A new report says people in New Zealand are feeling less worried about their finances.
The report by credit company Dun & Bradstreet says consumer financial stress is easing and will keep on doing so.
It attributes this to stable economic conditions, an improved job market and comparatively low interest rates.
The report comes as New Zealand economic growth reaches 2.7%, despite an agricultural drought.
D&B says it is based on surveys of matters such as employment status, and the number and quality of applicants for new mortgages.
Economic adviser Stephen Koukoulas concedes the findings are an average only and many people are still missing out on this boom.
And campaigners for low income groups say the trend is passing many people by.
Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson says the problem is especially bad for the so-called economic tail.
"People who've become redundant, people who have gone from full-time to part-time jobs; they've gone backwards financially," she said.
"To get back to the position they were four or five years ago is going to take them considerable time. So people aren't going to bounce back overnight from the losses they've sustained over the last four or five years."
