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Evidence · Home lending

The questions and original answers

Explore every question and captured response in the home-lending study, including answers asked nationally and from four cities.

questions
193
captured answers
1,094
AI platforms
4
collected
11 October 2026

01

Every question, with its answers

Each question was written as a voter would ask it and went to all four assistants. Some were also asked from a town. Open a question to read every answer to it in full.

Showing 20 of 193 questions

Show all 193

02

The tables behind the study

Every figure on the study page comes from these tables. They are CSV files, which open in any spreadsheet.

  • Question catalogue

    questions.csv

    One row per question.

    Question ID, borrower, exact question, group and collected answers

    193rows

    Download question catalogue (CSV)

  • Answers

    answers.csv

    One row per answer, with its full text.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, city, words, coded recommendations, showed a link and full text

    1,094rows

    Download answers (CSV)

  • Sources by answer

    sources.csv

    One row for each website recorded as a source of an answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, assistant, city, website and publisher type

    4,574rows

    Download sources by answer (CSV)

  • Checks against official sources

    checks.csv

    One row per statement checked.

    Check, answer ID, assistant, what the answer said, verdict, what the source says, source and date

    4rows

    Download checks against official sources (CSV)

  • Recommendation coding

    recommendation-coding.csv

    One row per coded national loan-choice or support answer.

    Answer ID, question ID, borrower, assistant, question group, recommended lenders and supporting passages

    360rows

    Download recommendation coding (CSV)

  • Platform comparisons

    platform-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per platform, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    105rows

    Download platform comparisons (CSV)

  • City comparisons

    city-recommendation-counts.csv

    One row per city, lender and question group.

    Matched panel, recommended answers, denominator and supporting answer IDs

    112rows

    Download city comparisons (CSV)

Use these tables to trace findings back to the original questions and answers. The full text of each answer is also on this page, under its question.

03

Read in full and checked

Some answers were read in detail or checked against official sources. Those appear on the study page, beside the findings they support.

ChatGPT · National

My partner and I are separating and disagree about who should pay the joint mortgage on our home while we sort things out. Who should I speak to first?

I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. Separating is difficult enough without the added stress of disagreeing about the mortgage on your home.

In New Zealand, I’d suggest speaking to a family lawyer first, while also contacting your mortgage lender early. These two conversations serve different purposes: a lawyer can help you understand your legal responsibilities and rights, while your lender can explain your options for keeping the mortgage payments up to date while you and your partner work things out.

1. Speak to a family lawyer first

A family lawyer who specialises in relationship property can advise you on who should pay the mortgage while you are separated and before you reach a formal agreement.

They can help you understand:

  • Your responsibility for the mortgage: If you both signed the mortgage or loan agreement, you will generally both remain responsible to the lender, even if one of you moves out.
  • Whether payments should be shared: The fair arrangement between you may depend on your respective incomes, who is living in the house, how the property is owned, and your wider financial circumstances.
  • What happens if one person pays more: If you cover more than your agreed share, you may want to understand whether and how those payments could be accounted for when your relationship property is divided.
  • How to formalise an agreement: A lawyer can help you establish a temporary arrangement while you decide whether to sell the home, have one partner buy out the other, or retain the property for now.

You don't necessarily have to begin a court process. Getting independent legal advice early can help you avoid misunderstandings and protect your position while you negotiate.

2. Contact your mortgage lender promptly

Your bank or mortgage provider should be your next call, particularly if you are worried that the next payment might be missed.

Ask them:

  • What happens if one of you cannot afford your usual contribution?
  • Are there temporary repayment options if your circumstances have changed?
  • What options are available if you cannot agree on who will pay?
  • What would be required if one of you eventually wants to take over the mortgage?

Important: If you both signed the mortgage, don't assume that moving out or agreeing between yourselves that one person will pay releases the other from their obligations to the lender. Your lender's consent may be required to change the loan arrangements.

Until you have a clear plan, try to avoid missed payments, as these can affect both of you. Your lawyer can help you assess your options if neither of you can afford to cover the payments alone.

3. If you cannot afford a lawyer

There are free or lower-cost options available in New Zealand.

4. What should you do about the mortgage in the meantime?

If you and your partner can communicate safely, try to agree on a temporary arrangement while you obtain legal advice.

Record in writing:

  • Who will pay the mortgage and how much each person will contribute.
  • Who will cover rates, insurance and other home-related expenses.
  • How long the arrangement will last before you review it.
  • How you will record any payments made by one person on behalf of the other.

This should be treated as an interim arrangement, not necessarily the final division of your assets and debts. If you eventually agree on how to divide your relationship property, New Zealand law requires independent legal advice for each of you and specific formalities for an agreement to be legally effective. justice.govt.nz, justice.govt.nz

Can I help you work out your next step?

There is one important detail that would help me give you more specific guidance.

Are you and your partner both still living in the house, or has one of you moved out?

That can make a difference when considering a fair temporary mortgage arrangement, alongside your respective incomes, ownership arrangements and legal obligations.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

My partner and I are separating and disagree about who should pay the joint mortgage on our home while we sort things out. Who should I speak to first?

Going through a separation is stressful, and figuring out financial obligations like a joint mortgage can quickly become a major point of tension.

Who Should You Speak to First?

In New Zealand, you should speak to a family lawyer first, followed very closely by your mortgage lender (the bank).

Here is why this order matters and what you need to know about your joint mortgage obligations under New Zealand law:

Key Steps and Practical Realities

  • 1. Seek Independent Legal Advice (Family Lawyer)
    • Why: Under New Zealand's Property (Relationships) Act 1976, the family home is generally treated as relationship property, meaning both partners share equal responsibility and equal rights to it, regardless of whose name is on the title or who has been paying the bills.
    • Action: A family lawyer will help you understand your rights, protect your credit rating, and ensure that any interim payments you make now are properly accounted for when the final property division is settled.
  • 2. Contact Your Mortgage Lender (The Bank)
    • Why: From the bank’s perspective, a joint mortgage means joint and several liability. This means that legally, both of you are 100% responsible for the full mortgage payment. If your partner stops paying and you only pay your "half," the bank views the mortgage as in arrears.
    • Action: Inform the bank that you have separated. Ask them about temporary repayment relief or options (such as interest-only payments for a short period) while you and your partner sort out a permanent solution.
  • 3. Track Every Dollar
    • Action: Keep clear records of any mortgage payments or household expenses you pay from your personal accounts after the separation. Your lawyer will use these records to calculate credits or adjustments during your final property settlement.

Common Pathways Moving Forward

As you navigate discussions with your lawyer and partner, you will generally look at one of three options for the home:

  1. Sell the home: This is often the cleanest break. The mortgage is paid off from the sale proceeds, and the remaining cash is split.
  2. One partner buys out the other: One person retains the house by refinancing the mortgage into their sole name and buying out the other's share of equity.
  3. Joint ownership continues temporarily: Sometimes couples agree to keep ownership for a set period (e.g., for children's stability), which must be formalized through a legal agreement.

Would you like to explore what documentation you should gather for your initial meeting with a family lawyer?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

My partner and I are separating and disagree about who should pay the joint mortgage on our home while we sort things out. Who should I speak to first?

You should speak to your mortgage lender (the bank) first to protect your credit record, followed immediately by a family lawyer.

Immediate Steps to Take

  1. Contact Your Bank:
  • Joint and several liability: Under a joint mortgage in New Zealand, the bank holds both of you entirely responsible for the full debt, regardless of your private separation arrangements.
  • Credit damage: If your partner refuses to pay and a payment is missed, both of your credit scores will be severely damaged , which can block you from getting a future home loan.
  • Hardship assistance: Inform the bank immediately about the separation. Ask to flag the account and discuss temporary relief options, such as interest-only payments or a temporary repayment pause, while you sort things out. [Home Loan Factory]
  1. Consult a Family Lawyer:
  • Independent legal advice: You and your partner need separate New Zealand Family Lawyers to understand your rights under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976.
  • Tracking contributions: Keep meticulous records of any mortgage payments you make during this interim period. A lawyer can ensure that any payments you make now toward the joint debt are accounted for and credited or adjusted when the final relationship property is divided.
  1. Utilize Free Guidance Services:
  • If you need initial, free guidance before a formal lawyer meeting, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for basic information on your rights and obligations regarding shared property. [New Zealand Government]

If you'd like, let me know:

  • Whether one of you still lives in the house or if it is currently vacant
  • The name of your bank or lender type

I can provide more tailored guidance on hardship options available or how interim occupation and mortgage payments are typically handled in New Zealand.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

My partner and I are separating and disagree about who should pay the joint mortgage on our home while we sort things out. Who should I speak to first?

AI Overview

You should speak to your lender or bank first to notify them of the situation, followed immediately by a family lawyer.

In New Zealand, if a mortgage is in both of your names, you are jointly and severally liable. This means that in the eyes of the bank, both partners are 100% responsible for ensuring the full mortgage repayments are made on time, regardless of who still lives in the house, who is contributing, or any informal disagreements you are having. If one partner refuses to pay, the bank still expects the full payment from the other; missed payments will instantly damage the credit scores of both individuals.

1. Talk to Your Bank / Lender Immediately

  • Why: You need to protect your credit rating and prevent the loan from falling into arrears.

  • What to ask for: Inform them that you are separating and experiencing a dispute over payments. Ask what temporary relief options are available. Depending on your situation, banks can often offer short-term solutions like hardship assistance , switching temporarily to interest-only payments , or a brief payment holiday while you sort out the legalities.

2. Speak to a Family Lawyer

  • Why: To understand your legal rights regarding the house and how the mortgage payments will be balanced out during the final property settlement.

  • What they can do: Under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976, the family home and the mortgage are typically split 50/50. If you end up paying the entire mortgage yourself during the separation period to protect your credit, a lawyer can ensure those extra contributions are tracked. They can argue for you to be compensated through occupational rent (if your partner is living there while you pay) or by adjusting the final asset split so you receive a larger share of the equity to offset your extra payments.

Summary of Initial Actions

  • Do not stop paying: If you can afford to cover the gap temporarily, do so to protect your credit record until a legal structure is in place.

  • Gather documents: Download your current mortgage agreement, recent bank statements, and property documents.

  • Keep everything in writing: Keep a paper trail of any financial requests you make to your ex-partner and how they respond.

To help give you more specific guidance, could you tell me:

  • Is one of you still living in the home , or have you both moved out?

  • Are you currently able to cover the full payment on your own short-term to protect your credit, or is that financially impossible?

  • Do you think your partner would be open to mediation , or is communication entirely broken down?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026