An examination of the growth of Airbnb in New Zealand and its impact on the private rental housing market: 2016–2021

Abstract

Airbnb is an online platform connecting private hosts with visitors looking for short-term accommodation. The aim of this paper is to examine the impact of Airbnb on long-term rental housing availability and cost in Aotearoa New Zealand before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Regional growth patterns in Airbnb properties were measured and their impact on the private rental market investigated. An increasing proportion of new rental housing was offered through Airbnb over the study period, particularly in popular tourist locations. Increasing occupancy rates pre-pandemic suggest that there remains room for growth, putting further pressure on the private rental housing stock.