Your Dream of Owning a Home Isn't Out of Reach—Here's What's Really Stopping You (And How to Get There)
- Apr 21
- 3 min read
For many of us, homeownership carries a deeper meaning. Whether it's your parents' dream when they came to Aotearoa seeking a better life, or your own vision for your family, owning a home represents security, belonging, and a legacy you're building. It's a value that runs deep in our culture. But somewhere between that dream and reality, something stops us. And it's not because the dream isn't valid or achievable. It's the barriers in between.
The Reality for Pacific Families Right Now
The numbers are stark. According to the 2023 Census, only 16.8 percent of Pacific people own their own home in New Zealand, compared to 42.1 percent nationally, and 80.1 percent of Pacific households are renting. (Source: Pacific Media Network, March 2025)
That gap didn't happen by accident. And it's been getting worse. In 1986, 51 percent of Pacific households owned their own home. By 2023, that figure had fallen to 16.8 percent. (Source: University of Auckland, March 2025)
As Dr Karamia Müller from the University of Auckland's MĀPIHI Māori and Pacific Housing Research Centre puts it: "It's a life aspiration for Pacific people to own their own homes, and to be locked out of that life aspiration has a raft of negative impacts."
These aren't just statistics. They're the reality of families who are working hard but stuck. Let's name what's actually blocking the path.
Barrier One: Rent Takes Everything
Around two thirds of non-owner-occupier Pacific households spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing costs. When you're paying 30, 40, or even 50 percent of your income just on rent, there's nothing left to save for a deposit. You're working hard, but you're stuck on a treadmill. Every week the money goes to someone else's mortgage, not yours. And the gap between what you earn and what a house costs keeps growing.
Barrier Two: You Don't Understand the System
Banks, mortgages, interest rates, deposits. It all feels foreign. Nobody sat down and explained how it actually works. You don't know what you need, what you qualify for, or how to even start. That uncertainty keeps you from trying.
Barrier Three: The Banks Don't Feel Like They're For You
Mainstream banking feels disconnected from your reality. The language is confusing. The processes feel unwelcoming. You don't see yourself reflected in how they communicate. So you stay on the outside.
Barrier Four: You're Juggling Too Much
Between work, family obligations, supporting loved ones back home, and managing debt, there's no space to focus on saving or planning for a home. It feels selfish to prioritise it when there are immediate needs right in front of you.
Here's the Truth: These Barriers Are Real. And They're Solvable.
We know this because the evidence proves it. Between June 2021 and June 2024, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' Financial Capability Programme supported 3,584 Pacific people to strengthen financial literacy, improve financial security, and build foundations for long-term housing stability. During this period, 361 families were able to purchase their own homes. (Source: Ministry for Pacific Peoples)
That's 361 families who started where you are now. With the right support, the right knowledge, and the right pathway, homeownership becomes real.
That's exactly what Zeducation's Makatuliki programme is built to do.
Here's How We Work With You
We Build Your Financial Foundation. We start by helping you understand money, budgeting, saving, managing debt, and how the financial system actually works. No jargon. No shame. Just clarity.
We Create a Realistic Savings Plan. We help you find money in your budget that you didn't know was there. We show you how to save for a deposit without sacrificing your family's wellbeing right now.
We Demystify Homeownership. We explain mortgages, deposits, interest rates, and what banks are actually looking for. You'll understand the process so when you're ready, you're confident.
We Connect You to the Right Support. We partner with lenders and advisors who understand Pacific communities and can actually help you get approved. No surprises. No doors closed in your face.
The research is clear. Programmes that are grounded in Pacific values and culture, holistically integrated around families and community, produce lasting results. Over 60 percent of participants in culturally grounded financial programmes maintain confidence in managing budgeting, debt repayment, and KiwiSaver long after completing the programme. (Source: NZCER Evaluation Report 2024)
Your Story Could Be Next
Homeownership isn't out of reach. The barriers are real, but they're not permanent. What's required is the right support, the right knowledge, and the right pathway, all designed with you in mind.
Your dream is worth pursuing. Let's make it real.
Enrol into our Makatuliki programme today to start your journey to homeownership. Your family's future is waiting.
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