How financial education from our iwi helped us avoid bankruptcy

By Re: News in partnership with Westpac

“Russell and I had to have the chat about, is it maybe best that we go bankrupt? Instead of actually saying, well look, we've got a problem and extending it out further than just ourselves.” 

With a big whānau, and over $112,000 of credit card debt, Taranaki parents Crystal and Russell Hockley thought bankruptcy was the only way through their financial crisis.  

After reaching out to local organisation Ka Uruora, the now debt-free whānau own their forever home; a home dedicated to their children. 

In this new Re: News series, My First Whare, made in partnership with Westpac, we hear about how financial education changed the lives of five whānau, and how it helped them buy their first home. Watch the full series here on TVNZ+

All Episodes5

I was a renter all my life. Now I’ve bought my first home

Solo-dad Karlos Ruakere says his first house is more than just a home, as it’s for his mum and daugh

How financial education from our iwi helped us avoid bankruptcy

Crystal and Russell Hockley had so much debt they considered going bankrupt.

We were in $76k debt. We turned that around and bought our whare

Mirihana Patu and Gloria Rehu share how they managed to buy their first home after being in debt.

What it's like living next to your marae and iwi

Heneriata Paringatai and Josh Hurae share their experience of living in a modern day papakāinga.

‘It hits different cos it’s ours’: What owning our whare means to our whānau

CJ Gilbert and Kataraina Davis give a glimpse into what it’s like living on a modern-day papakāinga.