The New Zealand Housing Survey: Year 1 Survey Results

The Urban Advisory is proud to release the first report of The New Zealand Housing Survey.

After years of development, an initial 2,500+ responses, a data analysis from the University of Auckland and a full report written by the team at The Urban Advisory; we are now able to start building a more nuanced picture of how people live, want to live and the barriers that are in the way of achieving their housing aspirations. 

Three key insights have emerged as a results of this first tranche of data:

‍ 1: That there is a growing appetite for more housing options.

New Zealanders are signaling a clear demand for more diverse housing choices that cater to different life stages, financial situations, and cultural needs. The desire for flexibility is now a major factor in the housing demand being expressed by respondents, with many feeling that the current choices aren't always in the right places, or the right type of houses to suit their needs.

2: Housing mobility is constrained — especially for renters and downsizers.

The survey reveals significant constraints on housing mobility, with renters reporting far worse outcomes than homeowners. This is underscored by widespread dissatisfaction among renters, with nearly 75% expressing dissatisfaction with the housing options available to them. This dissatisfaction is intrinsically linked to affordability, which presents a major barrier to entering the homeownership market. 

3. Affordability pressures are eroding quality of life.

While there are those that own their homes and are comfortable and secure, hidden hardship for many other groups is widespread. People, and particularly renters or those over leveraged paying their mortgages, are sacrificing essentials — healthcare, rest, family time — to meet living costs. Financial strain like this limits productivity, entrepreneurship, and social contribution, replacing the “Kiwi Dream” with economic trade-offs and disillusionment.

"To build a truly equitable and sustainable housing system, 
we must expand the range of choices available to all New Zealanders." 

The report goes into further detail to expand on the socio-demographic variations across these key findings, as well as beginning to validate or disprove prevalent housing narratives. 

By reading the full report below, you can dive deeper into the data and learn more about what’s really going on for New Zealanders when it comes to their housing. This is just the beginning: we have big plans for the data and collecting a lot more of it throughout 2026. Join us on the journey by reaching out to one of our directors.