Housing costs now take up about a fifth of household income in Otago. South Islanders outside Canterbury averaged $12,459 in housing payments over the same period, about 18.5% of their average household’s disposable income of $67,181. Canterbury residents, for their part, paid a bit more — $16,036 in housing related costs, just under a fifth of their average disposable income of their average earnings of $83,013, the agency says. At the other end of the spectrum Aucklanders forked over $22,657, or 23.8% of their disposable income in housing costs. In a statement, Stats NZ income and poverty statistics manager Chris Pooch said although rents had increased, housing costs were offset last year by lower mortgage interest payments and property rates.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 19, 2020 15:22 UTC