New Zealand’s government has proposed removing building height limits across most of
Auckland’s city center, along with rules on tower dimensions and spacing. Under current rules, parts of the central business district are capped at 72.5 meters (238 feet) and other areas at 35 meters. The proposal follows a report commissioned by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, released 18 September 2026, which recommends scrapping height and dimension limits on high-rise buildings and removing heritage status from sites it calls “non-contributing” within the Karangahape Road precinct.
The report estimates the changes would add about 17,000 dwellings and 20.3 million square
meters of floor space. Bishop said annual GDP could rise by $1.87 billion at full uptake. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon framed the change as a way to capitalize on the $5.5 billion City Rail Link, saying growth should be prioritized near the new stations. The reactions to this suggestion have been mixed. Developer Mark Todd of Ockham Residential argued that height rules are not what is holding back downtown apartment construction, pointing instead to a shortage of incentives and of people living in the city center. Others in the sector welcomed the proposal.
Five of Auckland’s 10 tallest buildings will date from 2019 to 2024 once the 187-meter (614-
foot) Seascape and the 160-meter (525-foot) Hotel Indigo are completed this year. The
measures remain a proposal.
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