Census contrast• 33,360 vacant homes• 36,597 overcrowded homes• 203,820 people in the overcrowded homesSource: Statistics NZ, Census 2013 (Auckland). Auckland mayoral candidate Vic Crone said houses vacant for six months or a year should attract higher rates. Rather than focusing on developing green spaces to solve the housing crisis, vacant homes could be looked at too. However, both houses showed evidence of work being done. He said he did not advocate an extra tax on vacant homes, but they were part of Auckland's "multi-faceted" housing crisis that required a "multi-pronged" solution.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 20, 2016 00:33 UTC