CivicNZ · Notable findings
Notable cost-of-living findings
Statistically notable changes or published group gaps. Each card has an evidence-strength rating and a caveat. No causal claims.
Data as of 13 Oct 2026
Non-owner-occupier households spending 30% or more on housing now account for 45.9%, up from 44.5% in the year to June 2023.
Non-owner-occupier households spending 30%+ of disposable income on housing moved from 44.5% to 45.9% (June 2023 → June 2024). Verdict Insufficient is derived (no_published_ci), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
MBIE geometric mean weekly rent is insufficient
MBIE geometric mean weekly rent moved from $573 a week to $564 a week (May 2026 → June 2026). Verdict Insufficient is derived (insufficient), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
The annual rise in household living costs is 3.2%, up from 2.6% in the year to June 2025.
HLPI all-households annual change moved from 2.6% to 3.2% (June 2025 → June 2026). Verdict Worse is derived (recent_like_for_like), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
A median house costs 7.2 times median gross household income, down from 7.8 times median gross household income in June 2020.
Median house sale / median household gross income moved from 7.8 times median gross household income to 7.2 times median gross household income (June 2020 → June 2024). Verdict Better is derived (recent_like_for_like), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
Median house sale / median household equivalised disposable income is better
Median house sale / median household equivalised disposable income moved from 15.9 times median household equivalised disposable income to 14.6 times median household equivalised disposable income (June 2020 → June 2024). Verdict Better is derived (recent_like_for_like), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
QSDEP advertised residential electricity price is insufficient
QSDEP advertised residential electricity price moved from 42.0 c/kWh to 42.1 c/kWh (May 2026 → August 2026). Verdict Insufficient is derived (insufficient), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
Average weekly housing costs is worse
Average weekly housing costs moved from $458 a week to $478 a week (June 2024 → June 2025). Verdict Worse is derived (recent_like_for_like), not an editorial call. The movement is an association in the official series.
Official or openly licensed primary sources only. Definition changes and revisions can move a series without a real-world change.
Auckland vs Southland
Raw gap: 8.0 more years of income. Official adjusted gap: Not published. An explained share is not published because a matching official adjusted gap is missing.
A gap is an association in the official table. It is not evidence that a policy, culture, or household choice caused the difference.
Renters vs Owner-occupied
Raw gap: 19.3 percentage points higher. Official adjusted gap: Not published. An explained share is not published because a matching official adjusted gap is missing.
A gap is an association in the official table. It is not evidence that a policy, culture, or household choice caused the difference.
Auckland Region vs Southland Region
Raw gap: $172 a week higher. Official adjusted gap: Not published. An explained share is not published because a matching official adjusted gap is missing.
A gap is an association in the official table. It is not evidence that a policy, culture, or household choice caused the difference.
Superannuitants vs Highest-spending households
Raw gap: 2.6 percentage points higher. Official adjusted gap: Not published. An explained share is not published because a matching official adjusted gap is missing.
A gap is an association in the official table. It is not evidence that a policy, culture, or household choice caused the difference.
Lower-income (under $72,600 disposable) vs All households (housing costs $22.30 per $100)
Raw gap: 57.7% of lower-income renters at the 40%+ threshold. Official adjusted gap: Not published. An explained share is not published because a matching official adjusted gap is missing.
A gap is an association in the official table. It is not evidence that a policy, culture, or household choice caused the difference.