Private credit perspectives
Analysis, commentary and updates on New Zealand's private credit market, regulatory environment and Capital Connect fund performance.
New Zealand's Small Businesses Pay More For Money Than Australia's. The RBNZ Just Proved It
A new RBNZ report puts a hard number on something business owners have felt for years: New Zealand SMEs pay materially more to borrow than their Australian counterparts, and there's almost no way for them to check if they're being overcharged.
The RBNZ Just Reversed Course. Here's Why That's Good News for Private Credit, Not Bad
After eighteen months of cutting, the Reserve Bank has lifted the OCR back to 2.50% as fuel-driven inflation blows past target. For term deposit holders that's an awkward moment. For private credit investors, it's less complicated than it looks.
Active Investor Plus: What It Means for New Zealand Fund Investments
How New Zealand's Active Investor Plus visa programme works, what the Growth Category requires, and why Acceptable Managed Funds such as Capital Connect are a credible qualifying pathway for eligible international investors.
Active Investor Plus Visa — How the Capital Connect Fund Fits In
Capital Connect No.1 LP is recognised by NZTE as an Acceptable Managed Fund under the Active Investor Plus Growth Category. Here is what that means for international investors considering the visa pathway.
OCR Holds at 2.25% — What It Means for NZ Private Credit Investors
The RBNZ held the OCR at 2.25% on 8 April 2026. With term deposit rates compressing and uncertainty rising, we examine what this means for wholesale investors considering private credit as an alternative yield source.
What Does ‘Secured Lending’ Actually Mean for Investors?
The word ‘secured’ appears frequently in private credit marketing. But what does it actually mean — and how does it protect investor capital in practice? We explain the mechanics.
Why NZ Banks Are Lending Less to SMEs — And What’s Filling the Gap
New Zealand's major banks have systematically reduced SME lending due to capital requirement shifts. We examine the structural funding gap this has created — and why private credit is filling it.
Private Credit vs Term Deposits — Understanding the Trade-offs
For NZ wholesale investors, the comparison between term deposits and private credit comes down to one question: what am I giving up to earn a higher return? We unpack the real trade-offs.
What Is a Wholesale Investor — And Do You Qualify?
Wholesale investor status under New Zealand’s FMCA is broader than most people realise. Here are the four ways you can qualify — and how to find out if you’re already eligible.
Understanding the Wholesale Investor Regime Under the FMCA
A plain-language guide to wholesale investor status under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013: the four qualifying categories, what certification involves in practice, and why the framework exists.
The Case for Short Duration Lending in Private Credit Portfolios
Why loan duration is one of the most consequential structural decisions in private credit, and how short-duration, asset-backed lending supports capital preservation, portfolio flexibility, and active risk management.
Private Credit 101: What It Is and Why It's Growing
A clear introduction to private credit as an asset class: how it works, how it generates returns, why global institutional allocations have grown substantially, and what distinguishes the New Zealand opportunity.
New Zealand Private Credit: Market Conditions in 2025
An assessment of the New Zealand private credit market through 2025: how the easing interest rate cycle has affected borrower conditions, what sustained bank conservatism means for non-bank lenders, and Capital Connect's perspective on current deal flow.
Investing in New Zealand: Why International Capital is Looking South
What makes New Zealand a distinctive destination for private credit investment: political and legal stability, a real-asset economy, a structurally underserved SME sector, and a private credit market at an early stage of development.