lifeDirect 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

lifeDirect suits New Zealand borrowers who want a mortgage with a product fee of NZD 0 and an initial rate of 4.69%. The trade-off is the short fixed period of 0.5, which suits people likely to remortgage or move sooner rather than settle in.

Key facts

Best for
A New Zealand home loan with a NZD 0 product fee and a short rate lock.
Initial rate
4.69% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Fixed period
0.5 years (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Product fee
NZ$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Purpose
Purchase, Remortgage, First-time-buyer, Buy-to-let, Home-equity (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
LifeDirect 2020 Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
New Zealand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Email, Phone (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Official website
lifedirect.co.nz

Apps and profiles

Elsewhere
Trustpilot

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Product fee of NZD 0, so nothing is charged simply to start.
  • Initial rate of 4.69%, under the 6.5% mark a quarter of listings exceed.
  • The purchase, remortgage and first time buyer range covers a first home, a remortgage and a rental property.
  • Support by email and phone for borrowers in New Zealand.

Cons

  • The fixed period of 0.5 is far shorter than the 10 mark most mortgages here reach, so the rate is set again soon.
  • Support runs on email and phone only, which rules out anyone who wants live chat.
  • The site's own scoring puts the offer at 0.4 against 5.3 for costs, so the offer is the weaker of the two.
lifeDirect

Ready to try lifeDirect?

Scored 8.8 / 10 by BorrowCue.

See alternatives

Who it suits

  • New Zealand buyers, remortgagers and buy to let landlords who want entry costs kept down and are open to a short lock.
  • People whose plans may still change, since the 0.5 fixed period suits a loan you may move or restructure.
  • Borrowers who would rather speak to someone, since support runs on email and phone.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Prestalo, at 2.36%, if the lowest starting rate matters more than the NZD 0 product fee.
  • Creditilia ES, whose 4% initial rate sits below 4.69%.
  • Sofkredit, whose 8% to 14% range is far above 4.69% and belongs to another market.

Where it sits among rivals

On initial rate, lifeDirect sits 143 of 297 brands in the field, a middle position rather than the sharp end. On fixed period it ranks 247 of 259, near the back, so the short lock is the clear difference between it and its neighbours.

How lifeDirect compares

Where lifeDirect is available

Available
New Zealand
Licence in New Zealand
Financial Markets Authority (FSP286965), checked September 26, 2026

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

Frequently asked questions

What does a lifeDirect mortgage cost?+

The product fee is NZD 0 and the initial rate is 4.69%, held for a fixed period of 0.5. Those figures cover the purchase, remortgage and first time buyer range, so a purchase, a remortgage and a home equity loan all start from the same place.

Is lifeDirect regulated?+

lifeDirect is licensed by the Financial Markets Authority in New Zealand, and the registration is listed as FSP286965. That is the check to make before you apply, and it tells you who stands behind the loan you sign.

How long is the rate fixed for?+

The rate is fixed for 0.5, which is short next to the 10 mark most mortgages in this group sit at. Plan on reviewing the rate again soon rather than treating it as a long term arrangement.

What can I use a lifeDirect loan for?+

The listed purchase, remortgage and first time buyer covers the main property jobs, so one lender handles buying, moving to a new deal, a first home, a rental property or borrowing against the home you already have. Support runs on email and phone if you want to talk it through.

Is lifeDirect a good fit for a first time buyer?+

It fits first time buyers because a first home sits in the purchase, remortgage and first time buyer and the product fee is NZD 0, so entry costs stay low. The fixed period of 0.5 suits someone whose plans may still change.

How does the rate compare with other lenders?+

The 4.69% starting rate sits just above the 4.49% mark for this group and under the 6.5% mark a quarter of listings exceed. Cheaper starting rates do exist, including 2.36% at Prestalo.

How do I get going with lifeDirect?+

You choose the loan you need from the purchase, remortgage and first time buyer list, then talk to the team on email and phone. The product fee is NZD 0, so asking for a quote costs nothing up front, and 4.69% is the figure to set against other lenders.

Can I use lifeDirect outside New Zealand?+

The lender is based in New Zealand and its purchase, remortgage and first time buyer loans are aimed at that market, so a borrower elsewhere should look at a lender registered where they live. The Financial Markets Authority licence is a New Zealand registration, not a passport to other countries.

Sources

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

Not confirmed yet: APRC, Maximum loan to value.

lifeDirect

lifeDirect

A New Zealand home loan with a NZD 0 product fee and a short rate lock.

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