Minor dwellings NZ: designing for the life ahead
New Zealand families aren’t just building for today — they’re building for what life might look like.
The parent who’s managing fine now, but won’t always be. The adult children who are saving for a first home and need more than a spare bedroom. The mortgage that would be a lot more manageable with an income on the same section.
Since January 2026, new rules have made it possible to build certain new, standalone minor dwellings of up to 70m² without building or resource consent, provided all exemption and permitted-activity requirements are met. A Project Information Memorandum (PIM) is still required before work starts, and the building work must meet the Building Code and other requirements. But the barrier to adding a secondary dwelling has dropped considerably, and it’s one of the most significant shifts in New Zealand’s residential building rules in years.
Plan for a minor dwelling from the start
For anyone planning a new build right now, this is changing the conversation. A section designed from the outset to accommodate a minor dwelling — with the right orientation, separate access, and services positioned correctly — is a very different proposition to one where it’s been added as an afterthought.
The dwelling itself might not be built straight away. But leaving it out of the conversation now is the thing people tend to regret.
Why more families are considering minor dwellings
Multigenerational living is one of the most common reasons Kiwi families are rethinking how they build — and short-stay accommodation on a well-positioned Northland section is another.
It’s also worth knowing that New Zealand is projected to face a shortfall of 12,000 aged-care beds by 2032 — for many families, designing a home that keeps ageing parents nearby isn’t sentiment. It’s pragmatism.
The way people live is shifting — and not just because the building rules changed. The demand for multigenerational living continues to grow, and the reasons are personal. But the opportunity is the same for everyone: if you’re building, this is the moment to design for a future that looks different to today.
It’s becoming a conversation Marsden Homes is having with more clients. It’s no longer just about a home that works for the immediate family, or what it needs to look like, but what it needs to do — now, and in ten years’ time. Who else might the property need to accommodate? Whether the overall design leaves room for a life that changes.
Designing for the life ahead
That kind of thinking starts in the very first meeting. Before a single line is drawn, the process begins with a site visit and a genuine conversation about how you live — not just how many bedrooms you need. Marsden Homes asks the questions many builders don’t ask, because they’re not just building a house — they’re building a forever home.
Getting to the right design takes a builder who is willing to challenge your assumptions while honouring your brief. A minor dwelling that actually works. A home that makes sense for the family you have now, and the one you might be caring for later.
Ready to start the conversation?
Marsden Homes builds across Mangawhai to Whangārei, and the homes that work best tend to start with the most honest conversations. Talk to the team about what your section — and your family — actually needs.