Goldmine in backyard of 85,000 Aucklanders

conditions exist,’’ said Homes.co.nz’s chief data scientist, Tom Lintern.

The analysis used guidelines from the Auckland Council’s Unitary Plan, based on how many new properties could fit on an existing title.

In a zone with a minimum site area of 400 square metres, a 1200sqm section would be deemed to have the potential for two new properties plus the original on the site.

The properties are worth an average of $1 million at present.

The largest untapped potential was in the south and east of the city, in the ‘‘mixed housing suburban’’ zones, where there was the potential for 17,898 new sections to be carved off.

Property developer David Whitburn, of Whitburn Group, said it would cost about $150,000 for a two-lot, freehold, fee simple subdivision, including the council’s development contribution and the Watercare infrastructure growth charge.

Factors such as the slope, proximity to drain connections, soil conditions and flood plains would affect the cost, he said.