The Spark: Vision First, Tactics Second
“TMAP’s vision to help a million Māori and Pasifika families into property — one family at a time — that got me.” — Tarewa Paringatai
Tarewa first peeked into TMAP in 2017, then officially joined in 2020. The immediate goal was clear: help the children into property, then build a structure the mokopuna can inherit and grow. That vision anchored every practical step that followed.
The Kiwi Journey to Australia
Tarewa has lived in Sydney for about 20 years. The whānau moved across for opportunity, then built life around language, culture and community. Grandkids arrived, roots deepened, and the goal evolved: split time between Aotearoa and Australia while leaving a lasting legacy for the next generations.
Barriers At The Start
Before TMAP, three roadblocks stood in the way:
- Know-how: “Not knowing how to do it.”
- Money: “Not having the money.”
- Borrowing capacity: “Capacity was the main one.”
TMAP tackled these head-on with a money-management reset, lender strategy, and a plan to unlock equity already built back in New Zealand.
The Breakthrough: Using NZ Equity In Australia
“I knew there was money sitting there, I just didn’t know what I could do with it.”
TMAP helped coordinate the legal and lending pathway in NZ, then moved over $100K of usable equity to Australia. With the budget disciplines in place, that equity became the on-ramp to the first Australian purchase.
The Family Strategy In Action
When parental borrowing capacity capped out, TMAP introduced the Family Strategy:
- Parents provided the deposit.
- Adult child provided the income to meet serviceability.
- Occupant or tenant covered the mortgage.
This approach allowed the family to keep buying even when one link in the chain had reached its ceiling.
The Portfolio: How It Stacked Up
Property 1 — NZ Family Home (1990s, Wellington region)
The original base. Years later, its equity became the springboard for Australia.
Property 2 — Eldest Daughter’s Journey
She purchased independently, then later leveraged family equity to secure an investment that now produces rent.
Property 3 — Austral, NSW (Australia Purchase #1)
Funded with released NZ equity plus new money-management disciplines.
Outcome: Rented to external tenants.
Property 4 — Liverpool, NSW (Australia Purchase #2)
Family Strategy activated. Title in the son’s name for capacity. Parents provided the deposit.
Outcome: Parents now live in the home and service the mortgage.
Property 5 — Schofields, NSW (Australia Purchase #3)
Family Strategy repeated. Title in the son’s name, parents provided the deposit.
Outcome: Rented to external tenants.
Next Target — Property 6
Plan is to ride equity growth and rotate assets to fund a trans-Tasman lifestyle with the mokopuna in both countries. The constraint right now is capacity, not commitment or desire.
The CCD Lens: Capacity, Commitment, Desire
“CCD — Capacity, Commitment, Desire. The commitment and desire are there. We are working on capacity for the next goal.”
- Capacity: Income, credit, buffers and lender policy alignment.
- Commitment: The family budget, the disciplines and the calendar of action.
- Desire: The reason to keep going — children, mokopuna and legacy.
Money Management: The Real Multiplier
Early on, Tarewa thought the budget was “good enough.” TMAP’s structure revealed blind spots. After tightening the system, savings grew, cash flow stabilised and lenders leaned in. With that foundation, equity + capacity could finally work together.
Legacy Thinking
“Our time is almost up. We want to leave something for them — not just property, the money-management skills to drive it.”
The goal is not only assets. It is also knowledge transfer — habits and disciplines that let the next generation hold, grow and multiply what has been started.
Timeline Snapshot
- 1996: First home purchased in New Zealand.
- 2004–2005: Move to Australia and settle in Sydney.
- 2017: First encounter with TMAP.
- 2020: Officially joins TMAP.
- 2020–2024: Three Australian purchases across the family using NZ equity and Family Strategy.
- Today: Five properties across the wider family group. Planning the sixth when capacity allows.
What This Story Teaches
- Equity is sleeping capital until you learn how to deploy it.
- Family Strategy extends your reach when one person’s borrowing capacity is tapped out.
- Budget disciplines turn surges into a system, which lenders reward.
- Legacy is assets plus training. Teach the next driver how to drive.
Ready To Build Your Family Strategy?
Join Teach Me About Property and get a plan that fits your capacity, accelerates your commitment, and anchors your desire to a clear legacy.
→ Start with a free webinar.
→ Get your numbers modelled.
→ Map your Family Strategy and take action.
