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Public Trust has revealed it dealt with an unexpectedly high number of applications for guardianship help in the past year - working with 1,443 more clients than it had expected to.
That's a 60 percent increase on the department's own forecasts and 20 percent higher than the numbers seen in 2023.
Public Trust has clients who it cares for under the Protection of Personal and Property Rights Act - many of whom would otherwise be vulnerable to financial abuse or neglect.
Those placed under the care of the Trust's managers lack the capacity to manage their own affairs.
Decisions made by the Trust cover the full day-to-day management of a person's finances, from selling property, paying bills and buying food to ensuring money isn't spent on unnecessary or harmful items.
The Trust has an arrangement with the Ministry of Justice for funding to administer this service.
Glenys Talivai is the chief executive of Public Trust and speaks with Kathryn Ryan.
