KiwiSaver and First Home Ownership: Insights from Fresh Moni and Booster

Di Papadopoulos: Welcome, Willie. It's great to have you here.

Willie Leota: Thank you. It's great to be here.

Di: For people who may not be familiar with Fresh Moni, can you tell us a little about it?

Willie: Fresh Moni is a podcast where we talk about all things money. Our goal is to encourage Māori and Pacific communities to have more open conversations about money. For a long time, money has been a topic many people didn't talk about. We want to help break that taboo so people can become more confident and informed about their finances.

Di: Fresh Moni is more than just a podcast, isn't it?

Willie: That's right. We also run a First Home Buyers Masterclass, which guides people through the home-buying journey. We cover everything from getting pre-approved finance through to finding a property and settling on a home. We've broken the process down into simple, easy-to-understand steps.

Di: Buying a first home can feel overwhelming if you've never done it before.

Willie: Absolutely. If you search online for information about buying a home, you can quickly become overwhelmed. What we've found is that timing matters. It's useful to understand the overall process, but you don't need to know everything at once. Learning step by step can make the journey much more manageable.

Di: Who are the main people you help through Fresh Moni?

Willie: Our audience is primarily Māori and Pacific peoples. Around 90% of our audience comes from those communities. I'm Samoan, and I grew up in a family that rented throughout my childhood. My parents came to New Zealand from Samoa and didn't have much exposure to financial education. That experience inspired me to create a platform that helps people access the information and guidance many of us didn't grow up with.

Di: If you could give one piece of advice to someone who feels overwhelmed by money, what would it be?

Willie: Talk to someone. That could be a financial adviser, a mortgage adviser, or even someone you know who has been through the home-buying process. Hearing another person's experience can provide valuable perspective and help make your goals feel more achievable.
One of the most common things I find myself saying is, "I wish you'd talked to me three months ago." Starting a conversation earlier often gives people more time to understand their options and begin putting a plan in place.

Di: Do you think home ownership is achievable for many New Zealanders?

Willie: Everyone's circumstances are different, but having a clear plan can make a big difference. Understanding your financial position, setting goals and taking practical steps can help people work towards home ownership and other financial goals.
For many people, owning a home is about more than just property. It's about stability, security and creating a place for family.

Di: How important are savings habits on that journey?

Willie: They're incredibly important. One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that it's not always about the amount you're saving; it's about building the habit of saving consistently. Whether it's $20, $50 or $100, developing a regular savings habit can help build confidence and create positive financial behaviours over time.
The hardest part is often getting started. Once saving becomes part of your routine, it can feel much more manageable.

Di: Do many of the people you work with use KiwiSaver as part of their first-home journey?

Willie: Absolutely. For many first-home buyers, KiwiSaver plays an important role in helping them build a deposit. It provides a structured way to save regularly and can help people stay focused on their long-term goals.

Di: Sometimes people tell me they can't afford to contribute to KiwiSaver. What would you say to them?

Willie: Everyone's situation is different, but I'd encourage people to take a close look at their finances and understand where their money is going.
Creating a budget and understanding your income and expenses can provide valuable insights. Sometimes there may be opportunities to make small changes that help free up money for saving.

Di: And for eligible employees, contributing to KiwiSaver may also mean receiving employer contributions.

Willie: That's a great point. For people who are eligible, employer contributions can be an additional benefit of contributing to KiwiSaver.

Di: For anyone who wants to learn more about Fresh Moni, where can they find you?

Willie: You can find Fresh Moni on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube. We're also active on social media, particularly Instagram, and you can learn more at freshmoney.co.nz.

Di: Thanks for joining us today.

Willie: Thanks for having me.