Farmers say new KiwiSaver rules are a win for rural staff looking to buy property.

Farm workers, rural teachers, police and defence personnel can now use KiwiSaver to buy their first home, or even a farm, due to the Government lifting a long-standing restriction.

Previously, these workers were blocked because their jobs required living in employer-provided housing.

Federated Farmers' Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Mike Hosking that there's about 50,000 farms nationwide, most with just one or two staff living onsite.

He expects 10 to 20% to take this option.

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