Kāinga Whenua

The Kāinga Whenua Loan Scheme is an initiative between Kāinga Ora and Kiwibank to help Māori achieve home ownership on multiply-owned land.

Obtaining finance to develop housing on Māori land can be difficult because the land type makes it hard for lenders to take security over the house and land, as they do with normal housing loans. A Kāinga Whenua loan is secured against the house, not against the house and land as with most home loans. Kāinga Ora provides lenders’ mortgage insurance for the loan.

Kiwibank approves and provides the loan, and you will need to meet their standard lending criteria as well as our Kāinga Whenua criteria.

In order to take security over just the house, a Kāinga Whenua loan has a few requirements on the type of houses you can build or purchase. They must be, one-storey, of at least 50 sqm, built on piles, and with reasonable road access, on the mainland North or South islands.

The loans are available for both Māori collectives, and individuals with a right to occupy their multiply-owned Māori land. The requirements and application process are different for collectives, and individuals, so please select the option you are interested in to learn more.

Find out more about

• Kāinga Whenua loan for individuals
• Kāinga Whenua loan for Collectives
• Buying or building a new home with a Kāinga Whenua loan [PDF, 1.4 MB]

Next steps

To find out if you are eligible for a Kāinga Whenua loan, call Kiwibank on 0800 272 278.

Building on multiply-owned Māori land can be a long and complicated process. Kāinga Ora is here to support you through the process and you can call us on 0800 801 601 with any questions.