Commentators are tripping over themselves to explain the causes of the Auckland housing crisis - but they are avoiding the patently obvious, says New Zealand First.

432 first home buyers in Palmerston North have been helped in the first year of the Government’s HomeStart scheme.

An innovative New Zealand company, The Ownery Limited, is set to offer a new way for Kiwis to build up a stake in the housing market. Savers can effectively become part owners of carefully selected Auckland houses and get a foot on the property ladder starting with as little as $500.

Property Institute of New Zealand Chief Executive, Ashley Church, is urging the Government to consider options other than a land tax if figures to be released over the next few days show that foreign property investors are affecting the Auckland Property market.

Construction is complete, or near complete, on 19 brand new Housing New Zealand homes that have been built across three Mt Roskill sites and will house tenants in the coming weeks.

An independent market research survey of residential renters in Queenstown and Wanaka was conducted by the local Housing Trust last month - with important findings for the community.

John Key should be taking action to crack down on speculation in our overheated housing market, instead of random musings on land tax, Labour Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford said.

Turning the first sod to mark construction for the second stage of Alexandra Park’s significant urban village development on Green Lane West will take place at 4.30pm on Thursday, 28 April.

Prime Minister John Key told TV One’s Q+A programme that the government could use a land tax to restrict foreign investment in residential housing under any re-negotiated free trade agreement with China.

An iwi-led housing project in Christchurch has been lauded today by the Minister for Māori Development as another string to the bow of positive initiatives being driven by Te Rūnanga o Ngai Tahu for whānau in their takiwā.

Housing became substantially less affordable for first home buyers in Auckland last month, as a big jump in the region's lower quartile selling price more than offset falls in mortgage interest rates and increases in household income.

Law firms are struggling to keep up with the booming commercial property market, with signs of skill shortages emerging, a recruitment specialist says.

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of NZ ("REINZ") shows there were 424 more lifestyle property sales (+24.8%) for the three months ended March 2016 than for the three months ended March 2015.

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of NZ ("REINZ") shows there were 42 fewer farm sales (-9.9%) for the three months ended March 2016 than for the three months ended March 2015.

Investors now have the opportunity to own an interest in the eagerly anticipated Cider Building in Ponsonby, Auckland - which is anchored by a 20-year lease to General Distributors - with additional tenanted commercial space and street level retail.

New data shows that homeownership rates have fallen 3 per cent since National came to office despite the number of private rental properties rising by 83,600, Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford says.

"The latest Quotable Value statistics showing Auckland house values down 0.2% in the past three months are entirely predictable given Government and Reserve Bank restrictions which came into effect late last year, says Century 21 New Zealand National Manager Geoff Barnett.

The latest monthly QV House Price Index shows that nationwide residential property values for March have increased 11.4% over the past year. Values rose slightly by 0.2% over the past three months and are now 35% above the previous market peak of late 2007.

Efforts to cool Auckland property market taking effect Lower interest rates and the Reserve Bank’s loan-to-value ratio restrictions are making Auckland houses more affordable, according to the latest Massey University Home Affordability Report.

Prefab’s time has come - and not a moment too soon. As Auckland heads rapidly towards a more intensified future, it needs all the quality, fast, affordable, design and construction tools it can get. Prefab is one of those tools.

Tāmaki Regeneration Company (TRC) is excited about the opportunities that come with owning and managing all the social houses in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure from 1 April 2016.

The ongoing strong growth in residential building construction seen today in the latest figures from Statistics New Zealand confirm the Government’s housing supply initiatives are working, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith says.

The number of new dwellings consented rose strongly in February after falling in the previous month, Statistics New Zealand said today.

There was a big jump in the lower quartile house price in Auckland last month, putting the dream of home ownership further out of reach for first home buyers, according to interest.co.nz's Home Loan Affordability Report.

The Tauranga City Council agreed yesterday to recommend to the Minister of Housing that two Special Housing Areas (SHAs) be established adjacent to previously approved SHAs in the Wairakei urban growth area, at Golden Sands and Palm Springs.

Today, Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith officially opened Awatea Green - Christchurch’s newest neighbourhood planned, designed and built by Fletcher Living.

Data released today by the Real Estate Institute of NZ ("REINZ") shows there were 411 more lifestyle property sales (+25.4%) for the three months ended February 2016 than for the three months ended February 2015.

The first completed houses at the Awatea housing development in Christchurch were opened this morning by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith, who welcomed today’s milestone as further progress in improving the supply and affordability of homes in the city.

The Land Transfer Bill will bring land transfer laws into the 21st century, giving property owners better protection and making it easier to register property, Land Information Minister Louise Upston said today.

The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) which is the most up to date source of real estate data in New Zealand, announced today that there were 7,291 dwelling sales in February 2016, up 5.7% on February 2015.