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Budget 2026 Delivers Stability Signal for Property Market Amid Global Uncertainty
New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty managing director Mark Harris says the Government’s latest Budget is best viewed through a broader economic lens rather than as a set of direct housing market interventions.
May 293 min read


NZ Housing Market Remains on Edge as RBNZ Keeps OCR on Hold
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has left the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25%, and from a housing perspective that feels like the right outcome for the market right now. The property market is still relatively soft and activity remains below more normal levels, so we still need more buyers back in the market. Holding rates steady should help support confidence and avoid placing additional pressure on households at a time when buyers are already becoming more selective.
May 282 min read


PODCAST: The Future of Real Estate | RET's THE CHAT
🎙️ Welcome to this episode of The Chat, proudly brought to you by Real Estate Today. Real estate is changing faster than ever before. AI, tech, social media, branding, automation, freedom, support, growth, noise, burnout, opportunity. The industry is evolving daily, but one question remains, where do you even start? In this episode, we are joined by Paul Findlay, Director of APAC for Cloudstaff, and Mark Morrision, CEO of Agency HQ, for a powerful conversation about what the
May 271 min read


Insolvency Data Reveals New Zealand Business Stress has Peaked, but Risks Persist
BWA Insolvency’s Quarterly Market Report shows 772 insolvencies were recorded in Q1 2026, down 17 per cent from 936 cases in Q4 2025. While the quarterly decline suggests business stress may have peaked late last year, insolvencies remain 13.9 per cent higher than the same quarter in 2025, reinforcing that many firms are still operating under sustained pressure.
May 273 min read


Strategic Town Centre Opportunity Hits the Market in Rangiora
A rare and highly strategic commercial landholding in the heart of Rangiora has been brought to market by RWC Christchurch, offering investors, owner-occupiers and developers a premium opportunity in one of North Canterbury’s fastest growing town centres.
May 272 min read


What the Housing Market Needs on May 28
Budget 2026 arrives in a different mood to its predecessor. Last year's "Growth Budget" had a centrepiece in the “Investment Boost” and a forward-looking tone to match. This year, the government has set aside $2.4 billion for new spending, which is a step up from last year's historically low $1.3 billion, but existing commitments have already absorbed most of it, leaving only around $1 billion for genuinely new decisions.
May 223 min read


Nick Georges to host AREC26 Property Management Hall as Sector Prepares For a New Era of Leadership
The Australasian Real Estate Conference, AREC26, has confirmed Nick Georges, Director at Wingman Group as host of the Property Management Hall, marking a significant moment for one of the most important and fast-evolving sectors in real estate.
May 223 min read


Industry Event to Explore the Future of Property Management Technology
Property management leaders and industry professionals from across South East Queensland are set to gather in Brisbane later this month for an exclusive industry preview event exploring the future of property management technology, AI-driven workflows, and operational automation.
May 222 min read


NZ Budget Wish List – 2026/27
The market is stabilising, but momentum remains patchy
New Zealand’s housing market has spent much of the past 12 to 18 months finding its feet.
May 224 min read


Tina Chamberlain Returns to Ray White Hawke’s Bay to Lead New Auction Strategy
Trailblazing auctioneer Tina Chamberlain is ready to reshape the auction market in Hawke’s Bay.
Chamberlain has returned to Ray White Hawke’s Bay, where she started her real estate career in 2010, this time as auction manager.
May 152 min read


Agents Turning a Property Listing Into a Media Event
In a market where buyers are bombarded with listings every hour of the day, one Western Sydney campaign is proving that modern real estate marketing is no longer just about the property, it’s about attention.
May 153 min read


A Life Less Ordinary: Embracing Independence, Adventure, and Authentic Relationships
As a boy from a small regional community deeply connected to rural Australia, Travis Wentriro felt extremely lucky to grow up amidst the expansive landscapes of outback South Australia, where he learned early on the values of resilience, independence, and a strong work ethic. His formative years were shaped by the wide-open spaces and tight-knit communities of rural life, instilling in him a deep appreciation for the simple yet profound connections that bind people together.
May 153 min read


From Rugby to Real Estate: Jason Barrell Starts Seventh Life
It’s long been said that cats have nine lives, but so does Jason Barrell.
A household name in Northland, Jason’s journey is one of defying the odds.
From navigating school with undiagnosed dyslexia to forming a formidable front-row pairing with his brother, Con, Jason reached the heights of professional rugby, representing the Blues, the Chiefs, and Auckland NPC. His trajectory toward an All Blacks jersey was cut short by a freak on-field accident that resulted in a
May 132 min read


New Zealand Luxury Shifts South
At first glance, New Zealand’s luxury market mirrors its broader property market story. Luxury prices saw a sharp pandemic-era run-up with prices peaking at $2.26 million, a 50 per cent increase from 2019. This was followed by a correction to $1.9 million, a level it has held until prices edged up to $1.93 million most recently. But focusing on the national figure alone obscures what is happening underneath.
May 133 min read


🔥 Stop Trying to Go Viral & Start Trying to Be Remembered
There’s a quiet frustration sitting across the real estate industry right now.
Agents are posting more than ever.
Videos. Listings. Just solds. Market updates. Personal content. Reels. Stories. Everything the industry has been told to do.
May 82 min read


The Undercover Agent Behind the Ultimate Sold Sign Surprise
In a property play months in the making, Mr McPhillips (32) turned the purchase of their first home at 25 Mewing Court, Windaroo, into the ultimate surprise proposal - with the help of Ray White Jimboomba principal Brooke Colledge.
May 83 min read


Fashion, focus and florals (for spring? Ground-breaking):
The Leading Ladies of Real Estate community gathered in force at Event Cinemas on Thursday, 30 April, for a sold-out celebration centered around the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada 2.
The evening served as a vibrant testament to the growth and collective strength of women within the New Zealand property industry, providing a dedicated spac
May 82 min read


Work Feels Very Different
It is a simple question, but it gave me pause. We spend a massive portion of our waking hours at our jobs, yet how often do we actually stop to evaluate if we are genuinely happy doing them? It really got me thinking about just how much I love what I do—and more importantly, why work currently feels so distinctly different from the traditional corporate grind.
May 82 min read


Why Boots on the Ground Still Matter
Back in March, I got out from behind the screen, jumped in the car, and spent time with property management business owners, leaders, and teams across New Zealand’s North Island.
I started in Wellington, then made my way through Palmerston North, Whanganui, Napier, Hawke’s Bay, Taupō, Tauranga, Hamilton, and up into Auckland. Different offices. Different markets. Different personalities. But after all those conversations, one thing stood out pretty quickly.
May 13 min read


ANZAC Day: Perspective in a Time of Noise
As ANZAC Day approaches, I’ve noticed something. Our national conversation feels louder than usual. More opinion. More division. More certainty from people who, if we’re honest, don’t carry the full weight of what they’re speaking about.
Apr 244 min read


Putting the AI in Complaints
Just before Christmas in 2025, we received a Notice of Hearing for a tenancy dispute. The tenant had lodged a claim with the Tenancy Tribunal alleging that we had compromised the safety of her and her child by renting a rural property with unsafe drinking water. There were other issues as well - a claim of retaliatory notice, breaches of quiet enjoyment, and a dryer breaking down, which took a total of four weeks to repair. Her claim was for $40,000.
Apr 243 min read


Ray White NZ launches NurtureCloud Buyer Module
Ray White NZ launches the NurtureCloud Buyer Module, an AI-driven tech suite featuring Smart Buyer Match and a real-time vendor portal. Read the latest news.
Apr 242 min read


7 Ways Agents Can Win More Appraisals In 2026
In many offices, the conversation around growth starts with the same question.
How do we get more listings?
But listings are rarely the first battle. Appraisals are.
Apr 173 min read


The Agents Winning in 2026 Won’t Be the Busiest, They’ll Be the Smartest
The New Zealand real estate sector is observing a notable shift in the operational strategies defining agent success. The emphasis is moving from sheer volume of activity to the strategic application of resources and technology. This evolution suggests that future market leaders will be distinguished by their intelligent application of systems, rather than simply their capacity for extended work hours.
Apr 172 min read
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