In classic Betty-come-lately fashion, the Government has finally clocked what every investor with a pulse has known for years: If you are going to spend $5 billion on a shiny new train line, then maybe, just maybe, you should enable people actually to live near it.
And if the Ministers’ latest announcement is anything to go by, it’s Bye Bye half measures and HELLO big, tall, shiny 15-storey buildings around City Rail Link (CRL) stations. And if you own land in these areas, you’d best hold on, ‘cos it is going to be wild.
🚀 What’s Changing?
Auckland Council will soon be required to allow much taller buildings (up to 15 storeys) to be built around five key CRL stations:
| Station | Minimum Building Height Required |
|---|---|
| Maungawhau (Mt Eden) | 15 storeys |
| Kingsland | 15 storeys |
| Morningside | 15 storeys |
| Mt Albert | 10 storeys |
| Baldwin Avenue | 10 storeys |
Council must notify the new plan by 10 October 2025.
🤔 What This Really Means
For years, Auckland’s leadership talked a big game about it being a transport-led city, but dragged its heels when the rubber hit the ground. We’ve built the train lines but left the value locked in the ground. This ends now. Intensifying around CRL stations is a deliberate reset of who gest to benefit from this $5 billion bet on the city’s future. Infrastructure doesn’t build wealth. Zoning does. Who ever owns a piece of dirt that can go vertical wins.
What’s different now is the scale. Upzoning to 15 stories is serious stuff. We are no longer play-playing with townhouses. And this radical reimagination of our cityscape, while exciting, edges out small players (many of whom are APIA members).
Zoning rules in investor talk are code for who gets to make money, and how fast. When these rules change, you are not watching a housing policy shift; you are witnessing a transfer of wealth in real time. What is happening here is a rebalancing of Auckland’s investment map from the hands of passive small-scale investors to those with bold vision, capital strategy and deep pockets.
🧠 Some Thoughts to Leave You With (Not investment advice)
1. Own near these five stations?
You’re probably sitting on something ripe for development. Be strategic and intentional about how this fits within your broader investment plan. Don’t squander the opportunity.
2. Map the land within 800m of each station
That’s the standard ‘walkable’ threshold. Anything inside could be ripe for high-rise, mixed-use or land banking.
3. Talk to the professionals
Engage your planner, architect, or valuer before the market catches up. Timing matters.
4. Buy like a developer, not a homeowner, not even a buy-and-holder
Change your perspective, look beyond livability and reliability. Ask yourself, How many stories can I legally build here?
5. Watch for the ripple effect
Learn to identify sleeper suburbs that are in the vicinity of these high-intensification areas that are still undervalued. They won’t be for long.
6. Don’t dilly-dally
The zoning change isn’t hypothetical. It’s happening. Move promptly but not recklessly. Big opportunities attract big risks. Before jumping in, get advice from planners, lawyers and financial professionals who understand zoning, the market, and your risk profile. Be active, not frantic.
📌 Disclaimer: This blog is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. You should seek independent professional advice before acting on any of the information in this article.
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