He Oranga Kāinga, He Oranga Hapori - Housing and Urban Development Indicators

Everyone is living in communities that meet their needs

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

The percentage of people who describe the location of their house as ‘suitable’ or ‘very suitable’ provides information about how people experience their home as part of the neighbourhood and surroundings. This indicator helps us understand the extent to which people feel at home in the places they live.

Data source: Housing and Physical Environment Supplement, General Social Survey, Stats NZ

Increase

93% of people described the location of their house or flat as ‘very suitable’, or ‘suitable’ (2018).

Update available following GSS 2024

Update available following GSS 2026.

The places where people live are accessible and connected to opportunities

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Recording the percentage of people with easy access to facilities illustrates people's ability to travel to their local supermarket, health services and green spaces. This indicator helps us to understand people’s access to amenities in their local area.

 Data source: Housing and Physical Environment Supplement, General Social Survey, Stats NZ

Increase

92.1 % of people described getting to the nearest supermarket or dairy as ‘very easy’ or easy’. It was also ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ for 87.3% of people to get to a doctor; 95.9% of people to get to a park or green space; and 67.2% of people to use public transport.

Ease of using public transport differed across age groups, with 74.5% of people aged 15-24 finding it ‘very easy’ or ‘easy’ compared to only 62% of people aged 65-74 (2018).

Update available following GSS 2024

Update available following GSS 2026

Tracking the percentage of trips in urban areas on public transport, walking and cycling highlights the extent to which people use active modes of transport. This indicator assists with considering how well urban development is improving connections to public transport and active transport networks.

Data source: NZ Household Travel Survey, Ministry of Transport

Increase

19% of trips in urban areas used public transport and active modes of transport (2020/2021)

20% of trips in urban areas used public transport and active modes of transport (2021/2022)

20% of trips in urban areas used public transport and active modes of transport (2022/2023)

Additional indicators could explore: how communities are connected to jobs. 

We grow within our environmental limits, support our culture and heritage, are resilient to natural hazards, reduce emissions and adapt to climate change impact

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Tracking the greenhouse gas emissions produced by households related to transport provides information about the contribution of household transport to carbon emissions. This indicator allows us to understand the contribution of household transport choices to decreasing emissions from housing and urban development over time.

Data source: Greenhouse Gas Inventory, Stats NZ

Decrease

Household transport produced 7,705 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (year ending December 2021).

Household transport produced 7,757 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents (year ending December 2022).

Update available following the release of Greenhouse Gas inventory statistics in 2024

Additional indicators could explore:  links between urban development, ecosystem health, protecting places of cultural value and enhancing residents’ sense of belonging; communities planning, preparing for, and adapting to climate change effects. 

Everyone lives in a home, whether rented or owned, that is stable and affordable

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Reporting the number of people estimated to be experiencing Severe Housing Deprivation, illustrates the number of people who are experiencing homelessness. This estimate helps us to understand the extent to which homelessness is becoming rare, brief and non-recurring.

Data source: Census, Stats NZ

Decrease

As at March 2018, 102.123, people (or 0.2% of the population) were estimated to be experiencing severe housing deprivation. This means that 217.3 people per 10,000 people were estimated to experience severe housing deprivation (2021).

Update available following Census 2023

Update available following Census 2023

Tracking the percentage of people living in an owner-occupied dwelling provides information on whether housing affordability is improving for those who are able to own their home. This indicator helps us to understand whether the housing market is providing a more diverse range of stable and affordable housing.

Data source: Household Economic Survey, Stats NZ

Increase

63.5% of people were living in owner-occupied dwellings (2021).

 83.6 % of people aged over 65 were living in an owner-occupied dwelling, compared to 49.3% of people aged 15-24 (2021).   

64.2% of people were living in owner-occupied dwellings (2022).

84.7% of people aged over 65 were living in an owner-occupied dwelling, compared to 49.9% of people aged 15-24 (2022).

Update available following the release of HES statistics in 2024

Comparing changes in rental prices with changes in median household disposable income helps us understand the affordability of rental properties around the country. This indicator helps us to understand whether the housing market is providing a more diverse range of stable and affordable housing.

 Data source: HUD. For breakdowns by region and month, see  About the Indicators – Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (hud.govt.nz)(external link)

Increase

Rental affordability increased by 1% between June 2020 and June 2021

Rental affordability increased by 1% between June 2021 and June 2022.

Rental affordability increased by 0% between June 2022 and June 2023.

Reporting the percentage of households paying 30% or more of household income on housing costs provides information on the affordability of housing, for a range of tenures. This indicator illustrates whether people have enough income after direct and indirect living costs to meet their needs.

 Data source: Household Economic Survey, Stats NZ

Decrease

22.1% of households who owned or partly owned their dwelling spent 30% or more of their disposable household income on housing costs. 44.2% of households who do not own their dwelling, spent 30% or more of their disposable household income on housing costs (2021). 

20.6% of households who owned or partly owned their dwelling spent 30% or more of their disposable household income on housing costs. 42.8% of households who do not own their dwelling, spent 30% or more of their disposable household income on housing costs (2022).

Update available following the release of HES statistics in 2024

Additional indicators could explore the intermediate housing market (private renters in paid employment who cannot afford to buy their own home).

The quality, accessibility, size and features of our homes support people and families to live healthy successful lives 

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Reporting the percentage of people who report living in a warm, dry home which does not require repairs shows how residents perceive the quality of their housing. This indicator helps us to understand the extent to which people are living in houses that are safe, warm and dry.

Data source: General Social Survey, Stats NZ

Increase

94.5% of people who owned their home reported that their home needed no major repairs. 87.5% reported that their house had no mould, and 68.4% reported that their house was not damp (2021).

94.6% of people who did not own their home reported that their home needed no major repairs. 77.3% reported that their house had no mould, and 51.1% reported that their house was not damp (2021).

Update available following GSS 2024.

Update available following GSS 2026

Reporting the percentage of people living in a severely crowded home illustrates the number of people who are living in homes who need two or more extra bedrooms. This indicator highlights whether houses are meeting the needs of our changing and diverse populations.

 Data source: Census, Stats NZ

Decrease

3.7% of people living in private homes were living in a severely crowded home (2018)

Available following Census 2023

Update available following Census 2023

Additional indicators could explore: housing stock which is accessible and functional for people with disabilities. 

Māori are able to fulfil their aspirations to  use their assets and whenua to invest in and support housing solutions

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Reporting the number of programmes delivered to support Māori capability to lead housing projects, and the amount of funding available provides information on the extent to which Māori organisations are accessing support for capability.  This indicator assists us to understand the extent to which the system facilitates Māori to invest in and deliver housing solutions.

 Data source: HUD, Te Puni Kōkiri. 

Increase

99 programmes to support Māori capability to lead projects were delivered in the year ending June 2021. 

54 programmes to support Māori capability to lead housing projects were delivered in the year ending June 2022. 

86 programmes to support Māori capability to lead housing projects were delivered in the year ending June 2023.

Additional indicators developed for MAIHI Ka Ora could be used to report on Māori Housing through Partnership.

The system is integrated, self-adjusting and responds to emerging challenges and opportunities

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

The proportion of building consents granted for higher-density housing typologies in urban areas shows the types of new housing being built, for example apartments or townhouses. This indicator helps us to understand the extent to which urban change is responding better to housing needs and climate change.

Data source: Building consents, Stats NZ

Increase

Within urban areas, 11.6% of consents were for apartments, 36.5% for townhouses, flats, units and other dwellings, and 4.0% for retirement village units. 47.9% of consents were for houses. (Year ending June 2021)

Within urban areas, 9.2% of consents were for apartments, 46.6% for townhouses, flats, units and other dwellings, and 5.2% for retirement village units. 39% of consents were for houses. (Year ending June 2022)

Within urban areas, 10.6% of consents were for apartments, 49.4% for townhouses, flats, units and other dwellings, and 6.3% for retirement village units. 33.7% of consents were for houses. (Year ending June 2023)

Understanding the percentage of recently-consented homes with access to frequent public transport services illustrates the extent to which new houses and communities are connected to public transport infrastructure. This indicator helps us to understand whether better coordination between actors across the system is leading to well-planned and responsive development. 

Data source: Waka Kōtahi

Increase

20.0% of homes that recently received building consent had access to frequent public transport services. (2020/21)

19.5% of homes that recently received building consent had access to frequent public transport services. (2021/22)

19.6% of dwellings that recently received building consent had access to frequent public transport services. (2022/23)

Additional indicators could explore: the effectiveness of different approaches to system stewardship; the effectiveness of interventions in increasing adaptability across the system.

Land use change, infrastructure and housing supply is responsive to demand, well-planned and well-regulated

Desired direction

What was the picture in 2021?

What was the picture in 2022?

What was the picture in 2023?

Tracking the ratio of new dwellings consented per 1000 residents per year illustrates how housing supply is changing, relative to changes in population. This indicator helps us to understand how well housing supply is meeting the changing demands of communities.

 Data source: Building consents, Stats NZ. For breakdowns by month, see  Home building – Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (hud.govt.nz)(external link)

Increase

For every 1000 people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, 8.7 new dwellings received building consent. (Year ending June 2021)

For every 1000 people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, 9.9 new dwellings received building consent. (Year ending June 2022)

For every 1000 people living in Aotearoa New Zealand, 8.6 new dwellings received building consent. (Year ending June 2023)

Additional indicators could explore: enabling development on land with potential for housing and urban development.