Help available from Kāinga Ora

You may be able to get some help from Kāinga Ora to buy or build your first home. What you can get depends on your situation. Find out what help is available and how to apply:

• First Home Loan
• Kāinga Whenua Loan
• Tenant home ownership

‘First Home Loan’ for buyers with a low deposit

Most home loan lenders require a minimum 20% deposit. With a First Home Loan, you only need a 5% deposit. Kāinga Ora underwrite the loan, this means that bank or lender can accept a 5% deposit when they usually would not be able to. There’s specific criteria you’ll need to meet to get the loan.

You can use your KiwiSaver savings for your 5% deposit, see KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal.

Check the Kāinga Ora website to see if you meet the criteria, and which banks and lenders offer First Home Loans.

First home loan — Kāinga Ora

‘Kāinga Whenua Loan’ for Māori to buy or build on Māori land

The Kāinga Whenua Loan is an opportunity for Māori to build, purchase or relocate a house on Māori land that has shared ownership. The loans are also available for Māori collectives, including land trusts.

Kāinga Whenua — Kāinga Ora

‘Tenant home ownership’ grant for Kāinga Ora tenants

If you’re currently a Kāinga Ora tenant, you may be eligible for a grant to go towards buying the home you’re living in.

The tenant home ownership grant is a gift of 10% of the purchase price of selected Kāinga Ora houses up to a maximum of $20,000.

Houses in some areas are not available for tenant home ownership, check the Kāinga Ora website.

Tenant home ownership — Kāinga Ora

Help that’s no longer available

‘First Home Partner’ scheme

A co-ownership scheme with Kāinga Ora for people with a 5% deposit. Kāinga Ora pay the rest of the deposit which must be paid back within 15 years.

The First Home Partner scheme is now full, no new applications are being accepted.

First Home Partner — Kāinga Ora

‘First Home Grant’ for KiwiSaver members

A grant of up to $5000 (or $10,000 for a new build) to help with a deposit for a home. The First Home Grant finished in May 2024, and is no longer available.

KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal

You can apply to withdraw your KiwiSaver to put towards buying your first home if you’ve been in KiwiSaver for at least 3 years.

There are some rules around what money can be withdrawn. You need to apply for the withdrawal directly from your scheme provider.

Getting my KiwiSaver funds for my first home — Inland Revenue

Previous home-owners using KiwiSaver

You may be able to use your KiwiSaver to buy a house if you previously owned a home but are now in the same position as a first-home buyer.

You’ll need to ask Kāinga Ora to check whether you qualify. If they find that you are in the same financial position as a first-home buyer, Kāinga Ora will send a letter to your KiwiSaver scheme provider.

You still need to apply directly to your scheme provider for the KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal.

KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal — Kāinga Ora

Superannuation funds that are not KiwiSaver

If you’re contributing to a superannuation fund scheme other than KiwiSaver, you may be able to withdraw funds to help buy your first home. Check with your scheme provider if they offer this.

To use a non-KiwiSaver fund for a Kāinga Ora ‘First Home Loan’ deposit, contact Kāinga Ora to ask if they accept that specific fund for their applications.

Contact us — Kāinga Ora

Overseas person wanting to buy in NZ

There are rules for buying or building residential property in New Zealand. Find out who can buy or build in New Zealand and what consent is required.

Buying or building a house to live in — Land Information New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand has a tool on their website to help you find out whether you’re allowed buy or build a house in New Zealand.

Buying or building a house — Immigration New Zealand