Free help with money in New Zealand

Budgeting and everyday money

• SortedA free money guide run by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, the government-funded, independent agency, with guides and calculators on budgeting, KiwiSaver, debt, saving and retirement. It sells nothing and carries no ads.sorted.org.nz/about-us
• Budget planner (Sorted)A Sorted tool to set up a budget that works for you, weekly, fortnightly, monthly or yearly.sorted.org.nz/tools/budget-planner

Credit reports

• How to get free credit reports (Sorted)Explains what is in your credit report, that you can get a free copy from each of the three credit reporters (Centrix, Equifax and Experian), and how to fix mistakes or freeze your report.sorted.org.nz/guides/tackling-debt/credit-reports
• Credit Reporting Privacy Code (Office of the Privacy Commissioner)The privacy rules credit reporters must follow, with a summary of your rights in many languages and how to request your credit report.www.privacy.org.nz/privacy-principles/codes-of-practice/crpc2020

Debt help

• MoneyTalksA free helpline funded by the Ministry of Social Development that answers money questions and connects you with a local financial mentor for free, confidential help. Call 0800 345 123, text 4029 or use live chat.fincap.org.nz/moneytalks/about
• Compare your options (Insolvency and Trustee Service)The government’s insolvency service explains the three options for serious debt, Debt Repayment Orders, No Asset Procedures and bankruptcy, with an online tool to help you choose. Look at other ways to deal with debt first.www.insolvency.govt.nz/personal-debt/compare-your-options
• People who can help (Insolvency and Trustee Service)Where to get help before choosing an insolvency procedure, including a free financial mentor through MoneyTalks.www.insolvency.govt.nz/support/people-who-can-help

Benefits, family payments and tax

• Check what you might get (Ministry of Social Development)A five-minute guide to the payments Work and Income might be able to give you and your family. It doesn’t keep your answers.check.msd.govt.nz
• Urgent or unexpected costs (Work and Income)If you are struggling with living costs or an unexpected bill, Work and Income may be able to help with costs such as food, power bills, rent, dental treatment or car repairs, even if you are working.www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/urgent-costs
• Working for Families (Inland Revenue)Payments, including Best Start, for people caring for a dependent child, with a calculator to estimate what you could get and how to apply.www.ird.govt.nz/working-for-families
• Inland RevenueThe government’s tax department. Use myIR to see payments, change your details and manage your tax online.www.ird.govt.nz

Banking, scams and complaints

• Depositor Compensation Scheme (Reserve Bank of New Zealand)Covers you up to $100,000 per deposit taker if your bank, building society, credit union or finance company fails, for money held in DCS-protected accounts.www.rbnz.govt.nz/dcs
• Banking Ombudsman SchemeA free and independent service that helps you sort out problems with your bank when you can’t resolve them with the bank yourself.www.bankomb.org.nz
• Get help now (Own Your Online, National Cyber Security Centre)What to do if you’ve been scammed or had an account hacked, including contacting your bank straight away, and how to report the incident to the NCSC.www.ownyouronline.govt.nz/personal/get-help-now
• Complain to the Privacy CommissionerHow to complain if you think an organisation has mishandled your personal information.www.privacy.org.nz/your-rights/making-a-complaint-to-the-privacy-commissioner

Learn it in a session

Free one-hour Fluent sessions, each with a take-home sheet for New Zealand.

• Everyday money: A budget that survives a real month, what to do when income is irregular, and starting a small emergency fund.
• Banking without the fees: Choosing an account, avoiding overdraft and check-cashing costs, and what protects your money in a bank, a credit union or a payment app.
• Credit reports and scores: What a credit report holds, how to get yours, how to dispute errors, and how a score is built and rebuilt.
• Borrowing safely: How interest and fees add up, comparing offers, and recognizing high-cost and predatory lending.
• Tax time and benefits: Free filing help where it exists, credits and benefits people often miss, and keeping the records you will be asked for.
• Scams and fraud: Scams as bank fraud teams see them: impersonation, payment redirection, romance and investment scams, identity theft, and what to do in the first hour.