Our story

“A stress relief... seeing the joy in her face.” — Wai & Andre

“Before CAP, the debt made me vulnerable — not even enough for a milk or a bread.”

Right now, there’s a wave of New Zealanders calling CAP, drowning in debt.

Your donation of $46 a month is what it takes to release each person in a household from poverty (or $126 to release a household). Start your gift today to help the next whānau like Wai and Andre’s.

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Your giving creates a generational impact. CAP helped empower Wai and Andre to repay the debt, using their own income. It’s clients who do the hard work — CAP never pays a dollar of their debt.

“When CAP called us to tell us we were debt free, I screamed! The money knowledge in our kete is passing onto our children.”

Your giving creates a generational impact. CAP helped empower Wai and Andre to repay the debt using their own income. It’s clients who do the hard work — CAP never pays a dollar of their debt.

“When CAP called us to tell us we were debt free, I screamed!… The money knowledge in our kete is passing onto our children.” — Wai

Start a regular gift

One-off donation

Got questions about CAP?

Respond to a growing need in NZ

Across Aotearoa, individuals, mums and dads, want a home that’s free of poverty; free of unmanageable debt. But with a 14% increase in the number of New Zealanders in financial hardship, there is a wave of people calling CAP, who are drowning in debt.

These households are in money chaos.

Before CAP, 1 out of 2 people who call CAP are skipping meals because of debt
And 9 out of 10 find that the debt affects their mental health.

👩‍👦 Sarah says, “I freaked out. Wanting good meals for the kids, but not being able to afford the right foods.”

As New Zealanders in unmanageable debt are pursued by money lenders, it’s common for people to lose sleep and become increasingly isolated.

The good news is that every week, CAP and the local church walks alongside around 400 New Zealand households.

These journeys out of debt typically span 1-4 years – as people like Sarah are supported through life’s changes.

Giving $46 a month is what it takes to release each person in a household from money chaos. You’ll be giving free practical help and long-term support to enable the next New Zealander like Sarah to:

Strengthen their financial position and
Strengthen their relationships — with money, themselves, others & God.

👩‍👦Sarah: “Now as a mum: driving to the beach, not having to worry about petrol…

I get to create a loving home. I think that’s what any mum or dad wants! Especially bringing the Lord into my life as well. My cheeks are hurting from smiling so much!”

How does CAP Debt Help work?

CAP Debt Help takes a 'with Jesus' approach that cares for the whole person.

It’s a free service that reaches into communities from Whangarei to Tīmaru –in partnership with 36 local churches.

How effective is this help?

Nine-out-of-10 of clients say that CAP is “life-transforming” or “a great help” (CAP client survey 2023).

Since Christians Against Poverty began in Aotearoa in 2008, over 2,680 New Zealanders have gone completely debt free! And in this time, more than $119 million in unmanageable debt and bills have been paid or written off.

It’s the clients themselves who do the hard work of making repayments on their own debt, using their own income. Not a single dollar of unmanageable debt has been paid by CAP.

This free service helps clients to form a habit of budgeting and saving — enabling sustainable change and a generational impact — as parents pass on this money wisdom.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Wai says “When CAP called us to tell us we were debt free, I screamed!… The money knowledge in our kete is passing onto our children.”

Before CAP, three out of four clients couldn’t pay for daily living expenses without borrowing money.
After CAP, more than nine out of ten stay clear of unmanageable debt once going debt free.

In 2020, Impact Lab independently assessed CAP’s effectiveness. Impact Lab found that every $1 invested in CAP Debt Help multiplies into $4.90 worth of social benefit to Aotearoa. The report shows evidence that CAP Debt Help improves physical health and food choices; reduces need for emergency benefits; improves mental health; increases financial resilience and savings and improves relationships.

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Before CAP, just 1 in 10 clients had hope, but once with CAP, this increases to 8 out of 10 having hope for the future.

CAP Debt Help also enhances taha wairua/spiritual health. And last year, 6 out of 10 CAP clients said they felt closer to God, compared to the past.