Over the past three years, house prices have increased 52 percent in Auckland, but only 11 percent in the rest of New Zealand. Regional variation in house price inflation is not unusual, but the extent of the current divergence between house prices in Auckland and the rest of the country is unprecedented. Historically, Auckland house prices have trended upwards relative to those in the rest of New Zealand. But in instances when they have deviated significantly from house prices elsewhere, this divergence has subsequently reversed to some extent. Correction has occurred both via prices in the rest of New Zealand catching up to those in Auckland, and by Auckland prices falling to levels more consistent with those elsewhere.