First Home Grant for New Builds NZ — Now Closed (What It Used to Offer)

The First Home Grant — administered by Kāinga Ora — used to provide eligible first home buyers with up to $10,000 per person (or $20,000 for two eligible buyers) toward the purchase of a new build property, before it was discontinued for new applications in May 2024. New builds attracted higher price caps than existing homes under the old scheme, recognising that new construction typically cost more. The information below describes how the closed scheme worked, for reference — it is not something you can apply for today.

Grant Amount — New Build (Historical, Closed May 2024)

For two eligible buyers purchasing together, this doubles — up to $20,000 combined.

“New build” definition: A property that has never been lived in and has received its code compliance certificate (CCC) within the last 12 months. Off-plan purchases also qualify.

New Build Price Caps (Historical — No Longer Applicable)

These were the price caps that applied to the First Home Grant for new builds before it closed:

These caps stopped mattering when the grant closed on 22 May 2024 — they’re shown here for historical reference only, not as current figures. For comparison, note that these are unrelated to the First Home Loan’s price caps, which were separately removed nationwide from 1 June 2022 and don’t exist in any form today.

For comparison, the old existing-home price caps under this same (now-closed) grant were typically $75,000–$100,000 lower per region.

Eligibility Criteria (Historical — Applied Before the May 2024 Closure)

To have qualified for the First Home Grant on a new build while it was still open, you needed to:

1. Be a first home buyer — or have not owned property in the past (some exceptions applied for previous owners who no longer owned property and met the “second chance” criteria)
2. Be a KiwiSaver member for 3+ years — with regular contributions (minimum 3% of salary, or $1,000/year if self-employed/on a break)
3. Have income within caps — $95,000 gross individual; $150,000 combined (before tax, for the previous 12 months)
4. Have a purchase price within the regional cap — see table above
5. Intend to live in the property for at least 6 months — could not be used for investment purchases
6. Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

None of these criteria can be newly satisfied for a fresh application — the scheme is closed. They’re listed here only so readers understand what the grant used to require.

First Home Grant vs KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal (Historical Comparison)

While the grant was open, these were two separate schemes that could be used simultaneously:

Most eligible first home buyers used both while the grant was open — the grant was additional money on top of your KiwiSaver withdrawal, not a replacement. Today, only the KiwiSaver withdrawal remains.

How to Apply — Not Applicable Anymore

The steps below describe how the (now-closed) grant application process used to work, kept for historical reference. You cannot apply for the First Home Grant today under any process — Kāinga Ora is not accepting new applications.

1. Pre-apply at kaingaora.govt.nz to get an eligibility decision
2. Find a property and sign a sale and purchase agreement (conditional on grant/finance)
3. Apply for the full grant with your sale and purchase agreement, KiwiSaver membership certificate, and income evidence
4. Settlement — Kāinga Ora pays the grant directly to your solicitor

If you already applied and were approved before the 22 May 2024 cut-off, your approved grant should still be honoured at settlement — check directly with Kāinga Ora. For everyone else, see the First Home Loan and KiwiSaver first home withdrawal for what’s actually available now.

What You Can Still Combine (2026): First Home Loan + KiwiSaver

The grant is gone, but the First Home Loan still works well alongside your KiwiSaver withdrawal for a new build purchase:

• 5% deposit from your savings and/or KiwiSaver withdrawal (no house price cap applies — removed nationwide from 1 June 2022)
• 95% mortgage via the First Home Loan guarantee
• A one-off 1.2% Lenders Mortgage Insurance premium applies on the loan (since 1 July 2025), payable upfront or added to the loan

This remains one of the more accessible combinations for first home buyers with limited savings — it just no longer includes a cash grant on top.

Frequently Asked Questions (About the Closed Grant)

Does the First Home Grant still apply to house and land packages?

No — the grant is closed to all new applicants regardless of property type, including house and land packages and off-plan new builds. This was true of the scheme while it was open, but it no longer matters since no new applications are accepted.

What if I already applied before the grant closed?

Applications submitted and approved before 1:00pm on 22 May 2024 are still being honoured. If you’re unsure of your application’s status, contact Kāinga Ora directly.

Can I still use KiwiSaver toward a new build deposit?

Yes. The KiwiSaver first home withdrawal is unaffected by the grant’s closure and remains fully available, with no house price cap.

What replaced the First Home Grant?

Nothing directly — the Government redirected the funding rather than replacing it with an equivalent scheme. The First Home Loan (5% deposit, no price cap) and the KiwiSaver first home withdrawal are what’s left, and remain genuinely useful for new build buyers.

What if I previously owned property?

This was relevant to the old grant’s “second chance” provision and remains relevant to the First Home Loan and KiwiSaver withdrawal today: if you previously owned property but no longer do, and your financial position is similar to a first home buyer’s, Kāinga Ora may still approve you on a case-by-case basis. Contact them directly to discuss your situation.

Related Guides

• First Home Grant NZ — Full Guide
• KiwiSaver First Home Withdrawal
• First Home Loan NZ (5% Deposit)
• New Build LVR Exemption NZ