Rent, Buy or Own
Migrants
Migrants come to New Zealand under immigration programmes such as the Samoan Quota Scheme (SQS) and the Pacific Access Category (PAC).
Generally, migrants are not automatically eligible for Housing New Zealand housing.
If you are a migrant you need to have lived in New Zealand for two years before being eligible for government assistance.
However, if you are granted an emergency benefit due to hardship, you may also be able to apply for Housing New Zealand housing.
Contact us to find out what housing assistance you may be eligible for.
Samoan Quota Scheme and the Pacific Access Category:
Each year permanent residence is granted to a number of people from Samoa, Kiribati, Tuvalu, Fiji and Tonga, under the Samoan Quota Scheme and the Pacific Access Category. If you are a new migrant, the first thing you need to do is contact Immigration New Zealand to organise your residency arrangements.
Information on the Samoan Quota Scheme, from Immigration New Zealand
Information on the Pacific Access Category, from Immigration New Zealand
Applying for housing:
After you have lived in New Zealand for two years, you can apply for a Housing New Zealand home. To apply for housing, contact us. We'll make a time for you to come in and talk with us about your housing needs and your current situation.
After you have applied, we will assess your situation to determine your place on the waiting list. The assessment will consider things like your current living arrangements and your social, medical and personal needs. The assessment process ensures priority is given to people with the greatest housing need.
