The wealth of a nation: The level & distribution of wealth in New Zealand
Overview
Wealth holdings in New Zealand are highly concentrated, with the wealthiest 10% of the population holding over 50% of total wealth and the bottom half of the population holding less than 3%. Many New Zealanders are struggling to get ahead financially, with no significant wealth accumulation over their lifetime. Overall, New Zealand's level of household wealth is considerably lower than in other countries and household financial wealth as a share of disposable income has reduced significantly over the past decade. There are also a series of emerging challenges that will make it more difficult for many New Zealanders - particularly young New Zealanders - to advance financially over their lifetimes and build an ownership stake in New Zealand. In particular, declining home ownership rates, student loan debt, and the emergence of a debt culture all make the wealth accumulation process more difficult. But the experience of other countries suggests that there are policy options available to improve this situation.> Executive summary (388kb PDF)
> Full report (638kb PDF)
