How to use the heatmaps 

The heatmaps should be used as a starting point for further analysis, alongside other information, such as local context, knowledge and relationships. Used alone, they can’t help to make decisions about what needs to be done, or where and how it needs to happen.  

The heatmaps compare places based on measures of: 

  • severe housing deprivation, which includes rough sleeping, overcrowding and temporary accommodation 
  • rental stress 
  • home ownership affordability. 

Rate of severe housing deprivation per 10,000 people 

This map illustrates the proportion of people experiencing severe housing deprivation by city or district council.  

Areas in red shades have higher proportions of deprivation and areas in blue shades show have lower proportions of deprivation. Data is from Census 2018. 

 

 

Download data as a table.

Percentage of the median household income required to afford a median market rent 

This map illustrates what proportion of the median household income would need to be spent in different city or district councils to afford a median-priced rental.  

The median household income is based on a variety of sources provided by Statistics New Zealand. Market rent is based on the cost of recently lodged rental bonds, rather than the full rental stock. 

This chart is based on an experimental data series used to indicate rent stress. Because of the experimental nature of these statistics there will be differences between the median rent and sales price calculated by Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other published sources. 

Red shades indicate lower levels of affordability, and blue shades higher. Data is from June 2023. 

 

  • Data Table: Percentage of the median household income required to afford a median market rent

    Territorial Authority Name

    Percentage of the median household income required to afford a median market rent

    Far North District

    40.8

    Whangarei District

    41.9

    Kaipara District

    40

    Thames-Coromandel District

    48.7

    Hauraki District

    41.7

    Waikato District

    28.2

    Matamata-Piako District

    33.1

    Hamilton City

    32.7

    Waipa District

    32.1

    Otorohanga District

    29.2

    South Waikato District

    37

    Waitomo District

    34.8

    Taupo District

    35.3

    Western Bay of Plenty District

    31.4

    Tauranga City

    43.3

    Rotorua District

    36.9

    Whakatane District

    42

    Kawerau District

    54.6

    Opotiki District

    37.8

    Gisborne District

    43.7

    Wairoa District

    33.6

    Hastings District

    36.8

    Napier City

    45

    Central Hawke's Bay District

    40.5

    New Plymouth District

    39.2

    Stratford District

    39.3

    South Taranaki District

    41

    Ruapehu District

    36.3

    Wanganui District

    42.4

    Rangitikei District

    38.9

    Manawatu District

    38.6

    Palmerston North City

    35

    Tararua District

    33.3

    Horowhenua District

    46.4

    Kapiti Coast District

    39.4

    Porirua City

    32.1

    Upper Hutt City

    33.9

    Lower Hutt City

    35.3

    Wellington City

    25.5

    Masterton District

    40.2

    Carterton District

    40.4

    South Wairarapa District

    36.7

    Tasman District

    39.9

    Nelson City

    37

    Marlborough District

    36

    Kaikoura District

    26.4

    Buller District

    38.8

    Grey District

    32.3

    Westland District

    30.5

    Hurunui District

    34.9

    Waimakariri District

    33.7

    Christchurch City

    32.9

    Selwyn District

    28.3

    Ashburton District

    27.8

    Timaru District

    30.1

    Mackenzie District

    22.7

    Waimate District

    30

    Waitaki District

    32.2

    Central Otago District

    32.9

    Queenstown-Lakes District

    33.5

    Dunedin City

    34.2

    Clutha District

    28.2

    Southland District

    26.4

    Gore District

    26.5

    Invercargill City

    31.1

    Auckland

    31.4

Number of years of savings on the median household income to purchase a median-priced house 

This map illustrates how many times the annual median household income a median priced house would cost in different territorial authorities.  

This chart is based on an experimental data series used to indicate purchase affordability. It uses data from a variety of Statistics New Zealand sources, as well as house sale price data from CoreLogic.  

Because of the experimental nature of these statistics there will be differences between the median rent and sales price calculated by HUD and other published sources. 

Red shades indicate lower levels of affordability, and blue shades higher. Data is from June 2023. 

 

 

  • Data Table: Number of years of savings on the median household income to purchase a median-priced house

    Territorial Authority Name

    Number of Years of Household Median Income to Purchase Median Price House

    Far North District

    12.9

    Whangarei District

    10.5

    Kaipara District

    11.4

    Thames-Coromandel District

    15.4

    Hauraki District

    10.4

    Waikato District

    8.5

    Matamata-Piako District

    9.3

    Hamilton City

    10

    Waipa District

    9.7

    Otorohanga District

    0

    South Waikato District

    7.1

    Waitomo District

    5.9

    Taupo District

    10.3

    Western Bay of Plenty District

    11.2

    Tauranga City

    11.9

    Rotorua District

    8.4

    Whakatane District

    10.5

    Kawerau District

    9.5

    Opotiki District

    0

    Gisborne District

    9.4

    Wairoa District

    0

    Hastings District

    9.4

    Napier City

    10.7

    Central Hawke's Bay District

    8.7

    New Plymouth District

    9.1

    Stratford District

    7.6

    South Taranaki District

    7.2

    Ruapehu District

    6.6

    Wanganui District

    9.2

    Rangitikei District

    7.7

    Manawatu District

    8.2

    Palmerston North City

    8.5

    Tararua District

    7.4

    Horowhenua District

    10.2

    Kapiti Coast District

    11.1

    Porirua City

    8.3

    Upper Hutt City

    8.2

    Lower Hutt City

    8.6

    Wellington City

    7.7

    Masterton District

    8.9

    Carterton District

    8.7

    South Wairarapa District

    10.9

    Tasman District

    11.4

    Nelson City

    10.4

    Marlborough District

    9.3

    Kaikoura District

    9

    Buller District

    6.4

    Grey District

    5.9

    Westland District

    6.3

    Hurunui District

    8.5

    Waimakariri District

    8.4

    Christchurch City

    8.4

    Selwyn District

    7.4

    Ashburton District

    6.4

    Timaru District

    7

    Mackenzie District

    7.5

    Waimate District

    6.2

    Waitaki District

    7.5

    Central Otago District

    9.3

    Queenstown-Lakes District

    10.8

    Dunedin City

    8.8

    Clutha District

    5.5

    Southland District

    6

    Gore District

    5.7

    Invercargill City

    6.5

    Auckland

    10.6