The Blog

How Your Loan Application Is Actually Assessed (and What You Can Control) Applying for a personal loan can feel like stepping into a black box – you submit your details and wait, hoping for approval. But in reality, lenders follow a very structured process to decide whether to approve your application. Understanding how it works… read more

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Credit Scores in New Zealand It’s easy to get confused between American credit scores and New Zealand credit scores. While U.S. scores focus heavily on factors like credit card usage, loan types, and the length of your credit history, New Zealand credit scores place more emphasis on payment behaviour, defaults,… read more

What the October 8 OCR Cut to 2.5% Means for the Average New Zealander’s Finances On October 8, 2025, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) reduced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50 basis points, bringing it down to 2.5% – the lowest level in over a year. The decision reflects the RBNZ’s efforts… read more

Spring Into Savings: Why Now is the Time to Review Your Car Insurance Spring isn’t just for cleaning out the garage, it’s also the perfect time to check over your finances, especially your car insurance. Many Kiwis pay more than they need for coverage, often without realizing it. A quick review of your policy could… read more

When the Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) earlier this year, we shared 5 Ways OCR Cuts Can Affect Your Personal Finance. With the August 20 OCR review resulting in a three-year low of 3%, it’s an opportune moment to delve deeper into the implications of this change. In this follow-up, we explore… read more

Feeling stretched across too many payments? It might be time for a financial reset. If you’ve got multiple debts – like credit cards, store finance, BNPL (Buy Now, Pay Later) overdue balances, or old loans, keeping track of every single one can seem like trying to catch the ocean in a bucket. Not to mention… read more

5 Smart Ways to Cut Your Power Bill this Winter Let’s face it — power bills in New Zealand can be a real budget-buster, especially in winter. But with a few smart upgrades and modern appliances, you can save a surprising amount over time. Here are 5 smart ways to cut your power bill, boost… read more

Tesla’s Sales Slump: A Golden Opportunity for EV Buyers and Competitors For over a decade, Tesla has led the electric vehicle (EV) industry, driving innovation in battery technology, self-driving capabilities, and global EV adoption. But recent sales data suggest Tesla’s market dominance is slipping. While this poses challenges for the company, it also presents a… read more

You’ve probably seen a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) option by now – could be at a Noel Leeming, or clothing store or even at a gas station! They’ve been taking New Zealand by storm as of late, offering Kiwis an easy way to split up payments over time with no interest. But are these… read more

You’ve probably read the headlines – the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has been reducing the Official Cash Rate (OCR), a decision that impacts the economy and, ultimately, the wallets of many Kiwis. Whether you’re a homeowner managing a mortgage, a saver building your nest egg, or simply navigating day-to-day expenses, this shift in… read more

You might be wondering, “How can I use personal loans to manage debt? Isn’t that just piling debt onto debt?” Rest assured, when done correctly, personal loans are a powerful and unique tool for consolidating and managing your existing debt more effectively. For a detailed explanation of personal loans, you can check out one of… read more

As technology develops, so do scams and the way they’re packaged. In August 2023, BNZ reported that nine out of ten Kiwis have been targeted by a scam in the past year. Scammers are getting smarter and more sophisticated, and technology allows them to target with bigger volume than ever. This article will focus on the most… read more

When you get a personal loan your repayments will engage in what’s called loan amortisation. But what does this actually mean? Why is it important to know how much each payment is paying off my interest and principal? Say goodbye to all that confusion. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of loan amortisation,… read more

Debt can be daunting. Watching a portion of your hard-earned paycheck vanish towards loan payments can be disheartening. However, not all debt is created equal. In fact, certain types of debt can be advantageous under the right circumstances. Understanding this distinction is important for your financial skillset. In this article we’ll walk through what good… read more

Buying a home is an integral part of any Kiwi’s journey. But is it really worth it? With cost of living high and the property market being volatile as of late, what’s the difference between renting and owning a house? We’ll walk through the main differences between renting and buying and help you figure out… read more

Whether you’re buying your first home or just buying your next house, mortgages can be a confusing topic. Since buying property is a reality for many individuals and families, it’s important to know what exactly you’re getting into. Join us as we go through what a mortgage actually is and the different varieties you can… read more

Passive income, often linked with financial security, paves the way to financial freedom. If you’re wondering how to start without a substantial bank balance, this blog introduces some viable ideas for 2023. Understanding passive income Passive income is the idea of income that requires little to no effort to receive. It involves creating or acquiring… read more

If you’ve been contemplating your first home purchase or preparing for retirement, KiwiSaver stands as a compelling investment opportunity for your future. KiwiSaver makes up a big part of the money culture in New Zealand. As of June 2023, about 3.3 million individuals were enrolled in the government scheme. But how does it work? What… read more

Budgeting often feels like something that’s difficult to get into. I’m not an accountant, so how should I know how to budget? How should I know how much I should be saving? Fortunately, with technology there are more ways to budget than ever and it’s easy to get started. If you’re looking for ways to… read more

You’ve noticed your weekly grocery bill creeping higher and higher. The prices at restaurants aren’t what they used to be. You hear about it in the news – cost of living! Cost of living! It’s no secret that the cost of living has been steadily rising. Stuff recently reported that the cost of living has increased… read more

Personal Loans vs Revolving Credit Need an extra boost to help you through the Christmas holidays? Stuck on how the heck you’re going to pay for that upcoming reno to the ‘perfect for first home buyers’ house you’ve bought? Wouldn’t mind some extra cash for the car that’s broken down just as your monthly rent is due?… read more

  Credit Scores and how they affect your loan application! A low credit score may affect your chance of having your loan application approved – You may ask how does it work and why does it matter to a finance company? Read on and we will show you: What is a credit score? How does… read more

Travel New Zealand on a budget or looking for that luxury winter getaway For all of us things have changed since covid-19 hit and many travel plans have been put on hold. As Kiwi’s we love to get out and explore, but currently International destinations are largely off our to do list’s. With travel bubbles… read more

  Managing your money from your 30’s to 50 Often our 30’s and 40’s is the most expensive time of our life’s and often the time when we are carrying the most debt. During this period we usually go through some significant life events like: Getting Married Buying a House Having Children Renovating your House… read more

Budgeting tips to help reduce your Bills & Debt Who should complete a budget? Everybody will benefit from completing a budget – not just people who are struggling to pay their bills or having trouble making ends meet. Why should I complete a budget? Being in control of your finances leaves you one less thing… read more

You will all be aware of the current Coronavirus Pandemic happening around the world. Pioneer Finance would like to let you know we are still operating business almost as usual, and during this time would prefer our customers not to come in to our Offices in Wellington or Auckland. Most of our processing can be… read more

Have you or your family been affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic? Help for those financially impacted by Covid-19 We have a range of support options for those affected financially by Covid‑19 and any hardship applications relating to the virus will be given priority. Once your hardship application is received, and accepted we have a couple… read more

It was a privilege to be able to attend the Manu Samoa Fund Raising dinner held at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland Last night. It was a great night full of fun entertainment and a great occasion to be a part of. Pioneer Finance wish The Manu Samoa team all the best in the upcoming 2019… read more

In New Zealand, we love our cars. Whether we’re getting our first car, a better car, or a bigger car for our growing family, for many of us this often means getting a car loan. But just because thousands of Kiwis are doing it, doesn’t mean you should just plough into something before doing the… read more

It’s no secret that even the happiest of couples can turn sour with disagreements over money, especially when talking about debt. So, the best way to avoid an argument is not to talk about money, right? Wrong. Couples need to discuss their finances, including money management, savings and credit card debt, to ensure they keep… read more

“Pioneer allows people to apply for a loan with ease and speed and without judgement of my financial situation which made me feel validated and safe.” Lia, Auckland There’s a wonderful book by Daniel Goleman called The New Leaders. He shares pearls of wisdom about the importance of emotional intelligence. At Pioneer Finance we take… read more

It’s hard to know who to trust when you need financial assistance and your bank may be ignoring your requests for a variety of reasons. With your frustration levels rising, you’ve hit a road block and are at the point of no return. Where to from here? The team at Pioneer Finance base our foundations… read more