Special Housing Area
An area formerly designated under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 (now repealed) where resource consent for qualifying housing developments was fast-tracked.
What is a Special Housing Area?
Special Housing Areas (SHAs) were a tool introduced by the New Zealand government in 2013 to address housing supply shortages. Under the Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013, councils could establish accords with the government to create SHAs — areas where qualifying housing developments could be consented through a streamlined process.
In an SHA, qualifying developments could bypass the standard Resource Management Act consenting process. Instead, applications were processed under the more permissive SHA framework, with faster timeframes and a presumption in favour of granting consent. SHAs were particularly significant in Auckland, where dozens of areas were designated.
The SHA regime was time-limited and most accords have now expired. The Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act was largely superseded by changes to the Resource Management Act and the introduction of the National Policy Statement on Urban Development and MDRS. However, developments consented under the SHA framework continue to be built out.
While the SHA framework is no longer actively creating new areas, understanding whether a property or neighbouring land was part of an SHA can help explain the scale and type of recent development in an area.
Note: The Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 was repealed on 16 September 2021. SHAs are no longer being created, though some developments initiated under SHA designations may still be completing.
Why It Matters for Due Diligence
While new SHAs are no longer being created, existing SHA developments may still be under construction near your property. If a neighbouring site was part of an SHA, a significant housing development may be approved and underway — or yet to commence.
Check whether any SHA developments have been consented near the property you're considering. Large-scale housing developments can affect traffic, privacy, sunlight, and neighbourhood character.
How to Check
Check the council's website for information on SHAs in your area. In Auckland, the council's GeoMaps tool can show SHA boundaries. The LIM report may reference SHA status. Your lawyer or a planning consultant can advise on any consented SHA developments nearby.
Since the SHA regime has largely wound down, the focus should be on checking for consented-but-not-yet-built developments rather than new SHA designations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Special Housing Areas still being created?
No. The Housing Accords and Special Housing Areas Act 2013 has largely run its course, and most accords have expired. Housing supply is now addressed through other mechanisms like the MDRS and National Policy Statement on Urban Development.
How do SHAs affect existing property owners?
If you live near an SHA, you may see significant new housing development nearby. Developments consented under the SHA framework can be larger and denser than what the underlying zone rules would normally allow. Check with your council about any consented SHA developments in your area.
Related Terms
Resource Consent
GlossaryPermission from the local council to carry out an activity that affects the environment, required under the Resource Management Act 1991.
Zoning
GlossaryCouncil rules that classify land into zones and control what activities and types of buildings are allowed in each area.
Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS)
GlossaryNational building standards that enable up to three homes of up to three storeys on most residential sites in New Zealand's major urban areas.
Unitary Plan
GlossaryAuckland's combined planning document that merges the functions of a district plan and regional plan into a single set of rules for all land and resource use.
District Plan
GlossaryThe local council's rulebook that sets out how land in the district can be used, developed, and subdivided.
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