Financial Literacy as a Foundation
Hillcrest High School in Hamilton is a large, vibrant secondary school defined by its diversity. Inclusivity underpins the school’s kaupapa, fostering a community where every student, whatever their culture, language, religion, or ability is welcomed.
At Hillcrest High, financial literacy is taught through the Year 9 Money Matters programme, led by Sam Wakerley, Teacher-in-Charge of Economics. Designed to build financial capability as a foundation for senior Commerce pathways, the course introduced Banqer for the first time this year and the impact was immediate.
“I wanted students to do more than just learn about money — I wanted them to experience it,” he explains.
Straight away they were hooked. It gave them the chance to make choices, see consequences, and learn by doing. That’s much more powerful than me just telling them what happens.
The programme starts with the history of money, then moves into how banks operate, covering concepts like fractional reserve banking, the Reserve Bank as lender of last resort, and money creation. From there, students progress into Banqer, building on what they’ve learned.
“It turns them into conscious consumers of financial services,” Sam says. “It also lays the groundwork for senior topics like monetary policy, where students need to understand how savers and borrowers behave.”
Future-Focused Thinking
The impact on students was clear right from the start. “Engagement has been outstanding. Students love checking in on their accounts and talking about their decisions,” Sam says. “It’s built a real sense of responsibility, and they’ve started making connections to real life.”
At the end of the unit, students pulled their ideas together in posters that showed just how much they’d learned. One wrote, “I’m DEFINITELY a saver. I had already applied for the Notice Saver account at the end of the journey.” Another talked about how setting up automatic transfers made it easier to stay on track with saving. For Sam, these reflections showed Banqer had moved financial concepts beyond theory and into real habits.
In one Banqer lesson on housemate diplomacy, students created posters with two good and one bad approach to handling tricky flatmate behaviours. To bring the theme to life, they pulled silly faces or hid behind their posters - a playful metaphor for flatmates, not their own behaviour!
One of the most memorable moments was when students saw the link between classroom theory and their Banqer experience. “They realised that the idea of banks lending more than they hold in reserves connected directly with what they were seeing in Banqer through debt and repayments. That’s when it really clicked,” Sam recalls.
Some students went further, setting long-term goals such as saving for retirement, buying their first car or house, or travelling the world. “One reflected, ‘At the end of Banqer, I had 3 different bank accounts. Managing those helped me understand interest and saving.’ Another said they had saved nearly $12,000 in KiwiSaver by the end of the simulation. “For a 13-year-old to be thinking about retirement savings — that’s incredible.” Sam says.
Practical to Set Up, Powerful in the Classroom
Banqer has not only shaped students’ financial understanding but also transformed how lessons are delivered. For Sam, getting Banqer up and running was a smooth process. “The setup was simple, and the support from Austin and the Banqer team was excellent. I aligned the modules with my teaching sequence so it felt natural — not an add-on,” he explains. “Even students less confident with tech got comfortable quickly.”
He’s found Banqer works best when it’s used to strengthen what’s already being taught.
My advice is to integrate Banqer into your programme, not rely on it to carry your lessons. It works best when it supports the course you’ve already planned.
Offline activities have been equally important. “When my students produced posters and kept a folder of their learning alongside the online platform, the impact was much deeper. Those reflections — in their own words — are what really brought the learning to life.”
Making Financial Learning Inclusive
Sam’s advice to other educators is practical and direct: “Use the offline resources, integrate Banqer into what you’re already teaching, and make sure all students can access it by borrowing laptops if needed. That way, inclusivity is guaranteed, and everyone can take part.”
Sam also notes that teacher involvement is key. “If students are left to work through modules on their own, some will race ahead while others disengage. Being actively involved helps keep everyone on track and ensures the deeper learning takes place.”
The programme at Hillcrest has also been supported by Banqer’s Support Partner, Partners Life, who helped extend access to students.
