Kiwis Under 45 Delay Life Decisions Due to Financial Constraints

A significant number of Kiwis under 45 are delaying major life decisions due to financial constraints. The Deloitte Global 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey found that around 65 percent of people born in New Zealand from 1981 to 2012 have been affected, compared to around 50 percent globally.

The survey, which surveyed over 22,500 respondents in 44 countries, including 501 in New Zealand, revealed that the top concern for both Gen Z and Millennials is the cost of living, affecting 56 percent of Gen Z and 46 percent of Millennials. Housing affordability had impacted the career decisions of 72 percent of Gen Z and 70 percent of Millennials.

'When we got that sort of uptick in inflation as well, we started to see really a lot of strain going on, delaying major life decisions,' said Lauren Foster, Deloitte NZ human capital partner. 'If you're looking to buy a house or maybe start a family that's something that's really hard to do if you're struggling financially.'

Foster noted that New Zealand businesses tend to lag behind in adopting frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, which may limit opportunities for Gen Z and Millennials.