New Zealand women are highly capable when it comes to
money – and are increasingly turning that into real wealth
across property, business, ecommerce and
investing.
From multimillion-dollar businesses to
large-scale property portfolios, women are already achieving
strong financial outcomes. What’s becoming clear is the
appetite to go further – alongside a growing demand for
clearer direction on how to get started and what to do
next.
Research from the Financial Services Council of
New Zealand shows Kiwi women are more financially literate
than men, with 66% correctly answering key financial
questions compared to 57% of men.
Part of that shift
is how women approach money. Research consistently shows
women tend to take a longer-term view, do more research
before acting, and are less likely to make impulsive or
high-risk decisions. They are also less prone to
overconfidence, with fewer expecting to outperform the
market – a trait often linked to more disciplined,
consistent returns over time.
That gap between
capability and action is driving demand for more practical,
accessible guidance – and for spaces that help connect the
dots for women who have the drive but lack the confidence to
take action.
It’s also what sits behind Women
Building Wealth with Purpose, a new Auckland-based event
created in response to that unmet need for guidance,
mentoring and coaching in wealth-building.
The event
brings together women who are experts in their fields, and
who have already built significant wealth across property,
business and investing, with a focus on showing what’s
worked in practice and leaving the ladder down for others to
follow.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
Among them is Wolfe Property founder Ilse
Wolfe, who has built a property portfolio worth more than
$20 million from the ground up.
“Women often
approach wealth with a longer-term lens,” says Wolfe.
“It’s less about chasing quick wins and more about
building something resilient – assets and income streams
that support the life you actually want to
live.”
Moodi founder Kate Gatfield-Jeffries, who
leads one of Australasia’s largest women’s wellness
brands, says the issue is not ambition, but
access.
“There’s no shortage of ambition –
what’s often missing is access to capital. Female-only
founded startups receive just 2.9% of venture capital
investment in New Zealand,” she says. “That’s why
initiatives like the Moodi Female Founder Fund exist – to
back women who are ready to build, but need support to take
that next step.”
Entrepreneur Iyia Liu, founder of
Make It Happen, says she is seeing that demand play out in
real time.
“We’re seeing a huge surge in women
starting ecommerce businesses,” Liu says. “The uptake
from female clients is skyrocketing – they’re ready to
build, and they’re moving quickly when they have the right
support.”
Lighthouse Financial adviser Jess
Hargreaves, who brings more than eight years of
international wealth-building experience, says the shift is
now translating into action.
“I really enjoy helping
people get clear on what they actually want and then putting
a plan in place to make it happen,” says
Jess.
“Women haven’t traditionally been front and
centre in financial decisions but that’s changing, with
more women stepping into that space and taking ownership of
their money and their future. Financial planning brings
alignment it gets everyone on the same page, ensures both
voices in a partnership are heard, and creates a clear path
to build wealth and move forward with
confidence.”
The event has been designed to remove
as many barriers as possible, with both in-person and online
access available, and ticket pricing intentionally kept low
to ensure more women can participate, regardless of where
they are or where they’re starting from.
Women
Building Wealth with Purpose brings together experts across
their respective fields, giving attendees direct access to
real-world experience and practical insight – with a clear
focus on what to do next.
This event reflects a shift
that’s already underway – women are not waiting to be
invited into traditional wealth-building spaces, they are
building their own, and creating clearer pathways for those
coming through behind them.
Women Building Wealth with
Purpose
The event will be held in Auckland, with an
online option available, and focuses on building confidence
and clarity around money and wealth creation.
It
brings together Kate Gatfield-Jeffries (Moodi), Iyia Liu
(Make It Happen), Ilse Wolfe (Wolfe Property), and Jess
Hargreaves (Lighthouse Financial) to share practical
insights on business, investing, and long-term financial
strategy.
The conversation will focus on real-world
experience, exploring how money can be used to create
greater freedom, flexibility, and alignment with long-term
goals.
Tickets start at $10.
https://events.humanitix.com/women-building-wealth-with-purpose