Fact Check: New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing major US metros.

Fact Check: "New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing major US metros."

What We Know

The claim states that New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units in the previous year, which would surpass the number of new housing units permitted in major metropolitan areas in the United States. According to the current state of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been a significant increase in housing permits issued in recent years, but specific numbers for the last year are not detailed in the source.

Moreover, the Causes and Consequences of Zoning Reform in Auckland indicates that there has been a substantial increase in housing permits, but again does not provide a precise figure of 37,000 units for the last year.

In contrast, the Housing Constraints and Spatial Misallocation report discusses housing issues in the U.S. but does not provide direct comparisons of housing permits between New Zealand and major U.S. metros.

Analysis

The claim that New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year lacks direct support from the available sources. While it is acknowledged that New Zealand has seen an increase in housing permits, the exact figure of 37,000 is not confirmed by the cited materials. The current state of housing in Aotearoa New Zealand discusses trends in housing costs and availability but does not specify the number of permits issued.

The sources that discuss zoning reforms and housing permits in Auckland (Causes and Consequences of Zoning Reform in Auckland) do not provide a comprehensive overview of the total number of units permitted across all of New Zealand, nor do they compare these figures to U.S. metropolitan areas.

Furthermore, the context of housing permits in the U.S. is complex, with various major metros facing different challenges and permitting processes. The Housing Constraints and Spatial Misallocation report highlights issues in U.S. cities but does not quantify housing permits in a way that allows for a straightforward comparison to New Zealand's figures.

Conclusion

Needs Research. The claim that New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing major U.S. metros, cannot be substantiated with the current evidence. While there is acknowledgment of increased housing permits in New Zealand, the specific figure of 37,000 is not confirmed, and comparisons with U.S. metropolitan areas are not adequately supported by the sources available.

Fact Check: New Zealand permitted 37,000 new housing units last year, surpassing major US metros.