Reference · Last checked 2 September 2026 · Maintained by Arapeta Albert, Financial Adviser (FSP433026)
Government first-home support changes, and a lot of what you will read online is out of date. This page records what is open, what is closed, and when each was last checked against the authority that issues it.
Status as at 2 September 2026. Every row links to the issuing authority so you can check it yourself.
| Status | Scheme | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPEN | KiwiSaver first home withdrawal Ongoing |
Withdraw your KiwiSaver balance toward a first home, leaving a minimum of $1,000 in the account. You must have been a member for at least 3 years. | Inland Revenue |
| OPEN | Kāinga Ora First Home Loan Ongoing |
Buy with as little as a 5% deposit through participating lenders. Income caps apply, and a one-off Kāinga Ora lender's mortgage insurance premium is charged on the loan. | Kāinga Ora |
| OPEN | Progressive (shared) home ownership via approved providers Providers still open |
Shared and progressive home ownership is still available through approved providers such as the New Zealand Housing Foundation and Habitat for Humanity. The government fund stopped taking new provider applications on 30 June 2024, but approved providers continue to take buyers. | Housing and Urban Development |
| CLOSED | Kāinga Ora First Home Partner Closed to new applications |
The shared ownership scheme where Kāinga Ora co-purchased a share of your home. Fully subscribed and not accepting new applications. Kāinga Ora continues to work with buyers already in the scheme. | Kāinga Ora |
| CLOSED | First Home Grant Closed 22 May 2024 |
The grant of up to $10,000 per buyer toward a first home. Permanently closed by the Government and the funding redirected to social housing. Still widely described online as available. | Kāinga Ora |
These cap what share of a bank's new lending can sit outside the standard thresholds. They are not a rule about you individually: a bank can still decline you inside its allowance, or lend to you outside it.
Banks may write up to 25% of new owner-occupier lending to buyers with less than a 20% deposit, and up to 10% of new investor lending above a 70% LVR.
In force since 1 December 2025. Maintained at the Reserve Bank's annual review on 14 August 2026. (Source: RBNZ)
Banks may write up to 20% of new owner-occupier lending above a DTI of 6, and up to 20% of new investor lending above a DTI of 7.
In force since 1 July 2024. (Source: RBNZ)
Each entry is checked against the authority that issues it, not against other commentary. The "last checked" date at the top is the date every row was last confirmed, whether or not anything had changed. When something does change, the change log below records it.
If you spot something out of date, tell us at arapeta@trebla.nz and we will check it.
2 September 2026. Page created. All seven entries checked against the issuing authority.
This page is general information about New Zealand home lending, not personalised financial advice. Scheme rules and eligibility change, and what applies to you depends on your circumstances. Talk to a Trebla Financial Adviser before acting on it.
