Buying guide
Using KiwiSaver to buy your first home: how it works
Saving a deposit can be hard for first home buyers. Luckily, KiwiSaver and other schemes can help you out.
Last updated: 18 September 2026
AI summary
You can use your KiwiSaver for a deposit with a First Home Withdrawal. You must be a member for 3+ years and intend to live in the property. You can withdraw your balance down to a $1,000 minimum.
Apply through your provider with a signed agreement, allowing 10-15 working days to avoid settlement delays. This can be paired with a First Home Loan, underwritten by Kāinga Ora, which helps eligible buyers purchase with a 5% deposit.
In this article you’ll learn:
Can I use my KiwiSaver to buy a house?
Using KiwiSaver can make the maths on buying your first home a little less scary.
Your KiwiSaver manager will help you apply for your withdrawal.
The First Home Loan: using KiwiSaver alongside a low deposit
You'll need to check the eligibility criteria if you're going to apply for the First Home Loan.
How much deposit do you actually need?
Getting the right advice
From your first home to your forever home, start your search on Trade Me Property, NZ's #1 property site.
Search nowDiscover More
She’d never owned a home before buying this cute 1870s cottage. There was just one catch
A first-home buyer transformed a historic 1870s Wellington cottage into a character-filled home.
They found their dream home by accident. Now a devastating diagnosis is forcing them to sell
A dream Whanarua Bay home is being sold after a devastating cancer diagnosis changes their plans.
Search
Other articles you might like
