First Home Buyer Resources NZ (2026)
A current, plain-English list of the support that still exists for first home buyers in New Zealand — and the schemes that have closed but are still floating around online.
Last updated: June 2026
Ishvinder Pal Singh
Financial Adviser — Finance in NZ (FSP1010951)
Auckland mortgage and finance adviser, accredited with ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Co-operative Bank and a broad panel of non-bank lenders. I find the right fit for first home buyers, investors, and business owners.
Last updated: June 2026
Quick answer
The First Home Grant closed on 22 May 2024 and there is no replacement cash grant. Several supports are still live in 2026:
- Kāinga Ora First Home Loan (5% deposit, with income caps)
- KiwiSaver first home withdrawal (after 3 years' membership)
- Tenant Home Ownership Grant (Kāinga Ora tenants, up to $20,000)
- Kāinga Whenua Loan (building/buying on multiple-owned Māori land)
A. Live government support (2026)
These are the schemes currently open to new applicants.
Kāinga Ora First Home Loan
A government-underwritten home loan that lets eligible first home buyers purchase with just a 5% deposit instead of the usual 20%. Income caps apply (around $95,000 for a single buyer, $150,000 for two or more buyers / buyers with dependants), there are no national house-price caps, and the loan sits outside the main banks' LVR and DTI restrictions.
KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal
If you've been a KiwiSaver member for at least three years and are buying your first home to live in, you can withdraw almost all of your balance toward the purchase. You must leave a minimum of $1,000 in the account; apply through your KiwiSaver provider and start the paperwork 4–6 weeks before settlement so the funds land with your solicitor in time.
Tenant Home Ownership Grant
A targeted grant for existing Kāinga Ora tenants who want to buy the home they currently rent (or another Kāinga Ora-approved property). It contributes up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at $20,000, and is paid alongside a standard mortgage.
Kāinga Whenua Loan
A loan product for Māori wanting to build, buy or relocate a home on multiple-owned Māori land — where standard banks usually can't lend because the land can't be used as security. Delivered through Kiwibank in partnership with Kāinga Ora.
B. Closed schemes you may still see online
These schemes are no longer accepting new applications. If a website still suggests you can apply, it's out of date.
First Home Grant
Closed on 22 May 2024. Applications submitted before that date were honoured under the old rules, but the grant is no longer available and has not been replaced with a new cash grant.
First Home Partner
Kāinga Ora's shared-ownership scheme is fully subscribed and is no longer taking new applications. Existing partners continue under their original arrangements.
Progressive Home Ownership Fund
The government's Progressive Home Ownership Fund closed to new providers and applications on 30 June 2024. Some community housing providers may still run their own rent-to-own style products separately.
C. Independent & official information
Trusted, non-commercial sources for cross-checking anything you read on a lender's site — including this one.
Sorted.org.nz
Independent, government-funded money guidance from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission. Strong first home buyer guides, KiwiSaver explainers and budgeting tools.
Visit siteSettled.govt.nz
The Real Estate Authority's official buyer education site. Walks through offers, auctions, LIMs, builders' reports and settlement — written for buyers, not agents.
Visit siteRBNZ — LVR & DTI rules
The Reserve Bank sets the loan-to-value (LVR) speed limits and the debt-to-income (DTI) caps that banks operate under. Worth a glance before assuming you can borrow 6× income.
Visit sitegovt.nz — First Home
Plain-English overview of buying your first home, including links to KiwiSaver, Kāinga Ora and tenancy resources.
Visit siteLINZ — Who can buy or build
Land Information New Zealand explains the Overseas Investment rules — useful if you, your partner or a co-buyer is not an NZ or Australian citizen / resident.
Visit siteD. Our free tools
Built for the NZ market and updated alongside RBNZ rule changes.
Frequently asked questions
Not sure which of these applies to you?
A free 30-minute chat is usually all it takes to map your KiwiSaver, deposit and lender options.
This page is general information, not personalised financial advice. Eligibility criteria, caps and rules change — always confirm details with the relevant government agency or your adviser before making decisions. Last updated: June 2026.
