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Real Estate Today today announces the winners of the 2026 Trailblazer Awards, recognising the individuals, businesses and networks making a measurable impact across the real estate industry in Australia and New Zealand. The Trailblazer Awards were created to move away from traditional popularity-based awards and instead recognise genuine contribution, execution and leadership.

The real estate industry is one of the most active professional sectors in the country, with a constant flow of training sessions, webinars, seminars, conferences, awards programs and national events taking place across Australia and New Zealand.

Agents are throwing thousands of dollars a month at cold lead generation and wondering why it feels harder than ever. For a few years, the industry was sold the promise of shortcuts. One hundred leads in ninety days. Set-and-forget funnels. Ads that would magically replace relationships. And for a moment, it looked like it might work. You will have noticed how quickly that narrative has collapsed.

The period between Christmas and New Year has always existed outside the normal operating rhythm of the real estate industry. Offices are partially staffed. Campaigns are paused. Decision-making slows. On the surface, it feels like the market has stepped away.

The week of Christmas sits outside the usual operating rhythm of the real estate industry. Campaigns pause, inboxes quieten and decision-making slows. For many professionals, this is viewed as downtime. In reality, it is a period where judgement, rather than activity, becomes the differentiator.

A New Zealand property management firm has been fined for using a QR code instead of displaying a rent amount on a physical “for rent” sign, reigniting debate around how rigidly tenancy advertising laws should be enforced in a rapidly shifting rental market.

The Reserve Bank has trimmed the Official Cash Rate by 0.25 percentage points, reducing it to 2.25% in a move that confirms monetary policy has shifted firmly into support mode. LJ Hooker Head of Research Mathew Tiller said the Bank is responding to below-trend growth and easing inflation pressures.

"Real estate no longer needs more noise. It needs stronger teams, clearer standards and leaders who can finally lead with certainty" says Winner of the REIQ Innovation of the Year, Julie Davis. For thirty years I have watched this industry become more complicated, more regulated, more competitive and, sadly, more commoditised when it comes to our people. And the result has been devastating. Good people are leaving the industry. Strong performers are leaving businesses. Not be

Ray White New Zealand scheduled 234 auctions last week, up 13.6 per cent compared to last year, however, last week’s clearance sat at 47.1 per cent which was down 14.69 per cent year-on-year. 

After 14 years representing New Zealand on the world stage, former All Blacks Sevens star Kurt Baker has made the ultimate career pivot — from the pitch to property.

When I touched down in Auckland on 11 October 2025, I had two goals in mind – to share insights on rent-roll performance and profitability at The PMC 2025, and to learn from the people shaping New Zealand’s property-management landscape.

Research shows that most sellers spend 4–6 months thinking about selling before they contact an agent, and the average Australian homeowner stays in their property for 9–11 years before making their next move. That means by the time a homeowner reaches out to an agent, they’ve often been silently considering their options for months.