Pro Bono Advisory Clinic for First-Generation Migrants
Once a month, our advisers run a free walk-in clinic for first-generation migrant families — covering KiwiSaver, deposits, and what banks actually look for.
One of the questions we hear most from first-generation migrant families is some variation of: "I do not understand how the bank decides who gets a mortgage." It is a fair question — and one that English-language fine print and intimidating bank lobbies do nothing to answer.
So once a month, on the first Saturday, our advisers run a free walk-in clinic out of the Mt Roskill Community Centre. There is no booking required, no sales pitch, and no expectation that anyone becomes a Taprobane client.
What We Cover
- How banks read your bank statements (and what spending patterns matter)
- How KiwiSaver can be used towards a first home deposit
- What the First Home Grant and First Home Loan schemes are
- Why pre-approval is useful, and what it actually means
- What a deposit gap looks like, and how to close it
Why We Run It
Several of our advisers grew up in households where mortgages were a mystery and asking the bank felt like a risk. The clinic exists for the same reason that we joined this industry: information should not be a privilege.