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Weekly financial payment for New Zealanders aged 18+ who are looking for full-time work, have lost their job, or are temporarily unable to work due to health conditions.
Weekly payment that helps with rent, board, or mortgage costs. You do NOT need to be on a main benefit to qualify — many families with one working partner are eligible after redundancy.
A grant of up to $1,500 in a 52-week period to help pay for costs of going to job interviews or starting a new job (clothes, steel-cap boots, travel, or bridging living costs until your first payday).
If your household income drops due to redundancy or job loss, you can immediately update your estimated annual income in myIR to increase your weekly or fortnightly Working for Families payments.
Official government guide on genuine workplace restructuring, mandatory consultation before decisions are made, notice periods, and how final pay + holiday pay must be calculated.
Community Law Centres across Aotearoa offering free face-to-face and phone legal advice on employment disputes, unfair redundancies, final pay issues, tenancy, and WINZ reviews.
Independent, confidential guidance on employment rights, benefit entitlements, tenancy problems, and consumer disputes at locations nationwide.
Independent advocates who know the Social Security Act inside out and can help you prepare for WINZ appointments, apply for Special Needs Grants, or challenge declined benefit decisions.
100% free, non-judgemental financial mentors across NZ who can help rework your budget after job loss, negotiate directly with creditors/banks, and check you're getting every grant available.
Find local food parcels, Pātaka Kai (free street pantries), and community meals in your suburb. Food parcels and pantries can free up cash for rent and power during a tough transition.
Free call or text 1737 any time of day or night to talk with a trained mental health and addiction counsellor. Losing a job can hit your identity and sleep hard — you don't have to carry it alone.
Official NZ government career hub run by the Tertiary Education Commission, with free guides on writing a CV and cover letter, working out your skills, and career planning. For one-to-one help, the Direct Career Service (0800 222 733) is run through Work and Income.
The main job boards where many advertised roles in Aotearoa are listed, plus specialist portals for public sector, education, tech, and charity roles.
Provides free professional interview attire, styling confidence, CV feedback, and mock interview coaching through regional branches. Work and Income lists locations including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Northland and Palmerston North; services vary by branch.
Work and Income's work pages cover job search help, training and employment programmes, and the free Direct Career Service. (The old connected.govt.nz address now redirects here.)
Did you know WINZ can subsidise an employer to hire and train you, OR help you start a small business through Flexi-wage for self-employment and the Business Training and Advice Grant (up to $5,000 at time of checking)?
Flexible distance learning certificates in business, administration, IT, construction, early childhood, and mental health support that you can study from home at your own pace.
Homeowners facing job loss can ask their bank about temporary interest-only payments or a repayment deferral, and apply for a rebate on their council rates bill via the Rates Rebate Scheme (income-tested; check current limits with your council).
What you need to know before applying for a Significant Financial Hardship withdrawal if you cannot meet minimum living costs.
A one-off grant for essential, unexpected costs you cannot cover, such as food, power or urgent bills. It is usually not repaid. You do not need to be on a benefit, but Work and Income looks at your income and cash assets.
A weekly payment for people whose essential living costs are higher than their income, even after other help. You may be able to get it whether or not you are on a main benefit.
Lets you get part of your benefit early to cover a one-off cost, which is then repaid by smaller deductions from your payments. It is a loan against your benefit, so use it carefully.
A card that makes some health costs cheaper, including doctor visits and prescriptions for you and your children. Eligibility depends on your income, family size and in some cases whether you receive certain payments.
A weekly payment for ongoing costs caused by a health condition or disability, such as doctor visits, medicines, extra power or transport. You can get it with or without a main benefit, if your income is under the limit.
Helps pay for childcare for children under 5 (and before and after school care for older children) when you are working, training, looking for work or in some other situations. It is paid directly to approved providers.
A weekly payment for sole parents with a dependent child, with work expectations that change as your youngest child gets older. Often a better fit than Jobseeker Support if you are raising children on your own.
A weekly payment for people with a health condition, injury or disability that severely limits their ability to work long term, or who are caring full time for someone who needs constant care.
A payment for people who cannot get another benefit but are in hardship and cannot support themselves, for example because of their circumstances or immigration situation. It is used in less common situations.
Weekly support for young people aged 16 or 17 (or 16 to 19 for young parents) who cannot live with or be supported by their parents, with money management help and a focus on education or training.
Helps with the costs of study (fees, course costs, books, childcare) for some people on a main benefit who are doing approved tertiary study to improve their job prospects.
Helps pay course-related costs for some people on benefits who are doing short courses or training that make them more job-ready, such as fees or equipment.
A payment to help with heating costs over the winter months for people receiving certain main benefits or NZ Superannuation. It is paid automatically in the eligible period.
Lets some people on certain benefits earn a small amount of part-time income each week without it reducing their payment. Check whether it applies to your benefit type.
A fortnightly payment to the main carer of a child or young person with a serious disability, to recognise the extra care that is needed. It is not income tested.
A grant towards funeral costs for people who cannot afford them, paid within set limits. Applying quickly matters because it must be applied for in time.
Explains NZ Superannuation, the Veteran's Pension, SuperGold Card and other help for older New Zealanders, including help if you lose work shortly before 65.
Map and opening hours for Work and Income service centres, plus contact options. Use it to find where to go for face-to-face help or to drop off documents.
The government agency that manages student loans, living cost payments and allowances for tertiary study. If you are retraining, check whether you qualify for a living costs allowance or whether a student loan makes sense.
Explains the student loan types (course fees, course-related costs, living costs) and how to apply. Useful if you are considering retraining while out of work.
Manage your tax, student loan repayments, child support, Working for Families and KiwiSaver in one place. Use it to update income estimates, request tax refunds and talk to IRD about payment arrangements.
ACC provides treatment cover and, for some injuries, weekly compensation if you cannot work because of an accident. Check whether an injury entitles you to cover even if you were recently made redundant.
Free, independent online budget planner, calculators and guides to help you work out what you can cover on a lower income, and what to cut first.
Plain-English money guides on debt, redundancy, KiwiSaver, renting and mortgages. Sorted is independent and does not sell products.
Independent New Zealand money website with calculators and explainers on KiwiSaver, mortgages and tax. Not government, but widely used.
The national umbrella body for free financial mentoring services in New Zealand. Their site explains how financial mentoring works and links to services near you.
A charity providing financial capability support and low or no-interest loans (such as the NILS and StepUP programmes) for people on low incomes who cannot access mainstream credit.
Independent consumer advocacy with guides on your rights with banks, energy retailers, insurers, debt collectors and big purchases. Some content is members only; many guides are free.
Free, independent dispute resolution if you cannot resolve a complaint with your bank, including hardship decisions, fees, scams and lending issues. You must try your bank's complaints process first.
Free independent dispute resolution for complaints about finance companies, insurers, KiwiSaver providers, financial advisers and some lenders. Use it if you cannot resolve things directly.
Free independent complaints service for problems with electricity, gas, broadband, phone and water providers, including disconnection and billing disputes.
Free tool to compare electricity and gas plans for your address. Many households can lower their bills by switching providers or plans.
Practical government advice on cutting energy use at home, plus information on insulation and heating support programmes.
Explains your rights as a power customer, including the rules for vulnerable and medically dependent customers and what to do if you are disconnected.
Government funding for legal help if you cannot afford a lawyer and your case qualifies. It is often a loan that you repay over time, so check the conditions.
Free, independent investigation of complaints about government decisions, including Work and Income, ACC and councils, after you have used their complaint process.
Free, confidential mediation to resolve an employment problem with a mediator who helps both sides reach a binding agreement. Can be used for redundancy disputes, final pay and personal grievances.
Official step-by-step guidance on raising an issue, personal grievances, mediation and what happens next, including templates and timeframes.
Checklist of your rights when starting a new job, including written agreements, trial periods and minimum entitlements. Useful when you are signing a contract after being made redundant.
The independent body that investigates and decides employment disputes after mediation has failed. Most people do not need it, but it is where unresolved personal grievances and unpaid wage claims end up.
Hears challenges to Authority decisions and some significant employment cases. Know it exists so you understand the pathway if a dispute escalates.
Free, confidential help if you believe you were treated unfairly at work or when applying for jobs because of your age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, family status or other protected grounds.
Explains your right to ask your employer or agencies for the personal information they hold about you, and how to complain if they refuse.
Low-cost way to resolve money disputes up to the tribunal's limit without lawyers, for example with a landlord, a trader or a business. Not for employment disputes, which go to Employment NZ.
If you feel unsafe at work, or you are being pressured about safety during a restructure, WorkSafe explains your rights and how to report serious risks.
Free, plain-English legal guide to redundancy, dismissal, final pay, restructures and personal grievances. Written for non-lawyers.
Explains how to get free legal advice, who is eligible and how the national service works. Start here before choosing a local centre.
Free legal advice in Auckland for employment issues, benefits and tenancy through centres across Auckland (CBD, Mangere, South Auckland, Waitemata).
Free legal help for people in Canterbury on employment, benefits, tenancy and consumer issues.
Free legal advice for people across Wellington and the Hutt Valley, including employment and benefit problems.
Free legal advice for Dunedin and Otago people on employment, benefit and tenancy issues.
Free legal help in Hamilton and the Waikato for employment, benefits and tenancy issues.
Free legal advice for the Bay of Plenty on employment, tenancy and benefit problems.
Free legal help in Napier, Hastings and the wider Hawke's Bay.
Free legal advice for Northland people, including employment problems.
Free legal advice in Palmerston North and Manawatu for employment and other legal problems.
Free legal help for Taranaki people, including New Plymouth.
Free legal advice for people in Nelson, Tasman and surrounding areas.
Free legal help for Southland and Invercargill people.
Free legal advice for Rotorua and surrounding areas.
Specialist free legal help for people with disabilities, including workplace discrimination and reasonable adjustments.
Free legal advice from a kaupapa Māori perspective, including employment and whānau legal issues.
Large database of plain-English articles on employment rights, benefits, tenancy and consumer issues, with trained volunteers at local bureaux.
Large private-sector union covering manufacturing, aviation, logistics, security, cleaning and more. Members get collective bargaining, representation in restructures and legal support.
Union for workers in retail, finance, logistics, call centres, wood processing and other sectors. Offers representation and legal support to members.
Union for public sector, health and local government workers. Provides member representation during restructures and employment relations advice.
Union for teachers, principals and support staff in primary, early childhood and special education. Members get legal and employment advice.
Union for secondary teachers and principals, offering employment support to members.
Union for hospitality, fast food, call centre and other low-paid workers, with a strong record of fighting for minimum entitlements.
Union and professional body for nurses, midwives and health care assistants. Provides employment advice and representation.
The national confederation of unions. Use the site to find the union that covers your industry and to read about workers' rights and campaigns.
Employer-focused membership body with HR and employment law advice for businesses. Employers planning a restructure can use it to meet legal obligations; employees can learn what employers should do.
Wellington-based employer and business membership organisation offering employment advice and training to employers.
Law Society page for finding a lawyer, including by area of law such as employment. Many offer a short first meeting at low or no cost; ask first.
Guides on how to choose a lawyer, what to expect and how to complain about legal services.
Provides food parcels, health services, housing support and advocacy in central Auckland. Helps people in crisis without judgement.
Nationwide food parcels, budgeting support, social workers and emergency help through community centres. Open to anyone.
Rescues surplus food from supermarkets and producers and gives it to community groups across New Zealand. Use the site to find food-rescue partners near you.
National directory of foodbanks and food support organisations by region, with opening hours.
Volunteer-run help with food, furniture, bedding and clothing in parishes across NZ. Open to people of any or no religion.
Food parcels, housing and social support for people in Wellington.
Food support, community meals and social services in Dunedin.
Food, housing and social support in Christchurch. Check the site for current services and how to access them.
Auckland social service providing housing, community and employment support for people experiencing homelessness or other vulnerability.
Helps low-income families into safe, affordable housing through build and repair programmes and affordable homeownership options.
Free phone advice from registered nurses about any health concern, any time. Useful when you are stressed and not sure if you need a doctor.
24/7 free counselling and support by phone and text, including crisis support and a suicide crisis helpline.
Free support for young people, including phone, text, webchat and counselling, and for parents and carers who are worried about a young person.
Confidential 24/7 emotional support for anyone who is struggling or feeling suicidal.
Information, a helpline and support for anxiety, panic, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. A good place to start if job loss has triggered anxiety.
Official NZ resource on depression with self-help tools, courses and information on getting help.
Evidence-based information on wellbeing and mental health, including guidance on stress, coping with change and where to find help.
Counselling, training and support for people dealing with grief, trauma, loss and major life change, including through the Skylight helpline.
Suicide prevention and wellbeing support for the construction industry, with a free phone line and on-site training. Useful for tradies facing job loss.
Free confidential support line for rainbow people and their whānau, staffed by volunteers and counsellors.
Support, information and community for rainbow young people and their whānau.
Resources and training for rainbow young people and their schools, whānau and workplaces.
24/7 crisis line, safe houses and support for women and children experiencing family violence. Financial stress and job loss can make home unsafe; help is available.
Free helpline and support for people experiencing domestic abuse, including men and rainbow people.
Free, confidential 24/7 support for people affected by gambling harm, including debt related to gambling.
Free, confidential advice and referral for alcohol and drug issues for you or someone you care about.
Counselling and support for relationships under stress, including family and couples counselling with sliding fees.
Free, confidential support for farmers, growers and rural communities facing financial pressure, weather events, stress or isolation, with local trustees who understand farming.
St John offers health shuttles, friendly caller services and other community help in many regions.
Free support and advice for families with children under 5, including a 24/7 helpline and community services.
A Māori-led approach where trained navigators help whānau plan and access help for work, training, housing, health and income. Delivered through local providers.
Directory to find GPs, pharmacies, counselling and mental health services near you, with opening hours and costs.
Trusted NZ health information, including coping with stress and mental health.
Support and advocacy for older New Zealanders, including visiting services, information and the elder abuse response service.
Advocacy organisation for older New Zealanders. Offers information and local groups.
Government information on services, discounts and support for people 65 and over, including SuperGold Card benefits.
Support, advocacy and information for disabled people and their families, including employment and independent living support.
Advocacy, services and support for people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
Information, support and advocacy for autistic people and their families, including employment guidance.
Support and services for Deaf people, including employment and NZSL information.
Government agency supporting Māori development, with regional offices that can point you to Māori employment, housing and training providers.
Support for refugees and former refugees settling in New Zealand, including employment guidance and community connections.
Specialist mental health and wellbeing services for refugees and asylum seekers.
Support for veterans and their families, including health, income and wellbeing help. Check eligibility on the site.
Support network for current and former service people and their families, including welfare and advocacy.
Supports people released from prison with housing, employment and community connection.
Mentoring and family support for children and families with a parent in prison.
Government agency for Pacific peoples, with information on services and support for Pacific families, including pointers to Pacific employment and training providers.
Practical information and support for people bereaved by suicide. If you need urgent help, call or text 1737.
Information and resources on mental health and addiction services in New Zealand, useful for understanding what support exists.
Community, youth and some employment programmes in several regions. Check which are available near you.
The government's new career planning site, which careers.govt.nz now redirects to. Offers career exploration, job information and tools to plan study and work.
Official job board for central government roles across New Zealand.
Student-owned job service for part-time, casual and holiday work. It is also helpful if you are retraining.
Job board for roles in not-for-profit and purpose-driven organisations.
One of NZ's largest job boards, with strong coverage of trades, regional and entry-level roles.
Professional network and job board used by many NZ recruiters. Useful for professional roles, networking and recruiters.
National recruitment agency for temp, contract and permanent roles in many sectors.
Specialist recruitment for professional and corporate roles.
Recruitment and temp staffing across industrial, admin and professional roles.
Recruitment agency with temp, contract and permanent roles in many industries.
Technology and digital recruitment, including contract roles.
Recruitment and career transition services, including outplacement for people made redundant.
Recruitment and talent solutions firm that also runs career transition services.
Volunteer mentors helping small businesses and start-ups. Useful if you are thinking of starting a business after redundancy.
Business growth and start-up training and programmes for owner-managers. Some programmes are paid.
Official guidance on starting and running a business in NZ, including tax, registrations and funding support.
Government innovation agency supporting technology businesses and start-ups.
Supports NZ businesses wanting to export, and has advice for those starting international business.
Industry body providing farm careers information, training and jobs pathways.
Information on dairy careers, training and pathways, including for people changing industries.
Farming advocacy organisation with employment and rural support resources.
Government information on primary sector jobs, training and pathways.
National employment service that helps disabled people and people with health conditions find and keep work, with funding for workplace adjustments.
Official information on visa conditions, including what happens to your work visa if you lose your job and how to change employer.
NZQA assesses overseas qualifications against the NZ framework, which helps employers understand your skills.
Information on getting or upgrading a licence, which opens up many job opportunities. Work and Income may help with licence costs in some cases.
Information about careers and employment in the public service.
Government fees-free scheme that can cover some tertiary study or training costs. Check the current eligibility rules on the TEC site as they have changed in recent years.
Government body that funds tertiary education and training, with information on providers and pathways.
Official information on learning and qualifications, including adult learning pathways.
Māori tertiary provider with campuses across NZ and a wide range of certificates and degrees, open to everyone.
Māori university offering degrees and certificates, grounded in Māori knowledge.
Regional polytechnic offering trades, health, business and IT programmes in the Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Taupō areas.
Waikato polytechnic with trades, business and health programmes.
South Auckland polytechnic with certificates and diplomas in trades, health and IT.
University offering extramural (distance) study, helpful if you need to study from home while working or job hunting.
Industry training for infrastructure sectors such as civil, electricity and telecommunications.
Industry training for engineering, manufacturing, food and fibre sectors including apprenticeships.
Industry training in sport, fitness, recreation and community roles.
Official information and dispute help for tenants and landlords, including rent increases, bonds, notices and the Tenancy Tribunal.
Explains how to resolve a dispute with your landlord, from mediation to the Tenancy Tribunal.
Checklist of what to check before you sign a tenancy agreement, including bond and healthy homes standards.
Government housing agency that manages social housing. Applications are generally made through Work and Income, which assesses your housing need.
Government housing policy and information, including support for renters, first-home buyers and emergency housing. The Ministry is now part of the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport; check the site for current names and pages.
The peak body for community housing providers, with information on affordable rentals and housing options.
Government information on housing, tenancy law, healthy homes and building rules.
Government gateway to housing information including renting, buying and getting help with housing costs.
Official KiwiSaver information including contribution holidays, withdrawal rules and first-home withdrawals.
Regulator that supervises KiwiSaver providers and financial advisers. Use it to check your provider or report concerns.
If you are struggling with mortgage or loan repayments, a free financial mentor can help you prepare for talks with your lender.
Official Working for Families page: eligibility, tax credits and how to update income estimates.