The housing initiatives in the Budget are firmly targeted at pressure points in Auckland.
The headline announcements in Budget 2015 - $258 million in social housing and $100 million for surplus Crown land purchases - are designed to ramp up supply in the city and offer support to families with desperate housing needs.
Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett said $200 million would be spent on creating 750 more housing places for people on the social housing waiting list.
"A large portion of this funding is directed at social housing in Auckland, where the tight property market also has an effect on those in social housing."
The surplus Crown land scheme was announced in last year's Budget.
Funding of $52 million has so far secured 13 hectares of land in Auckland, which has potential for nearly 1000 houses, apartments and townhouses.
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That funding has now been doubled, meaning it could potentially produce up to 2000 new houses in Auckland.
"The programme's goal is to increase the pace of housing development and to put a greater focus on bringing more affordable housing to the market," Housing Minister Nick Smith said.
The Government also confirmed that a national policy statement would be released soon on urban development, which would direct councils to adjust their plans to allow for more densification. The Government has indicated that if Auckland Council does not agree to adjust its plans, it may intervene.
There are no specific measures in the Budget for first-home buyers, which the Government says are already being looked after through Kiwisaver subsidies.
A $41 million investment in emergency housing was announced ahead of the Budget.
The Government has since confirmed that grants to help house homeless people will be brought forward from September to June.
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