The cost of living crisis is hitting New Zealanders hard, with many putting retirement savings on the backburner.

The number of people contributing to KiwiSaver fell for the first time in the year to March 2025, according to the Financial Markets Authority’s annual KiwiSaver report.

FMA chief executive Samantha Barrass says these difficult circumstances have forced people to make 'difficult choices' about what to prioritise. 

She explained more households need to decide between putting food on the table, paying the mortgage and repairs - and it's important for providers to reach out to people who've paused KiwiSaver contributions. 

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The podcasts in the SME Stream contain general information only, not financial or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from the content of the podcasts. 

The cost of living crisis is hitting New Zealanders hard, with many putting retirement savings on the backburner.
The number of people contributing to KiwiSaver fell for the first time in the year to March 2025, according to the Financial Markets Authority&rsquo;s annual KiwiSaver report.
FMA chief executive Samantha Barrass says these difficult circumstances have forced people to make 'difficult choices' about what to prioritise.&nbsp;
She explained more households need to decide between putting food on the table, paying the mortgage and repairs - and it's important for providers to reach out to people who've paused KiwiSaver contributions.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE
The podcasts in the SME Stream contain&nbsp;general information only, not financial&nbsp;or professional advice. Any opinions expressed in the podcasts are not necessarily shared by BNZ, or its related entities. BNZ is not liable for any losses resulting from the content of the podcasts.&nbsp;

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Looking for actionable business insights all in one place? 
We're here to help you find a way with a curation of the &lsquo;best bits&rsquo; from top business podcasts. 
Save time searching; subscribe to the SME Stream where you can listen to relevant, timely, business-related content today.&nbsp;
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