Fallout from the cost of living crisis, with record high KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals

Inland Revenue figures show more than 44-thousand people withdrew money in the 10 months from last July to this April.

For the entire past financial year - about 32-thousand withdrew for hardship.

Public Trust General Corporate Trustee Services Manager, David Callanan, says unemployment is at its highest since in the middle of covid.

He says there's also the highest level in eight years, of people unable to pay their mortgage.