The Prosperity Project
Episodes
Is owning a home overrated?
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Buying your first home is seen as a key milestone signifying success in your financial journey, while “just" renting is somehow seen as being be...
Schools are teaching money in class, but what are we teaching at home?
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Financial education is now embedded in maths classes for students in years 0-10, and from next year it will also form part of the social sciences curr...
What do professional investors do when the world is on fire?
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When news of events like the war in Iran hit share markets – everyday investors often act on instinct, but what do professional investors do? Th...
Is 2026 the year we finally catch a break?
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Financial mentor David Very joins Nadine Higgins to unpack why 2025 hit so many New Zealanders so hard—and whether 2026 will bring any real reli...
What we can learn about investing from the fall of Du Val
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
BusinessDesk journalist Maria Slade joins Nadine to discuss her new investigative podcast, The Fall of the House of Du Val, which details how the...
The art of spending in retirement
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about how we need to save for retirement, but less is known about how to make that money last once you need to start drawing on it. ...
Why your house shouldn't be your retirement plan
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Think paying off the family home will have you sorted for retirement? That might have been a solid plan once upon a time, but times have changed and a...
AI’s trillion-dollar question: boom or bubble?
09 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
AI stocks have exploded, with Nvidia soaring past a $5 trillion valuation. But is this growth justified, or are investors repeating the mistakes of th...
Crypto 101: Should you buy Bitcoin?
02 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin has cracked six figures in US dollars, but does all the hype mean it's a good investment. Janine Granger, co-founder of Easy Crypto, joi...
A meaningful funeral doesn't have to break the bank
26 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Funerals have become one of the most expensive life events in New Zealand — and for families already stretched, the cost of saying goodbye can a...
The secret to getting mortgage-free faster (and it’s not rate cuts)
19 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recent cuts to the Official Cash Rate and the potential for more to come will be a relief for many borrowers, but the real game changer in getting mor...
The Money Mentalist on the stories we tell ourselves about money
12 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We like to think about money in terms of simple maths: earn more, spend less, invest the difference. But the main influence on your bank balance goes ...
The credit card cult with Luke Kemeys
05 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The best way to get the most out of your credit card? Cut it up. That’s the advice from Luke Kemeys, accountant and host of the ‘Keep the ...
Making your house work for you in retirement
28 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Asset-rich but cash-poor? You’re not alone. Cam Bagrie, founder of Equity Release NZ, joins Nadine to talk about the growing range of ways...
What customers lose when companies collapse
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When a business fails, it’s not just owners and staff who feel the impact. Customers can be left out of pocket, without products, or fighting to...
What to do with a windfall
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sudden money can feel life-changing, or like a trap. Financial planner Liz Koh joins Nadine to discuss how to handle a windfall without blowing it, fr...
'It's amazing what people will fight about' - why you need a will
07 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one of those jobs many of us put off - but dying without a Will can leave your loved ones in legal and financial chaos. In fact, if yo...
A thousand dollars hidden in your wardrobe
31 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Overflowing wardrobe? It might be worth more than you think. Aidan Bartlett, CEO of Designer Wardrobe, joins Nadine to talk about the booming sec...
Why moving up the property ladder is harder than getting on it
24 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You got into your first home unscathed, so buying again will be a breeze, right? Wrong. When it comes to moving up the property ladder, goin...
To claim or not to claim? Tax deductibility explained
17 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tax deductions can be confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out what you can and can’t claim if you're running a business or ...
Side hustle secrets for financial freedom
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amid the soaring cost of everything from butter and cheese to rates and insurance, tips on how to trim your budget abound. But once that budget's cut ...
More Kiwisavers are looking at private equity - what it means for investment
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Private Equity is starting to become part of the asset mix for an increasing number of KiwiSaver providers, with Fisher Funds the latest to ramp up th...
Why you probably don't need a family trust
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trusts are billed as a way to protect your assets and pass your wealth on to the next generation, and they’ve become a common thing for a family...
The cost of divorce: What not to do if you want to hold onto your money
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that ‘til death do us part’ doesn’t always end up that way, even if we don't like thinking about it. But divorce can be ...
Melissa Chan-Green on life after Newshub and finding a new purpose after redundancy
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It’s one thing to decide to move on from a job or career, but what happens when you’re at the top of your game and your job just... evapor...
From Lego to handbags - could your collections be the secret to unlocking your investment portfolio?
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to investing, we all know the usual suspects – shares, bonds, property, gold. But the latest Financial Services Council repo...
The Māori Millionaire Te Kahukura Boynton on her financial, mindset and health journey
29 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Māori Millionaire Te Kahukura Boynton is a young wahine on a mission to change not just her own money mindset and financial trajectory, but that ...
Why are we so reluctant to take out personal insurance?
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
New Zealanders are among the most underinsured in the OECD, according to the Financial Services Council. We insure our cars, our houses an...
Morgan Penn talks quitting her corporate career to become a sexologist
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After a decade in a career, it’s perhaps not unusual that you’d consider doing something different, but some career changes can be bolder ...
What you need to know about investing this year with Sharesies' Leighton Roberts
08 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharemarkets have been like the wild west this year. We’re told to ‘buy the dip’ because that’s when shares are on a big brisc...
The true cost of owning pets and where to find savings
01 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Owning a pet can bring aso much joy to your life - but it can also bring some big expenses. Some people can spend a fortune on their pets, and a...
What KiwiSaver changes and more means testing means for your savings
25 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Government has unveiled the latest Budget, and it is full of things that are likely to affect your back pocket in one way or another – with ...
What to avoid doing if you are trying to buy property
18 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Buying property is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make, and in this country, it can be really difficult to achieve. &...
The secrets to saving money on your wedding - and the costs you can't afford to cut
11 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The average wedding in New Zealand is on the rise - once thought to be around $30,000, that cost for higher-end weddings has doubled in recent years. ...
Why commercial property could be your next investment opportunity
04 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kiwis are pretty familiar with the idea of investing in property, but more often than not, it’s in houses, apartments, or other types of residen...
How financially resilient are Kiwis? New figures tell all
27 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How long could you last if your income stopped tomorrow? Culd you handle a big, unexpected bill without going into debt? And how often do you worry ab...
The Kiwi TikTok star behind Paloma Diamond on how to make it as a content creator
20 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The path to becoming a social media influencer or content creator is one a lot of people aspire to these days - in fact, one survey suggested 57 perce...
What is the bond market and is it still a ‘safe haven’ asset?
13 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the US President Donald Trump announced a pause on reciprocal tariffs last week, prompting a massive rally on the markets - he admitted he did so...
Mary Holm shares her top tips for making the most out of KiwiSaver
06 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
More than 3.3 million New Zealanders are in KiwiSaver, and they now have more than $110 billion invested - but too many of us are not making the...
Is gold a worthy investment - and how do you go about buying it?
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, the price of gold has been hovering near record highs at over NZ$5000 an ounce - that’s less than 30 grams for those of us only versed...
Tips and tricks to get yourself a payrise this year
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
March 31st marks the end of the financial year, and while that doesn’t mean much for the average employee, it does mean that you are probably du...
What do tariffs and trade wars mean for your KiwiSaver?
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve peeked at your KiwiSaver or other investments lately - it might have given you a bit of a rude shock. With the US introducing ta...
How one woman went from homelessness, domestic violence to financial independence
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Owens has grim personal experience of adversity and financial insecurity – from sleeping in her car, feeling trapped by domestic violence,...
Can't afford your own home? Here's how to buy one with your friends
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is for anyone who’s looked at the price of houses in this country and felt a bit depressed - for many, it seems like that ...
The OCR has been cut - so what should you do with your mortgage?
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
if you have a mortgage, you’re likely weighing up your next move after the Reserve Bank cut the Official Cash Rate from 4.25% to 3.75%. Mo...
Is it ever too late to start saving for retirement - and how much do you need?
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The word ‘Retirement’ can prompt a range of reactions. Some yawn, because it’s ages away and there’s heaps of time to sort it....
The 'quirks' of Paid Parental Leave any prospective parent needs to know
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Having a baby is life-altering in every respect - and your finances are no exception. But there are ways to navigate how much growing your...
Swapping corporate life for a beach side fantasy: The reality behind the dream
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If every time you have holiday at the beach you think ‘how can I just stay here fulltime and escape the rat race in the city’ - today&rsqu...
Tips and tricks for becoming your own boss - and how to avoid tax pitfalls
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If feel like you’re done working for ‘the man’, and you want lexibility, autonomy, to be the master of your own destiny - you might ...
How to stick to your financial goals in 2025
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If your enthusiasm to maintain your “New Year, new me” financial goals is starting wane already, you’re not alone – most resol...
Trailer - The Prosperity Project
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a question you want answered, or a financial story to share, get in touch at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener fo...