From left: Financial Mentors Awhina Ulutuki and Jennifer Gini at Petone Budget Service It’s the bucket test at Petone Budget Service (PBS) which helps bring the financial message home for some of the most vulnerable people in their community. Based in the Wellington region, the budgeting service...
Afterpay, Laybuy, Oxipay… the list of buy now pay later (BNPL) services goes on. But financial capability and budgeting experts have a word of warning of people using BNPL later services. While these services can be used to people’s advantage, people need to be aware of the...
FinCap is pleased to announce Ruth Smithers has been appointed as Chief Executive. Ruth is an experienced leader and senior manager in the not for profit and government sectors in health and social services organisations. Her most recent role was as Deputy Chief Executive at Tui Ora,...
FinCap welcomes the open letter sent by the Commerce Commission to New Zealand’s three mobile phone operators mobile telecommunications companies, telling them that they need to guard against overspending by mobile phone customers. The open letter from the Commerce Commission is a proactive step to ensuring...
FinCap welcome’s the Government's announcement that they are bringing forward the introduction of the 100% repayment limit and ban on compounding interest for high cost loans, and the $30 cap on default fees for all loans, through the COVID-19 Response (Taxation and other Regulatory Urgent Measures)...
COVID-19 is causing immense disruption to our society and our economy. Hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders and their families now face having to survive on a reduced income. These people are worried about whether they can pay their rent or their mortgage, while keeping their...
New Zealanders worried about money due to the effects of COVID-19 are urged to seek guidance through official government services Sorted and MoneyTalks. The Sorted website is run by CFFC, headed by Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson, and MoneyTalksis run by the FinCap, the umbrella body for financial capability and...
Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee has made key amendments to the Credit Contracts Legislation Amendment Bill, giving borrowers more protection from harmful high cost consumer credit contracts. The changes indicate that the Select Committee listened to the voices of Financial Mentors representing consumers that have...
FinCap welcomes the Government’s response to the Final Report of the Electricity Price Review process as a "good first step". FinCap supports 200 local financial capability and budgeting services across New Zealand. Collectively these services see 70,000 people a year. We commend the work of the Expert Advisory...
FinCap welcomes the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group in their report "Whakamana Tangata - restoring to social security in New Zealand". Tim Barnett Chief Executive of FinCap said today: "The recommendations in Whakamana Tangata are an eloquent statement of what people in financial hardship need...