Feature article
New Zealand housing crisis: what’s really going on?
We delve into why our long-running property challenges continue to hold tight.
12 December 2025
What we’ll cover:
A quick snapshot of the housing crisis
What caused the crisis?
A long term slide in housing supply responsiveness
Affordability pressures
Rents and rental shortages
Who is most affected by the housing crisis?
Children and vulnerable families
A safe, dry home shouldn't be a luxury for our youngest Kiwi. Unfortunately, poor-quality housing is still shaping the health outcomes of thousands of New Zealand children every year.
Māori & Pacific whānau
Renters
First home buyers
What the Government is doing to tackle the housing crisis
Going for Housing Growth is built around three main ideas:
The Government's plan is to tackle the housing crisis by pushing councils to allow cities to grow both up (intensification) and out (expanding the urban fringe).
Flagship planning reform: RMA replacement
Is the housing crisis improving?
What might help solve the crisis long-term?
What this means for buyers, renters, and families right now
For first-home buyers
For renters
For families and vulnerable households
An optimistic future
Author
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