Women building wealth with purpose in Auckland launch

Wolfe Property has launched Women Building Wealth with Purpose in Auckland, an initiative aimed at women seeking guidance on building wealth through property, business and investing.

Organisers cite figures suggesting New Zealand women have strong financial literacy and a growing interest in turning that knowledge into assets and income. Research from the Financial Services Council of New Zealand found that 66% of women answered key financial questions correctly, compared with 57% of men.

The launch comes amid a wider debate about how women approach money and investment. Organisers say women often take a longer-term view, research decisions more thoroughly and are less likely to make impulsive or high-risk moves.

They argue this has created a gap between financial understanding and action, with more women seeking practical advice on where to begin and what steps to take next. The Auckland initiative is designed to meet that demand through mentoring, coaching and examples from women who have built wealth across different sectors.

Among those involved is Ilse Wolfe, founder of Wolfe Property, who said she had built a property portfolio worth more than $20 million.

"Women often approach wealth with a longer-term lens," Wolfe said.

"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."

Other participants come from business, eCommerce and financial advice. Kate Gatfield-Jeffries, founder of Moodi, pointed to persistent funding barriers for women-led ventures despite strong ambition.

"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," Gatfield-Jeffries said.

"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."

Iyia Liu, founder of Make It Happen, said she was seeing that demand first-hand through the rise in eCommerce businesses launched by women.

"We're seeing a huge surge in women starting eCommerce businesses," Liu said.

"The uptake from female clients is skyrocketing - they're ready to build, and they're moving quickly when they have the right support."

Advice Gap

Jess Hargreaves, a financial adviser at Lighthouse Financial, said the shift was now flowing through to financial planning and household decision-making. Her comments point to a broader change in who leads long-term money decisions and how those discussions are handled within partnerships.

"I really enjoy helping people get clear on what they actually want and then putting a plan in place to make it happen," Hargreaves said.

"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, 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 format is intended to lower barriers to entry through in-person and online access, as well as low-cost tickets. Organisers say this will help make the sessions available to women at different stages of their financial journey, including those just starting out.

Wealth Shift

The event reflects a broader shift in personal finance and entrepreneurship in New Zealand. Women are increasingly present in discussions about property, startup growth, long-term investing and financial strategy - not only as participants, but also as founders, advisers and investors.

At the same time, the figures highlighted by organisers suggest knowledge alone does not always lead to action. Stronger financial literacy has not removed barriers such as confidence, access to networks and access to capital, particularly for founders seeking backing.

The Auckland initiative focuses on practical guidance rather than theory, with speakers expected to draw on their own experience in building assets, businesses, and long-term plans. Organisers argue that women are not waiting to enter established wealth circles, but are creating new ones through direct advice, peer support and shared examples.