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interest.co.nz is a free service for all - help us stay that way. If you know us, trust us, and value what we do, can we ask you to support us - and Supporters can go ad-free

Personal Finance / opinion
interest.co.nz is a free service for all - help us stay that way. If you know us, trust us, and value what we do, can we ask you to support us - and Supporters can go ad-free
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Each week more than 100,000 readers join you at interest.co.nz for our reporting, expert analysis, thoughtful commentary, podcasts and videos, content that connects our readers to our economy and the world we live in.

A key part of this work is made possible by reader support.

Yes, we still take advertising, but direct reader support is vital to what we do. Which is why we are appealing again for your support (if you are not already doing so).

Less than one in 20 readers financially support us. We need this to be higher so we can hold on to the independent ethic we have built.

Our content is free for all readers and we want to keep it that way. We don't use paywalls or hide our content behind expensive email subscriptions. For readers who don't support us, the cost of doing so is the ads you see.

But there is a way to way to read us ad-free, one available to supporters.

We have a growing team and a growing number of research projects, none of which are being done for commercial purposes, and all of which are about informing our audience about the New Zealand economy and key financial developments.

And that is why we need your support.

We work for you, so being supported by you makes sense to me.

You know us - what we do and the resources we make available to everyone. None of this is inexpensive. But we are keen to keep almost everything free.

We know most readers appreciate the open access, but only a tiny fraction financially support us. That is where you come in.

We are asking you to join our band of readers who know this is worthwhile: holding banks, insurers, the real estate industry, politicians and regulators to account with coverage that isn't constrained by 'sponsorships' or large advertisers, nor funded by government journalism subsidies. 

If you join us as a supporter and do so for at least $10/month or $100/year (or more) you get:

  • 100% ad-free website browsing
  • Satisfaction you are supporting an independent, home-grown professional and passionate news team.

In the future there will be more specialist tools to empower investors, savers, and anyone with financial interests.

Keen? Here’s what to do

Just click the ‘Become a supporter’ button at the top of the page to start your support of $10 a month or $100 a year, and you’ll get the best, ad-free interest.co.nz reading experience. Or click here. You can also specify the amount, or choose the one-time option if you prefer.

Finally, thank you for your readership. Can you go one better and become a supporter?

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.

28 Comments

Hi David, I support Interest and I think most readers and especially commenters should support Interest too.  There have been several suggestions made in the past, such a adding a little symbol on the commenters who support Interest as recognition of their support.

Why don't you implement such a simple idea?

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14

Agree. I would also like:

- arrange comments by vote count (to give a quick scan of a long comment section)

-the ability to permanently mute some commenters (naming no names...not you Yvil, I usually enjoy your perspectives;)

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5

Seconded on the ability to mute some contributors, there are a few common-taters that on some articles make up about 30% of the comment volume while adding 0% of value.

And perhaps a highlight function for user that you feel add lots of value.

 

It would also add some fun to the end of year:   Most frequently muted user award.  Most respected user.  Most frequently banned user...

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8

I agree, add the ability to mute people who go straight to triggered and spout vitrol and I'll happily sign up. As it stands I already avoid half the posts because I know the comments section will be feral. 

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3

Hello David, since we're all here talking finance... why not put up a Bitcoin address QR code on the site to offer readers an additional way to support your work. Just a thought.

 

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4

Hello David, since we're all here talking finance... why not put up a Bitcoin address QR code on the site to offer readers an additional way to support your work. Just a thought.

I'm up for this. By the way, Apple is removing Damu app because it allows users to tip each other with open-source BTC payments.

https://appleinsider.com/articles/23/06/26/decentralized-twitter-rival-…

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0

Yes, a QR code for daily coffee on the page should get going. I read your site daily and its only source of factual and independent reporting. Doing a great job! 

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1

And I can confirm - that ad-free is great, in addition to the benefit of supporting the site.

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5

Just subscribed. Keep up the great work team, it is refreshing to have objective, articulate articles to read each day to engage the mind, as well as rational and educated debate in the comments, and I’m happy to help support that.

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8

Good on you !

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5

Hey,

 

Weirdly when I was donating more than $10 a month, I had recurring issues with ads coming back, or being prompted to not use an ad-blocker. When I reduced it to $10 a month, it all went perfectly.

Keen to do a few $ more, but also keen to not have ads, if poss to sort, will turn it up again.

 

In the interim, it's the best $10 I spend every month, thanks.

 

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1

Yes, I get those issues every now and then.  I just logout and then back in again using Press Patron and all back to no ads and no pointing out I have an ad blocker.

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6

Any chance of more finance/investment type articles? Links to main indexes with performance.

Don't want to sound like a whiner but there is a LOT of housing content-rapacious landlords vs down trodden peasants.

Can we get a few more right wing contributors? Susan St John gets my back up. I used to follow Bernard Hickey but got nauseated with his continual tax, tax, tax land and everything will be alright.

Any chance I can do an anonymous guest article on racism in the healthcare sector? Really put the rat amongst the pigeons. 

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4

Yeah good points.

I used to appreciate, many years ago, pieces from Rodney Dickens on this website. Always rated him as one of the best. 

There’s a very very small pool of decent local journos / economists, so it can’t be easy broadening the content.

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1

I am happy to be a supporter at $10 per month .I find it a bit annoying I often need to sign in again even though I tick box to keep me signed in with press patron.Thanks for all your great work

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1

Great, so I've just paid you $100. While choosing my username to be something OTHER THAN MY REAL NAME your website throws a wobbly and says "The website encountered an unexpected error. Please try again later."

Now I seem unable to change my user name.

Not a great start. How do I change it?

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1

Please email david.chaston@interest.co.nz he will sort it out for you.

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0

And I did.  :)

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3

I too a happy supporter! I like that if I revisit a story any comments I haven’t read are highlighted blue, that alone is worth the subscription, no adds is good too.

keep up the good work Interest.co.nz!

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4

A good idea would be a 'support interest.co' etc where you can donate ANY amount, eg 10 or 20 bucks at any time with credit card payment button.

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0

Forget that comment, just saw you can make a one time only payment for any amount (:

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0

Just make any contribution right now then, Justa

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0

Happy to but the press patron log in thing is buggy. Could you please look at making paying supporters normal log-in profile ad free? And an app? Keep up the awesome work.

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0

Why would you support something that hates its readers

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1

Why would you read something that you feel hates its readers?  Do you want to elaborate on the your comment?

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0

Thank you. Subscribed.

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2

I support via press patron and appreciate being ad free.  Supporting decent journalism is absolutely essential.  One opportunity for improvement I see relates to the comments section.  Some intelligent and insightful commenters but some certainly not which can make reading them all a bit depressing sometimes.  Is it possible to have option of sorting but recommendations (as FT does)? 

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1

I quite like Yvil's suggestion of a symbol to denote those who support the site financially. I look at the site daily and find it both useful and entertaining. There are a number of commentators I wouldn't miss, but that's the price of freedom of speech. 

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1