Profile
For Laura te Kaat, the truest measure of a career isn’t an award shelf but a phone call. “My sister needs help, and I told her she has to talk to you” is the kind of message she rates above any milestone, and it captures why she has been named one of NZA’s Top Advisers for 2026. “Knowing I’ve built relationships that last for years rather than transactions that last for weeks is something I’m incredibly proud of,” she says.
A mortgage career was never the plan. Years ago, te Kaat admits, the answer to whether she would end up in the industry would have been, “absolutely not”. What began as an interest in helping people navigate important financial decisions became a genuine passion, built on the reward of helping someone buy a first home, build a property portfolio or reach a goal they thought was beyond them.
The results bear out that passion. A shareholder and the longest-serving team member at The Mortgage Girls, te Kaat has helped more than 800 clients over the course of her career. Her recognition in 2024 and 2025 has been considerable, including Liberty Adviser of the Year, the Pepper Money Adviser of the Year Excellence Award and a place among NZ Adviser’s Elite Women. Momentum has carried into the current year, with the practice assisting 19 clients a month year-to-date, up from 14 in the previous financial year.
“People first. Always,” is how te Kaat frames her approach. Mortgages matter, but in her view, the people behind them matter more, with every application representing a family, a dream or a fresh start. Anyone can complete paperwork; helping clients feel heard and supported through one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives is where she believes the difference is made.
Most of their firm’s growth comes from referrals and repeat business rather than chasing new leads. The secret, te Kaat says, “isn’t particularly glamorous: answer the phone, return emails, communicate regularly and genuinely care about the outcome.”
Getting an approval is only part of the job; success is a client reaching settlement informed and confident rather than overwhelmed, knowing the team is still there long after the keys change hands.
Consistency is the thread running through te Kaat’s account of the past 12 months: showing up every day, looking after clients and supporting the team. The constant evolution of lender policy is the harder part of the job. “Keeping up with lender policy changes can sometimes feel like trying to hit a moving target while riding a unicycle!” she says. Her answer is to stay relentlessly informed, “I deal with it by being a bit of a knowledge sponge.”
te Kaat’s focus now is sharpening the client experience through streamlined processes and technology, freeing up more time for the real work of helping clients reach their goals. Growth remains the ambition, but never at the expense of the personalised service that built the business, where every mortgage still has a story worth being part of.
Winston House Level 1/7, Winston Avenue, Papanui, Christchurch 8053
0800 864 864
info@themortgagegirls.co.nz
nz.linkedin.com/in/laura-te-kaat-69735a17a
themortgagegirls.co.nz
Laura te Kaat
Mobile Mortgage Adviser/Shareholder The Mortgage Girls
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Bio
Milestones
2018–Present
2021–Present
2024
2025
2025–Present
Mobile Mortgage Adviser at The Mortgage Girls
Helped 800+ clients and became the team’s longest-serving adviser
2018–Present
Shareholder of The Mortgage Girls
Qualified financial adviser with Level 5 and Closing the Gaps completed
2021–Present
Recognised by NZA in its Global 100 Mortgage list
Liberty Adviser of the Year
Pepper Money Adviser of the Year Residential
2024
Pepper Money Adviser of the Year - Excellence Award
Honoured as one of NZA’s Elite Women
800th client helped in May 2025
2025
19 clients assisted per month year-to-date, up from 14 in FY2025
Monthly settlements increased by approximately $2m
2025–Present
Milestones
“At this stage in my career, I’m not trying to impress clients with technical language. I’m focused on helping them make better decisions”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
“A message is only as strong as the receiver’s ability to understand it. Good intent isn’t enough if the client can’t clearly see the benefits and trade-offs”
William Chan,
Modern Vision Planning, Sterling Mutuals Inc.
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