1. Hi-Money 'Rich in Context: Social, Cultural and Psychological Factors Shaping our Financial Wellbeing' research
It was a pleasure to support the launch of Hi Money's Rich in Context Report which surveyed 1,100 New Zealand and Australian men and women on the social and cultural forces that influence how we relate to money. The research found that financial outcomes are not just the result of individual effort - they are the product of systems, norms, and opportunities that either enable or constrain people’s financial agency.
With financial wellbeing shaped by trauma, stress and confidence as much as by income or access there is a significant opportunity for financial institutions to better understand the needs of their customers, in designing and marketing financial product and in providing fair customer outcomes. It concerning to hear that only 40% of those surveyed felt financial institutions understand their needs,
Using the survey data, a framework for assessing financial wellbeing was developed, identifying two groups in those surveyed, the 'financially well' and the 'financially unwell'. The indicators of each group set out in the attached.
With the Rich in Context report, living up to its name and full of valuable insights, this report is a must read!
With the launch supported by FSC Empower Women, Global Women and JBWere, click here to access the full report.
2. Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission '2025 Review of Retirement Income Policies' report
Research commissioned by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission reveals the persistent and compounding barriers women face across their life course—from unequal pay and part-time work to caregiving responsibilities and systemic exclusion. These barriers are even more pronounced for wāhine Māori, Pasifika women, migrant and refugee women, sole parents, disabled women, and LGBTQIA+ communities.
This report titled '2025 Review of Retirement Income Policies' will be launched on Friday 14 November at an in-person event in Auckland.
Speakers include Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Hon Scott Simpson, Retirement Commissioner Jane Wrightson, ANZ Chief Executive Antonia Watson, Pie Funds Chief Executive Ana-Marie Lockyer and MartinJenkins Partner Sarah Baddeley, chaired by the Retirement Commission's Patrick Nolan.
Register your attendance here.
Making Menopause Work is an online guide from the Ministry for Women to help organisations, regardless of type and size, to become informed, and supportive of employees who are going through menopause.
The guide is made up of a menu of actions workplaces can take, and a suite of free downloadable resources you can customise to your workplace.
See more information here.
4. National Strategy for Financial Capability: Connection Series - Women, work, and retirement replay
New Zealand has a 25% gender savings gap in KiwiSaver balances, along with systemic barriers affecting women across their lives. Research by Martin Jenkins for the Retirement Commission provided a life-course analysis of women and retirement income and the effects of those differences for women’s retirement income, and the key policy levers that are available to address these issues.
Watch the replay of the The Connection Series: Women, work and retirement with speakers Jane Wrightson, Retirement Commissioner, Tracey Cross, FSC’s Empower Women, EeMun Chen, Martin Jenkins and Zebunisso Alimova from Financial Advice New Zealand's Women in Financial Advice who discussed sector-led solutions, cross-sector collaboration, and the role of leadership in driving change here.
NCWNZ, alongside Rangahau Aotearoa Research New Zealand, has been monitoring attitudes to gender in Aotearoa New Zealand since 2017 as part of our longitudinal Gender Attitudes survey.
The 2025 survey, published in September 2025 results highlight strong consensus across Aotearoa that New Zealanders want gender equality to be achieved, but some results indicate a mistaken belief that gender equality has been achieved already.
Click here to access the report.
Hosted by Emma Mclean, CEO & Founder of Works for Everyone, this is a punchy, practical, and peppered with laughter podcast that equips listeners with ideas they can take back to their homes and workplaces to help smash the motherhood penalty.
See more information and listen here.
Based in Christchurch New Zealand, the Female Career offers one-to-one and group leadership coaching to develop women to become more focused, resilient and impactful in their work and to encourage women to be more courageous, purposeful and fulfilled in their careers.
The Female Career can also supports organisations with tailored insights and practical, research-based recommendations to improve their gender balance.
Click here to learn more.