MoneyBalance is a free New Zealand personal finance website built to give everyday Kiwis access to the same quality financial information that used to require an expensive adviser or hours of research.
We cover mortgages, KiwiSaver, taxes, investing, banking, and personal finance — all from a New Zealand perspective, using NZ-specific data, IRD rules, RBNZ regulations, and real NZD figures.
Why We Built MoneyBalance
New Zealand has some of the most complex personal finance rules in the developed world. KiwiSaver alone has dozens of fund types, provider options, contribution rates, and withdrawal conditions. Add PAYE tax brackets, ACC levies, LVR mortgage restrictions, PIE fund tax treatment, and the FIF foreign investment rules — and it becomes clear why so many Kiwis find personal finance confusing.
Most of the financial information available online is written for Australian, UK, or US audiences. It references superannuation instead of KiwiSaver, the ATO instead of IRD, and gives tax figures that simply do not apply in New Zealand. MoneyBalance was built to fill that gap.
What We Cover
- Mortgages — Home loan calculators, first home buyer guides, LVR rules, fixed vs floating rates, and how to get a mortgage in New Zealand
- KiwiSaver — KiwiSaver calculators, fund type comparisons, provider reviews, first home withdrawal eligibility, and retirement projections
- Taxes — PAYE calculator, NZ tax brackets, GST, Working for Families, trust tax, business tax, and how to file an IR3
- Investing — Term deposits, NZX shares, ETFs, Sharesies, InvestNow, Kernel, PIR rates, and FIF tax rules
- Banking — ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, and Kiwibank comparisons, savings accounts, credit cards, and term deposits
- Personal Finance — Budgeting, emergency funds, debt repayment, and financial planning for New Zealanders
- Income — NZ salary calculator, income percentile data, take-home pay guides, and salary benchmarks by occupation
Our Editorial Standards
Every article and calculator on MoneyBalance is built on primary sources. We reference IRD (Inland Revenue), the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), Stats NZ, Kāinga Ora, and official provider documentation — not secondary summaries.
We update our calculators and rate tables whenever the underlying rules change. NZ tax bracket changes, KiwiSaver contribution rate adjustments, and RBNZ LVR policy changes are reflected in our tools as soon as they take effect.
We do not publish guesswork. If a tax rule is complex or subject to individual circumstances, we say so clearly and recommend readers consult a registered financial adviser or tax agent.
Our Calculators
All calculators on MoneyBalance run entirely in your browser. No personal data is sent to our servers, stored, or shared. You can enter your real salary, mortgage amount, or KiwiSaver balance with confidence that the numbers stay on your device.
Our calculation methodology follows current IRD formulas for PAYE, the ACC earner levy rate set by ACC, and KiwiSaver rules as published by Inland Revenue. Where rounding is applied, we document the approach used.
Affiliate Relationships
MoneyBalance earns revenue through affiliate partnerships and advertising. When you click a link to a financial product and sign up, we may receive a commission. This never affects the accuracy of our calculators or the independence of our editorial recommendations. See our affiliate disclosure for full details.
Contact Us
We welcome corrections, feedback, and suggestions. If you spot an error in a calculator or an outdated figure in a guide, please get in touch — we take accuracy seriously and will investigate and update promptly.
Disclaimer
MoneyBalance provides general financial information only. Nothing on this site constitutes personalised financial advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed financial adviser or tax professional. See our full disclaimer.