Why financial relief never came for New Zealanders in 2025 – The Prosperity Project podcast

Kiwis had high hopes for 2025, but for many the relief never came. Photo / 123rf

The year that was meant to bring financial relief has instead left many New Zealanders more stretched than ever, with debt burdens and living costs creating pressure points across increasingly high income brackets.

While the mantra this time last year was “survive to 2025″, financial mentor David Verry told Nadine Higgins on The Prosperity Project podcast that the year didn’t end up offering much relief, and that has been clear in the demand for his support. “It has been exceptionally busy, and it just keeps getting busier,” he says.

Those seeking help are no longer just the most vulnerable – he says it’s far more widespread. “I’d call it middle-income New Zealanders, and in fact even high-income New Zealanders who might have taken on too much debt.”

Verry told The Prosperity Project that the key differentiator often isn’t income – it’s debt levels. He recalls working with a couple earning more than $200,000 who were tipped into crisis when mortgage rates soared.

He says financial mentors can help assess your options when things become overwhelming. “We look at options. Can we make some adjustments? Can we consolidate? Are there things we can cut out for a period of time just to get ourselves back on track?”

Verry says financial mentors can also become advocates to help negotiate with lenders to find a repayment arrangement that is realistic. Surprisingly, he says, debt collectors can sometimes be the most flexible. “Funnily enough, they’re actually probably one of the easiest groups to negotiate with about repayments or suspending repayments.”

Despite the tough year, Verry believes there are reasons to be optimistic heading into 2026, as lower interest rates flow through to businesses. “If they can actually get to that point of feeling more confident about employing more people, expanding what they’re doing … then that can flow through to the people, and they can actually earn a little bit more money.”

Verry’s help – and that of other financial mentors – is available for free through Money Talks. He encourages people to seek help before their situation becomes desperate. “A lot of people keep it all inside them, and I guess that’s where we can be the safety valve. People can come and open up. You are not the only one – there are many, many people in exactly your situation.”

Listen to the full episode of The Prosperity Project for more.

The podcast is hosted by Nadine Higgins, an experienced broadcaster and a financial adviser at Enable Me.

You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday.