No way onto housing ladder for young couples

Emma White's mum and dad disembarked a boat from Britain with only a bed and a wringer washing machine, and within a year they had bought their first home.

A generation later, Ms White and her fiance, Andrew McDowall, both from Auckland, can't afford even a small slice of the Kiwi pavlova paradise. They are the face of a crisis that has put first homes beyond the reach of even relatively well-off young families, let alone those on low incomes and benefits.

For Ms White, 27, and Mr McDowall, 26, the prospect is daunting. They are trying to save $20,000 for their December wedding, and $20,000 for a deposit on a house. So far, they have put away about $10,000.

Between them they earn about $90,000 from Ms White's job designing children's clothing and Mr McDowall's one-man television music business. His income is uncertain, and she has a $40,000 student loan "like a monkey on the back".

They rent a tiny apartment in Mt Eden, but are looking to buy in cheaper suburbs like Onehunga.

"It's not easy and I don't think it ever was, so I don't want to complain about how hard it is now," says Mr McDowall.

But it is frustrating, watching suburb after suburb climb beyond their price range. Should it be so hard to dream? A grey and white villa, hidden back from the street, flowering succulents outside and their red Volkswagen Golf in the garage.

The reality will be far grimmer.