Living in Ponsonby: rents, schools, census and property titles
The 2,330 live property titles in Ponsonby, Auckland are mostly freehold (74%), as recorded by LINZ on 30 September 2026. Cross-lease titles number 181 (7.8%), slightly below the national share of 8.7%.
- Cross-lease titles
- 181
- Share of live titles
- 7.8%
- Live titles in total
- 2,330
- Auckland share
- 14.4%
- New Zealand share
- 8.7%
- Rank by share in Auckland
- 122 of 160
- Rank by share in New Zealand
- joint 390 of 644
Ponsonby at a glance
Where Ponsonby differs most from suburbs across New Zealand: median weekly rent, new tenancies (higher than 97% of NZ suburbs); homes with a heat pump (lower than 91% of NZ suburbs).
Higher or lower is not better or worse. Sources and limits
Start here
What the data tells you
Recorded facts
- Ponsonby is listed under Auckland.
- 2,330 live titles are recorded here, including 181 cross-lease titles (7.8%).
- The page includes 2023 Census context for the statistical area that represents this suburb.
- The page includes MBIE new-tenancy rent figures for April–June 2026.
Contextual observations
- Cross-lease titles make up 7.8% of the recorded title mix. That describes the suburb, not any particular home.
- Unit titles account for 16.7% of recorded titles, so title structure can vary within the suburb.
- Public-transport figures describe how recorded titles sit near mapped stops. They do not describe a service from a particular property.
- Coast distance is a suburb-level map measure, not a flood or hazard assessment.
Questions worth investigating
- For any cross-lease property you consider, do the current title, flats plan and lease match what is built today?
- What do the LIM, council property file and a suitable inspection add for the specific address?
No data held for this suburb
- The core title, Census, rent, transport and coast measures used by this page are available.
Title mix in Ponsonby
| Title type | Live titles | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 1,722 | 73.9% |
| Cross lease | 181 | 7.8% |
| Unit title | 389 | 16.7% |
| Leasehold | 3 | 0.1% |
| Other record types | 35 | 1.5% |
| Total | 2,330 | 100% |
Counts are titles, not homes; the register can lag conversions, so check the certificate of title. Sources and limits
How Ponsonby compares
Nationally, 8.7% of live titles are cross-lease; Ponsonby is slightly lower than the national share (8.7%).
Across Auckland as a whole, the share is 14.4%; Ponsonby is well below the overall Auckland share (14.4%).
Its cross-lease share is in the lowest quarter of 160 in Auckland (among suburbs with an indexed page on this site).
How cross-leases in Ponsonby are set up
Fewer leases include a garage (12% of schemes, against 28% nationally).
More schemes have four or more flats on one section (21%, against 11% nationally), up to 12.
Three-flat schemes are more common here (22%, against 12% nationally).
| Scheme structure | Ponsonby | Auckland | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-lease schemes (shared sections) | 68 | 39,589 | 87,651 |
| Two-flat schemes | 57.4% | 73.7% | 76.2% |
| Three-flat schemes | 22.1% | 14.0% | 12.2% |
| Four or more flats | 20.6% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| Typical section size (from the titles, not a survey) | 611 m² | 961 m² | 908 m² |
| Typical land per flat | 256 m² | 418 m² | 408 m² |
| Schemes with a garage written into a lease | 11.8% | 23.0% | 28.4% |
| Schemes with a carport in a lease | 11.8% | 19.2% | 13.3% |
| Schemes with a separate exclusive-use area | 7.4% | 5.5% | 4.5% |
| Schemes referring to more than one flats plan (usually redrawn; not by itself a problem) | 41.2% | 42.1% | 35.6% |
| Median year of earliest current title | 1988 | 1989 | 1988 |
| Two-flat schemes on 700 m² or more | 6 | 26,275 | 54,978 |
Unit titles and leasehold in Ponsonby
Unit titles are 17% of Ponsonby's titles, slightly above Auckland (15%) and well above New Zealand (8%). They belong to 33 developments, each run by a body corporate; 1 has 50 or more units.
The unit-title share is in the highest quarter of 160 in Auckland.
New titles in Ponsonby since 2020
124 of Ponsonby's current titles (5%) were first issued since 2020, well below Auckland's suburbs with new-title figures taken together (16%) and well below New Zealand (12%).
That rate is in the lowest quarter of 157 in Auckland.
32% are unit titles, in 6 developments; most of the rest are freehold.
| Title type | Since 2020 | Since 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold | 74 | 51 |
| Unit title | 40 | 21 |
| Cross-lease | 3 | 0 |
| Leasehold | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 | 3 |
New titles include cross-leases converted to freehold and titles re-issued; they are not a count of new homes. Sources and limits
The lie of the land in Ponsonby
The typical building in Ponsonby stands on ground sloping 5.2° (read on an 8 m grid, so short steep banks may be understated).
Slope is not a measure of ground stability. Sources and limits
Distance to the coast from Ponsonby
0% of Ponsonby's titles are within 200 m of the sea or harbour edge, 0% within 500 m and 56% within 1 km. The typical title is 930 m away.
Measured in a straight line from the centre of each title's land to the coastline on LINZ's 1:50k topographic map, which follows harbours and estuaries as well as the open coast; lakes and rivers are not included. Distance says nothing about beach access, views or exposure to coastal hazards; council hazard maps and the LIM describe those.
Who lives around Ponsonby: 2023 Census
About 61% of Ponsonby's titles are in the census area Ponsonby East (a Stats NZ statistical area), so these figures describe that area, not Ponsonby exactly.
More workers walk or cycle to work in Ponsonby East than across Auckland: 20.7% against 4.2%.
More adults hold a degree in Ponsonby East than across Auckland: 56.3% against 32.9%.
Fewer residents are children under 15 in Ponsonby East than across Auckland: 12.6% against 19.2%.
| Measure | Ponsonby East | Ponsonby West | Auckland whole council |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usual residents | 3,132 | 2,154 | 1,656,486 |
| Change since 2018 | −7.7% | −7.8% | +5.4% |
| Change since 2013 | −5.4% | −4.9% | +17.0% |
| Median age | 38 | 38.8 | 35.9 |
| Households | 1,260 | 786 | 539,490 |
| Own or part-own their home (including family trusts) | 58.8% | 63.0% | 59.5% |
| Not owned and not in a family trust (mostly renting) | 41.4% | 37.0% | 40.5% |
| Median household income | $166,900 | $177,200 | $116,800 |
| Median weekly rent, renting households | $680 | $545 | $540 |
| Dwellings unoccupied on census night | 9.7% | 8.6% | 8.8% |
| Ages | |||
| Under 15 | 12.6% | 17.0% | 19.2% |
| 15 to 29 | 22.5% | 20.5% | 20.9% |
| 30 to 64 | 52.5% | 51.9% | 46.5% |
| 65 and over | 12.4% | 10.6% | 13.3% |
| Where people came from | |||
| Born overseas | 30.5% | 27.5% | 42.9% |
| Of those born overseas, arrived in the last 5 years | 28.4% | 23.2% | 19.6% |
| Lived elsewhere in New Zealand 5 years ago (of all residents, including children born since) | 46.2% | 35.6% | 45.0% |
| Lived overseas 5 years ago (of all residents) | 7.7% | 6.5% | 5.6% |
| Moved here in the last year (of all residents) | 26.0% | 19.4% | 21.1% |
| Work and study (people 15 and over) | |||
| Bachelor degree or higher | 56.3% | 53.1% | 32.9% |
| Employed full-time | 62.3% | 58.6% | 53.2% |
| Unemployed (share of everyone 15 and over, not the unemployment rate) | 2.5% | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| Managers and professionals (of those employed) | 68.4% | 65.2% | 47.5% |
| Median personal income | $69,300 | $64,400 | $44,700 |
| Getting to work (of those employed) | |||
| Work from home | 23.9% | 22.2% | 18.2% |
| Car, truck or van | 44.9% | 54.7% | 68.6% |
| Bus, train or ferry | 8.0% | 7.3% | 7.8% |
| Walk or cycle | 20.7% | 12.4% | 4.2% |
| Households and families | |||
| One-person households | 27.8% | 20.5% | 18.5% |
| Average people per household | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3 |
| Households with no motor vehicle | 7.3% | 6.1% | 6.8% |
| Crowded households (need one or more extra bedrooms) | 4.7% | 6.3% | 8.8% |
| Couples with children (of families) | 38.1% | 46.4% | 47.2% |
| Couples without children | 48.2% | 35.5% | 35.5% |
| One-parent families | 13.6% | 18.0% | 17.3% |
| Homes | |||
| Separate (stand-alone) houses | 66.7% | 77.7% | 71.5% |
| Average bedrooms | 2.7 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Heated with a heat pump | 53.4% | 62.0% | 66.3% |
| Damp, always or sometimes | 21.3% | 23.0% | 20.1% |
| Mould over A4 size, always or sometimes | 15.3% | 17.2% | 17.4% |
Rents around Ponsonby
New tenancies in Ponsonby East in the April–June 2026 quarter had a median rent of $895 a week (up 15.5% on a year earlier). That is above the typical suburb in Auckland ($675), and above the national median ($600); in the highest quarter of 129 in Auckland.
| April–June 2026 | Ponsonby East | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent, new tenancies | $895 | $600 |
| Middle half of rents | $595–$1,000 | $490–$700 |
| Change in median on a year earlier | +15.5% | +0.2% |
| Bonds lodged in the quarter | 33 | 40,827 |
Schools and hospitals near Ponsonby
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Ponsonby, among them Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay) (Contributing) and Ponsonby Intermediate (Intermediate).
- Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay) (Contributing)
- Ponsonby Intermediate (Intermediate)
- Richmond Road School (Contributing)
- Nearest school: Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay) (0.2 km)
- Nearest secondary school: St Paul's College (Ponsonby) (0.2 km)
- Nearest public general hospital: Auckland City Hospital (3.0 km)
School enrolment zones in Ponsonby: a guide
Two secondary schools have a home zone covering most of Ponsonby's titles: Auckland Girls' Grammar School and Western Springs College.
- Ponsonby Primary School (primary, Years 1–6): about 35% of titles
- Richmond Road School (primary, Years 1–6): about 35% of titles
- Bayfield School (primary, Years 1–6): about 20% of titles
- Ponsonby Intermediate (intermediate, Years 7–8): all or nearly all titles
- Auckland Girls' Grammar School (secondary): all or nearly all titles
- Western Springs College (secondary): all or nearly all titles
A guide only: check the school's own zone map for any address. Zones as at 14 July 2026. Sources and limits
Public transport in Ponsonby
94% of Ponsonby's titles are within 400 m of a stop with a scheduled weekday service, slightly above Auckland as a whole (82%).
76% are that close to a frequent stop (60 or more departures that day), above the council (54%).
The typical title is 172 m in a straight line from its nearest stop.
Timetable of Wednesday 30 September 2026, Auckland Transport. Sources and limits
Places of worship near Ponsonby
OpenStreetMap maps 7 places of worship inside Ponsonby (6 Christian, 1 Muslim).
Nearest mapped place of each tradition within 10 km:
- Christian: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, under 1 km away
- Hindu: Sri Radha Krishna Mandir, 2.4 km away
- Buddhist: Dorje Chang Institute for Wisdom Culture, 5.3 km away
- Muslim: Al-Masjid Al-Jamie, under 1 km away
- Sikh: Gurdwara Sahib North Shore, 7.5 km away
- Jewish: Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 2.0 km away
Listed as facilities for access; not an indicator of who lives here. Sources and limits
Other suburbs in Auckland with many cross-leases
- Papatoetoe: 3,998 cross-lease titles (25.8%)
- Remuera: 3,046 cross-lease titles (26.7%)
- Mount Roskill: 2,891 cross-lease titles (28.3%)
- Mount Wellington: 2,700 cross-lease titles (24.1%)
- Glenfield: 2,347 cross-lease titles (36.6%)
- Epsom: 2,335 cross-lease titles (29.8%)
- New Lynn: 2,016 cross-lease titles (24.4%)
- Mount Eden: 2,005 cross-lease titles (20.7%)
Suburbs like Ponsonby
The closest match on the measures on this site is Westmere, Auckland in Auckland, nearest on population change, new titles, distance to the coast. Closeness is arithmetic, not a rating. Sources and limits
| Suburb | Council | Cross-lease share of titles | Median weekly rent, new tenancies | Median age | Closest on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westmere, Auckland | Auckland | 11.6% | $900 | 39.6 | population change, new titles, distance to the coast |
| Saint Marys Bay, Auckland | Auckland | 14.2% | $750 | 48.7 | recent movers within NZ, population change, distance to a hospital |
| Herne Bay | Auckland | 21.5% | $720 | 47.6 | schools, population change, distance to the coast |
| Kingsland | Auckland | 7.3% | $675 | 32.8 | population change, distance to a hospital, cross-lease share |
| Mount Eden | Auckland | 20.7% | $833 | 36.7 | distance to a hospital, new titles, population change |
Questions
What is the rent in Ponsonby?
New tenancies in Ponsonby East (the rent area for part of Ponsonby) had a median rent of $895 a week in the April–June 2026 quarter (MBIE bond data, all dwelling types). These are rents agreed for new tenancies, not asking rents. The middle half of those rents ran from $595 to $1,000.
What schools are in Ponsonby?
LINZ maps 3 school sites inside Ponsonby: Marist Catholic School (Herne Bay), Ponsonby Intermediate and Richmond Road School. The nearest secondary school to its centre is St Paul's College (Ponsonby) (0.2 km in a straight line). Secondary-school home zones covering most of its titles are Auckland Girls' Grammar School and Western Springs College; check the school's own zone map for any address.