The 2018 Census found nearly 40,000 homes were empty in Auckland, compared with 6000 more than five years ago.
Property investors who have left their houses empty could soon be asked by the Auckland Council to consider housing rough sleepers or people struggling to find an affordable rental. Auckland mayor Phil Goff says he has spoken to the Government and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) about how the thousands of "ghost houses" or vacant properties across the city could be used to help ease a housing shortage. Just over 7 per cent of Auckland's properties were vacant - which is high by international standards but includes properties where residents were out for the night. Goff has previously said he does not support a tax on vacant land or properties. But he is considering a different approach. "I have had discussions with Government and with Housing First around how houses left vacant longer term might be utilised for housing purposes with the agreement of their owners," he told. "This is currently a work in progress, and I hope in due course an initiative might be able to be announced around how we could incentivise owners of such properties to provide those houses for rental purposes." It was not known what the incentives could be. Under the Housing First programme, private landlords who lease their properties to homeless people get guaranteed rent through a housing supplier, which also covers any maintenance costs and arranges social services and support for the tenant. Auckland mayoral candidate John Tamihere told he would act on housing rough sleepers in empty houses if it was proven feasible.
"I would move on it because we're not going to build our way out of the problem in the short to medium term," he said. Tamihere raised concerns over how accurate the 2018 Census was in terms of there being 40,000 homes empty in Auckland. However, if he was elected mayor he would "absolutely" be prepared to investigate further into ghost houses and possible solutions for homelessness. Auckland Council estimates that there is a shortfall of 46,000 homes in the city and some have argued there should be penalties for people who deliberately leave homes empty rather than renting them out. A tax on vacant land and property is being considered as part of the Government's tax reforms. The Productivity Commission has been instructed to include it in its review of local government funding. However, Finance Minister Grant Robertson has been warned that such a tax is expensive to set up and is difficult to enforce. In Vancouver, owners of vacant homes are taxed 1 per cent of the house's value a year, as long as it is not their family home. The tax has been credited with a 15 per cent drop in the number of vacant properties. One of the obstacles to considering a similar tax in New Zealand is the absence of accurate data on how many properties are vacant for long periods. The Census 2018 figure of 40,000 homes includes properties of residents who were away on Census night, holiday homes, and homes which were being renovated. It is not known what portion of them are "ghost houses". Vector and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment attempted to get more accurate data in 2015 by checking which houses were using minimal electricity for long periods. They found around 8000 homes - or 1.6 per cent of all dwellings - were unoccupied, meaning they had used less than 400W of power a day for 100 days or more. Most of them were in northern beach suburbs and Waiheke Island, which led the researchers to conclude they were holiday homes and baches.
A Watercare spokeswoman said it was not possible to do a similar study because its meters were not set up to measure zero water use. Any research would be complicated by blocks of flats with shared water meters or single properties with multiple meters, she said.
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.3% Human-centred experience and communication
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15% Critical thinking
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29.8% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
The Gospel’s Relevance Today**
The Gospel, meaning ‘good news’, is the cornerstone of the message contained in the Bible’s first four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. While these records were written approximately 2,000 years ago, a natural question arises: why is this Gospel still relevant and vital for us today? This analysis seeks to explore what the Bible itself defines as the Gospel and to understand its enduring significance.
**Defining the Gospel: Core Biblical References**
The Gospel is not a vague concept; Scripture provides clear descriptions of its content and focus.
* **The Gospel of the Kingdom:** In Matthew 4:23, as Jesus begins his ministry, he is described as “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” This immediately establishes that the good news is centrally about a kingdom—the Kingdom of God. His accompanying miracles served to validate the authority of this message.
* **The Gospel of Jesus Christ:** Mark 1:1 opens with, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Here, “Christ” is a title meaning ‘anointed one’. Thus, the good news is intrinsically about Jesus: his identity as the Anointed One and his unique status as the Son of God.
* **The Gospel of God’s Grace:** In Acts 20:24, the Apostle Paul speaks of his mission to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Grace signifies an undeserved gift. This reveals that the Gospel involves a gift from God, offered not because it is merited, but out of His benevolence.
* **The Gospel of Salvation and Peace:** Romans 1:16 declares the Gospel is “the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes,” breaking down barriers between Jew and Gentile (Greek). Furthermore, Romans 10:15 calls it the “gospel of peace,” pointing to a future state of peace brought about by this message.
* **The Gospel Summarised:** 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 provides a foundational summary. Paul reminds believers of the gospel he preached, “by which also you are saved.” He then states its core historical facts: “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” The Gospel is therefore rooted in the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus.
In synthesis, the Gospel is the good news of **salvation and future peace in the Kingdom of God**, made possible by **the grace of God** and **the obedient sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ**, and offered to all who believe.
**Old Testament Foundations: The Gospel Preached to Abraham**
A crucial question is whether the Gospel is confined to the New Testament. Scripture shows its foundations were laid much earlier. Galatians 3:8 states explicitly that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’”
This reference points back to Genesis 12:1-3, where God made profound promises to Abraham: to make him a great nation, to bless those who blessed him, and that “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” These promises—later reaffirmed to Isaac and Jacob—form the bedrock of the Gospel hope. The good news of salvation through Christ is the fulfillment of how **all nations** would be blessed through Abraham’s “seed.”
**The Gospel’s Personal Relevance: Good News for You Today**
How does this ancient message become “good news for you” today? The application is clearly outlined in Galatians 3.
* **Access through Faith in Christ:** Galatians 3:26 declares, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” The promise made to Abraham is now extended to anyone with faith in Jesus.
* **The Role of Baptism:** Verse 27 explains, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Baptism is the God-appointed act of faith that identifies a believer with Christ’s death and resurrection.
* **Unity and Inheritance:** Verses 28-29 reveal the glorious outcome: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Through the Gospel, all barriers are removed; believers become spiritual descendants of Abraham and heirs to the promises of the Kingdom.
This Gospel was once a mystery hidden in God’s purpose (Ephesians 3:3-9). Now, it has been revealed: the unsearchable riches of Christ, offering salvation to all who heed the call, believe the message, and are baptised into him.
**Conclusion: An Enduring and Open Invitation**
The Gospel is far more than a historical account; it is the living, powerful good news of God’s plan for salvation. It is rooted in promises to Abraham, accomplished through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and open to all people without distinction. It offers a tangible hope—the hope of resurrection, peace, and an inheritance in the coming Kingdom of God. This is why the Gospel remains profoundly relevant. It is an invitation to listen, believe, and stand firm in this hope, linking our lives today to the eternal purpose of God.
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