FinCap has released its third Voices report - an annual analysis of the circumstances faced by tens of thousands of whānau who are working with financial mentors to address debt issues.

FinCap’s Voices report offers insights into the financial challenges that whānau are facing. The report gathers insights captured by the hard work of over 700 financial mentors across Aotearoa who are working with whānau facing financial hardship.

Our report shows that financial mentors are seeing an increased demand and complexity of situation for whānau, at a time of constrained sector funding and a reduction in workforce.

The data shows that job losses are increasing as the reason that whānau are seeking help from financial mentors. The income support most people in this situation receive is increasingly not enough. This is diving Buy Now Pay Later debt and debt to government. Financial mentors have seen an 88% increase in waged or salaried clients earning over $1000 per week since 2021.

There are a range of policy interventions that can minimise financial stress for whānau, help them avoid unaffordable debt to begin with, and give them a better chance to sustainably repay legitimate debts.

In this report, our recommendations are geared towards preventing unmanageable debt and addressing consumer protection gaps for private debt collection conduct. The recommendations focus on debt collection reform to minimise further harm we foresee from unmanageable household debt. These recommendations arise from the frontline experiences of financial mentors helping whānau experiencing financial distress and pressure from debt collectors.

Read the FinCap Voices Report.

Download the Appendix- FinCap Voices Report 2025