Auckland's average house price rose to a record in December as property values benefited from a lack of supply heading into the peak summer season.
The average sale price rose to $700,387 in December, from $684,646 in November and $624,015 in December 2012, according to realtor Barfoot & Thompson. The median price rose 1.2 percent from November to $629,000 and was 14 percent ahead of the year earlier month.
New Zealand's Reserve Bank introduced restrictions on high debt mortgage lending from October last year in an attempt to cool rising house prices, driven by shortages in Auckland and Christchurch, on concern a house price bubble could cause financial instability.
"Seasonal trends which traditionally see higher value properties traded have not been offset by recent Reserve Bank changes and nor would they given the next three to four months of high summer season,'' Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson said in a statement.
"With listings being so restricted and buyer demand so high, it suggests that as we enter the New Year, the Auckland real estate market will experience a strong first quarter.''
