Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

• 1,374 listings recorded a price drop in Q4 2025, the lowest number in two years
• Only 3% of all listings were reduced, the lowest portion in two years 
• $41,309,345 million was the total value of price reductions, the lowest total price drop in a quarter
• Stable OCR could be first sign of a property market recovery in 2026.

Latest data from realestate.co.nz shows that more than $40 million was trimmed from property asking prices across New Zealand in the last quarter of 2025.

In a shift that may signal improving market conditions, the total amount that dropped out of the market was $14 million less than the $55 million slashed in Q4 of 2024 *

In Q4 2025, fewer properties reduced the price of their listing. And of the listings that did drop their price, they did so by slightly less than any other quarter.

*This data reflects the difference between a property's original asking price when listed on realestate.co.nz and its price at the point of sale or withdrawal. While it doesn’t show the final sale price, it provides a strong signal of how much sellers are adjusting to meet buyer demand.

Is the property market in recovery?

Vanessa Williams, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says the latest figures could be an early indicator that the market is beginning to swing in a different direction.

“While $40 million coming out of the market is still significant, fewer vendors reduced the price of their property last quarter than we’ve seen over the two years prior, an indication that the overall amount trimmed from the market in Q4 is a result not of smaller reductions but by fewer properties needing to reduce their price.”

Williams says: “This indicates that sellers may be starting to price more realistically from the outset, and buyer confidence could be slowly returning. It’s not a full recovery yet, but it could be one of the first signs that conditions are beginning to stabilise.”

How much are sellers cutting property asking prices by?

Nationally, vendors who reduced their asking prices in Q4 2025 took an average of $30,065 off each listing.

Regionally, Marlborough recorded the largest average drop, with sellers trimming $50,500 from their original asking prices. Gisborne followed at $49,333, while Northland, Wellington, and Coromandel rounded out the top five with average reductions of $38,479, $37,607, and $35,645, respectively.

Overall, fewer vendors dropped their prices in the final quarter of 2025, with the lowest percentage of price drops occurring in 11 of the 19 regions.

Signs of stabilisation heading into 2026?

The data suggests the intense repricing seen throughout 2025 may be easing.

“The significant amounts we saw slashed from the market in the earlier quarters of 2025 certainly hasn’t continued, which is a sign confidence is slowly returning to the market,” says Williams. “The stability of the OCR in this week’s announcement should also be an encouraging sign that the market may not be too far away from hitting its stride in 2026.”

realestate.co.nz is helping buyers and sellers move. Properties listed on realestate.co.nz that drop their price can receive free billboard advertising, while buyers who have saved them are alerted instantly.

About realestate.co.nz | New Zealand’s Best Small Workplace (2025)

Realestate.co.nz – your home for property search.

We’ve been helping people buy, sell, or rent property since 1996. Established before Google, realestate.co.nz is New Zealand’s longest-standing property website and the official website of the real estate industry. We are certified carbon neutral (2024 & 2025) and in 2025, realestate.co.nz was crowned Best Small/Micro Workplace in New Zealand by Great Place to Work.

Dedicated only to property, our mission is to empower people with a property search tool they can use to find the life they want to live. With residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial property listings, realestate.co.nz is the place to start for those looking to buy or sell property.  

Whatever life you’re searching for, it all starts here.  

Want more property insights?

Market insights: Search by suburb to see median sale prices, popular property types and trends over time: https://www.realestate.co.nz/insights

 Glossary of terms:  

Average asking price (AAP) is neither a valuation nor the sale price. It is an indication of current market sentiment. Statistically, asking prices tend to correlate closely with the sales prices recorded in future months when those properties are sold. As it looks at different data, average asking prices may differ from recorded sales data released simultaneously.  

Price drop reflects the difference between a property's original asking price when listed on realestate.co.nz and its price at the point of sale or withdrawal. While it doesn’t show the final sale price, it provides a strong signal of how much sellers are adjusting to meet buyer demand.

20 February 2026 – “To achieve our inflation target, we need to look ahead to the future, while learning from the past and understanding the present”, said Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman in a speech at a Business Canterbury lunch today.  

“It takes time for the Official Cash Rate to influence the economy and inflation. Therefore, we base our monetary policy decisions on a forecast of where inflation is heading, and not on where inflation is today. The inflation data is important because it helps us shape the forecast and analyse the drivers of inflation.”

Governor Breman spoke to the current economic situation, as outlined in the February Monetary Policy Statement, as a good example of the need to remain focused on the future. “I want to stress that we are never comfortable having inflation outside our target range. But we must accept what has already happened, understand it, and then look ahead. That's what our Remit asks of us.”

The time it takes monetary policy to influence the economy and the fact that economic data are often volatile and lagging are good reasons to remain forward looking. In addition, focusing on the future helps financial markets anticipate how the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will react to new information about inflationary pressure.

“This allows financial conditions to change in response to new data – in a way that helps us to achieve our mandate – even before the MPC has met to consider the new data and adjust monetary policy,” Governor Breman explained.

Discussing Wednesday's decision and economic outlook, Governor Breman acknowledged that the path to 2 percent inflation has been bumpy, but that we expect inflation to already be back in our target range in the first quarter of this year. “We are confident that inflation will return to the 2 percent target midpoint over the next 12 months”, she said. Meeting with households and businesses around the country is a good opportunity to get information about how the economy and inflation is evolving.

“That is a positive outlook for 2026. But it doesn't mean we can put our feet up”, Governor Breman said. “Today's volatile world only promises to deliver more curve balls. You only have to look at the growth in artificial intelligence and the major shifts in geopolitical relationships to know that the world is changing. The transition is unlikely to be a smooth one.”

“Importantly, being forward focused does not imply that monetary policy is on a pre-set course. We will adjust our plans as we get new information, and always with a focus on the future.”

More information

Download Governor Breman's speech (PDF, 1.73MB): https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=ae794fd52c&e=f3c68946f8

Monetary Policy Statement February 2026: https://govt.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bd316aa7ee4f5679c56377819&id=c6ec54e6f8&e=f3c68946f8

• Fonterra expecting to distribute Mainland Group earnings as special Mainland dividend
• Fonterra confirms FY26 forecast earnings guidance from continuing operations
• Fonterra lifts 2025/26 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price midpoint from $9.00 per kgMS to $9.50 per kgMS

Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd has today lifted its forecast Farmgate Milk Price for the 2025/26 season and narrowed its forecast range.
 
The midpoint has increased from $9.00 per kgMS to $9.50 per kgMS, with the forecast range lifting and narrowing from $8.50-$9.50 per kgMS to $9.20-$9.80 per kgMS.
 
CEO Miles Hurrell says the Co-op has been able to make these changes based on recent improvements in global commodity prices combined with Fonterra’s well contracted sales book.
 
“As we have seen, global dairy prices have been volatile across the season. Following the declines at the end of 2025, prices have lifted in the last four Global Dairy Trade events.
 
“Global milk production remains above seasonal norms, meaning the risk of further volatility in pricing remains. As such, we continue to take a balanced approach with our Farmgate Milk Price forecast.
 
“Our team is focused on enhancing returns for farmer shareholders through the Farmgate Milk Price and earnings, by delivering on our strategy,” says Mr Hurrell.
 
Update on Mainland Group earnings
 
Fonterra is today advising that it intends to pay out 100% of underlying earnings generated by Mainland Group during FY26 while still under Fonterra ownership.
 
The earnings will be distributed through a special Mainland dividend payment to shareholders and unit holders following the completion of the sale to Lactalis.
 
“We are currently finalising our interim accounts and can indicate that we expect the special Mainland dividend to be in the range of 14-18 cents per share, which reflects the operating performance of the Mainland business during the first half of this year driven by ongoing cost management and favourable input commodity prices.
 
“This remains subject to the settlement date of the transaction and the finalisation of our financial statements and audit process.
 
“Fonterra’s FY26 forecast earnings guidance from continuing operations remains unchanged at 45-65 cents per share. It is intended that Fonterra’s dividend policy will be applied to these continuing earnings.  
 
“Our interim dividend from continuing operations will be confirmed when we release our FY26 interim results and an update on the special Mainland dividend will be given at this time,” says Mr Hurrell.
 
As previously indicated, Fonterra expects the transaction to be complete in the first quarter of the 2026 calendar year, subject to separation of the businesses from Fonterra and remaining regulatory approvals being received.
 
About Fonterra  
 
Fonterra is a co-operative owned and supplied by thousands of farming families across Aotearoa New Zealand. Through the spirit of co-operation and a can-do attitude, Fonterra’s farmers and employees share the goodness of our milk through innovative consumer, foodservice and ingredients brands. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re committed to leaving things in a better way than we found them. We are passionate about supporting our communities byDoing Good Together.

Responding to today’s guilty verdict and life sentence for former South Korean President Yoon for the imposition of martial law in December 2024, Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director Sarah Brooks said:

“Today's verdict and sentence is an important step towards accountability which demonstrates that no one is above the law in South Korea, including a former president.

“This ruling holds Yoon accountable for the unlawful imposition of martial law in December 2024, which lacked proper legal justification under both domestic and international law and placed fundamental rights at risk.

“South Korea's independent courts and citizen resistance have shown how the rule of law and strong institutional checks can effectively counter authoritarian practices. This decision must now be followed by comprehensive measures to ensure such violations never happen again.”

Background

Seoul Central District Court today handed down a life sentence to former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol after finding him guilty of leading an insurrection over his declaration of martial law. Yoon is expected to appeal. The ruling follows prosecutors’ call for the death penalty in this case in January 2026. This case is among eight criminal trials with Yoon as the defendant.

On 3 December 2024, former President Yoon declared martial law in a late-night address broadcast live on TV. The move was met with mass protests, and lawmakers forced their way into the National Assembly to vote to lift the martial law order within hours. Yoon was subsequently impeached and removed from office in a separate case by the Constitutional Court.

Australians are paying more for cover. But the funding flowing to patient care is not keeping pace with the real cost of delivering surgery.

Over the past three years, more than 400,000 Australians have downgraded from top-tier (“gold”) hospital cover to lower levels of insurance. Many policies now come with exclusions, meaning patients discover they are not fully covered when they need treatment.

“Bronze”, “silver” and “gold” labels hide huge differences in exclusions, excesses and clinical coverage, meaning two people on the same tier can face wildly different bills. Australians need real transparency and standardisation so consumers can compare value and know what they’re actually paying for before they need surgery.

At the same time, insurers are returning a smaller share of premiums directly to care than in previous years. Industry data shows benefits paid as a proportion of premiums are sitting in the mid-80% range – down from around 88% historically.

RACS welcomes legislation introduced this week that would ban “product phoenixing” – a practice used by some private health insurers to rebrand or replace policies in ways that drive up premiums without delivering additional value to consumers. But wider reform is needed.

RACS believes Australians deserve stronger guarantees that the vast majority of every premium dollar goes to patient care.

Surgeons are also dealing with a system where:

Medicare rebates have not kept pace with inflation for decades.
private health insurers pay different benefit amounts for the same procedure, sometimes differing by hundreds of dollars. Surgeons are forced to work across dozens of varying fee schedules to reduce patient gaps.
no-gap payments have failed to keep up with rising healthcare costs for decades.

When Medicare and private insurance benefits fall behind the real cost of operating theatres, staff, equipment and compliance, the shortfall does not vanish. It is either absorbed by hospitals and doctors or passed on to patients. This funding gap is the key driver behind rising out-of-pocket costs. RACS recognises the need to improve the affordability of specialist care. At the same time, we understand many surgeons are already prioritising their patients' needs at personal financial cost and are struggling to keep up.

Fee reform is a two-way street

If government expects fee restraint, then Medicare must be properly indexed and insurers must ensure a higher proportion of premiums go directly to clinical care. RACS supports a minimum 90% payout ratio so Australians can be confident their premiums are funding treatment, not overhead.

Transparency measures such as the Australian Government's mandatory Medical Costs Finder system can help patients understand fees. But transparency alone will not fix an underfunded system.

Private healthcare plays a critical role in keeping pressure off the public hospital system. If private surgery becomes financially unsustainable, waiting lists in the public sector will inevitably grow.

Australia delivers strong surgical outcomes by international standards. That system has been built on high standards and a functioning public–private balance. Rising premiums must translate into real value for patients – not reduced coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs.

RACS stands ready to work with government and insurers to modernise Medicare, improve consistency in insurer payments, and ensure patients are not left carrying the burden of a funding model that no longer reflects the real cost of safe surgical care.

Robert Walters identifies New Zealand's key labour and salary trends for 2026

Auckland, New Zealand, 19th Feb 2026 - 2026 will be a year of strategic hiring, increased pressure on salaries, and rising workforce mobility across New Zealand, according to new research from global talent solutions partner Robert Walters. 

The findings come from its latest Salary Guide, which surveyed over 2,300 white-collar New Zealand professionals across 12 different industries.  

Shay Peters, CEO, Robert Walters Australia & New Zealand: ”The New Zealand labour market is showing a renewed sense of optimism, but caution remains. Businesses are hiring again, skills shortages persist, and employees are carefully weighing where they work, what they earn, and whether to relocate. This combination is reshaping the workforce: organisations face pressure to attract and retain talent, address capability gaps, and balance pay with cost-of-living concerns, while employees are increasingly strategic about career moves and mobility. How companies respond now will have a direct impact on productivity, growth, and their ability to secure and retain the talent they need for success in the future.” 

Key labour market trends 

Hiring rebounds, but jobseekers remain cautious after 2025 turmoil

Market confidence is gradual but strengthening, with 76% of New Zealand businesses planning to hire in 2026, up from 66% in 2025. 

Hiring demand varies regionally. Canterbury leads hiring intent at 78%, followed by Auckland (75%) and Wellington (72%). 

Despite this uplift in business confidence, employee mobility has cooled. 53% of New Zealand professionals are considering a role change this year, down from 63% in 2025, suggesting a more cautious workforce. 

Shay comments: ”Hiring intent has increased since last year, signalling that businesses are ready to move forward. However, employees are taking a more considered approach. From conversations we've been having with job seekers, we know the unstable condition of the 2025 labour market is making people concerned about job prospects in 2026. Economic uncertainty over the past year has made many professionals very risk-aware. The labour market is gradually rebalancing, rather than surging.” 

Rising relocation trends are creating a borderless workforce

Mobility remains a defining feature of the New Zealand workforce. 58% of professionals are open to relocating for work. 

Interest varies regionally. In Auckland, 64% would consider relocating, compared with 53% in Wellington and 51% in Canterbury. 

Australia is the most attractive destination, with 65% naming it as their top choice. Domestically, 54% would consider relocating within New Zealand. Internationally, 23% would consider moving to the UK and 21% to Europe. 

The primary drivers of relocation are higher salaries (71%), better job opportunities (65%), lifestyle changes (53%), and cost of living (38%). 

Interest in Australians relocating to New Zealand has increased this year to 17% (up from 2% in 2025). 

Shay comments: ”The strength of interest in Australia underscores how interconnected the two labour markets have become. For many professionals, relocation is no longer aspirational, it is a strategic financial and career decision. 

New Zealand employers must recognise that they are competing not just locally, but internationally. Organisations that create compelling career pathways, competitive remuneration and flexible work models will be better positioned to retain talent in an increasingly borderless market.” 

Salary growth remains modest as cost-of-living pressures persist

In 2025, 57% of New Zealand professionals received a pay rise, although most increases fell within the modest 2.5%-5% range, limiting their real impact. 

67% of New Zealand businesses intend to offer salary increases in 2026, while 56% of professionals expect one. 

42% of employees feel underpaid, but 83% of employers believe salaries are keeping pace with the cost of living, highlighting a perception gap. 

Salary dissatisfaction varies regionally. In Canterbury, 46% of professionals do not believe their salary matches the cost of living. In Auckland this stands at 42%, and in Wellington 39%. 

Shay comments: ”As businesses come out of last year's restructures, organisations have an opportunity to reassess remuneration. Where salary increases are not feasible, employers must focus on career progression, flexibility, and skills development. It's no secret the movement of New Zealand talent to Australia is well underway. Dissatisfaction around pay is a high retention risk, especially as overseas markets actively target New Zealand talent.” 

Skills shortages squeeze productivity across key sectors

Skills shortages remain critical, with 81% of New Zealand employers experiencing gaps over the past year. 

Regional pressure varies, with 52% of Auckland employers reporting shortages, followed by Wellington (49%) and Canterbury (39%). 

The most acute gaps are in industry-specific expertise (52%), digital and technology capability (37%), and leadership skills (31%) - these areas closely linked to productivity and organisational performance. 

Hiring challenges are compounded by unsuitable applicants (62%) and a lack of formal qualifications (53%). 

 Shay comments: ”Skills shortages are a severe productivity issue. When capability gaps persist, delivery slows and growth opportunities are missed. 

New Zealand organisations must take a long-term view, investing in leadership development, digital capability, and structured workforce planning. Skills gaps directly impact productivity and growth, and with more talent continuing to move to Australia, this challenge will intensify unless decisive action is taken now. Waiting for the market to correct itself is no longer a viable strategy in a competitive global talent landscape.” 

AI adoption accelerates, but concerns remain

AI integration is gaining momentum. 86% of New Zealand businesses are actively promoting AI, and 70% of employers say AI skills are important. 

Adoption at employee level is already high, with 69% using AI in their roles. However, 51% express concern about AI's future impact on their job.

Shay comments: ”New Zealand businesses are embracing AI at pace, but adoption must be matched with transparency and training. The fact that over half of employees are concerned about AI's future impact highlights the importance of clear communication and structured upskilling. 

At the speed AI is developing, it's critical that soft skills like leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving are not lost but actively encouraged alongside new technology. 

Done right, AI can increase efficiency, boost productivity, and complement human talent, supporting the goals outlined in New Zealand's 2025 AI Strategy for a productive, future-ready workforce.” 

About the Salary Guide: The Robert Walters 2026 Salary Guide provides a comprehensive overview of hiring intentions, salary trends, skills shortages, and workforce mobility across New Zealand. With insights from over 2,300 respondents, the guide highlights how businesses and employees are navigating an evolving labour market shaped by cost-of-living pressures, technological adoption, and mobility opportunities.

About Robert Walters:  

With more than 3,100 people in 30 countries, Robert Walters delivers recruitment consultancy, staffing, recruitment process outsourcing and managed services across the globe. From traditional recruitment and staffing to end-to-end talent management, our consultants are experts at matching highly skilled people to permanent, contract and interim roles across all professional disciplines. 

White plastic appears to pose a particular hazard for penguins, new research from the University of Auckland has found.

University of Auckland research fellow Dr Ariel-Micaiah Heswall tested plastic colour preferences of king and gentoo penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s Sealife Aquarium in Auckland.
 
She found the 46 gentoo and 23 king penguins interacted far more often with white plastic than other colours, possibly because white reminds them of prey, eggshell or their own feathers.
 
Penguins are known to eat plastic bottlecaps, so red, blue, black and white caps were used in the experiment.
 
The seabirds chose white almost twice as often as black, and about 45 percent more often than red or blue.
 
White plastic could be a “sensory trap” for penguins, because it might lure them with a colour that appeals to their senses, but has harmful consequences when they eat it, says Heswall, from the University's Faculty of Science and Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society – Ngā Ara Whetū.
 
Previous studies have found more white and clear plastics than other colours in the guts of seabirds in New Zealand and internationally.
 
Some scientists have suggested that’s because white and clear plastics make up the bulk of the millions of tonnes of plastic floating in the ocean.
 
However, Heswall’s new research shows penguins select white plastic, even when it’s not more plentiful than other colours.
 
A study she published in June last year showed white and clear plastics were most often found in the guts of 13 species of North Island seabirds.
 
Yellow and gold plastics were the next most commonly found inside the seabirds.
 
While red and green plastics were widespread on Auckland beaches, they were less often found in the seabirds’ guts.
 
Plastic was found inside all 19 of the Buller’s shearwaters they examined.
 
“It’s a big problem, but at least we’re beginning to understand it better,” says Heswall.
 
Putting a lid on the production of white and clear plastics could reduce the threat for many seabird species, she says.
 
The penguins showed least interest in the black bottlecaps and seldom pecked the blue ones.
 
“Generally, black plastic is least often found inside most species of seabirds internationally.
 
“There needs to be more research, but if manufacturers replaced white plastics with black, that could potentially make a big difference for seabirds,” Heswall says.
 
Globally, 28 percent of seabirds are classified as threatened and seven percent are critically endangered.
 
Eating plastic poses risks of starvation, as plastic can fill or obstruct the birds’ gut.
 
Sharp plastics can puncture the gut, but soft plastics, such as balloons, are more likely to result in immediate death for seabirds, Heswall says.
 
Microplastics can leach into seabirds’ blood streams, changing hormone balances and sometimes causing plasticosis, a disease marked by chronic inflammation and scarring in the digestive tract.
 
Heswall says the penguin experiments were carefully designed to avoid stressing the birds or posing a risk of plastic being swallowed.
 
Even though the penguins were free to move around the enclosure, some chose to interact with the plastic caps in all but three of the 41 trials.
 
Two or three times, the penguins responded to the bottlecaps with courting or reproductive behaviours, flapping their wings and bowing repeatedly.
 
“It was quite funny to watch.
 
“The penguins sometimes tried to rotate and turn a bottlecap, a behaviour they typically only display with their eggs.”
 
Having grown up in Brunei, Heswall only discovered the wonders of seabirds when she moved to New Zealand ten years ago.
 
“I had no idea of the diverse world of shearwaters and petrels, let alone that New Zealand was the seabird capital of the world.
 
“I fell in love with seabirds during my university studies,” says the 28-year-old.