New Zealand: housing

How many new homes are being consented in New Zealand?

41,268 new dwellings were consented in New Zealand in the year ended August 2026, up 21% from the year before, according to Stats NZ, released on 1 October 2026. That is 7.7 new dwellings per 1,000 residents, up from 6.4. In August 2026 alone, 3,440 were consented, including 1,704 stand-alone houses and 1,455 townhouses, flats and units.

Consents show planned building, not completions. The housing ministry's June 2026 Housing Market Update notes that consents have been recovering since late 2025 but that construction activity remains weak.

Official sources: Stats NZ: Building consents issued, August 2026 · HUD: Housing Market Update, June quarter 2026 (PDF)

How many people are waiting for public housing in New Zealand?

19,002 applicants were on New Zealand's Housing Register at 30 June 2026, 0.6% fewer than a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Social Development.

The Housing Register lists people not currently in public housing who have been assessed as eligible and are ready to be matched to a suitable property. A separate transfer register covers public housing tenants who need to move. Applicants are counted as households, so the number of people waiting is higher. MSD publishes breakdowns by priority, household type and region.

Official sources: MSD: Housing Register

How much do New Zealanders spend on rent?

New Zealand households that rent spent an average of $505.50 a week on rent in the year ended June 2025, up 9.0% from $463.80 the year before, according to Stats NZ's household income and housing cost statistics, released on 26 February 2026. Households with a mortgage paid an average of $690.90 a week, up 4.9%.

Across all households, housing costs took an average of $22.30 of every $100 of disposable income, with no statistically significant change. These are averages over the year; the housing ministry reports that rents for new tenancies have since returned to modest growth.

Official sources: Stats NZ: Household income and housing-cost statistics, year ended June 2025

How many people are homeless in New Zealand?

At least 112,500 people in New Zealand were severely housing deprived on Census night, 7 March 2023, including 4,965 people estimated to be living without shelter, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's Homelessness insights report to 31 March 2026. At least 34,560 of those severely housing deprived were Māori.

Severe housing deprivation includes people without shelter, in temporary accommodation such as emergency housing, and sharing someone else's home temporarily. The ministry describes these five-yearly Census estimates as the most robust measure of homelessness.

Official sources: HUD: Homelessness insights report to 31 March 2026 (PDF)

What share of income do New Zealanders spend on housing?

New Zealand households spent an average of $22.30 on housing costs for every $100 of disposable income in the year ended June 2025, according to Stats NZ. Average annual household disposable income rose 5.1% to $108,329.

40.6% of households said their income was "not enough" or "only just enough", up 2.1 percentage points from the year before. Housing costs include rent, mortgage payments, rates and building insurance. The average hides wide differences: renters and recent buyers generally spend a larger share than people who own their homes outright.

Official sources: Stats NZ: Household income and housing-cost statistics, year ended June 2025

What share of New Zealand is urban?

84.0%: that is the share of people living in urban areas in New Zealand for 2025, according to the UN Population Division. Since 2005 it has ranged from 83.8% (2018) to 85.9% (2006). It is 5th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 63.1%. Worldwide: 33rd of 193.

How many people in New Zealand live in slums?

0.0%: that is the share of city dwellers living in slums in New Zealand for 2022, according to UN-Habitat. It has not changed since 2006. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 17.9%, and New Zealand placed 26th highest of 27. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 155th highest.

What share of people in New Zealand have electricity?

According to the World Bank, the share of people with access to electricity in New Zealand was 100.0% in 2024. It has not changed since 2005. It is 1st highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 100.0%. World rank, highest first: 1st of 193.

How many people in New Zealand have clean water?

100.0%: that is the share of people using safely managed drinking water in New Zealand for 2024, according to WHO and UNICEF. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across East Asia & Pacific the middle value was 45.9%, and New Zealand placed 1st highest of 20. World rank, highest first: 1st of 134.

What share of people in New Zealand have safe sanitation?

WHO and UNICEF puts the share of people using safely managed sanitation in New Zealand at 88.8% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. It is 5th highest of 21 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 60.5%. World rank, highest first: 39th of 134.

How many people in New Zealand cook with wood or charcoal?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2024, is 99.0%. That is the highest since at least 2005. It is 7th highest of 30 in East Asia & Pacific, where the median is 82.0%. Worldwide: 45th of 192.