retirement.org.nz

Statistics New Zealand has recently released the results of a new survey of the assets and liabilities of New Zealand households. This paper presents some initial analyses of this rich data set. Results are presented for both non-partnered individuals and for couples.  The paper presents some of the basic information contained in the survey, and then explores the key factors that explain differences in net wealth across households. It is found that once allowance is made for a range of household characteristics (both demographic and economic), there are limited differences due to ethnicity. The effect of the student loan scheme on various measures is explored. Finally, the paper presents an initial attempt to allow for human capital as an asset. This is found to be a significant element in total net wealth.

Attachment
Net Wealth of NZers - An overview based on the HSS