Housing in New Zealand
Housing in New Zealand was traditionally based on the quarter-acre block, detached suburban home, but many historical exceptions and alternative modern trends exist.
From the time of organised European colonisation in the mid-19th century there has been a general chronological development in the types of homes built in New Zealand, and examples of each generation are still commonly occupied.
[5] Urban areas, where about 86% of New Zealand residents live,[6] are becoming more dense,[7] but remain very sparsely settled by international standards.
These are typically purpose-built houses or huts near a coast or a lake, but can also serve as a base for hunting or fishing in local rivers.
Tents, camper-vans and caravans are also common, however, New Zealand lacks the large trailer parks of some similar countries, like Australia and South Africa.
The 2013 census produced an estimate that 1% of people in New Zealand live in "severe housing deprivation" – an increase from previous years.
The effect of European housing methods led to a mix of designs with Māori adopting windows and high roofs.
The typical villa has the kitchen to the rear of the house and separate from the dining room, as food preparation was meant to occur out of sight.
[22] The 20th century started with big Edwardian houses and neo-Georgian architecture[23] From the late 1910s the Californian bungalow became more popular.
the design has a lower pitched roof and ceiling height than the typical New Zealand villa and was therefore easier to heat.
[20] In some conspicuous locations in area of natural beauty it is required by local councils to blend the house design with the surrounding environment.
[31] With increased affluence and environmental concerns a small but growing number of houses are built with semi processed natural materials and traditional building methods.
[37] Some local councils are restricting the kind of wood and coal burners that can be used in order to improve air quality.
[39] The remaining 20% of New Zealanders typically live in rural areas where rain, streams and bores are commonly used as water sources.
The following table shows the respective earthquake, snow and climate zones for cities and selected large towns:[50] Earthquakes can occur anywhere in New Zealand, but the risk to building structures is highly regional, with the eastern North Island and western South Island having the highest risk.
[57] Affordability varies depending on location, with major urban centres such as Auckland and Wellington more unaffordable than smaller cities and rural areas.
