Housing Crisis stories
Public scrutiny begins on a replacement regime for the RMA, with the first draft aiming to speed planning and ease housing constraints.
Critics warn the draft overhaul could leave consenting slower and housebuilding harder, despite ministers promising a leaner planning regime.
The report urges ministers to curb speculation, strengthen tenant rights and expand social housing after finding the crisis breaches basic rights.
Record-low inventory is pushing New Zealand house prices higher, leaving first-time buyers with fewer affordable options.
Sales fell 28% in April and the median price eased to NZD $810,000, but analysts say it is too soon to judge the policy impact.
Budget 2021’s housing package was welcomed, but experts warned it lacks the radical steps needed to help first-home buyers and renters.
Signs of cooling are emerging as quieter open homes and more auctions passing in are expected to slow gains after a red-hot year.
Lockdown housing for the homeless highlighted how policy, modular building and state spending could curb New Zealand’s affordability crisis.
Home buyers could gain from easier grants, while investors face a tougher tax regime and rents may rise as a result.
Auckland developers are finding stronger demand and easier consents as housing shortages, low rates and relaxed zoning reshape the market.
Sales surged 14.6% year on year in February as buyers rushed to secure homes before loan-to-value restrictions returned in March.
Despite a $31 billion investment, Aucklanders are being warned motorway queues and emissions will still rise under the transport plan.
Record shortages of homes for sale are fuelling the pressure, with New Zealand’s median house price climbing to a fresh high for the fourth month.
House prices could be kept artificially high, worsening inequality and locking buyers into the cost of poor policy, Infrastructure New Zealand says.
Affordability is worsening for first-time buyers as house prices outpace incomes, deepening the housing divide and fuelling political pressure.
Only a third of New Zealand homes now qualify for the Home Start grant, intensifying calls to lift price caps before summer buying picks up.
More than 600 new homes are planned for a 70-ha Invercargill site, with developers saying the project could ease pressure on buyers.
Auckland faces heavier truck delays and rising costs unless ministers urgently assess whether a new harbour crossing is needed by 2030.
New planning laws may still fail to fix housing shortages and infrastructure gaps unless councils and agencies get more capacity and funding.
Such partnerships could help regions fund long-term projects, curb political meddling and ease New Zealand’s housing, transport and water strains.
