GUIDES — PLAIN ENGLISH, NO LECTURE

Money guides for Aotearoa.

40+ guides covering tax, KiwiSaver, mortgage, investing, insurance — and a new Business strand for sole traders, LTCs and small companies. No jargon, no upsell.

PropertyFeatured

First Home Buyer Guide NZ 2026

First home buyer guide for NZ 2026. KiwiSaver withdrawal, First Home Grant, deposit requirements, LVR rules, and costs explained.

Beginner15 min read

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SECTION 02 — BROWSE BY TOPIC

Ten strands. Pick where your money lives.

Tax12 guides

PAYE, tax returns, IRD, and tax codes explained in plain English.

KiwiSaver10 guides

Fund types, contribution rates, first home withdrawal, and growing your balance.

Investing9 guides

Shares, index funds, platforms, and strategies for NZ investors.

Budgeting3 guides

Saving strategies, spending habits, and managing debt in New Zealand.

Property4 guides

Buying your first home, mortgages, LVR rules, and the NZ property market.

Insurance4 guides

Life, health, contents, and car insurance — what you actually need.

Credit & Debt1 guide

Credit cards, personal loans, and getting out of debt.

Life Events6 guides

Starting work, having kids, retirement — money moves for every stage.

Moving to NZ6 guides

Investor visas, tax residency, and financial planning for migrants moving to New Zealand.

Savings3 guides

Bank deposits, savings accounts, term deposits, and protecting your money.

Business3 guides

Sole trader vs company, GST, provisional tax, and business structure decisions for self-employed Kiwis.

SECTION 03 — LATEST

Recently updated.

Investing

How to Choose a Financial Adviser in New Zealand

A four-step process for shortlisting, vetting, and engaging an NZ-licensed financial adviser — questions to ask, red flags to walk away from, fees to expect in 2026.

Intermediate14 min

Investing

Is a Financial Adviser Worth the Money? What the Research Shows

Evidence from Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Vanguard on whether financial advice pays for itself — plus a framework for deciding when advice is high-value and when DIY works.

Intermediate15 min

Investing

What is a Financial Adviser? A Plain English Guide for New Zealanders

What financial advisers do in NZ, who regulates them, how they get paid, and what they owe you as a client under the 2021 FMA regime.

Beginner12 min

Business

GST Registration in NZ: When You Have to, When You Should, How to Do It

GST registration thresholds, voluntary registration, choosing between monthly and six-monthly filing, and the practical steps to register with the IRD.

Updated May 2026

Beginner10 min

Business

Provisional Tax in NZ: How It Works, How to Calculate It, How to Avoid Surprises

Provisional tax is income tax paid in instalments through the year. Here's how the IRD calculates it, the three methods you can use, and how to avoid use-of-money interest.

Updated May 2026

Intermediate11 min

Business

Sole Trader vs LTC vs Company: Choosing Your NZ Business Structure

Three legal structures, three different tax outcomes. How to choose between sole trader, look-through company (LTC), and a regular limited company in New Zealand.

Updated May 2026

Intermediate12 min