First-home rules
Two schemes matter for most first-home buyers: withdrawing your KiwiSaver for the deposit, and the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan's 5% deposit route.
Last updated 2026-07-24 · Official source: Kāinga Ora — first-home withdrawal
KiwiSaver first-home withdrawal
| Condition | Value |
|---|---|
| In force since | 1 April 2015 |
| Minimum membership | 3 years |
| Must stay in the account | $1,000 |
| You can withdraw | own contributions, employer contributions, government contributions, investment returns |
| Excluded from withdrawal | Amounts transferred from an Australian complying superannuation scheme; Government contributions received while living overseas without NZ permanent residence |
| Previous owners | May qualify via Kāinga Ora second-chance assessment |
The current withdrawal set dates from the Taxation (KiwiSaver HomeStart and Remedial Matters) Act 2015, in force 1 April 2015, which amended clauses 8(4)(a) and 8(7)(a) of Schedule 1 to the KiwiSaver Act 2006. It made government contributions (then member tax credits) withdrawable and left only the $1,000 to remain. The 3-year membership test and the $1,000 retained balance are confirmed current on IRD's live page. Each buyer applies separately through their own provider — confirm your withdrawable amount with your provider before going unconditional.
First Home Loan (Kāinga Ora)
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| In force since | 1 July 2025 |
| Minimum deposit | 5% |
| Lender's mortgage insurance premium | See Kāinga Ora for the current rate |
| Income cap — single buyer, no dependants | $95,000 |
| Income cap — otherwise | $150,000 |
| Exempt from LVR and DTI restrictions | Yes |
| House price caps | None nationally |
National house price caps were removed on 1 June 2022. There is no national price cap. Kāinga Ora's live page is authoritative.
First Home Grant
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued |
| Closed to new applications | 22 May 2024 |
The First Home Grant was scrapped on 22 May 2024 with applications closing from 1:00pm that day. No replacement grant exists.
Last updated · 24 July 2026
Confirm figures against the official source before acting. Methodology · Corrections.