The First Home Grant in 2026: What Happened and What's Left
The First Home Grant no longer exists. The government closed it to new applications on 30 May 2024. The good news is that the other first home support, the First Home Loan and your KiwiSaver first home withdrawal, is still available. Here is exactly what changed and what you can still use.
See What You Qualify ForIs the First Home Grant still available?
No. The First Home Grant is closed. Kāinga Ora stopped accepting new applications on 30 May 2024, the day it was announced in the government's 2024 Budget. It has not been reinstated, and no direct replacement grant has been introduced. If you are searching for it in 2026, it is no longer something you can apply for.
The grant used to give eligible buyers a cash contribution towards a first home, up to $10,000 per buyer for some new builds and less for existing homes. That money is no longer on the table. The funding was redirected to other housing priorities.
What happened to the First Home Grant?
The First Home Grant was scrapped in the government's 2024 Budget. Applications closed immediately on 30 May 2024, with the government saying the money would be better spent on social housing places. Existing approvals were honoured for a limited window, but those have all since expired.
Importantly, the government kept the First Home Loan (the low deposit scheme, previously the Welcome Home Loan), describing it as a more effective way to help buyers get over the deposit hurdle. So while the cash grant is gone, the low deposit pathway is not.
Source: RNZ, government confirms First Home Grants to be scrapped (2024 Budget).
What first home support is still available?
Two big ones remain: the First Home Loan, which lets eligible buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, and your KiwiSaver first home withdrawal, which lets you take out almost your whole balance towards the deposit.
First Home Loan (5% deposit)
Underwritten by Kāinga Ora and offered through participating lenders, the First Home Loan lets eligible first home buyers borrow with just a 5% deposit instead of the usual 20%. Income caps apply: broadly $95,000 for a single buyer with no dependants, and $150,000 for a single buyer with dependants or for two or more buyers combined. Confirm the current figures with a participating lender or with us.
KiwiSaver first home withdrawal
If you have been in KiwiSaver for at least 3 years, you can withdraw almost all of your balance (leaving $1,000 in) to put towards your first home. For most buyers this is the single largest part of the deposit.
First home schemes at a glance
| Scheme | Status in 2026 | What it gives you | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Home Grant | Closed | Was a cash grant towards a first home | Closed to new applications 30 May 2024 |
| First Home Loan | Active | Buy with as little as a 5% deposit | Income caps apply, owner-occupied only |
| KiwiSaver withdrawal | Active | Withdraw your balance (minus $1,000) for the deposit | 3 years of membership, must live in the home |
Scheme status confirmed against Kāinga Ora and RNZ reporting, July 2026. Income caps and scheme rules can change, so confirm the current detail before you rely on it.
What to do now the grant is gone
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Add up your KiwiSaverCheck your balance and how long you have been a member. For most first home buyers this is the biggest single chunk of the deposit.
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Check First Home Loan eligibilityIf your income is within the caps, a 5% deposit could be enough. We can tell you quickly whether you fit and which lenders offer it.
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Get a realistic borrowing figureKnowing what you can actually borrow, and the price range that follows, matters far more than the old grant ever did.
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Talk to an adviserWe line up the schemes you qualify for, compare 25+ lenders, and handle the paperwork. It is free, because we are paid by the lender.
First Home Grant FAQs
No. The First Home Grant closed to new applications on 30 May 2024 and has not been reinstated. You cannot apply for it in 2026.
Nothing replaced it directly. The government kept the other main forms of support instead: the First Home Loan (5% deposit) and the KiwiSaver first home withdrawal. The grant funding was redirected to social housing.
Yes. The First Home Loan is still active and lets eligible buyers purchase with as little as a 5% deposit, subject to income caps. Combined with a KiwiSaver withdrawal, many first home buyers still get in with a modest deposit.
There is no plan to bring it back as of 2026. Government housing support can change with each Budget, so it is worth focusing on the help that exists now rather than waiting for a grant that may not return.
Approvals granted before the scheme closed were honoured only for a limited period, which has now passed. In practice, the grant is no longer claimable. Your KiwiSaver withdrawal and the First Home Loan remain available.
No. They were always separate. The grant was extra government money on top of your own savings. A KiwiSaver first home withdrawal is you taking out your own KiwiSaver balance. KiwiSaver is unaffected by the grant closing.
The First Home Grant is gone, but you still have options.
We will map out every scheme you actually qualify for, work out your deposit and borrowing power, and compare 25+ lenders. It is completely free, because we are paid by the lender, not by you.
