BEYOND REASONABLE DEBT
The extent to which financial behaviour can explain over-indebtedness amongst New Zealand families

Acknowledgements

The Families Commission was established under the Families Commission Act 2003 and commenced operations on 1 July 2004. Under the Crown Entities Act 2004, the Commission is designated as an autonomous Crown entity.

The main role of the Families Commission is to act as an advocate for the interests of families generally (rather than individual families).

The Families Commission’s specific functions under the Families Commission Act 2003 are to:

• encourage informed debate about families
• increase public awareness and promote better understanding of matters affecting families
• encourage and facilitate the development and provision of government policies that promote and serve the interests of families
• consider any matter relating to the interests of families referred to us by any Minister of the Crown
• stimulate and promote research into families, for example by funding and undertaking research.

This report was prepared by Jaimie Legge, and assistance from Adolf Stroombergen is gratefully acknowledged. Valuable comments were provided by Roger Hurnard, Bryan Perry, Phil Briggs, David Feslier, Conal Smith, Jan Pryor, Scott Ussher, Sue van Daastelaar, Karen Wong, Janine McCardle and Jo Cribb.

Disclaimers

The results presented in this study are the work of the author, not the Ministry of Social Development.