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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 fixed-rate home loan ends in two months and I'm deciding whether to stay with my bank or move. What matters most to me is being able to pay extra or change my repayments when I need to. Which lenders would you recommend for my home loan, and why?

If your priority is being able to pay extra, increase repayments, or change your repayment pattern when life changes, I would put more weight on loan structure and flexibility features than just the lowest advertised fixed rate.

In New Zealand, these lenders would be on my shortlist:

Lender Why it may suit you Things to watch
Kiwibank Strong flexibility options: variable loans allow extra repayments and repayment increases, and its offset and revolving options are designed for borrowers who want control. Kiwibank Variable/flexible options usually come with higher interest rates than fixed loans.
BNZ Good mix of structures. Its fixed Standard loan allows up to an extra 5% of the loan balance per year without an early repayment charge, and it offers TotalMoney offset and Rapid Repay revolving options. BNZ Check whether the 5% limit fits your expected extra payments.
ANZ New Zealand Its Flexible Home Loan is designed for borrowers who want maximum access: you can pay money in and redraw it when needed. ANZ Bank Revolving/flexible loans can have higher rates and require good budgeting discipline. ANZ Bank
Westpac New Zealand Its Choices Everyday revolving facility combines everyday banking and lending, allowing income to reduce the loan balance and allowing lump-sum repayments without prepayment costs. Westpac NZ Revolving credit works best if you keep spending controlled.
NBS Worth considering if you specifically want fixed-rate flexibility: its Residential Redraw product allows extra payments and redraw of those additional amounts (subject to terms). NBS Smaller lenders may have different branch/service arrangements and product availability.

My likely recommendation for your situation

Because your fixed rate ends in two months, I would not automatically move everything to floating. A common approach for borrowers who value flexibility is:

  1. Fix most of the loan (to keep repayments predictable).
  2. Put a portion on a flexible structure (offset, revolving credit, or variable) so you can:
    • make lump-sum payments,
    • increase repayments,
    • access money again if needed.

For example:

  • 80–90% fixed + 10–20% flexible can give you rate certainty while keeping a “pressure release valve”.
  • If you regularly hold savings in your bank account, an offset loan may be especially attractive because your savings can reduce the interest charged without permanently paying down the mortgage. Kiwibank
  • If your income is irregular (bonuses, commissions, self-employment), a revolving credit product may suit better. Kiwibank

Before switching banks, compare these specific features

Ask each lender:

  • Can I increase my repayments without fees?
  • How much extra can I repay each year while fixed?
  • Can I make lump-sum payments?
  • Can I redraw extra payments later?
  • Is there an offset account?
  • What are the break costs if I refix early?
  • Are there cashback offers, and do they justify switching costs?

Also ask your current bank for a retention offer. Banks often have more flexibility at refixing time than they show on their advertised rates.

If you tell me:

  • your approximate loan balance,
  • whether you usually have spare cash sitting in savings,
  • whether you expect bonuses/lump sums,
  • and whether you prefer certainty or maximum flexibility,

I can suggest a more specific loan structure and shortlist.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

My fixed-rate home loan ends in two months and I'm deciding whether to stay with my bank or move. What matters most to me is being able to pay extra or change my repayments when I need to. Which lenders would you recommend for my home loan, and why?

When your fixed-term home loan approaches its end date, it is the ideal window to review not just interest rates, but how your loan is structured. Because your priority is flexibility—specifically the ability to make extra repayments or change your repayments when needed—your choice of lender and loan structure matters significantly.

Major New Zealand lenders (including ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kiwibank, SBS Bank, and The Co-operative Bank) offer similar core mechanisms for flexibility, but their specific rules, product availability, and allowances vary.

How Flexibility Works Across NZ Lenders

To get what you want, you generally rely on three tools, which you can often split across your total mortgage (e.g., fixing a portion for rate certainty while keeping a portion flexible):

  1. Floating Rates / Flexible Portions: Floating (variable) home loans allow unlimited extra repayments and complete freedom to change or pay off your loan at any time without early repayment charges. The downside is that floating interest rates are traditionally higher than fixed rates.
  2. Fixed-Term Overpayment Allowances: Most major and regional NZ banks allow you to increase your regular repayments by a certain percentage (often up to 10% to 20% depending on the bank) or make limited lump-sum payments (some banks like The Co-operative Bank allow up to 5% of the starting balance without break fees, though policies change—always verify current caps). Exceeding these limits on a fixed term can trigger early repayment recovery costs.
  3. Offset and Revolving Credit Facilities: These are specialized floating structures. An offset loan links your savings accounts to your mortgage so your cash reduces the daily interest without being locked away. A revolving credit facility acts like a giant overdraft, merging your income and everyday spending into the loan account for maximum cash flow control.

Lender Landscape & What to Look For

While all major retail banks in New Zealand provide floating, offset, and revolving credit options, they differ in user experience, digital tools, and packaging:

  • The Major Banks (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac): They offer robust digital banking apps that make setting up split loans (e.g., part fixed, part floating/revolving) seamless. Their offset and revolving credit products are mature, but their floating interest rates tend to track closely with standard market highs.
  • Kiwibank: Often competitive on rates and popular with buyers seeking flexible, structured split loans. They provide clear guidelines on overpayment allowances for fixed terms.
  • Customer-Owned & Regional Banks (SBS Bank, The Co-operative Bank, Heartland): These institutions frequently pride themselves on customer flexibility. For instance, SBS Bank features floating structures with high flexibility, and The Co-operative Bank offers structured allowances on fixed terms alongside robust revolving/offset options.

Recommended Action Plan

To maximize your repayment flexibility without unnecessarily paying high interest on a 100% floating rate, consider these steps when your fixed term ends:

  1. Evaluate a Split Loan Structure: Instead of choosing between total rigidity (fully fixed) and higher costs (fully floating), split your mortgage. Fix a major portion (e.g., 70-80%) to lock in certainty for budgeting, and leave a smaller portion (e.g., 20-30%) floating or in a revolving/offset facility.
  2. Inquire About Overpayment Caps: Ask your current bank (and competing lenders) precisely what percentage you can increase your regular payments or pay as lump sums while locked into a fixed rate, ensuring you won't trigger break fees.
  3. Shop Around and Negotiate: Because you are coming off a fixed term, you are free to refinance without break fees. Use your impending maturity date to request a cash contribution or a more competitive rate match from rival lenders if you threaten to move.

Are you currently leaning toward keeping your loan entirely on a flexible/floating structure, or would you prefer a split structure that balances fixed stability with an accessible repayment buffer?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

My fixed-rate home loan ends in two months and I'm deciding whether to stay with my bank or move. What matters most to me is being able to pay extra or change my repayments when I need to. Which lenders would you recommend for my home loan, and why?

AI Overview

If your primary goal is the flexibility to pay extra or alter your repayments whenever you need to, your best choice of lender depends entirely on how you want to make those extra payments—whether via ongoing regular increases or periodic lump sums.

Because New Zealand fixed-rate home loans lock you into strict terms, the major lenders have vastly different rules and caps regarding penalty-free changes.

Major NZ Lenders: Fixed-Rate Flexibility Compared

To gain maximum control over your mortgage, look at how the big four banks handle changes to a fixed-rate loan before you decide whether to re-fix with your current bank or switch lenders:

Lender Regular Repayment Increases Lump Sum Payment Limits Key Advantage / Hidden Risk
ANZ Up to $250 per week max increase per calendar year. Up to 5% of the original loan balance per year without penalty. Most Balanced: Generous for both incremental changes and smaller windfalls.
BNZ Custom increases allowed via app, but counts toward your yearly 5% cap. Combined with regular increases, total extra payments must stay under 5% of the original loan amount annually. App-Friendly: Easy to make up to 5 lump-sum payments per day via app, provided you track the 5% threshold.
Westpac Up to 20% above your minimum repayment level via the online slider. Prepayment costs are likely to apply to any lump sums made during a fixed term. Best for regular adjustments: Easiest to scale regular repayments up or down online, but bad for ad-hoc lump sums.
ASB Up to $500/fortnight or $1,000/month extra without early repayment adjustments (ERA). No free threshold. Any lump sum during a fixed term may trigger an ERA penalty fee. The "Fish-Hook": Repayment increases must be maintained for the rest of the fixed term—you cannot easily lower them back down.

My Primary Recommendation: The Split-Loan Strategy

Rather than changing banks solely for their fixed-rate rules, my recommendation is to opt for a split mortgage structure with whichever bank offers you the best overall interest rate and cash-back incentive.

Instead of fixing 100% of your debt, split your loan into two parts:

  1. The Fixed Portion: Put the bulk of your mortgage here to lock in a lower interest rate and ensure budget certainty.

  2. The Floating/Variable Portion: Keep a smaller portion (e.g., $20,000 to $50,000, or whatever amount you realistically think you can pay off over the next 1–2 years) on a standard floating rate or an Offset Account.

Why this fits your exact needs:

  • Unlimited Extra Payments: You can pay as much extra as you want onto the floating portion, or change your regular repayments instantly without any penalty fees or caps.

  • Offset Flexibility: Lenders like Westpac (Choices Offset) and BNZ (TotalMoney) let you link your everyday savings accounts to your floating mortgage balance. You only pay interest on the difference, giving you the freedom to "pay extra" by simply keeping cash in your savings, while retaining full access to that cash if your circumstances change.

Actionable Next Steps

Since you have two months left, you have plenty of time to negotiate. Do not simply sign the auto-renew form in your bank app.

  • Get quotes: Ask your current bank what fixed rates and structure they can offer you.

  • Test the market: Speak with a registered mortgage broker. They can check if another bank will offer you a "cash-back" incentive (often 0.7% to 1% of the loan value) to switch, which can easily cover any legal fees required to move your mortgage.

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026