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North Canterbury braces for housing boom with new zoning and subdivisions

A wave of development is coming to North Canterbury. With 17,000 new homes planned and infrastructure projects rising, the region's future looks busier—and brighter—than ever.

,   and  Administrator
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The image shows a large building with a lot of windows and a fence in front of it, surrounded by...
The image shows a large building with a lot of windows and a fence in front of it, surrounded by plants with flowers, a group of trees, some poles, a street pole, some vehicles on the ground, the hills and a cloudy sky. It appears to be a construction site for a new building.

North Canterbury braces for housing boom with new zoning and subdivisions

North Canterbury is preparing for a surge in news as new zoning rules and sub-divisions take shape. Both Hurunui and Waimakariri districts have seen steady building activity, with thousands of new homes planned over the coming decades. The changes aim to meet rising demand as the region's population grows.

The Hurunui District Council issued 476 building consents in 2025, a slight drop from 515 the previous year. Despite this, officials expect numbers to hold steady or rise due to relaxed consenting rules for new homes and granny flats. The district's population is forecast to climb from 74,000 to around 100,000 within 30 years, driving demand for housing.

The council's new District Plan has unlocked land for up to 17,000 new houses across Rangiora, Kaiapoi, Woodend, and Oxford. These areas will see fresh sub-divisions, adding to the region's building momentum.

Meanwhile, the Waimakariri District Council approved 754 new dwelling consents in 2025, up from 743 in 2024. More residential projects are set to begin soon in Rangiora, Kaiapoi, and Oxford. Alongside housing, key developments include the Pegasus Community Centre, a new after-hours medical centre in Rangiora, and the BNZ corner redevelopment.

Beyond housing, the Mt Cass Wind Farm is scheduled to start construction in 2026. Once completed, it will become the South Island's largest wind farm.

The relaxed zoning rules and planned sub-divisions will shape North Canterbury's growth for years to come. With thousands of new homes in the pipeline and infrastructure projects underway, the region is preparing for a busier, more populated future. Officials anticipate steady demand for housing as development continues.

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