Kia mau ki te tokanga nui a noho – There’s no place like home.

Since 1972, Anglican Financial Care – Te Maru Mihinare (AFC) has been committed to providing mortgage finance tailored to the needs of our Anglican communities and scheme members. This year, we are proud to announce a significant expansion of our services: AFC now offers a unique loan product for building, relocating, purchasing, or renovating houses on Māori land.

Introducing AFC’s lending for homes on Māori land

Accessing finance for housing on Māori land can be challenging due to the unique ownership and legal structures associated with this land. Traditional banks often hesitate to provide mortgages because of these complexities, leaving many families without viable financing options.

AFC’s new loan product addresses these challenges head-on by offering a flexible financing solution specifically tailored for housing on Māori land.

Whether you’re looking to

• Purchase an existing house on Māori land
• Relocate a house onto Māori land
• Build a new home on Māori land
• Renovate an existing house on Māori land

Our loan product is designed to meet your specific needs while respecting and preserving the cultural and legal intricacies of Māori land ownership.

How does AFC’s lending for a house on Māori land work?

You are eligible to apply for the loan if you are Anglican clergy, a widow or widower of Anglican clergy, an employee or other worker of an Anglican organisation, a member of the Christian KiwiSaver Scheme, a member of AFC’s The Retire Fund or a member of the Baptist Union Superannuation Scheme (which AFC administers). You must also have the right to live on the Māori land.

Unlike traditional mortgages that use the land itself as security, AFC’s loan is secured over the house and registered on the Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR). This approach overcomes the common obstacles associated with securing loans for Māori land, as it doesn’t require placing a mortgage over the freehold land.

We offer competitive interest rates. You can view our rates here.

Why this loan matters

Māori land holds deep cultural, spiritual, and historical value. It’s more than just a place to live – it’s a connection to whakapapa (ancestry) and tūrangawaewae (a place to stand). AFC’s loan product is built around the Christian principle of stewardship. We believe that providing access to affordable housing is not only a financial responsibility but also a way to serve our communities as faithful stewards of God’s creation.

The initiative supports Māori communities in a variety of important ways:

Strengthening ties to whenua. We understand that Māori land is an intrinsic part of your identity. By offering loans for housing on this land, AFC works with you and your whānau to maintain and strengthen connection to your ancestral land.

Empowering whānau and hapū. Māori land is often collectively owned by whānau or hapū. Our loan product respects and supports these collective ownership structures, empowering communities to develop land without sacrificing cultural or legal frameworks. This helps enable intergenerational living and fosters the preservation of land and culture.

Supporting housing needs. Housing affordability is a growing concern in New Zealand. In line with Matthew 25:35, where Jesus teaches the importance of providing shelter to those in need, AFC aligns this new loan offering with addressing the housing challenges faced by our communities. We see this as part of our broader mission to act in accordance with the teaching of Christ.

Acknowledging cultural practices and legal structures. Our loan product is designed to work within the unique legal and cultural frameworks governing Māori land. By providing financial support that respects these customs and protections, AFC provides a unique opportunity to those wishing to live on Māori land.

Contributing to well-being and autonomy. We recognise that having the opportunity to live on Māori land supports the oranga (well-being), and cultural values, of whānau. The loan offers a pathway to home ownership without compromising integrity and cultural identity.

Aligning with broader Church initiatives. This initiative also aligns with the Christian Churches’ broader recognition of the importance of providing housing support. We are excited to extend our loan offerings to members who have the right to live on Māori land.

Taking the next step towards your dream home

Applying is a straightforward process. AFC’s knowledgeable team, with the help of their legal experts, work together with you in a partnership grounded in respect, understanding, and a shared commitment to getting you into your own home.

1. Prior to applying: Talk with the landowner to get their agreement that you can live on the land.
2. Apply: Complete the loan application form and provide supporting documents to AFC.
3. Lending criteria assessment: AFC assesses whether you meet the lending criteria.
4. Notification to lend: AFC informs you and its lawyers, Kāhui Legal, of its intention to provide a loan.
5. Review of licence to occupy: If an existing licence to occupy the land is in place, Kāhui Legal reviews it to ensure it meets AFC’s requirements.
6. Whenua Māori Housing Agreement: Kāhui Legal works with your lawyer and the landowner to prepare and execute the Whenua Māori Housing Agreement.
7. Preparation of loan agreement: Once the Housing Agreement is in place, Kāhui Legal prepares the loan agreement and sends it to your lawyer.
8. Settlement of funds: After the required documents are received, AFC deposits the loan amount into Kāhui Legal’s trust account.
9. Payment and registration: Kāhui Legal pays the funds to your lawyer’s trust account and registers AFC’s security over the house on the PPSR.

We are committed to creating financial solutions that honour cultural heritage, promote community development, and provide tangible benefits to individuals and families across Aotearoa. We look forward to partnering with you on this meaningful journey.

Discover more about Anglican Financial Care’s lending on Māori land here: https://angfincare.nz/lending/houses-on-maori-land/