About us

The Hutt City Budget and Advocacy Service offers free and confidential help to anyone in financial distress, including:

• Debt collectors
• Personal debt
• Bill payments
• No food
• Hire Purchase payments
• Benefit problems

What help can you get
What to bring with you to an appointment

What your budget advisor can, and cannot do

We can act as your spokesperson to debt collection companies, including helping you to speak to them/negotiate with them only with a privacy waiver signed by you We can advise you on what help is available from WINZ and speak to them in your presence - an advisor is at WINZ offices in Lower Hutt and Naenae (and Wainuiomata by request) during the morning on the following days: Monday Tuesday Thursday We can help you apply for "last resort" options like Bankruptcy and Summary Instalment Orders We are able to advise you about other help available including non-financial (eg. help with gambling, alcohol, mental health) We can also put you in touch with doctors, mental health workers, or solicitors who may be able to help you We are free, confidential, impartial, non-discriminatory and fully trained

We do not discuss your financial affairs with anyone, unless you have agreed to us talking on your behalf to someone in particular eg. your Landlord - this requires you to sign a privacy waiver Total money management - the budget service does not look after your money for you

The Hutt City Budget and Advoacy Service is affiliated to the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services