An online map shows which New Zealand suburbs had the biggest gains in property values over the last 12 months - and which had the smallest.
Releasing its 'Mapping the Market' report for the September 2021 quarter on Monday, CoreLogic said that of 983 suburbs across the country, 771 had annual median value increases of $100,000 or more.
The updated Mapping the Market tool allows users to click on a suburb of interest to see the median property value.
Using the navigation panel on the right, users can scroll to a city of interest, then click on the map to view information for each suburb. The panel allows users to click to see the annual change in median value (September 2021 compared to September 2020), by percentage and by dollar value.
Confirming only 24 suburbs had annual increases of less than $50,000, CoreLogic senior property economist Kelvin Davidson said despite COVID-19, it's data shows resilience in property values across the country.
The growth in values meant many property owners earnt more on paper than by going to work every day. For non-owners, it highlights the difficulty of saving a deposit.
"Unfortunately for would-be first home buyers, our latest data refresh highlights yet again the challenges they face," Davidson said.
Ponsonby property values grow nearly $600,000 (30.7 percent)
The suburb with the biggest annual price gain (September 2021 compared to September 2020), was Ponsonby.
The median property value in the central Auckland suburb grew by $597,550 over the year, from $1,944,850 in September 2020, to $2,542,400 in September 2021 - an annual increase of 30.7 percent.
Te Anau property values grow less than 5 percent
The suburb with the smallest annual price gain was Te Anau. In the Southland town, annual price growth was 3.9 percent, the only suburb to record a growth rate below 5 percent.
The median property value grew by $20,550 over the year, from $533,600 to $554,150.
Herne Bay still the country's priciest suburb
The most expensive suburb in New Zealand is Auckland's Herne Bay.
The median price in the September 2021 quarter is $3,249,450, up 16.3 percent ($456,350) from $2,793,100 in September 2020.
Across 208 suburbs in Auckland, 37 have a median value below $1 million, and 10 are below $800,000, CoreLogic data shows.
Property value increases across the country
Five suburbs increased in value more than 40 percent year-on-year. They were:
- Manunui and Taumarunui in Ruapehu District (48.9 percent and 47.9 percent).
- Woodville in Tararua District (45.3 percent).
- Taupiri in Waikato District (43.1 percent).
- Pahiatua in Tararua District (40.6 percent).
Median property values in Hamilton grew by at least 14 percent, CoreLogic data shows.
The city's most expensive suburb is Harrowfield, where median values reached $1,068,500 at the end of August, up 20.5 percent year-on-year ($182,000). Bader is Hamilton's cheapest suburb, at $580,550, up 22.3 percent year-on-year.
In Tauranga, there are eight $1 million plus suburbs, up from three in June, CoreLogic said. The most expensive is Mt Maunganui, at $1,330,200 (up 30.2 percent).
In the Capital city, there are 54 $1 million plus suburbs, CoreLogic data shows. With a median value of $1,929,200 (up 28.4 percent), the priciest suburb is Seatoun.
Dunedin's $1 million plus suburbs include Maori Hill ($1,024,500) and East Taieri ($1,021,600), up 17.6 percent percent and 24.2 percent respectively).
Median property values under $500,000
Across New Zealand, 150 suburbs have a median value less than $500,000 (61 in the North Island and 89 in the South Island), almost half the number of a year ago, CoreLogic data shows.
Examples are:
- Kaikohe - Far North (median price $311,150, up 30.2 percent).
- Raumanga - Whangarei (median price $497,100, up 25.6 percent).
- Dargaville - Kaipara (median price $464,950, up 23 percent).
- Western Heights - Rotorua (median price $487,350, up 21.6 percent).
- Te Kuiti - Waitomo (median price $343,300, up 18.9 percent).
- Taumarunui - Ruapehu (median price $315,550, up 47.9 percent).
- Flaxmere - Hastings (median price $493,800, up 32.6 percent).
- Patea - South Taranaki (median price $242,400, up 36.7 percent).
- Aranui - Christchurch (median price $395,700, up 25.8 percent).
- Kingswell - Invercargill (median price $367,600, up 21.7 percent).
Although the map doesn't provide a direct comparison between suburbs, it's useful for homeowners wanting an indication of annual price growth in their area, and/or to get a price gauge of a typical property in a certain suburb.
CoreLogic's mapping the market report is compiled quarterly. Median property value figures are based on property data from a range of sources, including sales.
