New Zealand's dating scene: From man's to woman's market

This Valentine’s Day, the search for love appears to start with the search for the right home.

Across the country, the gender ratio amongst singles has become more balanced, with exactly 100 single men for every 100 women aged 15-64. But this national balance masks a significant shift underway: across every single region in New Zealand, the number of single men is increasing rapidly. Since 2018, the ratio of single men to women has risen in all 16 of New Zealand's regions, with increases ranging from +4 to +14 additional single men per 100 women.

For women seeking male partners today, the West Coast offers the most favourable odds with 117 single men for every 100 women, combined with the country's most affordable median house prices at just $385,000. Southland follows with 112 single men per 100 women at $495,500, while Marlborough rounds out the top three with 110 men per 100 women at $660,000.

The toughest markets for women remain Wellington Region (96 single men per 100 women) and Bay of Plenty (96). Hawke's Bay sits at 97 single men per 100 women - despite being amongst the regions with the strongest growth at +13 since 2018, it still lags the national average. Even these competitive regions have seen their gender gaps narrow significantly.

Amongst major cities, Christchurch stands out as New Zealand's best bet for women seeking male partners, boasting 104 single men for every 100 women.

Tauranga has experienced the most dramatic shift amongst cities, with a +14 increase since 2018 bringing it to 95 single men per 100 women to tie with Hamilton for the second-highest ratio amongst major cities.

At the other end of the spectrum, Wellington and Dunedin present the toughest markets for women, with just 92 and 91 single men for every 100 women respectively. Despite these lower ratios, both cities have still seen increases since 2018, following the nationwide trend towards greater gender balance in the singles market.