Who says Auckland is short of land?

Crockers’ August market research report says, “This does seem to contradict the argument that lack of available land is driving up prices in the Auckland region”.

77% of all private dwellings in New Zealand are standalone houses. The figure falls to 71% in the Auckland region – primarily the result of high-density dwellings in Auckland city.

Compared to previous Census results, there is little evidence of increasing intensification in the Auckland region, apart from in the Auckland city area, which has seen a decline in private, standalone dwellings – down to 58% from 61% in 2001.

Over the whole region, the same figure is down just 1% to 71%.

“It seems Aucklanders like company,” Crockers’ report says. Auckland has the highest number of people living in each standalone house – 3.2 versus a nationwide average of 2.8. That compares to the previous Census 2001 figure of 3.1.

This rise is mainly due to an increase in household size in Manukau city. Rodney, North Shore and Auckland city also showed a small rise. 23% of all private dwellings in New Zealand are single-person households, but in Auckland this falls to 19% (slightly down from 20% five years before).

In Auckland city (with even more intensive housing than in other parts of the region), the level of single person dwellings is close to the national average. By contrast, in Manukau city just 14% of dwellings are single person households, and 24% have five or more people.

When released in full, the 2006 Census figures will provide data relating to rental property characteristics and ownership, as well as the ownership of properties through trusts.