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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 helping you review your mortgage when your fixed term ends?

In New Zealand, the “best” bank for reviewing your mortgage when your fixed term ends is usually the one that gives you the best combination of rate, flexibility, service, and willingness to negotiate — not necessarily the bank with the lowest advertised rate. It is worth reviewing your options 2–3 months before your fixed term expires so you have time to compare and negotiate. Mortgage Lab NZ

Some banks that are often worth considering:

  • BNZ — A strong all-round option if you value tools and support during a mortgage review. BNZ offers online refixing, rate-locking before your fixed term ends, and tools to model repayment changes. BNZ It has also performed strongly in independent home-loan comparisons, including recent Canstar awards. Canstar
  • Kiwibank — Worth checking if you prefer a New Zealand-owned bank and want a competitive alternative to the major Australian-owned banks. Giraffy
  • ASB Bank — Often competitive on fixed rates and has a strong digital banking experience. Trade Me
  • ANZ New Zealand — A large lender with a broad range of mortgage products and advisers, which can be useful if your situation is more complex. MoneyBalance
  • Westpac New Zealand — Another major lender worth including in comparisons, especially if you are looking for a competing offer. Trade Me
  • SBS Bank, TSB Bank, and The Co-operative Bank — Smaller lenders can sometimes be competitive on rates or service, depending on your circumstances. Canstar

For a mortgage review, I would compare:

  1. The interest rate offered at refix time — ask your current bank if they can improve their offer before accepting it.
  2. Loan structure — consider whether splitting your mortgage (for example, fixing portions for different terms) gives you better flexibility.
  3. Extra repayment options — useful if you expect your income or savings to change.
  4. Cash incentives and switching costs — a lower rate is not always better if fees or conditions offset the benefit. BNZ
  5. Service quality — having a responsive mortgage manager can matter when you need to restructure later.

A practical approach many NZ borrowers use:

  • Ask your current bank for its best refix offer.
  • Get competing quotes from 2–3 other banks or a mortgage adviser.
  • Go back to your bank and ask them to match or improve the offer.

If you tell me your current bank, mortgage balance, fixed-term expiry month, and whether you prefer lowest repayments vs paying the loan off faster, I can help compare what type of review strategy would suit you.

Ask anything

ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.

Captured 11 October 2026

Gemini · National

Which bank is best for helping you review your mortgage when your fixed term ends?

In New Zealand, no single bank is universally "the best" for a mortgage review, as the major lenders (ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac) and tier-two lenders all compete closely on standard and special rates (typically hovering between 4.75% and 5.50% for standard terms).

Instead, the "best" bank or approach depends entirely on how you approach the review when your fixed term ends.

Key Considerations When Your Fixed Term Ends

  1. Your Current Lender's Rollover Notice:
    About 30 to 60 days before your fixed term expires, your bank will typically send you maturity options with their current card rates. Never blindly accept these rates. Card rates are almost always higher than what the bank is actively offering to retain customers or attract new ones.
  2. The "Special Rate" Criteria:
    Major banks offer discounted "special rates" if you meet criteria such as maintaining at least a 20% equity (deposit) stake in your home and having your salary credited to an account with that bank.
  3. Negotiation and Retention:
    Banks would rather discount your rate slightly than lose you to a competitor. If another major bank or a mortgage broker shows you a lower rate, your existing bank will frequently match or beat it upon request.

Action Plan for Your Mortgage Review

To ensure you get the best deal when your fixed term concludes, follow this structured action plan:

  1. Audit current market rates: Check independent comparison sites (such as MoneyHub or Interest.co.nz) 4 to 6 weeks before your term ends to see what the major banks are offering for 6-month, 1-year, or 2-year fixed terms.
  2. Contact your current bank: Ask for their best "win-back" or retention special rate, pointing out competitive offers in the market.
  3. Engage an independent mortgage adviser: Advisers are free for borrowers (they are paid by the lenders) and can negotiate across multiple banks simultaneously. They can also calculate whether a cash contribution (cashback) for switching banks outweighs any legal or discharge fees involved in refinancing.
  4. Consider loan splitting: If you are uncertain about where interest rates are heading, discuss splitting your mortgage into multiple portions (e.g., half on a 1-year fixed term and half on a 2-year fixed term, or a portion on floating/revolving credit) to hedge your risk.

Would you like to explore how splitting your mortgage structure or comparing 1-year versus 2-year fixed terms might impact your monthly repayments?

Ask Gemini

Gemini is AI and can make mistakes.

Captured 11 October 2026

Google AI Mode · National

Which bank is best for helping you review your mortgage when your fixed term ends?

When your fixed mortgage term ends in New Zealand , no single bank is universally "the best" for a review, because major retail banks (such as ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac, and smaller lenders like TSB or The Co-operative Bank) all handle roll-overs similarly on paper, but differ significantly in their competitive pricing, flexibility, and customer satisfaction.

Instead of relying on a single bank to look out for your best interests, the approach to a fixed-term review involves evaluating options across the market:

  • The incumbent bank: They will usually contact you a few weeks before your fixed term expires with rollover options. While convenient because you avoid refinancing paperwork, their standard re-fixing rates may not be their sharpest offer unless you proactively negotiate or ask to match competitor rates.

  • Challenger and local banks: Lenders like Kiwibank Home Loans, TSB Home Loan Mortgages, and The Co-operative Bank Home Loans frequently price aggressively for 1-year or standard fixed terms to win business, sometimes undercutting major Australian-owned banks.

  • Using a Mortgage Broker: Rather than dealing directly with a single bank, using a free-to-borrower mortgage broker or advisory service (such as those outlined on MoneyHub NZ) allows you to leverage wholesale negotiation. Brokers can shop across multiple banks simultaneously, often securing hidden cashbacks or sub-standard card rate discounts that you cannot get by walking into your current bank alone. [MoneyHub NZ]

  • Customer Satisfaction Contexts: According to Consumer NZ, overall customer satisfaction and perceived fair value fluctuate yearly across all major New Zealand institutions, meaning personal service quality heavily depends on your specific mobile mortgage manager rather than the corporate brand. [Consumer NZ]

To help narrow down the best strategy for your upcoming review, tell me:

  • When does your fixed term officially end?
  • Which bank currently holds your mortgage?
  • Are you looking to re-fix with the same bank , or are you open to switched refinancing for a better rate or cashback?
Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026

AI Overviews · National

Which bank is best for helping you review your mortgage when your fixed term ends?

AI Overview

There is no single "best" bank in New Zealand for reviewing your mortgage; instead, the best option depends on whether you value digital self-service , competitive pricing , or loan restructuring flexibility.

When your fixed term ends, all major NZ retail banks allow you to review and lock in a new rate up to 60 days in advance to prevent your loan from automatically rolling onto their more expensive standard floating rates.

How the Major Banks Compare for Fixed-Term Reviews

The major banks handle the rollover and review process differently depending on your preferences:

Bank Best Known For Review & Rollover Process
BNZ Digital Convenience & Industry Awards Awarded Canstar’s 2026 Bank of the Year for Home Loans. Offers a highly rated, 3-to-5 minute digital refixing tool directly inside the BNZ App starting 60 days before your expiry.
Westpac Restructuring & Value Evaluated highly by Canstar for Outstanding Value. Their digital portal allows you to easily increase your repayments by up to 20% online during the refix process to pay down debt faster.
ASB Short-Term Rate Consistency Often highly competitive on 6-month and 1-year terms. They offer a 3-month window of personalized rates after expiry if you fail to act immediately, though you default to floating first.
ANZ Retention Incentives As NZ’s largest mortgage lender, they frequently offer aggressive cashback incentives or rate matching if you threaten to break away to a competitor at rollover time.

The "Hidden Ask": Don't Just Refix, Restructure

Most Kiwi homeowners make the mistake of simply logging into their app, picking a new rate, and clicking "confirm". Treating a rollover as a purely administrative task means missing out on significant wealth-building opportunities.

A fixed-term expiry is your window to restructure without paying break fees. Consider these strategic framework options:

  • Split Tranches: Instead of putting your whole loan on a single 1-year or 2-year term, divide it into parts (e.g., half on a 1-year term, half on a 2-year term). This hedges your risk against future interest rate spikes.

  • Introduce an Offset or Revolving Credit Account: Carve out a floating portion (e.g., $20,000–$50,000) into an offset account. If you have savings or day-to-day cash sitting in the bank, it will offset that portion of the mortgage, dropping your interest bill to zero on that chunk while keeping the funds accessible.

The Ultimate Move: Use a Mortgage Adviser

If your goal is to ensure you are getting the absolute best deal, your best option is not a bank—it is a licensed mortgage adviser (broker).

Over 50% of all new mortgage volume in New Zealand is written through advisers because they act as independent aggregators. At rollover time, a broker will take your current bank's offered rates, shop them across competing lenders like TSB, Kiwibank, or Heartland, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf. If a competitor offers a significantly lower rate or a large cashback offer, your broker can help you weigh whether switching banks is worth the legal costs of moving your mortgage title.

To help map out the best strategy for your rollover, could you tell me:

  • How many days do you have left on your current fixed term?

  • Are you hoping to pay down a lump sum or adjust your repayments during this review?

  • Who is your current lender?

Ask anything

Captured 11 October 2026