Figures released by the Real Estate Institute show lifestyle block-living is still the New Zealand dream.
16 per cent more lifestyle blocks were sold during the year ended in March, compared with the previous year.
Auckland had the largest increase, with about 150 more sales recorded during this time.
A spokesman from the institute Brian Peacocke says the lifestyle market in Auckland is benefiting from the strong urban residential market.
He says Auckland's demand is also spilling over to the Waikato, where there is an emerging shortage of properties at the million dollar mark.