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Two budgets landed in May. One tightened settings for property investors, while the other got out of the way. The contrast between Australia and New Zealand's fiscal settings has sharpened a question that was already forming: is the Tasman Sea wide enough to keep Australian investors from looking at what's on the other side? And how soon will they act?

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.

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.

🎙️ 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.