers, and 58% prefer to fund expansion through savings rather than debt. • Businesses show strong appetite for practical support: o 76% want new savings/investment products. o 71% want online budgeting tools. o 68% want flexible lending and tailored advice. • Open Banking is gaining traction, with 66% of businesses saying it could help achieve savings goals. 'There's a confidence gap between larger organisations and smaller businesses. While large businesses (more than 100 people) report they are investing and growing, many sole operators are still just trying to stay afloat. The drive and ambition are there, but the data shows they're often missing the tools to act on it. Nearly half have dipped into long-term savings to cover short-term costs, and 76% are actively seeking new savings and investment products, while 68% want more flexible lending and tailored advice. 'We're responding with solutions like StartUp+, which helps entrepreneurs get off the ground, and Fast Capital, designed to give small businesses faster access to working capital. It's about backing ambition with practical support, so more Kiwi businesses can move from surviving to thriving.' Policy momentum: Budget 2025 and KiwiSaver changes The State of Saving Index explored reactions to Budget 2025 and KiwiSaver policy changes, revealing strong support for initiatives aimed at long-term financial wellbeing. • 60% of businesses agree Budget 2025 is pro-growth and supports capital investment, rising to 83% among large businesses. • 37% of businesses say the Budget's 20% asset tax deduction will encourage new investment, while 36% say it will help build financial buffers, and 36% say it will accelerate plans already underway. • Among consumers, support for KiwiSaver initiatives is strong. The research tested a range of hypothetical initiatives, with 83% backing incentives for children to open accounts, 73% supporting a KiwiSaver-style emergency savings scheme, 68% support making KiwiSaver compulsory, and 67% support increasing employee/employer contributions. • Overall, there was strong support for the Government's recently announced changes to increase employer KiwiSaver contributions, with 58% of businesses supporting the move. '60% of businesses see Budget 2025 as pro-growth, and 83% of large businesses say it supports capital investment. That kind of confidence matters. We're also seeing strong signals that these policies are unlocking action with over a third of businesses saying the 20% asset tax deduction will encourage new investment, help build financial buffers or accelerate plans already underway. 'We know the job ahead – helping households and businesses save, invest, and grow with confidence. The need for practical, personalised support is real. Whether it's budgeting help, smart savings options, or fast access to funding, we're committed to doing our bit to ensure more Kiwi are better off.' Notes: Contextual insights: National trends support the findings • Retail spending rose 1.5% in the March 2025 quarter, with a 1.4% year-on-year increase, according to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand***. This aligns with Kiwibank research that shows 43% of businesses are seeing increased customer spending. • Inflation increased 2.5% in the year to March 2025, within the Reserve Bank's target band****. This supports the finding that 69% of consumers cite the high cost of living as a barrier to saving. • Household saving dropped by $392 million to -$1.6 billion in the March 2025 quarter, meaning households spent more than their disposable income*****. This mirrors Kiwibank findings that 63% of people struggle to save and 48% have dipped into long-term savings. *Kiwibank (June 2025). Kiwibank takes competitive stand on open banking fee. **Kiwibank. Building financial literacy with Banqer. ***Stats NZ. Consumption (M2). ****Stats NZ. Economic snapshot: March 2025 quarter. ***** Stats NZ. Household saving decreases in the March 2025 quarter. About the Index The State of Savings Index is part of Kiwibank's ongoing commitment to understanding and improving financial wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand. The consumer survey was conducted by Talbot Mills Research in late June 2025, with a nationally representative sample of 1,040 New Zealanders aged 18+. The business survey was also conducted in late June 2025, capturing insights from 303 business leaders including owners, C suite executives, and senior managers across New Zealand. Together, these findings provide a comprehensive snapshot of how individuals and organisations are navigating savings, spending, and financial planning in 2025. About Kiwibank Kiwibank is a purpose-led organisation that has modern, Kiwi values at heart and keeps Kiwi money where it belongs – right here in New Zealand. As a Kiwi bank, with more than a million customers, our trusted experts are focused on supporting Kiwi with their home ownership aspirations and backing local business ambitions, so together we can thrive here in Aotearoa and on the world stage. Kiwibank is the #1 bank in Kantar's 2025 Corporate Reputation Index and the only bank in the top 15. To find out more about Kiwibank visit
RNZ News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
NZ's Pacific peoples minister speaks on census changes
Pacific Peoples and Statistics Minister Dr Shane Reti has recently announced an overhaul of the five-yearly census. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
NZ Herald
06-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
The government departments that pushed back on cutting diversity, equity and inclusion requirements from the Public Service Act
'They should all know that they're there for the right reasons, which is on merit, and nobody should have to apologise for who they are when they do their job.' Other government agencies gave similar feedback. The Department of Conservation added it 'disagrees' with the proposed changes, because diversity and inclusion were 'important for living standards, inclusion [and] trust'. Numerous concerns were laid out by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, which explained to Collins that diversity and inclusion had 'levelled [the] entry point' for Pasifika people in the public sector. The agency suggested moving diversity requirements out of the Public Service Act and to a Government Workforce Policy Statement (GWPS) risked a 'legal challenge' under both the Human Rights Act and Employment Relations Act, which it said 'require equal employment opportunities'. The Ministry of Defence suggested that removing the aforementioned provisions might mean agencies would not 'cast the net' as widely when appointing people to roles. Hernandez pointed to a moment when Collins was before the governance and administration select committee for scrutiny week and was unable to give an example of a non-merit-based appointment. He called it 'quite frankly, embarrassing'. 'The purpose of equity policies [is] actually to promote merit, or actually to promote groups that usually wouldn't get a look in,' Hernandez said. 'The public service works best when it looks like the communities it's designed to represent. I mean, we wouldn't want, for example, a Parliament of just 123 people from Dunedin.' Numerous Government departments gave feedback on proposals to change diversity and inclusion requirements. A separate briefing to Collins noted the proposals were consistent with the coalition agreement between the National Party and Act. The February briefing, also from the Public Service Commission to the minister, said it understood Collins was concerned there was 'not sufficient focus on merit' when chief executives were being appointed. The commission's paper noted that at the time, the minister wanted advice on removing diversity and inclusion requirements in those instances. The Public Service Commission told the minister that diversity policies are most suited to large groups of people, 'like the public service', where it said many societal groups can be reflected. Collins was then told that some departments were known as 'population agencies', where they relate directly to one or more groups in society. 'In these cases, knowledge of that community, relationships within that community and respect and trust of that community may be critical to the successful performance of the role. These attributes would be included in the position description for the role and therefore assessed as part of 'merit' or being most suited to the role,' the briefing read. The commission's paper went on to state that it would be possible to remove diversity requirements for public sector bosses while still considering relationships with specified communities when looking at population agencies. Collins earlier this year confirmed she was actively looking at cutting diversity requirements from legislation that guides government agencies and their workers. Her plans included proposing to remove requirements for public sector bosses to 'promote' diversity and inclusion . Such requirements have also faced scrutiny from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who labelled them 'woke' . When asked for a statement on the matter, the Ministry for the Environment pointed to an email sent from Environment Secretary James Palmer to Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche in March. Palmer wrote that removing diversity and equity matters would not reduce much effort in terms of chief executive responsibilities. He noted such matters could be picked up in a workforce policy statement, but highlighted risks with the proposal. 'I think their removal from the Public Service Act risks sending a signal that we don't value diversity and pay equity, and the need for the public service to reflect the populations it serves. In other words, the downside of these proposals risk[s] outweighing the benefits in practical terms.' Te Puni Kokiri, which recommended diversity and inclusion remain an expectation for chief executives, said the paper's summary was an accurate representation of its feedback. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples said that as decisions on the amendments were under active consideration, it was unable to comment further. Azaria Howell is a multimedia reporter working from Parliament's press gallery. She joined NZME in 2022 and became a Newstalk ZB political reporter in late 2024, with a keen interest in public service agency reform and government spending.
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pacific-Māori marriages lead new identity wave
By Aui'a Vaimaila Leatinu'u , PMN Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone Photo: Supplied Pacific people who marry outside their heritage often choose Māori partners, according to a Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) investigation into this increasingly shared identity among these populations. According to MPP's ongoing Insights Briefing , which aims to deepen the understanding of Māori and Pacific identity, there are around 90,000 people who identify as both Māori and Pacific in Aotearoa. "We also found that when Pacific people marry outside of [their culture], they will marry a Māori first," Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, the Secretary for Pacific Peoples at MPP, told Khalia Strong on Pacific Mornings . "While we're different, there's also a lot of similarities. What I've found, as I've gone around talking to various iwi leaders, is that…we want these populations to be counted. "There are so many that have said, 'my moko [grandchild] is part Tongan, part Māori, and they speak both Māori and Tongan'. Others say, 'I know someone in my whānau, who's part Cook Island, part Māori, and they want to learn their Cook Island whakapapa' because they've been raised entirely with a Māori worldview." Clifford-Lidstone emphasised the significance of understanding these identities, saying that by 2043, nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand's population will identify as Māori or Pacific, which will impact workforce demographics, cultural experiences, language, and genealogical ties moving forward. "It's been a really fun and insightful process to participate in. The consultation's open for one more week, 9 July. I really encourage people who identify as both Māori and Pacific to participate." The MPP is facing nearly $36 million in funding reductions under Budget 2025, following a previous cut of $26m. Despite this, key policy priorities have been retained, with some new initiatives introduced. For example, the Tauola Business Fund ended and the Tupu Aotearoa employment programme scaled back, while funding for the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Business Village continues. Despite a tighter budget, Clifford-Lidstone says major initiatives continue, including the Pacific Languages Strategy, Toloa STEM scholarships, and Pacific Media Innovation funding. "Then we've got our housing initiatives. So, the building of affordable homes, a programme as part of that called Our Whare Our Fale, which is looking at 300 homes in Porirua. Then the Financial Capability Programme. You may have seen in Budget 2025 some new money for Pacific Wardens," she says. "These really wonderful mātua and volunteers from our community who support the work of a range of agencies, particularly police, engaging with the community and ensuring that we are in a safe environment. We've still got a lot of work underway there on top of our policy programme." On the legacy Dawn Raids programme, she says the funding will remain until the 2026 to 2027 period, with the Vaka of Stories project helping to capture community narratives. Clifford-Lidstone adds that they have two years to complete specific deliverables, some of which have already been completed. She acknowledges the concerns around the planned cancellation of the nationwide Census survey, emphasising the importance of evidence-based data for delivering targeted services. Clifford-Lidstone says the Pacific community's pace of growth and change is rapid. "Our data and insights team have a formal agreement with Statistics New Zealand to work together on census planning and data standards. So, we're going to be working really closely with them to keep an eye on that particular issue. "We do want our communities to be accurately reflected and to be participating. That participation will change a little bit given that it's on admin data, we need the quality of that admin data to be good. So, that's a role that we will be playing." -This article was first published by PMN .
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
'Postcode healthcare' persists - new report by government watchdog
The report said access to treatment was to a significant extent, determined by where a person lived. (File photo) Photo: UnSplash/ Marcelo Leal Where you live (rather than how sick you are) is still a major factor in how quickly you get elective surgery - or whether you get it at all, according to a new report by the government watchdog. The report, Providing equitable access to planned care, which has just been tabled in Parliament by the Auditor-General John Ryan, showed elective services in the public system were often "not equitable or timely", with people with the same level of clinical need qualifying for treatment in some districts, but not others. "As a result, a person's ability to access treatment is, to a significant extent, determined by where they live," the report noted. "Some clinical staff we spoke with were of the view that a lack of capacity to provide treatment had led to some thresholds that no longer reflect clinical need." The Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022 required Health New Zealand to ensure access to treatment (such as operations to remove cataracts or tonsils, joint replacements and hernia repairs) was based on people's clinical need - not their background, circumstances, or where they live. However, the audit found Māori, Pacific peoples, people with disabilities, those living in rural areas or in poverty had worse access to planned care. Health NZ was gradually introducing nationally consistent thresholds for ranking access to planned care. "It has introduced a national threshold for cataract treatment. Work is under way to align other thresholds for orthopaedics, otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose, and throat conditions), and cardiology." RNZ reported on Thursday, the long wait times for ear, nose and throat services in Tairāwhiti, which had less than a quarter of the specialist capacity needed. Introducing a national threshold for cataract treatment had led to about 1800 people added to the waiting list in the Southern District and about 900 more people put on the waiting list in Counties Manukau, the new report found. In orthopaedics, threshold "scores" for orthopaedic treatment range from 50 in Auckland and Canterbury to 80 in Wairarapa. "This means that a person's condition needs to be significantly worse in Wairarapa than Canterbury or Auckland to qualify for treatment." District-specific thresholds still in place were also "obscuring the extent of unmet need for treatment in some districts". "Significant work will be required to deal with the changes in demand that will result from the introduction of nationally consistent thresholds across all specialities." The true level of unmet need was unknown, the report continued. "One possible measure of unmet need is the number of people who are assessed by a specialist but do not meet the threshold for treatment. "However, we also heard some clinicians will not refer a person for specialist assessment if they are considered unlikely to meet the treatment threshold. "Media reports during our audit suggested that specialities in some districts were not accepting referrals because they did not have the resources and would be unable to meet target time frames for assessing or treating people." Meeting the government's target for 95 percent of people receiving planned care treatment within four months by 2030 was going to require "significant improvement". "During our audit, the latest available reporting (for October to December 2024) showed that about 59 percent of planned care patients received treatment within four months of being placed on a waiting list. "The proportion of people receiving planned care treatment within four months has been in decline since 2017." However, the focus on improving wait times should go hand-in-hand with a focus on equitable access, the report writers urged. "Equity also needs to be a central consideration in Health NZ's work to improve timely provision of treatment. If this does not happen, there is a risk that strategies to improve timeliness could cause further inequities." Health was so interconnected, that too much focus in one area inevitably put pressure on the system elsewhere. For instance, the number of patients waiting longer than one year for treatment was cut from more than 4000 in October 2023, to 1916 by July 2024, although it rose again to 2630 by December 2024. However, in the same period, the waiting list for first specialist assessments nearly doubled, from 5000 to 9936, the auditors found. Health Minister Simeon Brown's push for more outsourcing to private providers needed to be carefully managed so it did not lead to greater inequities, the Auditor-General said. "Access to the private hospitals that provide outsourced treatment is not equally distributed across the country. This means that some districts can outsource patients more easily and at shorter notice than others. "In addition, not all patients can be outsourced for treatment. The people selected for outsourcing to private facilities are generally determined to be non-complex patients." Māori and Pacific peoples and people living in socially deprived areas were also more likely to have complications, which would bar them from treatment in a private hospital. "Health NZ needs to manage and monitor the outsourcing of treatment so that it does not compromise its focus on the treatment of patients in priority order or otherwise increase inequity in planned care." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
