Innholdsfortegnelse for December2025/January 2026 i NZ Property Investor

By the time you are reading this the Reserve Bank will have completed their last cash rate review for the year and they will have cut to at least 2.25 per cent. The last time the cash rate was this low was back in mid-2022 and only a few months from property prices peaking. Of course they still had a long way to go in the tightening cycle, with us finally seeing the peak at 5.50 per cent, which was reached roughly a year later in mid-2023. Mortgage demand can clearly be seen to be connected to interest rates, with numbers ticking back up this calendar year. Over $15 billion has been added to the country's residential mortgage stock – pretty much double the $7.8 billion added in the equivalent…

On the eastern side of the lower South Island lies Dunedin – a city that has a blend of urban charm and natural beauty, offering a lifestyle with accessible green spaces, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and a relatively affordable cost of living. In 2014, Dunedin became a UNESCO Creative City of Literature due to the number of famous writers who've honed their craft in the city. The creative vibes in are felt strongly, with plenty of writer's workshops, seminars and theatre performances taking place. The South Island's second biggest city also has an interesting mix of Scottish and Māori culture. It also has impressive architecture. There aren't many cities in the Southern Hemisphere where you can walk the streets and not be sure whether you're in a quaint…

Underscored by an improving economic backdrop and increasing demand for the provision of healthcare services, investors have the opportunity to enter the defensive healthcare real estate sector with a minimum investment of only $10,000. Established in 2022 as an open-ended, unlisted and sector-specific property fund, Centuria NZ Healthcare Property Fund Limited (the Fund) has a mandate to invest in strategically selected healthcare-related real estate such as aged-care facilities, private hospitals, medical centres, general practice surgeries and other healthcare-related facilities. The Fund currently holds a portfolio of 21 geographically diverse aged care properties, all with 26 year leases to one of New Zealand's leading and largest aged-care operators, Heritage Lifecare, providing a long-term income stream. Built-in rental growth is provided through annual CPI rent reviews, capped at 4 per cent. 20-year…

So here we are again, after a policy release that was the political equivalent of stepping into a wet pothole, the capital gains tax (CGT) debate is on again. So, after 30 years practising tax in New Zealand, what are my thoughts on this capital gains tax proposal? Fair tax system First up, I agree that the tax system should be fair. GST is our best example of a fair tax, few exemptions, few loopholes. And we all pay as we spend. It's universal and broad based with relatively low compliance cost. Yes, the argument can certainly be made that a CGT would spread the burden more fairly and take some pressure off the income tax burden that our diminishing muster of employed workers currently shoulders for an ageing population…

Some politicians think a “property investor” is someone with a massive portfolio, playing the market like Monopoly, buying up houses while first-home buyers miss out. Here's who we really are: people who run a small business providing homes for others and security for themselves. Everyday folk, like your kid's teacher saving for retirement. The nurse down the street. The young couple who bought a fixer upper, renovated, then rented it. Regular Kiwis who looked at the option of a rental business versus KiwiSaver and thought, “Yeah, I'll back myself”. There's nothing sinister about it. We're not speculators – we're parents, savers, and planners, running a rental business and building a nest egg for later in life, same as anyone else. But there is a problem – there's surprisingly little data…

After a long stretch of hesitancy, New Zealand's property investors appear to be re-entering the market with renewed confidence. Fresh data from realestate.co.nz signals a shift in momentum, and while the broader residential sector is experiencing the usual spring uplift, investor activity is growing at a noticeably faster pace. Overall, in September, all new residential listings were just 1.3 per cent higher than the same month last year. Investor-targeted listings, however, jumped a significant 10 per cent. “Investors are returning to the market in greater numbers than owner-occupiers, likely buoyed by the recent run of OCR cuts and growing confidence in the housing market,” spokesperson Vanessa Williams says. There are tailwinds at play here: those OCR cuts, easing borrowing conditions, improving sentiment and serviceability. And after a muted period of…

Quinovic chief executive Parrish Wong says the market remains relatively subdued, but is now growing across much of the country, including Wellington and Auckland. After several years of strong growth, rents have largely stabilised – but in some areas, they are slight declines. He says this shift reflects a mix of easing demand and increased supply. Net migration has softened from recent peaks, while more properties have entered the rental pool – for example, new developments that haven't sold and short-term holiday rentals being converted to long-term leases for a more stable income. “These factors mean renters now have more choice than they did 12-18 months ago. At the same time, rents are already high relative to household income, and with wage growth slowing, there's limited room for further increases.”…

We're closing out the year by bringing you the top renovation trends as seen on Builderscrack in 2025. We've analysed data from thousands of job posts, looked at top categories, compared regional growth and summarised the most requested improvements from property owners this year. These insights are based on both volume and variety – with a new job posted every five minutes, across 78 locations and 420 trade categories. Here's what the 2025 data tells us from a trends perspective. In a nutshell: it's been a strong year for home repairs. Builderscrack data shows total job volume rose 24 per cent over the past 12 months, which signals an increased appetite – or need – for trades and property services. The standout is that home repair, maintenance and selective renovations…

Manchester Square, Christchurch, from $649,900 Located in the heart of Christchurch's revitalised East Frame, Manchester Square comprises stylish one and two bedroom apartments, alongside spacious two-bedroom townhouses, all meticulously crafted to high specifications. Importantly for property investors, this complex holds a rare, and highly sought-after, 365-day Airbnb resource consent, allowing full-year short-term rental operation. Positioned steps away from Worcester Street, the Terrace, Botanic Gardens, and the Te Kaha Stadium, Manchester Square presents a turnkey investment opportunity with robust income potential and minimal regulatory barriers, an ideal addition to any high-yield property portfolio. Wilmer Street, Christchurch, from $489,900 This contemporary development features one-bedroom townhouses and one and two bedroom apartments, all approved for 365-day Airbnb resource consent, offering full-year short-term rental potential. The apartment building is serviced by an elevator, providing…

Walk down the main street of almost any New Zealand town and you will see them: empty buildings, boarded windows and faded “for lease” signs. Too often, these are not the result of neglect, but of regulation. For the better part of a decade, our earthquake-prone building regime has created confusion, paralysis and unnecessary cost. The intention was right – to keep people safe. But the system went wrong when we tied safety to a shifting percentage under the New Building Standard (NBS). Too often, that number bore little resemblance to real-world risk. A building rated at 66 per cent NBS might sit empty while another at 67 per cent remained full, even though the 1 per cent difference was within the margin of engineering error. The result was a…

I sit outside, enjoying the peace of a rest day. It's another Sunday here in Auckland, this one though, is the best we have had so far. Blue skies, warm sun, and solid signs of the much-anticipated warmer season upon us. My husband Wayne comes home and shakes his head as he sits across from me. I know, as I recognise that familiar silence, that he's thinking about the mess he just walked past to get outside. Stripped walls, electricals, plumbing all hanging, it's just like any other kitchen renovation. It's an organised and expensive mess in our home. GIB dust covers the bench like snow Auckland has never seen. “We should just sell and cash up,” he says. I understand him. Important questions The conversation from earlier this morning…

It follows changes in July when councils had new obligations when preparing LIMs. The new approach ensures natural hazard information, including the potential impacts of climate change, is summarised and presented in a user-friendly format across all councils. This greater transparency will help people understand the risks that could affect their property, from flooding and landslides to coastal erosion and earthquakes. Homeowners will also be able to access the same natural hazard information (such as maps) online free of charge, alongside the other information that is already available. Councils have always recorded hazard information on a LIM, but this change makes it clearer and easier to find, which is a positive, Ross Roberts (Auckland Council's chief engineer) says. Between the LIM updates and additional hazard information, people across the country…

Market perkier in October REINZ October data shows national sales were up 6.4 per cent year-on-year to 7,505 and New Zealand, excluding Auckland, had a rise of 9.2 per cent, to 5,200. Month-on-month data shows a slight increase in activity at both the national and regional levels. Eleven regions had sales rise year-on-year, with the most notable in Gisborne, up 70.3 per cent to 63 sales, the West Coast, up 51.7 per cent to 44 sales, and Taranaki, up 26 per cent to 184 sales. The median price dropped by 1.1 per cent year-on-year, to $786,000. Excluding Auckland, the median price increased by 0.6 per cent year-on-year to $710,000. In Auckland, prices have now topped $1 million for the first time since March 2025 and are now up 3.6 per…

Summer in New Zealand brings longer days, warmer temperatures, and the perfect excuse to spend more time outdoors. For property owners, it also provides an ideal window to check over your investment, take stock of any maintenance needs, and tackle projects that are easier to complete in fine weather. Exterior projects in particular become much more manageable during these months. Paint dries faster, timber cures more reliably, and you're less likely to be battling rain delays. If you're feeling motivated to make the most of the long daylight hours, here are some summer projects that can dramatically improve your property and help you stay on top of its ongoing upkeep. Add planter boxes A simple but high-impact project is adding planter boxes to your property. These small additions help transform…

New Zealand's property market is showing signs of rebounding in 2026. After a challenging past few years, investors are returning with fresh optimism. Lower interest rates, stable inflation, and increased migration have reignited the demand for investing in property, particularly in regional areas such as Christchurch, Selwyn and the Bay of Plenty. But as the market heats up, so does the risk of rushing into deals without fully understanding the legal implications and pitfalls. For property investors, both new and old, conveyancing is more than just box-ticking. It can be the difference between a profitable investment and a costly mistake. Let's explore three critical areas where rushing in can lead to legal headaches that can turn a profitable investment into a costly disaster. We will focus on cross leases, easements…

Let's not sugarcoat it: 2026 could be the year property investors wake up to a very different New Zealand. If you think 2025 has been turbulent, hold on tight! 2026 could be a very different story. With the election looming, a potential Labour government promises policies that could fundamentally change the rules of the game, and not necessarily in favour of investors. If Labour wins, you can almost guarantee a Labour-style capital gains tax (CGT) is coming. Make no mistake: this isn't a minor tweak. This isn't just theory. Labour has recently announced their proposed policy. Labour's rhetoric on housing, affordability, and taxing wealth paints a clear picture: property ownership as a pathway to wealth could be curtailed, and soon. Hipkins on the hot seat Chris Hipkins is under the…

As 2026 approaches, New Zealand's property investors are stepping into a new era of accountability, automation, and information-driven decision making. From compliance and taxation to insurance and technology, the year ahead promises steady evolution rather than seismic shifts – favouring landlords who are proactive, informed, and equipped with the right tools. At myRent, we've built our platform around this very idea: empowering landlords to manage every aspect of their rentals efficiently and confidently, all in one place. As Daniel Lawler, head of product at myRent, puts it: “If you're not automating more things, you're falling behind. The most successful landlords in 2026 will be the ones using digital tools to save time, stay compliant, and make data-driven decisions.” Compliance moves beyond the deadline With the healthy homes deadline now behind…