Fact Check: New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing Bay Area and LA combined.

Fact Check: "New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing Bay Area and LA combined."

What We Know

The claim states that New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units in the previous year, which allegedly exceeds the combined total of new housing units permitted in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. According to a Bloomberg article, New Zealand did indeed permit 37,000 new housing units in 2023, which is notable given its population of approximately 5.2 million. The article suggests that this figure is significant when compared to the housing development rates in major U.S. metropolitan areas, including the Bay Area and Los Angeles.

Further context is provided by another source, which indicates that New Zealand's housing boom is part of a broader strategy to address housing shortages and improve housing affordability in the country (Apricitas). However, specific figures for the Bay Area and Los Angeles regarding the number of new housing units permitted during the same timeframe are not readily available in the sources provided.

Analysis

While the claim about New Zealand permitting 37,000 new housing units is substantiated by credible sources, the assertion that this number surpasses the combined total for the Bay Area and Los Angeles lacks direct evidence. The Bloomberg article does not provide specific numbers for the Bay Area and Los Angeles, making it difficult to verify the comparative aspect of the claim.

The reliability of the sources used is generally high, with Bloomberg being a well-respected financial news outlet and the Apricitas article providing additional context on New Zealand's housing policies. However, the absence of specific data for the Bay Area and Los Angeles raises questions about the completeness of the claim. Without concrete numbers from these regions, the assertion remains unverified.

Conclusion

Verdict: Needs Research
The claim that New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year is accurate; however, the assertion that this figure surpasses the combined totals for the Bay Area and Los Angeles cannot be confirmed due to a lack of specific data from those regions. More comprehensive research is needed to compare the housing unit permits accurately across these areas.

Fact Check: New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing Bay Area and LA combined.