Should I Refinance My NZ Mortgage?
Refinancing in NZ is most common at the end of a fixed term (zero break cost) or when bank cashback offers create a positive switching economic. The decision turns on rate savings minus break cost minus legal + valuation fees, weighed against any cashback offered.
The question
Should I refinance my mortgage now?
Factors that matter
- › Time remaining on your current fixed term (lowest friction = end of term)
- › Rate differential between your locked rate and available carded rates
- › Cashback offers from prospective lenders ($3,000–$10,000 typical) + clawback period
- › Legal + valuation fees ($500–$1,500)
- › Lender servicing test — refinance is treated as new lending; income changes can affect approval
- › Any low-equity margin you currently pay — refinancing past 80% LVR may remove it
Talk it through with an adviser
Your numbers matter — an adviser from Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891) can model this scenario against current carded rates and your servicing position.
Get MatchedImportant: how to read this information
This website is operated by Evolve Group Limited (FSP711891), a Licensed Financial Advice Provider regulated by the Financial Markets Authority (NZ). The information published here is general in nature and is not personalised financial advice. For personalised advice that takes your circumstances into account, request to be matched with one of our licensed mortgage advisers via the enquiry form.
Rate accuracy. Rates shown across this site were observed at 21 May 2026, 12:27 pm from each lender's published carded-rate page (linked per row). If a lender has updated their rates since that timestamp, the authoritative source is the lender's page, not our derived snapshot. Carded rates are advertised rates — the rate you ultimately receive depends on your application.
CCCFA + Responsible Lending Code. Final lending decisions are made by the lender under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 and the MBIE Responsible Lending Code. Lenders apply servicing-test rates (typically around 8% post-2023), debt-to-income caps (RBNZ DTI 6× owner-occupier / 7× investor from 2024), and Loan-to-Value Ratio limits. Carded rates are not an offer or a pre-approval.
Disputes. If you have a complaint about advice received through this site, contact Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL) on 0800 347 257 or info@fscl.org.nz.
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Rates snapshot generator: scripts/snapshot-lenders.mjs.
Machine-readable snapshot: /api/rates/facts.json.