Cranfield Group

16/10/2026

We all know the weekly grocery shop isn't getting any cheaper!

With the election approaching, political parties are putting forward different ideas to tackle supermarket prices and improve competition.

Some want to break up the big supermarket groups, while others are focused on pricing rules or making it easier for new competitors to enter the market.

So, what's actually being proposed, and could it make a difference to what we pay at the checkout?

Consumer NZ has put together a handy breakdown of where the main parties stand.

Lower grocery prices are a key election promise, with parties proposing reforms ranging from supermarket break-ups to giving control back to communities.

09/10/2026

When was the last time you checked who owns your personal insurance policies?

It's something that's easy to overlook, but policy ownership can affect who has control over your cover, who can make changes and how claim payments are handled.

As life changes, whether it's getting married, buying a home, starting a family or making business arrangements, it's worth checking that your policies are still structured in a way that suits your circumstances.

Our article explains why policy ownership matters and when it might be time for a review.

02/10/2026

Protection isn’t just about a payout. It’s about helping to support you and your family when life takes an unexpected turn.

A serious illness or injury can affect more than your finances. It can impact your ability to work, your recovery, and your day-to-day life.

Having the right cover in place can provide valuable support when it’s needed most.

If you’d like to better understand your options, get in touch with us to talk about the protection that may be right for you.

25/09/2026

KiwiSaver isn’t something you set once and forget forever.

As life changes, your KiwiSaver settings may need to change too. What suited you in your early working years may not be the best fit when you’re paying a mortgage, raising a family, nearing retirement, or thinking about how you’ll use your savings later on.

Your contribution rate, fund type and wider investment approach should make sense for where you are now. Not just where you were when you first joined.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your KiwiSaver plan, we can look at how it fits your current situation and long-term goals.

18/09/2026

Insurance might not be something you think about every day, but it can make a big difference when life doesn’t go to plan.

The right cover can help protect your income, your family, your health and your lifestyle if illness, injury or another unexpected event affects you financially.

In this article, we look at the different types of cover available and why it’s worth reviewing your insurance as life changes.

11/09/2026

Protecting your financial position is not only about building wealth. It can also mean having a plan in place for the unexpected.

Risk management can include areas such as life insurance, income protection, medical insurance, key person cover and business protection, depending on your circumstances.

Cranfield Group works with clients to understand the risks that matter to them and recommend cover suited to their needs.

Learn more about how we can help: www.cranfieldgroup.co.nz/risk-management

As Risk Management specialists, we provide impartial solutions that protect you against challenges and threats to your financial security.

04/09/2026

Financial goals are often expressed as numbers, but the number itself is rarely the whole story.

A retirement target, investment balance or mortgage milestone usually represents something more personal: more freedom, more choice, helping family, travelling, working less, or simply feeling more financially secure.

Defining what “enough” means for you can help give those numbers more purpose and shape a financial plan around the life you actually want.

28/08/2026

KiwiSaver has changed a lot since it launched in 2007, and so have the circumstances of many of the people who joined along the way.

Contribution rates, government incentives and default fund settings have all evolved, while KiwiSaver has grown to more than three million members.

But being a KiwiSaver member doesn’t necessarily mean your current settings are still right for where you are today.

Our latest article looks back at how KiwiSaver has changed over almost 20 years, what the latest member data tells us, and why it can be worth reviewing your contribution rate, fund choice and other settings from time to time.

20/08/2026

Money habits can run deep, especially when they’ve been built over a lifetime.

That can make conversations with parents about spending, banking or changing the way they manage money a little tricky. What looks like resistance to change can sometimes be something else entirely: caution, experience, or simply a different idea of what feels trustworthy.

This thoughtful piece explores why changing money habits is often about much more than learning new technology, and why a little understanding can go a long way.

Lynda Moore finds that resistance to change is more about attitudes of trust than not wanting to try 'new and better' options

14/08/2026

An emergency fund is there for the expenses you didn’t see coming. But where you keep it can make a difference.

Keeping emergency savings in a separate account can help give that money a clear purpose, while still keeping it accessible when you genuinely need it. Sorted looks at why this simple approach can make an emergency fund easier to protect from everyday spending.

Worth a read.

Does your emergency fund need its own account? Not strictly, but it helps. Here’s why a separate account works, where to keep it, and how to set one up.