Kat McInnes
About Kat
Mortgage Adviser | FSP No. 744431
Squirrel Mortgages Ltd | FAP Licence No. 136364
Proudly recognised as one of New Zealand’s Top Mortgage Advisers 2025 by NZ Adviser (NZA).
With 20+ years in banking (Kiwibank, Westpac, and pretty much every role from teller to mobile mortgage manager), Kat knows residential lending inside out. She’s also a member of the FMA’s Financial Advice Regulatory Panel, and brings a bonus arts degree in Russian Political History — because why not?
Kat loves good food but hates cooking. Her forever comfort combo? Sashimi… ideally with a glass of wine. Outside the office, she’s all about family time with her husband, daughter, and chaotic Labrador. Weekends usually mean caravan life at the beach, a good book, and learning to roller skate. She’s also quietly brilliant at cryptic crosswords and currently teaching herself piano.
Kat specialises in first home buyers, construction lending and property investing.
Qualifications
NZ Certification in Financial Services.
How Kat is paid
Kat is a salaried adviser and is paid the same no matter which lender you choose, so there's no pressure or bias toward any particular option. At a company level, Squirrel is paid either upfront or through a combination of upfront and trail commissions by its lenders and insurance providers.
In most cases, her services are completely free, however there may be some occasions where she might need to charge a fee. For more information, please head to our mortgage advice disclosure page.
Kat's commitment to you
As a licensed financial adviser, Kat follows the rules set out by the Financial Markets Conduct Act and the Code of Professional Conduct. This means she must put your interests first, act with care, skill and diligence, be competent and ethical and treat you fairly. Kat has no relevant convictions, bankruptcies or disciplinary actions to disclose.
Squirrel Mortgages Limited holds a Financial Advice Provider Licence issued by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA).
If you’re unhappy with the advice or service you receive and want to make a complaint, you can view our complaints process here.
Kat's profile was last updated: September 2025
- Call027 880 5631
- Emailkat@squirrel.co.nz
Don’t just take our word for it
Henry Siwanzi
New Zealand
Tessa was amazing in guiding us through the process of purchasing our first home. Working with us from over a year before we made the purchase to get our finances in order before helping us make the purchase when we found the right house.
Viliame
New Zealand
As first-home buyers, we truly appreciated Sudam's guidance, patience, and clear communication every step of the way. He made what initially felt like a stressful process much smoother and much easier to understand. We're very grateful for all the effort Sudam put into helping us secure the right loan structure and competitive rates. Reaching this milestone is incredibly exciting for us, and we're glad to have had his support throughout the entire journey. Thank you, Sudam, for helping make our dream of homeownership a reality.
Holly
New Zealand
Really appreciate all the help given. Highly recommend
Jacob K
New Zealand
I recently completed a full refinance, and I had the privilege of working with Ari Bains - Mortgage Adviser Christchurch, throughout the entire process. Ari was exceptional from start to finish. He handled every step with efficiency, clarity, and genuine care, making what could have been a stressful financial transition feel smooth and well‑managed. Ari took the time to understand my situation in detail and provided clear guidance at every stage. His communication was prompt, professional, and reassuring, and he consistently went the extra mile to ensure everything was completed correctly and on time. I felt supported, informed, and confident in every decision because of his expertise. If you are looking for someone who is knowledgeable, reliable, and truly committed to helping you achieve the best financial outcome, I highly recommend Ari Bains. His service has been outstanding, and I am genuinely grateful for his help.