New Zealand’s housing challenges are well documented. From ageing houses to damp, poorly insulated homes, many families live in conditions that compromise their health and wellbeing.

These issues are compounded by climate change, which is already placing greater pressure on the resilience of our homes and communities.

Committed to warm, dry, and resilient homes

At BNZ, we believe better health and security start at home. That’s why, under our manaakitanga ambition, we’re committed to helping more New Zealanders live in warm, dry, and resilient homes.

One of the ways we’re doing this is through our long-standing partnership with Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. For the past five years, we’ve worked alongside Habitat to support their Home Repair Programme and their mission of improving housing conditions for New Zealand families.

Building a resilient tomorrow

Since 2019, we’ve supported $4.3 million of lending through their Home Repair Programme, which provides interest-free loans to qualifying homeowners for essential repairs and maintenance for a period of up to five years.

The programme is designed to help people stay in their homes safely and comfortably, removing the financial barrier that may come with urgent repairs. For Tauranga homeowner Emma, the programme made a real difference.

Emma lives with her four-year-old son in a home she says is perfect for their needs – but like many older properties, it had a few issues that needed attention: a rotten weatherboard, a broken section of fence backing onto a public park, and a temperamental shower mixer that would swing from freezing cold to scalding hot without warning.

Providing a more inclusive option

Emma hadn’t heard of Habitat’s Home Repair programme until her local health team mentioned it. “There are so many things in the community you don’t know about until you talk to the right people,” she says.

The interest-free loan offered through Habitat’s programme was a game-changer for Emma, who works part-time as a cleaner. She says her house is going to feel safer and more comfortable now.

“If I wanted to get this stuff done another way, it would’ve been quite a difficult process,” she says.

People deserve a healthy home

Habitat Central Region’s Operations Manager, Alayne Jensen, says Emma’s experience is not uncommon. Many homeowners are unsure whether they qualify for support, and some are hesitant to ask.

“Better health, security – it all starts with a home,” says Alayne. “Whether it’s something small like a broken floorboard, or a bigger issue like a leaky roof, we’re all about supporting whānau to access affordable repairs for warmer, drier, safer homes.”

With no-interest loans of up to $20,000 for critical repairs and maintenance, asking for help can make the difference between a home for now and one fit for the future.

Emma’s advice to others is simple: reach out. “Even if they don’t believe they’ve got it difficult enough or bad enough, they do deserve it,” she says.

Securing our future together

BNZ’s support for Habitat for Humanity NZ reflects our broader commitment to growing the long-term social, cultural, and financial wellbeing of New Zealanders. By investing in programmes like Habitat's Home Repair, we’re helping to create tangible, lasting change one home at a time.

As climate change continues to challenge the way we live, the need for resilient housing will only grow. Through partnerships like this, we’re proud to stand alongside organisations that share our values and our vision for a healthier, more resilient future for all New Zealanders.

For more information on Sustainability at BNZ click here.