On 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is now part of the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.

First Home Partner

First Home Partner is a shared ownership scheme for first home buyers who can service a standard mortgage but don’t have a big enough deposit or don’t qualify for a big enough home loan to buy a place on their own.

With First Home Partner, Kāinga Ora takes an equity share in a house, which the household buys out over time.

Unlike other PHO schemes, where providers will match applicants to homes, with First Home Partner, applicants must find a suitable home themselves.

Find out more about eligibility for First Home Partner and how to apply on the Kāinga Ora website.(external link)