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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.

In a bigger-than-expected move, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 0.50 basis points to 2.5%. The decision signals a decisive step toward stimulating growth as inflation settles within target.

After a decade leading Property Assist, Shannon Welch reflects on why the old “hustle harder” mindset no longer works in property management — and what sustainable success really looks like.

First-home buyers are enjoying their best opportunity in years to get onto the property ladder, with deposits stretching further, listings increasing and more time to negotiate deals, according to LJ Hooker Head of Research, Mathew Tiller.