Balancing cultural obligations and personal finance helps Tongan New Zealanders with their overall wellbeing, according to a small study from the University of Auckland. Researchers interviewed 13 participants about their financial decision-making, finding that cultural and religious values underpinned giving money to family and churches. This strengthened social connections and could support general wellbeing, but could also damage financial wellbeing or cause pressure to meet others’ expectations. The authors recommend that financial education initiatives should fit anga faka-Tonga (Tongan way of life) and include culturally relevant options such as collective savings or shared family goals, and that churches should encourage responsible giving.
