One in three households report being worse off financially compared with last year, according to a new survey.
The Horizon Research survey of 1595 people was conducted this month, painting a picture of the financial situation people find themselves in during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Half of the people said their financial position is much the same, while 16 percent said they are better off.
People aged 35 to 44 were worst hit, with 43 percent saying they were worse off.
People aged 25 to 34 were most likely to be better off, with 25 percent saying their financial situation had improved.
Small business owners, large families and solo parents are also much harder hit than other groups.
Forty-three percent of business managers, 46 percent of large families and 40 percent of solo parents said they are worse off this year than last.
Just 26 percent of farm owners said they are worse off, suggesting farmers fared better than other industries.
Horizon Research principal Graeme Colman said it shows how the pandemic has impacted different people.
"The pandemic hasn't cut evenly, and some are reporting their households are ending the past year in much better positions."
The survey has a 95 percent confidence level, with a maximum margin of error of 2.5 percent.