Local Recovery Solidifies, While Global Uncertainty Continues

Traditional business lending provides new venture opportunity for private investors seeking better returns on their savings.

New Zealanders work hard, with most retirees owning their own mortgage-free home. Though according to the latest statistics, savings and income from private assets lasts for less than a decade after retirement, meaning most seniors find themselves living primarily off the New Zealand Superannuation pension. And let’s face it, the married rate of $633 a week doesn’t necessarily cut it.

Introducing Peer to peer factoring fund

Zagga, a NZ-based peer-to-peer lending platform, believes that savings should work just as hard as the Kiwis who earned them. That’s why the company developed the factoring fund in collaboration with local lending solutions provider, Lock Finance.

Geared towards private investors, the new venture offers a $500K opportunity to invest in a managed fund of factored receivables, aka invoice finance-based loans. With the option of investing the full half a million or a smaller portion, the fund offers a flexible investment opportunity to investors of all calibres. Key benefits include healthy returns on hard-earned retirement savings, with a buffer provided against first risk exposure.

Invoice Finance: 101

Invoice finance, also known as factoring, is a financial concept hundreds of years in the making. Cash flow is key in any business, though with some large companies delaying invoice payments for up to two months, small businesses are often left high and dry. Invoice financing helps enterprises with limited capital mitigate the risk of late payments and long payment terms. Basically, it provides a buffer that keeps cash flows healthy, without resorting to loans or relying on capital that isn’t there.

A new era of investment

Until now, everyday investors haven’t had the opportunity to harness the benefits of invoice finance lending, instead limited by banks and traditional finance companies. As a company dedicated to reimagining the way New Zealanders invest and borrow money, Zagga has teamed up with Lock Finance to create an exciting new opportunity that harnesses the earning power of invoice finance investments.

How the factoring fund can make your savings work harder

  • Investors earn a 6.5% return over a 12-month term.
  • Interest paid monthly and deposited into nominated accounts
  • High returns that outperform traditional high interest savings accounts
  • A great way to diversify investment portfolios
  • A risk mitigated investment that appeals to retirees

Risk mitigated investments for hardworking Kiwis

For investors nearing the end of their financial journeys and looking towards retirement, risk mitigation is key. With the factoring fund, Zagga has worked hard to mitigate risks and create an investment opportunity that’s safe and retirement friendly.

  • All credit checks and due diligence on the businesses who borrow, as well as their debtors is completed for peace of mind
  • Monthly performance updates are provided to investors
  • Investments backed by Lock Finance, a New Zealand owned company with more than 130 years of experience in providing working capital for businesses
  • Lock Finance takes the first 20% of risk, and with borrowers only able to borrow a maximum of 80% total against an invoice, the maximum risk to investors is 60% (LVR), usually less based on past performance.

Supporting New Zealand businesses

Not only does the fund offer a solid investment opportunity with high returns, it also presents a unique chance to support local businesses, aka the heart and soul of the New Zealand economy.

The latest GPD data is out, and at 0.2% growth in the last three months of 2025, it’s risen for three out of the past four quarters. We’re into annual growth for the first time since the third quarter of 2024, which is a hopeful signal that local conditions are improving.

The latest data shows solid increases in retail and accommodation sectors, finance and insurance, media and comms, and arts and recreation. Construction under performed, but data from January and February 2026 looks more positive for the sector, so overall the picture here in New Zealand is encouraging.

The looming concern is the global oil crisis, and the headlines seem alarming. But we’ve been reading some pretty frightening headlines every week since 2020, and we all just keep on going. What can you do in these uncertain times? The best advice is not to panic. If you have an investment strategy that’s taking you toward your financial goals, stay calm and talk to your adviser before you make any sudden moves. As ASB’s analysts point out, “the average conflict results in a very short-term drawdown of roughly 5% (using the S&P500 as a proxy), with the market recovering its losses over an average of 47 days.”

In the longer term, this fuel crisis might have an upside. If it encourages a faster shift to renewables, that will improve New Zealand’s energy security and make us less vulnerable to these oil shocks in future. ANZ is reporting more interest in EVs, and BYD says it’s had a bumper few weeks. The national grid reached a record high of 96.4% renewable in the latest data, a new record, so the decarbonisation megatrend is continuing its onward march here in New Zealand.

In response to the picture both here and abroad, the big banks have been nudging up their interest rates, leading to higher returns for savers. Term deposit rates are up marginally, but still below 4%. Returns on Zagga loans have also stayed steady, and have been consistently paying around 7%. We’re seeing rapid uptake on new opportunities, and we expect this continue throughout 2026 – particularly as momentum grows in the construction sector.

We’ve seen a noticeable increase in both the volume and quality of loan investments coming through this month, and we’re excited to be bringing these new opportunities to our investors. With strong demand and quick uptake on new listings, it’s important to be prepared so you can take advantage of opportunities as they become available.