Sharesies or Sheltered Decks? The Great Kiwi Wealth Debate | NZ Property
Half of NZ is still convinced the secret to wealth is buying a property that is a three-bedroom in Hamilton, bolting on a deck, and waiting for the Reserve Bank to blink. The other half is sprawled on a bean bag at midnight, buying 0.0001 percent of Tesla and wondering why they are still broke.
Which one makes you rich first?
That’s the question we threw at Leighton Roberts, co-founder and co-CEO of Sharesies, the investing platform quietly turning dinner-table arguments into investment portfolios.
“I’m always a bit more balanced than that. It’s a bit of both,” he said. “My personal view is that everyone should be able to have a house if they want one. New Zealanders in particular understand property very well.”
NZ Property Might Be King, But Capital Markets Are Coming
Kiwis love property. They trust it and they paint it. They sit on the deck and call it wealth. Leighton agrees it has been the single biggest generator of wealth in the country.
“The leveraged impact of NZ property for wealth development has been the single biggest factor in people developing wealth in New Zealand over time.”
However, that tide might be turning.
“KiwiSaver will change that. Our capital markets are going to grow. Investments in companies are going to make up a far larger portion of that.”
In short, the next big investment wave might not involve a lawnmower.
“For the well-being of New Zealanders, I would like to see our capital markets take over from NZ property as the largest investment.”
So What Are Kiwis Actually Investing In?
Sharesies has over 800,000 users. That’s more than the population of Wellington. They know exactly what people are buying and what they are avoiding like uncooked chicken.
“On average, people have three funds and four companies. It’s a hub and satellite model. The bulk is in diversified funds and then around that they pick a few companies.”
So yes, someone out there really does own four different types of ETFs and still has shares in Tesla for fun.
“No one’s investing in the same thing really. It’s a very broad selection.”
Hot Stocks and Old Favourites
Kiwis still love the big brands. If it’s on the news or at the petrol station, people are buying it.
“In New Zealand, it’s the banks and energy companies. Whereas in the US, it’s Tesla and Nvidia. While in Australia, it’s minerals and mining stocks.”
The core of most portfolios though is still the big ETFs. Think NZ50, AU200, and the US500.
“They are by far the most held instruments on the platform.”
Tax, PIE Funds, and the Battle of the Acronyms
PIE funds are proving popular, especially among higher income earners.
Fortunately, “If you’re in the 33 or 39 percent tax bracket, you get the benefit of the 28 percent PIE rate.”
There is another advantage. Less paperwork. Less faffing about with FIF tax. More time to panic about your fantasy rugby team.
“You don’t have to do the administration of FIF tax, particularly if you’re holding a lot of offshore assets.”
Sharesies offers smart ETFs, unlisted managed funds. Also, now Sharesies offers their own PIE funds through KiwiSaver and a cash PIE.
NZ Property Still Matters — Just Not Always First
Most Sharesies investors already own homes. That surprised even Leighton.
“I’m not actually sure what the exact percentage is, but it’s larger than I would have expected given the age profile.”
He says the NZ property dream is still alive, even if the section is now closer to a picnic blanket than a quarter acre.
“A huge number of people are investing on the platform for the purpose of buying a house.”
Some are even borrowing to invest in shares. Yes, actual leverage.
“It is becoming more common. You can have similar upside effects, but equally, there is downside. Some people have experienced that recently with NZ property.”
Pay the Mortgage or Buy Shares? The Eternal Kiwi Dilemma | NZ Property
If your mortgage is at 6 percent and the market is doing 8 percent, what do you do?
Leighton says it is personal. He also cautions against panic-paying your mortgage without thinking.
“Getting that money back when you need it most can be quite hard. If you’ve invested that money into shares, it’s more liquid.”
That doesn’t mean bet it all on Bitcoin. It means you need to think, not just act.
$50 a Week: The Club That Became a Company
Leighton’s first investment move wasn’t in a suit. Rather, it was with 14 mates at the age of 17.
“We started putting in $50 a week. I was still at school. I didn’t know much about money, but I was interested.”
The group bought their first NZ property within a year. Then they diversified. Now they own no residential property at all.
“We’re far more into companies and commercial property now.”
Tthe discipline of the group has lasted over two decades.
“None of us have missed that $50 a week. Even as a student, I had to try hard to find that money.”
That concept inspired part of Sharesies.
“Sonia wanted to invest with $50. Someone said ‘Talk to Leighton, he does a $50 club.’ Then we started working out Sharesies.”
How the Club Picks Winners
The investment club now functions like a business. They look for early-stage companies, use their network, and make big decisions together.
“We try to cover risk, keep enough cash around to be opportunistic, and focus heavily on private companies early in their life cycle.”
Above all, they follow one rule.
“You make your money with risk and keep it with diversification.”
New Zealand Needs to Lift the Game
Australia has compulsory super contributions hitting 11 or 12 percent. New Zealand is still on training wheels.
“Just because it’s not a government mandate doesn’t mean people can’t do that on their own.”
If Kiwis want to compete long term, we need to play catch up. Quickly.
Where to Start as a New Investor
Leighton points to tools inside the Sharesies app.
“You can type in keywords like agriculture or tourism and it will show you options.”
There are also ETFs for every flavour of investment. You don’t have to pick the next Amazon by yourself.
Leighton says “You can invest in a basket of companies or use managed fund providers. You don’t have to put the house on it.”
Fear from the 1987 crash still haunts people, but Leighton says the game has changed.
“You can start with $50 or $100 a week. Over time, your confidence grows. The key is just starting.”
KiwiSaver Could Be Our Superpower
Australia has one of the largest pension funds on the planet. New Zealand has KiwiSaver, and it’s only just getting started.
“KiwiSaver has just hit about $120 billion. As that grows, it gives us the ability to invest more in our own country.”
That means infrastructure, new businesses, and economic independence.
“Private investment tends to deliver better outcomes than public hands. The opportunity is massive.”
The Next Ten Years Could Change Everything
Leighton is optimistic. Cautiously.
“My best guess is we are at the start of another ten-year run where people can build up nest eggs and create a robust situation.”
The last few years were tough. High interest rates. Falling house prices. Businesses closing. That might be behind us.
“Markets operate in cycles. I think we have bottomed out and we are now building back.”
You heard it here first. Leighton is not just talking about recovery. He’s calling the start of the next wave.
“History is calling a ten-year run.”
Why MortgageHQ’s YouTube Channel Is New Zealand’s Fastest-Growing Force in NZ Property Investment (and the Only One That Actually Works)
Right. Let’s get one thing out of the way: more people watch MortgageHQ’s YouTube channel every single week than any other property show in New Zealand. In 2025, that’s not just a nice statistic. It’s a blunt reality.
While the rest of the industry is still fluffing around with outdated advice, recycled scripts, and five-day lags between market changes and actual commentary, MortgageHQ is already on screen, telling Kiwis what just happened—and more importantly—what to do about it.
Because this isn’t just a YouTube channel. Instead, it’s a full-throttle, market-crushing machine designed to deliver one thing: Financial Freedom Faster.
Not someday. Not maybe. Faster.
Why Is It Growing Faster Than Every Other Channel? Because It’s Built for Winners
There’s no sales patter. No motivational fluff. Instead, you get data, strategy, and brutally honest advice delivered with the urgency of someone who knows your next mortgage payment is looming and your lender doesn’t care about your feelings.
This is the channel that serious NZ property investors watch because they don’t have time to get it wrong. Because they want the edge. They want tactics. They want real-time clarity. And they know where to find it.
Built by the Brains Behind Thousands of Kiwi Property Deals
MortgageHQ’s team aren’t presenters playing expert. They’re the actual experts. Licensed mortgage advisers who’ve secured funding in every kind of economic condition, structured portfolios through chaos, and helped clients make millions in net equity—by doing the boring things brilliantly.
Because they don’t theorise. They don’t speculate. They know exactly what the banks are doing, what the Reserve Bank is planning, and how to pivot when the rules change overnight.
You don’t need entertainment. You need results. And they deliver.
It’s All About One Thing: Financial Freedom Faster
This is not just a mission statement. It’s the entire reason MortgageHQ exists. Every video is engineered to get you out of mortgage debt faster, into better property positions faster, and into a portfolio that funds your lifestyle—not the other way around.
No generic tips. No vanilla case studies. Just actionable advice, every week, that gets real Kiwis closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
Because time is money. And wasted time? That’s lost opportunity.
Rapid Response, Ruthless Accuracy
Markets don’t wait. Neither does MortgageHQ. When the OCR moves, when LVR rules shift, when the government drops a curveball on interest deductibility—MortgageHQ is already on the air.
Not reacting. Leading.
Their videos are fast, clear, and cut through the nonsense like a hot knife through bureaucracy. While others are still drafting scripts, MortgageHQ is already giving Kiwis the playbook.
Short-Form Power. Long-Form Firepower.
Got 60 seconds before your next viewing? There’s a Short for that. Need a deep, tactical breakdown of how to ladder mortgage structures over multiple properties without drowning in repayments? Covered.
This isn’t a channel that rambles. It targets. Every minute counts. Every upload pushes you closer to Financial Freedom Faster.
They Don’t Just Know the Market. They See What’s Coming
Others tell you what happened. MortgageHQ tells you what’s next. They build strategy not for 2020 nostalgia—but for the next cycle, the next pivot, the next window of advantage.
And in 2025, with rate volatility, supply shortages, and tax policy all colliding, there’s never been a more urgent need to think ahead. The channel helps you do exactly that.
Forget Followers. Focus on Winning
Some channels brag about likes. MortgageHQ builds wealth. While others are watching the views roll in, MortgageHQ viewers are rolling equity into new builds, pulling off high-yield plays, and restructuring their mortgages to hammer down debt.
Because you don’t need hype, you need a plan. You need clarity. You need Financial Freedom Faster.
This Channel Wins Because Its Viewers Do
Kiwis aren’t stupid. They know what works. That’s why week after week, more New Zealanders tune into MortgageHQ than any other property channel. Not for vibes. For answers.
These people don’t just watch—they act. They learn and restructure. They grow.
And they get to Financial Freedom Faster than anyone else
The channel doesn’t just educate—it arms you with battle-ready tools. Tax tips aren’t theory here. Debt restructuring isn’t a maybe. It’s an essential weapon for any Kiwi looking to dominate their financial future.
MortgageHQ is the one place where first-home buyers, seasoned landlords, and high-performing investors all sit down to get real about what actually works.
This channel understands that property isn’t about emotion—it’s about leverage, timing, structure, and return. It knows that the dream of Financial Freedom Faster isn’t a buzzword. It’s a strategy. And it’s available to anyone who’s willing to do the work.
Every episode is designed to move you forward. To give you tactics. To shift your mindset from passive to aggressive, from stuck to scaled. That’s why MortgageHQ doesn’t just grow—it compounds. Because the more Kiwis that wake up to this strategy, the more unstoppable the audience becomes.
Here’s the Truth
MortgageHQ isn’t just faster-growing. It’s smarter and sharper. It’s more honest. And it’s the only channel that’s actually designed to help Kiwis win.
So if you’re serious about property investment in New Zealand, there’s only one question that matters.
Are you watching the channel that gets results?
Or are you watching the one that’s still explaining how negative gearing works?
Tune in. Take notes. Take action.
And get to Financial Freedom Faster.
Before someone else uses your hesitation to beat you to it.
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 mortgagehq.
