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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

Which bank is best for flexible mortgage repayments if you're a contractor who just bought your first home?

For a contractor who has just bought their first home in New Zealand, I’d start by comparing Kiwibank and BNZ, particularly if you want to make larger mortgage repayments when work is busy, keep more cash available between contracts, and avoid being locked into rigid repayment rules.

The best bank depends on what you mean by flexibility: being able to make extra repayments, being able to redraw money in a quiet month, or reducing interest on the cash you keep in reserve.

My top bank choices

1. Kiwibank

My first choice to compare

Best if you want flexible repayments and a buffer for quieter contracting periods.

Watch out: Revolving credit needs disciplined budgeting, and money paid directly into an offset loan generally cannot be withdrawn again.

Explore Kiwibank home loan options

2. BNZ

Best if you build up savings in your business or personal accounts between contracts.

Watch out: The floating rate can be higher than a fixed rate, and offsetting works best when you regularly maintain a cash balance.

Explore BNZ TotalMoney

3. ANZ

Best if you want to make irregular payments and retain access to borrowed funds.

  • Its Flexible Home Loan has no set repayments while you stay within the approved credit limit.
  • You can pay money in and redraw it when needed.
  • ANZ notes that this option often has the highest interest rate and a monthly fee. Flexible MortgageFloating mortgage

Watch out: You need strong cash-flow management to avoid continually reusing the credit you've paid off.

Explore ANZ Flexible Home Loan

What I would do in your position

For a first-home mortgage with contractor income, I would usually consider a split mortgage:

  • Most of the mortgage on a fixed rate: provides predictable minimum repayments.
  • A smaller portion on an offset or revolving facility: lets you use surplus income to reduce interest while keeping appropriate access to cash.
  • A separate emergency fund: covers tax, GST if applicable, business expenses and gaps between contracts.

For example, if you have a $600,000 mortgage and can reliably keep $25,000 in accessible savings, an offset loan could let you pay interest on a smaller effective balance. The actual saving depends on the offset rate, fees and how long that cash remains available.

If your mortgage is already in place, check the early repayment rules before making changes to any fixed-rate portion.

One important consideration for contractors

Loan flexibility is only half the decision. Banks can assess self-employed income differently, and some will want to see two years of business financial statements or tax returns. BNZ, for example, lists the last two annual business financial statements among its evidence options for self-employed applicants. Preparing for a home loan appointmentGaining pre-approval

If you already have your mortgage, you can focus on the repayment features and any costs involved in restructuring. If you're still choosing a lender, compare how each bank assesses your contracting income as well as its interest rates.

Let me narrow it down for you

The most important question is: what kind of repayment flexibility do you want most?

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

Which bank is best for flexible mortgage repayments if you're a contractor who just bought your first home?

For a contractor and first-home buyer in New Zealand, finding the "best" bank involves balancing two competing needs: flexible lending policies for self-employed income (since contractors often face strict hurdles) and flexible repayment features (like revolving credit facilities or offset accounts) to manage variable cash flow.

As a financial guideline, major New Zealand main banks (such as ANZ, Westpac, ASB, and BNZ) and tier-one lenders each approach contractor risk and repayment flexibility differently.

Key Considerations for Contractor Home Loans in NZ

  1. The 2-Year Rule vs. Contractor History: Most main banks prefer to see two full years of accountant-prepared financial statements for self-employed/contractor applicants. However, some major lenders are more pragmatic if you have continuity in the same industry, solid contract pipelines, or transitioned directly from a PAYE role into contracting with signed forward contracts.
  2. Repayment Flexibility: To manage lumpy or variable contractor income, look for banks offering revolving credit accounts (like Westpac Choice or ASB Orbit) or offset facilities (popular with BNZ). These allow you to dump lump sums from big contract payouts directly onto your principal to save interest, while retaining the flexibility to draw cash back out if a lean month hits.

Bank Breakdown for Contractors

  • Westpac NZ: Frequently rated highly by mortgage advisers for overall lending flexibility and product choice. Their credit policies can be accommodating for self-employed applicants who can demonstrate clear revenue streams, and products like their Choice Home Loans offer structured flexibility.
  • ANZ: As the country's largest bank, they have robust offset and flexible options, but their self-employed credit policy can be rigid regarding the standard 2-year financial history requirement unless you use a mortgage broker to present a strong narrative.
  • BNZ: Noted for strong offset facilities, which are ideal for contractors who experience cash-flow fluctuations. Keeping cash in an offset account linked to your mortgage reduces the interest payable without locking your money away.
  • Non-Bank Alternatives (e.g., Pepper Money, Basecorp Finance): If you have been contracting for less than 12 to 24 months, main banks may decline you. Specialist non-bank lenders offer greater flexibility for shorter contractor histories (often requiring only 6–12 months or GST returns), though usually at a slightly higher interest rate.

Recommended Action Plan

  1. Engage a Free Mortgage Adviser (Broker): Banks view contractor applications differently. A skilled adviser knows which specific bank assessor currently has the most appetite for contractor risk and can match your exact length-of-contracting history to the right credit policy.
  2. Prepare "Full Doc" Evidence Early: Gather your last 2 years of accountant-prepared financial statements (or 6–12 months of GST returns and business bank statements if you are newer), your current client contracts, and a clean personal/business budget.
  3. Structure for Flexibility: Request a split loan structure—putting a portion on a fixed rate for certainty, and a portion on a floating revolving credit facility to absorb the highs and lows of contractor cash flow.

Are you working through your first year of contracting, or do you already have established tax returns from multiple years in business?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

Which bank is best for flexible mortgage repayments if you're a contractor who just bought your first home?

For a self-employed contractor or small business owner who has irregular cash flow (such as large, lumpy invoice payments interspersed with dry spells), the ideal mortgage structure usually involves a revolving credit facility or a flexible offset mortgage.

When looking at the major and regional banks in New Zealand, flexibility for contractors often depends less on a specific "contractor-only" product and more on the robustness of their floating/flexible products and how strictly they underwrite self-employed/contractor income (which usually requires 2 years of accounts, though some lenders are more pragmatic if you have continuity from previous PAYE work).

Users on platforms like often point out that major institutions like BNZ and ASB offer strong digital tools, offset options, and flexible facility management that suit fluctuating incomes.

Key Flexible Options to Consider

  • Bank of New Zealand (BNZ): Frequently highlighted for robust digital platforms and flexible products like TotalMoney (offset) and revolving credit options that make adjusting payment frequencies or dumping lump sums straightforward via their app. [Reddit·r/PersonalFinanceNZ]

  • ASB Bank: Offers Orbit revolving credit and offset structures which allow lumpy contractor payments to sit directly against the principal, reducing daily interest until the money is needed for expenses. [mortgagetime.co.nz]

  • Kiwibank: Known for competitive floating rates and flexible offset/revolving choices, making it a popular option for first-home buyers looking to minimize overall interest with irregular cash inflows.

Why Flexibility Matters for Contractors

  • Daily Interest Calculation: Putting a large invoice payment straight into a revolving credit or offset account immediately lowers the daily balance on which interest is charged. [mortgagetime.co.nz]

  • Draw-down Access: You can re-draw funds from a revolving credit facility for living or business expenses when waiting on your next contract payout, without needing formal bank approval for a new loan. [mortgagetime.co.nz]

Note: As a first-time homebuyer who is also a contractor, the hardest hurdle isn't just the mortgage flexibility—it's getting approval. Most mainstream banks prefer 24 months of self-employed/contracting history, though they may consider 12 months or a direct continuation of previous industry experience with a solid accountant's letter.

To help narrow down which bank's lending policy and flexible options fit best, could you share:

  • How long you have been contracting (under 1 year, 1–2 years, or 2+ years)?
  • Whether you have a 20% deposit or less (e.g., using Kainga Ora or First Home Loan)?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

Which bank is best for flexible mortgage repayments if you're a contractor who just bought your first home?

AI Overview

As a contractor and first-home buyer in New Zealand, the "best" bank comes down to two distinct hurdles: getting approved with variable income and securing structures that allow flexible repayments during high- or low-earning months.

BNZ and Westpac generally lead the market for repayment flexibility, while ANZ and ASB are highly competitive for income assessment due to their dedicated specialist underwriting teams.

The Top Picks for Repayment Flexibility

Bank Best Known For Key Flexibility Features
BNZ Total Wealth Offsetting Allows you to link up to 50 family or personal accounts to offset your floating loan balance.
Westpac Choices Floating & Feeder Pools No prepayment penalties on floating portions; allows clean redraws of overpayments.
ANZ / ASB Contractor Underwriting Strong internal policies to convert day-rates or 6–12 month contract terms into acceptable income.

The Ideal Mortgage Structure for Contractors

Mainstream banks will rarely recommend a 100% fixed or 100% floating mortgage for a first-home buyer. Instead, a Split Loan Structure is the standard mechanism to achieve flexibility:

  • The Fixed Portion (70% - 80%): Provides stability and repayment certainty for your baseline living expenses, hedging against interest rate spikes.

  • The Flexible Portion (20% - 30%): Kept on a variable rate via Offsetting or Revolving Credit. This acts as a buffer where you can park surplus cash during lucrative contracts to stop paying interest immediately, while retaining the right to redraw those funds during a "dry spell" between gigs.

Bank-Specific Flexibility Breakdown

1. BNZ (Offset & Revolving Superiority)

  • Why it fits: BNZ's Total Personal Offset is arguably the most dynamic for contractor cash flows. If you retain cash in your business or GST account to cover upcoming tax bills, BNZ allows you to link those separate accounts to your personal mortgage.

  • How it works: You only pay interest on the net difference. Your money stays accessible for business expenses, but actively lowers your home loan interest daily.

2. Westpac (Choices Floating Loan)

  • Why it fits: Westpac is highly regarded for its transparent redraw capabilities. If you choose their Choices Floating structure for your flexible portion, you can make lump-sum overpayments at any time with zero penalty fees.

  • How it works: If you encounter a gap between contracts, you can lower your repayments or pull back the surplus funds you previously injected.

3. ANZ & ASB (Approval & Policy Strengths)

  • Why it fits: While their offsetting structures are comparable to Westpac, their true strength is getting a contractor approved in the first place. Traditional banks prefer 2 years of self-employed financial history.

  • How it works: ANZ and ASB have specialized credit teams capable of looking at your gross day-rate contract rather than insisting on full financial accounting statements, provided you have a track record in the same industry.

Hidden Traps & Advice for First-Home Contractors

  • Low-Equity Margins (LEM): If you are buying your first home with less than a 20% deposit, major banks will add an extra fee or a higher interest margin (LEM). This restriction can sometimes limit your ability to use revolving credit facilities.

  • The Non-Bank Alternative: If major banks decline your application because your contracting history is under 12 months, second-tier lenders like Pepper Money , Liberty , or Avanti Finance offer "Alt-Doc" or "Low-Doc" loans. They require less historical paperwork but charge a slightly higher interest rate. Top 5 Non-Bank Lenders in New Zealand [2026]Self-Employed Home Loans NZ | Low-Doc OptionsContractor Home Loan NZ: Getting Your Mortgage Sorted inSelf-Employed Mortgages Explained - MoneyHub NZ

To help tailor this advice, could you share:

  • How many months or years of contracting history do you have?

  • Do you have a fixed day-rate contract , or does your income fluctuate month-to-month?

  • Roughly what deposit percentage (e.g., 5%, 10%, 20%+) do you have saved?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026