Auckland’s property market continues to show its complexity, with both rentals and sales moving in ways that remind us just how diverse our city’s housing landscape has become.
On the sales front, momentum has been steadily building. Buyers are re-entering the market with greater confidence as interest rates show signs of stabilising, and we’re seeing more realistic pricing expectations from vendors. Quality homes, particularly in city-fringe suburbs, continue to attract competition, while the middle market is showing cautious but steady activity.
The rental market, however, is telling a different story. Our on-the-ground experience is that supply currently outpaces demand across many parts of Auckland. This has created downward pressure on rents in some areas, with tenants having more choice and negotiating power than in previous years. For landlords, this means presentation, pricing, and proactive management are more important than ever to avoid prolonged vacancies.
Alongside these market movements, it’s important to draw your attention to significant planning and policy changes now under consultation. Submissions are currently open for proposals led by the Independent Hearings Panel (IHP) and Auckland Council regarding how intensification and growth will be managed across the city. These changes—shaped in part by central government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development—will directly influence what can be built, where, and at what scale.
Important Planning Update: Plan Change 78 & How to Participate
Plan Change 78 (PC78) is Auckland Council’s intensification response to central government’s National Policy Statement on Urban Development (NPS-UD), mandating increased housing density, walkable catchments, and the Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS).
Although the main submission windows for PC78 have now closed, Auckland Council must still notify a new intensification plan change by 10 October 2025, replacing the remaining parts of PC78**.**
What this means: Your previous PC78 submission will not carry over—you’ll need to submit feedback again once the new plan is notified.
To stay updated and be ready to engage:
• Bookmark the Auckland Council page where the new intensification plan will be notified—this is where submissions will open and deadlines will be announced.
• Monitor the Planning Plus update, which confirms that the new plan must be notified by 10 October 2025.
• Keep an eye on developments related to natural hazard overlays and the Light Rail Corridor zoning, as these are expected to be included in the new plan change.
At Goodwins, we’re closely tracking the shift from PC78 to the new intensification plan. We’ll notify you promptly when the draft is released, including links for submissions and critical deadlines. In the meantime, if you’d like tailored advice on how these upcoming changes might affect your property or development plans, please feel free to reach out.
