Auckland Council’s January 2026 update shows confidence rising, a key signal for Hibiscus Coast households.

Confidence was the standout.

Consumer confidence (Westpac McDermott Miller) was 107.0 in the December 2025 quarter.

Business confidence (NZIER QSBO) was net +60% expecting the business situation to improve, the highest-equal since 1994, and rising since June 2024.

The update notes “improve” can also mean “be bad, but less bad than currently”.

Housing stayed subdued in real terms.

The November 2025 median sale price was $1,050,000, 32% below the 2021 peak, and the same as November 2015.

Annual house sales were 23,720, 29% above the May 2023 trough, but 35% below the 2021 peak.

Rents were steady. Auckland’s October 2025 average weekly rent was $668, 13% below February 2021 and the same as ten years ago.

Consents picked up. New dwellings consented totalled 15,252 in the year to November 2025, up 10% on a year ago.

The real value of new non-residential consents was $2,643m, up 8% on October.

Work remained tight. Auckland employment was down 1.7% in the September 2025 quarter versus a year earlier, and unemployment was 6.1%.

Real GDP was down 0.8% year-on-year to September 2025 and real retail sales were down 0.9%.

Imports through Auckland seaports totalled $31.8bn for the year to November 2025, up 4.8% on the last year.

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