Government assistance – Mary Holm https://maryholm.com NZ's most trusted personal finance journalist Sat, 01 Aug 2026 04:41:33 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.2.21 NZ Herald 1 Aug 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-1-aug-2026/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:00:10 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12840 Sell the rental and have some fun What to do after redundancy Setting up money for granddaughters’ KiwiSavers Is a live-apartnership just dating? Nobody’s coming after her money Slow process to get KiwiSaver money into account QMy husband and I are in our mid forties. We have about $200,000 each in our KiwiSavers, and our home is mortgage-free. We also have a rental property. We’.

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]]> NZ Herald 18 July 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-18-july-2026/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 12:00:44 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12833 Will she have to help pay for his residential care? Should KiwiSaver be scrapped? Should redundant man keep contributing to KiwiSaver? Shares and ETFs versus KiwiSaver fund QWhere do I stand? The Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018 and the Social Security Act 2018 say the assets of both partners in a relationship are generally considered jointly. Spouses or partners are...

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]]> NZ Herald 4 July 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-4-july-2026/ Fri, 03 Jul 2026 12:00:12 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12826 How to make KiwiSaver more universal Would KiwiSaver compulsion hurt early retirees? Should Mum switch providers? 64-year-olds told to apply for NZ Super How much foreign pensions help NZ Super QI’m concerned about some aspects of the National Party election policy in respect of KiwiSaver. In particular, the intention (if National is re-elected) to make the participation in KiwiSaver...

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]]> RNZ Radio 11 June 2026 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-11-june-2026/ Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:15:16 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12811 Increasing calls to change this Lower income people less likely to contribute Hardship withdrawals increase Suggestions: children’s accounts, change govt incentives, contributions to beneficiaries, sidecar accounts Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions as podcasts. Subscribe free to Mary’s RNZ podcast here.

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]]> NZ Herald 6 June 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-6-june-2026/ Fri, 05 Jun 2026 12:00:19 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12807 Unanswerable question – when to buy and sell a share Tax cutting advice is worrying NZ Super already sort of means tested Nobody tells you to apply for Super “It’s time Kiwis were more reliant!” Aussies get big tax break on Super QA couple of years ago I purchased some Rocket Lab shares as a long-term investment. With the recent uplift in share value my initial investment has...

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]]> NZ Herald 23 May 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-23-may-2026/ Fri, 22 May 2026 12:00:49 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12796 Will younger people get NZ Super? Raising NZ Super age would be gradual Do all over 65s apply for Super? Generous pensioners … … But one Scrooge! When KiwiSaver and other funds are not what they seem QAs a 48-year-old, there is no way that I will ever receive the state pension, as all Ponzi schemes eventually collapse. So it isn’t an issue for my generation or below. But it is unfair for...

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]]> RNZ Radio 14 May 2026 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-14-may-2026/ Thu, 14 May 2026 03:15:55 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12792 What is covered and what not? How to make the most of it Use a higher-risk deposit taker to get more interest? Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions as podcasts. Subscribe free to Mary’s RNZ podcast here. No paywalls or ads — just generous people like you. All Kiwis deserve accurate, unbiased financial guidance. So let&#

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]]> RNZ Radio 30 April 2026 https://maryholm.com/rnz-radio-30-april-2026/ Thu, 30 Apr 2026 03:15:31 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12785 ACT idea: $500 to every Year 11 student. Learn about investing. Reward at end. My change 1: Govt pays 3.5% KiwiSaver contributions for beneficiaries. My change 2: Sidecar KiwiSaver accounts to use in emergencies. Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary. You can listen to these sessions as podcasts. Subscribe free to Mary’s RNZ podcast here.

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]]> NZ Herald 25 April 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-25-april-2026/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:00:31 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12781 NZ Super only for those who paid tax through their lives? A laugh and a controversy over 122-year-old in last column Help for non-homeowning couple, 57, who feel trapped and confused Easy mortgage calculations — monthly vs weekly payments QI acknowledge that it is not your job to make moral judgements on the wealthy, or how some taxpayers avoid paying their fair share of taxes. But in your spare...

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]]> NZ Herald 28 March 2026 https://maryholm.com/nz-herald-28-march-2026/ Fri, 27 Mar 2026 11:00:03 +0000 https://maryholm.com/?p=12765 Where to put money for new grandchild Could retiree be “forced” to sell shared land? How one family funded children’s uni Watching caravans turning! Sad story about selling house to neighbour… … and happy one Alternative to reverse mortgage Appearance at Auckland Writers Festival I will be appearing at the Auckland Writers Festival, at 2.30 to 3.30 pm on Saturday May 16...

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