December 03, 2025

The Kiwi Dream Lives On; But Many Māori Feel Locked Out

Matthew Tukaki Posted On December 3, 2025

For generations, owning a home has been central to the “Kiwi Dream”. According to Kiwibank’s latest report, that dream remains alive for most New Zealanders – but a growing number are beginning to question if it is still reachable. According to KiwiBank the dream is alive. For many whanau though, home ownersip has a pipe in the dream.

Key numbers for Māori home ownership

According to a recent data release, 27.5% of Māori owned or partly owned their home (or held it in a family trust) in 2023.
This is a decline from around 31.2% in 2013 – meaning ownership (or partial ownership) by Māori households has dropped over the past decade.
On an individual basis (people aged 15+), about 25.99% of Māori reported that they “own or partly own” their home in 2023.

The low “home-ownership rate” for Māori reflects both high rates of renting, and possibly also larger or extended whānau households where homeownership is shared and complex.
Data quality: for ethnic-stated data there can be limitations and “imputation” when responses are missing – so while census data is the best public source, there’s some inherent uncertainty.

Home Ownership Still a Core Ideal

The study finds that 85% of respondents said home ownership remains at the core of the Kiwi Dream – underscoring how deeply it remains embedded in national identity.
This consistency with prior years suggests that despite changing economic and social conditions, the emotional and aspirational pull of owning a home remains strong.

Despite strong sentiment, many New Zealanders – especially non-homeowners – increasingly feel locked out of the property market.

The Kiwibank report notes a significant share of non-owners doubt they will ever be able to buy.
Critical barriers remain: high house prices, the cost-of-living, difficulty saving for a deposit, and the challenge of meeting lending requirements.
For many younger people – including those in their 20s and 30s – the dream of homeownership is under pressure, even as they remain the group most eager to buy.

The survey shows growing openness to alternative pathways to homeownership: co-ownership (with friends or family), rent-to-own schemes, smaller or more affordable homes, shifting region, or longer-term saving strategies.

Many respondents said they were willing to compromise – on size, location, or home type – just to secure a foothold on the property ladder.
This shift suggests that while traditional single-family home ownership is still valued, more flexible and creative solutions are increasingly seen as viable routes to owning a home.

The juxtaposition of strong aspiration and growing realism underlines a changing housing landscape for New Zealand:

The enduring appeal of owning a home remains a cultural constant.
But for a growing portion of the population – especially younger and first-time buyers – traditional homeownership is increasingly out of reach under current economic conditions.
The openness to alternative pathways may spur increased demand for co-ownership, shared ownership models, smaller dwellings, and other non-traditional housing options.
Policymakers, lenders, and the building industry may need to take note: if attitudes shift in favor of flexibility over ownership, the entire market (and support systems) needs to adjust accordingly.