30 Aug 2026

8 Jaw-Dropping Money Stats of the Average Kiwi

About this episode

How much does the average New Zealander earn, owe, and actually have saved? The real numbers are more sobering than you'd think.

In this episode, Ed and Andrew run through the numbers on income, debt, savings and KiwiSaver ... and what each one means for you.

You'll learn:

8 jaw-dropping money stats about the average Kiwi
Whether you're ahead of the pack … or behind the average Kiwi
The money moves you can make today

The numbers are confronting. But knowing where the average sits is the first step to getting ahead of it.

And click here to see who is on the Opes Top 10 financial advisers in NZ list .

Want to become a successful property investor? Opes+ is your one place to run numbers on all your investment properties.” Check out the new app here.

Ok, now for the legal bit:

The Property Academy Podcast is for your general information. It’s not financial advice.

So the hosts aren’t telling you what to do with your own money. We’ve made every effort to make sure the information is accurate. But we occasionally get the odd fact wrong.

Make sure you do your own research or talk to a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.

Related podcasts in this series

29 Aug 2026
Case Study We Bought a Business With Our Houses. Now Our Business Is Buying Us More Property
Liivi turned one house into a rental, then used both to buy a business... and now she's using the business to fund even more property. So how far can you take the "one asset buys the next" strategy?
In this Case Study Sunday revisit, Liivi catches us up on the boring business she bought and the risky move her broker warned against.
You'll learn:
- How she bought a business using her property equity, with no cash up front
- Why did she deliberately choose a "boring" business
- The high-risk move she made against her broker's advice
Liivi's story shows the power of using one asset to buy the next... but as Andrew warns, always remember the risks of something going wrong.
Want to share your story on Case Study Sunday? Send us a message, email ed@opespartners.co.nz
Inspired by today's case study? Find out if you can afford an investment property with our quick quiz.
Case Study We Bought a Business With Our Houses. Now Our Business Is Buying Us More Property
28 Aug 2026
Biggest Housing Downturn in 60 Years. Is This Permanent
Every downturn brings the same claim: the old rules don't apply, and the market has permanently changed. So how do you tell a normal cycle from a genuine structural shift?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew tackle a listener's question about whether NZ property is broken... or just in a deep part of the cycle.
You'll learn:
- The difference between a cyclical downturn and a permanent, structural change
- What 800 years of financial-crisis data says about "this time is different"
- Three simple tests to judge whether a market has really shifted
Markets always feel permanently broken at the bottom. Whether this one truly is... that's the question worth testing.
Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message⁠
Want to become a successful property investor? Opes+ is your one place to run numbers on all your investment properties.” Check out the new app here.
Biggest Housing Downturn in 60 Years. Is This Permanent
27 Aug 2026
Will The 2026 Election Move House Prices What 11 Elections Tell Us
With the election on 7 November, plenty of Kiwis are wondering whether to hold off on buying or selling. So does an election actually move the housing market, and who does it affect?
In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the data on what really happens to prices, sales, and listings around an election.
You'll learn:
- Whether elections actually change house prices
- Why sales dip before an election, and what that means for buyers
- How big of an impact heading to the polls really makes
The election barely moves prices. But for buyers, that quiet window before November could be an opportunity.
Want to become a successful property investor? Opes+ is your one place to run numbers on all your investment properties.” Check out the new app here.
Will The 2026 Election Move House Prices What 11 Elections Tell Us
26 Aug 2026
The Winter Rental Myth, Busted With 32 Years Of Data
Every landlord "knows" winter is the worst time to find a tenant. So we counted every new tenancy over the last 32 years to see if it's actually true.
In this episode, Ed and Andrew put the winter rental myth to the test, with data and input from three of NZ's biggest property firms.
You'll learn:
- When tenants actually move (and why mid-winter is busier than you'd think)
- The one month you genuinely should avoid re-letting
- A simple lease trick to line up your next vacancy with the busy season
Winter isn't the problem landlords think it is. As the data shows, it's more perception than reality.
Let us know your thoughts by leaving us a voice message
Want to become a successful property investor? Opes+ is your one place to run numbers on all your investment properties.” Check out the new app here.
The Winter Rental Myth, Busted With 32 Years Of Data

8 Jaw-Dropping Money Stats of the Average Kiwi

About this episode

Case Study We Bought a Business With Our Houses. Now Our Business Is Buying Us More Property

Biggest Housing Downturn in 60 Years. Is This Permanent

Will The 2026 Election Move House Prices What 11 Elections Tell Us

The Winter Rental Myth, Busted With 32 Years Of Data