Auckland City Mission says vulnerable people dependent on the charity of others need to be protected from predatory lenders.
Auckland City Missioner Diane Robertson has addressed about 250 people involved in the financial lending industry at a financial summit.
She says people are being forced to borrow from lenders that are not banks or credit unions to pay for things which they need to survive.
Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Power Power says the summit will determine solutions for problem debts in New Zealand, and discuss responsible lending, advertising and the financial literacy of borrowers and the lenders.
He says that could require some amendments to legislation.