Sometimes it meant a small “granny flat” out the back, built without drama. Karel Boakes, president of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand, recently explained how enduring red tape could hamstring the initiative. Even if your granny flat qualifies for an exemption from the usual consent hurdles, every part of the build must still meet the Building Code. But if you give up on a granny flat, what happens to granny? Granny flats were common.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 11, 2026 23:04 UTC