Couple left in the dark

Kate Sutherland says advice is hard to find. Photo / Doug Sherring

Auckland graphic designer Kate Sutherland joined KiwiSaver as soon as it launched with the intention of using the first-home scheme when the time came.

Now she and her partner are house-hunting and have all but given up on trying to utilise the assistance.

"I've had a look at some of the things online, but it's just all been too hard. We qualify for some things but not others."

The couple will probably end up buying a house worth more than the $400,000 Auckland cap.

Sutherland says she was surprised that the possibility of KiwiSaver help wasn't brought up when they went to their bank to apply for a loan.

"There seems to be so much marketing material and pamphlets to do with signing up [to KiwiSaver], but there's nothing to do with account maintenance and actually finding out your balance. You're sort of in the dark."