A private water pipe burst at 22 Willeston St in central Wellington early this morning, flooding a Snap Fitness gym and impacting several businesses. Fire and Emergency NZ responded at 4:35 am, while Wellington Water crews isolated the water supply at 5:45 am to assist with repairs arranged by the property owner. What caused the … Read more
The Infrastructure Commission advised the Government to slow its pursuit of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility, citing concerns over potential cost blow-outs and the availability of less expensive alternatives. According to a December 2025 memo released under the Official Information Act, the commission questioned the project’s necessity for managing “dry-year” electricity risks and … Read more
New Zealand house prices have grown by approximately 10% in the 2020s so far, representing one of the weakest growth periods in seven decades. According to Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan, this trend contrasts sharply with historical data where prices frequently doubled every ten years. This slowdown suggests the traditional “doubling” rule may no longer … Read more
Auckland Council staff have recommended a mid-range planning option, “Scenario B,” to scale back the city’s contentious housing intensification plan. The proposal, designed to meet a reduced government housing capacity floor of 1.4 million dwellings, would retain six-storey apartment zoning along specific frequent bus corridors and allow for taller building heights near central isthmus rail … Read more
Fletcher Living has launched a trial in Lincoln, New Zealand, featuring two identical four-bedroom homes to test the efficacy of solar-powered residential builds. One home, listed at $999,000, includes a $30,000 premium for a solar and battery system, while the other serves as a standard-build control. The developer aims to assess long-term energy savings and … Read more
WELLINGTON — Heavy rainfall overnight has triggered a significant infrastructure failure in the Wellington suburb of Island Bay, leaving residents to deal with the aftermath of a raw sewage overflow. The incident, caused by a blocked wastewater main, resulted in waste—including faecal matter and sanitary products—flowing down the suburb’s main thoroughfare as drains backed up … Read more
WHANGAREI — A significant milestone in regional social housing has been reached with the completion of the Kauika Road development in the Avenues. The $75 million project, which represents the largest social housing development to date in the region, has officially opened, providing 95 new apartments and standalone homes for residents in need. The project … Read more
Auckland councillors are set to decide next week how far to scale back “Plan Change 120,” a sweeping rezoning initiative previously designed to significantly expand housing capacity across the city. The upcoming decision follows a recent council workshop where staff presented six potential pathways for the future of the city’s intensification strategy. The move to … Read more
The Real Cost of Housing: Why “Stuck in Neutral” Might Be the New Normal For many Kiwis, the dream of homeownership has felt like a moving target. While headlines often focus on the raw dollar figures of house prices, the reality buried in the latest market data tells a much more nuanced story. When you … Read more
AOTEAROA — A new report from Community Housing Aotearoa warns that homelessness in New Zealand has reached its highest level ever, driven by a persistent shortage of affordable housing. The organization, which represents community housing providers, is advocating for a significant shift in national strategy to address the crisis. Chief executive Paul Gilberd stated that … Read more