Todd Muller: First-homes for Kiwi Families

Todd Muller MP for Bay of Plenty says almost 6,300 KiwiSaver HomeStart grants have been approved. Photo/John Borren

Buying a first home is exciting, but it can also be a challenge for many average New Zealanders. Thanks to the Government's KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme, thousands more New Zealanders have been helped into achieving the Kiwi dream of home ownership.

In April this year, the Government doubled support for first-home buyers and since then almost 6,300 KiwiSaver HomeStart grants have been approved.

Young families around the country are telling us they couldn't have bought their home without this scheme, and that it really is a "dream come true."

These grants are helping people right across New Zealand, not just in the main cities. We've had feedback from Tauranga to Invercargill.

Around another 2,500 additional applications have been pre-approved and those people are now looking for the right house to buy.

Couples buying a newly built home can receive Government grants of up to $20,000 and those buying an existing home can get up to $10,000 to put towards a deposit on their first home. First home buyers can now also withdraw almost all their KiwiSaver funds to put towards their first home.

The KiwiSaver HomeStart scheme is expected to help 90,000 New Zealanders into their first home over five years. The Government is investing $435 million into this scheme to support more Kiwi families onto the property ladder.

We've also expanded eligibility for Welcome Home Loans, which help first-home buyers with only a 10 per cent deposit. In the six months to September, nearly 1,200 new Welcome Home Loans were approved.

While KiwiSaver HomeStart is delivering on its goal to help thousands of New Zealanders into their first home, the Government also has a package of initiatives helping to improve housing affordability.

One of our main priorities is increasing the supply of housing. There are 1,900 new potential homes consented in the Bay through Special Housing Areas to date, which is a testament to the fantastic cooperation between our local councils and central Government.

The Government has also taken action to constrain building material costs, cut compliance costs, and improve productivity in the building industry. We're also ensuring everyone, whether from New Zealand or overseas, pays their fair share of tax on housing investments. Through our wide reaching housing programme, the Government remains committed to helping more New Zealanders into their own home.