Financial Support Resources
Are you grappling with bills, facing an unexpected event, or simply needing help and support? Our comprehensive list details the various support options available throughout New Zealand. Managing bills can be challenging, as can living with an illness or resolving a legal matter. Various support options are available, no matter your circumstances - we have outlined them comprehensively in one place.
Updated 7 February 2024
Our resources cover a range of needs, including:
We group these below for your assistance - If you have a suggestion as to an organisation or resource we should include, please contact our research team.
- Support for Anyone Struggling with the Bills
- Support for Medical Conditions or Financial Anxiety
- Support for Anyone Facing Ongoing Financial Challenges from a Life Event
- Navigating Redundancy and Loss of Income
- Financial Management and Planning Help
- Legal and Consumer Rights Advice
We group these below for your assistance - If you have a suggestion as to an organisation or resource we should include, please contact our research team.
Support for Anyone Struggling with the Bills
Don't hesitate to seek help - the earlier you do it, the more time you have to get things on track. Resources include:
Don't hesitate to seek help - the earlier you do it, the more time you have to get things on track. Resources include:
- Work and Income NZ Utility Assistance: Provides financial assistance for essential utilities for eligible individuals and families.
- Water Utilities' Assistance Programs: Many local water providers, including Watercare, offer assistance programs to help those struggling to pay their water bills.
- Salvation Army Financial Mentoring: Offers budgeting advice and financial mentoring to help manage and reduce bills.
- FinCap: Provides free, confidential budgeting advice to help manage household bills and finances.
- CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Money Course: These are free courses that help people budget, save, and spend wisely to manage their bills better.
- Nga Tangata Microfinance: Provides no-interest loans for essential goods and services to low-income earners, helping reduce the burden of high-cost loans.
- Grey Power NZ: Grey Power offers advice and advocacy on utility costs and discounts for older New Zealanders.
- Citizens Advice Bureau Financial Assistance: Provides information and guidance on various forms of financial assistance available for utility bills.
Support for Medical Conditions or Financial Anxiety
If you're dealing with a medical condition impacting your daily life or if financial worries are causing anxiety, there are many organisations ready to offer expert advice and information on claiming any entitled benefits:
If you're dealing with a medical condition impacting your daily life or if financial worries are causing anxiety, there are many organisations ready to offer expert advice and information on claiming any entitled benefits:
- Healthify: Offers comprehensive health information and guidance.
- Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand: Provides resources and support for mental well-being.
- Alzheimer's New Zealand: Support for those affected directly and indirectly by Alzheimer's.
- Blind Low Vision NZ: Assistance for those with vision impairments.
- Deaf Aotearoa: Offers support for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
- Anxiety New Zealand Trust: Offers support for those dealing with anxiety.
- Cancer Society of New Zealand: Provides support for those affected by cancer.
- Heart Foundation NZ: Offers support and resources for individuals with heart conditions.
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of NZ: Offers information and support for individuals and families affected by MS.
Support for Anyone Facing Ongoing Financial Challenges from a Life Event
In difficult times that we never expected, having a conversation can make a significant difference. Resources for Life Events include:
In difficult times that we never expected, having a conversation can make a significant difference. Resources for Life Events include:
- What to Do When Your Spouse or Partner Dies – Our trusted guide to help the survivor put things in place.
- Citizens Advice Bureau: General advice and support for various life situations.
- The Samaritans: Emotional support for those in distress.
- Victim Support NZ: Help for victims of crime and trauma.
- Lifeline New Zealand: A 24/7 helpline and textline offering free, confidential support.
- Age Concern New Zealand: Assistance and support for older adults, including bereavement and financial advice.
- Skylight Trust: Offers support for all ages through trauma, loss, and grief.
- Funeral Costs Overview and Work and Income - Funeral Costs (for assistance with funeral expenses).
- Insurance Council of New Zealand: Information on making insurance claims.
Navigating Redundancy and Loss of Income
Adverse life events can be overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. New Zealand has specific resources to guide you during these challenging times. Resources include:
Adverse life events can be overwhelming, both emotionally and financially. New Zealand has specific resources to guide you during these challenging times. Resources include:
- Employment New Zealand: Provides information on employment rights and redundancy support.
- Redundancy Payouts and Entitlements - Our guide outlines what you may be entitled to, how redundancy (sometimes called severance payments) payouts work, must-know tips to get you back into work, and ways to minimise the impact on your finances.
- Community Law: Free legal help across various issues, including wills and estates.
Financial Management and Planning Help
Not everyone is naturally skilled in financial management, but there are numerous New Zealand services that can help you manage your finances and plan effectively for the future.
Comprehensive Financial Management Resources:
Not everyone is naturally skilled in financial management, but there are numerous New Zealand services that can help you manage your finances and plan effectively for the future.
Comprehensive Financial Management Resources:
- Sorted: A comprehensive resource for financial planning and advice.
- MoneyTalks: Provides free financial mentoring services.
- The Commission for Financial Capability: Enhancing financial capability with education and information.
- Budgeting and Family Support Services: Offers budgeting advice and support services.
- Good Shepherd NZ: Provides financial education and affordable loan options.
- Free Financial Literacy Classes: Our list reveals what's available.
- Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL): Assists with resolving disputes with financial service providers.
Legal and Consumer Rights Advice
Whatever your needs, free legal advice and resources, alongside paid services, are available:
Whatever your needs, free legal advice and resources, alongside paid services, are available:
- Consumer Protection NZ: Provides comprehensive advice on consumer rights and helps resolve consumer and business disputes, such as complaints about something you bought.
- Community Law Centres: Offers free legal advice across New Zealand, including financial and legal issues. They cater to various legal matters for those who cannot afford legal representation.
- Tenancy Services: This service provides information and assistance for both landlords and tenants on rights and responsibilities and helps resolve rental disputes.
The resources above are designed to offer support, advice, and practical help to New Zealanders facing financial challenges. By accessing these services, you can find the assistance and information you need to navigate tough financial times. If you have a suggestion as to an organisation or resource we should include, please contact our research team.