The 60m² granny-flat law, actually explained
Consent-free secondary dwellings are a real win for tiny homes. Here's how to make the most of the new rules on your section.

More Kiwis than ever are choosing policy as a real path to a warm, well-built home. Prices have settled, build quality across the sector keeps climbing, and buyers now have a genuine range of options to compare — from established local builders to a growing pool of specialist prefab suppliers.
Tiny Home Weekly follows the sector every week so you can make a confident, informed choice. This is the reporting we would have wanted when we started looking ourselves.
What we're seeing
The market is genuinely maturing. Insulation, joinery, and post-sale support have all lifted, and the best builders are setting a standard the rest of the industry is racing to meet. Buyers benefit at every level.
“Ask for the spec sheet in writing, ask for the timber grade, and ask who signs the producer statement. Any good builder will happily walk you through it.”
— Tiny Home Weekly
Five things worth confirming
- Insulation values (R-value) for wall, floor, and ceiling.
- Whether the frame meets New Zealand timber standards.
- Who holds the deposit and the milestone schedule.
- The producer statement and consent pathway for your site.
- The written delivery date and installation plan.
None of this is complicated. It is simply the basic paperwork any Kiwi buyer is entitled to — and the strong builders in the sector are more than happy to hand it over.
Where this is heading
Expect councils to keep clarifying the rules, expect strong builders to keep raising the bar, and expect prefab and tiny homes to keep taking their rightful place in New Zealand's housing mix.

Hana Mitchell
Hana has covered housing and small-space design in Aotearoa for over a decade. She founded Tiny Home Weekly to bring proper journalism to a sector Kiwis are increasingly excited about.
Also worth reading

Council consents for tiny homes: the 2026 update
Fresh guidance from three regional councils is bringing welcome clarity to how tiny homes are consented — and making the pathway smoother for buyers who plan ahead.

Imported flat-pack cabins: what you actually get for $32,000
The flat-pack imports are landing in New Zealand at record volume. We opened up three of them with an insulation surveyor to see what buyers are getting.

The prefab sector settles into its strongest year yet
After a period of rapid growth, the prefab market is consolidating around builders with real track records — good news for anyone shopping now.

Thinking about a tiny home?
Get our free guide to compare your options — before you spend thousands.
- Expert tips from industry insiders
- Real delivery timelines
- 5 warning signs of a bad prefab seller