Together, Separately: The Art of the Multigenerational Home

New Zealand buyers are increasingly drawn to homes that bring extended family together under one roof. It is a shift that is not only reshaping how people live, but how homes are conceived and designed.

According to the 2023 Census, multi-family households now account for close to four percent of all occupied private dwellings, a figure that's been rising since the 1990s. At the same time, more than 1.1 million New Zealanders are aged over 60. The homes being built around this reality are evolving to meet that growing need.

"It's not just parents and older children, we're also seeing siblings and wider family groups buying together more and more. They want to be close, share the load, and enjoy a lifestyle they might not have been able to access on their own," says Carolyn Hanson, owner of New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty - Auckland South East.

"And it's not one particular group driving this. We're seeing it across the board, New Zealand families, European families, a real mix."

Puketapu, Napier: with multiple entrances, main residential wing and several separate suites, this Tuscan-inspired estate is the ultimate in flexible family living. View the home>

More than a practical arrangement, multigenerational living is becoming a defining movement within the market, strengthening family connection, sharing the responsibilities of care, and creating  continuity across generations. There is a clear logic to it.

"Financially, it simply makes sense. Pooling resources allows families to secure higher quality homes, better locations, and future-proofed properties that may not be achievable individually," notes Carolyn. The result is not simply more space, but a more elevated lifestyle, shared across the family.

Ohariu, Wellington: a rural retreat for all ages, featuring nine bedrooms over two floors with option for self-contained retreat. A versatile home just minutes from the city. View the home>

Each generation arrives with its own priorities. Grandparents may be stepping back from daily demands, yet still value a home that gathers the family. Generation X often sits between two responsibilities, balancing ageing parents with children who are slower to leave home. For younger buyers, flexibility is paramount. Yet across every age group, the common thread is a desire for a home that enhances quality of life.

Design is where this shift is most clearly expressed. The difference between a large house and a successful multigenerational home lies in how thoughtfully it supports daily life.

Separate entries allow different generations to come and go without disrupting one another. A second master suite on the ground floor gives ageing parents or adult children genuine independence.

Karaka, Auckland: ideal for living together, with space. Generations come together between the main home and self-contained guest house to enjoy the pool, BBQ area, outdoor fireplaces and fully fenced grounds. View the home>

Soundproofed walls, floors and ceilings prevent the friction that shared living can sometimes produce. Step-free thresholds, wider doorways and accessible bathrooms ensure the home works as well at eighty as it does at eight. Kitchenettes, zoned heating and smart lighting allow each part of the household to operate independently.

Above all, spaces that can adapt over time ensure the home evolves alongside the family – a study that becomes a bedroom, a playroom that matures into a retreat.

"I recently worked with a family - parents, their adult daughter and her young family - who purchased a lifestyle property at Ramarama with a second dwelling on site. It made a significant difference to their day-to-day lives almost immediately. The grandparents could play an active role in childcare, which gave their daughter real flexibility with work and lifestyle. What made it work was the balance. They had separation when they wanted it with their own spaces, but shared areas where they could come together," Carolyn recounts.

Where these homes sit is equally important. A rural estate with multiple dwellings, a coastal home unfolding across levels, or a city residence close to schools and healthcare each shapes a different way of living, and a different expression of togetherness.

Kerikeri, Bay of Islands: an 11-hectare plus estate with exceptional lodge and separate cottage, river frontage, private golf course and orchards, providing something for all ages. View the property >