Nine To Noon Estimated 90% of New Zealand homes needing maintenance
Mar 10, 2026
Kay Saville-Smith, Research Director at CRESA who leads housing and maintenance research, discusses why an estimated 90% of NZ homes need upkeep. She explains how that figure and the $27b cost were derived. Conversations cover which homes are most vulnerable, changing materials and skills, resilient design choices, and practical tools like checklists and portals to help homeowners act.
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Nationwide Maintenance Shortfall And $27 Billion Price Tag
- An estimated 90% of New Zealand homes need maintenance and the total bill could be about $27 billion.
- CRESA and BRANZ condition surveys plus household spending research underpin that national prevalence and cost estimate.
Maintaining Functionality Not Meeting New Build Standards
- The threshold is reasonable maintenance not full building-code upgrades or new-build standards.
- Aim is homes that operate well, avoid heat loss, and prevent weather-related damage rather than full renovation.
Coastal Aluminium Window Problem Example
- Some newer homes can still be vulnerable if materials suit local conditions poorly, for example aluminium window frames corroding near salty East Coast air.
- Kay notes aluminium frames plus tank water and coastal salts accelerate deterioration in that region.