The dream of working hard to buy a house and eventually enjoying the life you’ve earned is a promise many New Zealanders have followed for decades. However, traditional assumptions about the NZ property market are shifting, and the high debt loads required to enter the market today can often own you rather than the other way around. To truly achieve financial freedom, New Zealand residents need to move beyond simple transactions and focus on intentional planning that prioritises time sovereignty over just amassing net worth. Ruby Huitt is one of the organisers for TEDx Wynyard Quarter. In this featured video, she interviews Simon McDonald to retrospectively unpack the core concepts of his February 2026 talk, “Generation Slave”.
In this video, Ruby and Simon explore the concept of “Generation Slave,” a confronting look at the expectations and debt traps facing modern Kiwis. Simon explains how his firm, MHQ, has evolved to provide holistic financial advice covering KiwiSaver, insurance, and diversified investments to help clients move away from being “property mad”. The video highlights why asking how much you can borrow is the wrong starting point and instead emphasises reverse-engineering your financial goals to gain more time with family and control over your future.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to provide only a summary of the issues associated with the topics covered. It does not purport to be comprehensive nor to provide specific advice. No person should act in reliance on any statement contained within this article without first obtaining specific professional advice. If you require any further information or advice on any matter covered within this article, please contact an adviser from MHQ.
