Canstar NZ review

Updated September 28, 2026 · BorrowCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.

Our verdict

Canstar NZ is a New Zealand comparison site for home loans rather than a lender, so it suits anyone shortlisting before they apply. Its listed initial rate is 4.19%, and it is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority, so you can weigh lenders' offers on a regulated source.

Key facts

Best for
Lining up New Zealand home loan offers before you apply.
Initial rate
4.19% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Fixed period
1 year (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Maximum loan to value
80% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Purpose
Purchase, Remortgage, First-time-buyer, Buy-to-let (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Canstar New Zealand Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
New Zealand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Official website
canstar.co.nz

Loans

Legal entity
Canstar New Zealand Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
New Zealand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
LinkedInfacebook.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A single table covers purchase, remortgage and first time buyer lending, so buyers, switchers and investors can compare in the same place.
  • An initial rate of 4.19% sits just under the 4.35% site median.
  • A named operator, Canstar New Zealand Limited, holds a Financial Markets Authority licence, FSP200146.

Cons

  • A fixed period of 1 year is well short of the 6.5 site median.
  • A maximum loan to value of 80% is below the 90% site median, so expect a larger deposit.
  • Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line listed.
Canstar NZ

Ready to try Canstar NZ?

Scored 8.8 / 10 by BorrowCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • New Zealand borrowers who want lenders' offers set side by side before they approach anyone.
  • Readers focused on a short fixed term, who will want to check the 1 year period against the longer runs on the tables.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Borrowers chasing the cheapest headline rate: Prestalo lists 2.36%.
  • Anyone who wants a narrow rate band to plan around: Sofkredit advertises initial rates of 8% to 14%.

Where it sits among rivals

Canstar NZ's initial rate sits at 121 of 297 brands in the mortgage table, a better showing than its fixed period ranking of 229 out of 259. On maximum loan to value it ranks 186 of 293. Rate strength, then, carries more of its position than term or deposit.

Who runs it

Canstar NZ is run by Canstar New Zealand Limited and is based in New Zealand. It holds a Financial Markets Authority licence, FSP200146, so readers in New Zealand can see who regulates the site behind the tables. Questions go through email and help centre, so written answers do the work rather than a phone line.

How Canstar NZ compares

Where Canstar NZ is available

Available
New Zealand
Licence in New Zealand
Financial Markets Authority (FSP200146), checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What is Canstar NZ and what does it do?+

Canstar NZ is a New Zealand comparison site for home loans, run by Canstar New Zealand Limited from NZ. It does not lend money itself; it lines up offers from lenders so you can see them together and then approach the one that suits. That makes it a reading and shortlisting tool.

What initial rate does it list?+

The initial rate it lists is 4.19%, a little under the site median of 4.35%. In the mortgage table it ranks 121 of 297 brands on that measure, so the headline rate is its stronger suit. Read it alongside the fixed period.

How long is the fixed rate period?+

The fixed period shown is 1 year, short against a site median of 6.5 years. It ranks 229 of 259 brands on term, so if you want stability for longer, the tables are where you compare the longer runs.

Is Canstar NZ regulated?+

Yes. It is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority in NZ under number FSP200146. That registration is worth checking when you decide how much weight to give a comparison site, and it shows the site sits inside New Zealand's regulated market rather than acting as an informal list of links.

How do I get help?+

Support runs on email and help centre, so you ask by email or work through the help centre rather than ringing anyone. That suits readers who like to keep their questions and answers in writing, and it helps to have your loan type and figures ready before you write.

How much can I borrow against a property?+

The maximum loan to value is 80%, against a site median of 90%. On that measure it ranks 186 of 293 brands, so expect to save a larger deposit than some lenders in the tables ask for.

Which types of home loan does it cover?+

It covers purchase, remortgage and first time buyer lending, so the tables run from buying a home to switching an existing loan and adding an investment property. That spread makes it useful if your plans are not settled, and it lets you move between owner occupier and investment borrowing without starting a fresh search.

How does it compare with Spanish lenders?+

On headline rates, Canstar NZ's 4.19% sits between Prestalo's 2.36% and Creditilia ES at 4%. Sofkredit quotes a wider band, 8% to 14%, so a single figure tells you less there. Canstar NZ compares lenders rather than lending, so use it to shortlist.

Sources

Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: APRC.

Related by the facts

Canstar NZ

Canstar NZ

Lining up New Zealand home loan offers before you apply.

8.8/10See alternatives

Your cookie choices

We use necessary cookies to make this site work. With your permission, analytics cookies help us understand usage and marketing cookies support advertising.

You can reject non-essential cookies and still use the site. Change your choices anytime in Cookie settings.

Cookie policy
Cookie settings