New Zealand has three credit reporting agencies: Centrix, Equifax and illion. Each holds a file on most adults, showing credit applications, accounts, defaults and, for many lenders, whether you've paid on time.
You can ask each agency for a free copy of your file. Check it before you apply: errors can be corrected, and knowing what's there means no surprises.
Every application for credit can show up on your file. Lots of applications in a short time can make lenders cautious, which is one reason to compare options before applying.