Distribution of wealth across New Zealand households remains unchanged between 2015 and 2021

The Household Economic Survey is not designed to measure total wealth but helps to understand the distribution of net worth across the population, as well as how financially prepared kiwis are for their retirement.

While information from over 4,400 households contributed to this survey, it is still unlikely that any one household, such as a very wealthy family, might be living in a house selected for this survey. As such, this survey may not provide a representative picture of the small number of the extremely rich.

Stats NZ first released net worth statistics in 2001, based on data from the one-off Household Savings Survey. Data on New Zealanders' net worth was again collected every two years from 2002 to 2010, in the longitudinal Survey of Family, Income, and Expenditure. Net worth statistics in the present form were released for the first time in June 2016, based on data collected between July 2014 and June 2015. This was followed by another release in December 2018, for data collected from July 2017 to June 2018.

National accounts (income, saving, assets, and liabilities): September 2021 quarter, released on 25 January 2022, provides a measure of total net worth, including that held by businesses, households, and government.