Over the last 100 years or more, there have been major changes in the number of people living in each house. The population in the past 100 years has multiplied by four times but the number of houses (or apartments) has multiplied by 7. This is partly because fewer people live in each house these days. In the late 19th century, there was an average of 5.2 people in each house. In 1971, there was an average of 3.38 people per house. These days the average is 2.7 people. Families are smaller, more people live alone, and older people live longer. New Zealand has fewer children. 100 years ago, 35% of our population was under 15. Today it is 20%.
Fewer people own their own home these days. Home ownership is now the lowest it has been since the 1950s. The cost of owning a home, especially for people living in the main cities, is now too expensive.
However, houses are now much bigger than they used to be. In the 1970s, the average house size was under 100 square metres. Today it is closer to 200 square metres. Building costs have increased, land prices are high, and in Auckland, there are not enough houses. All these things mean it is difficult for young people to buy a house.
There is a big difference between land prices in different parts of the country. For example, the average section in New Zealand today costs $190,000, but in Southland the average is $82,000 whereas in Auckland the average is $308,000.
Vocabulary
• section (n) – land for building
Questions
1. How useful is an average?
2. Can you think of other reasons why home ownership is now lower than ever?
3. Is it better to rent or to buy a house?
4. Why do we build such big houses? Is 100 sq m an adequate size for a family today?