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Property Market – Conditions may be ripe for a ‘bargain’ property trade up – Cotality

Source: Cotality

New analysis by Cotality finds that trading up from a three-bedroom to a four-bedroom house typically still commands a six-figure premium.

What is the trade-up premium?

One way to measure the potential costs facing a property owner who’s looking to ‘trade up’ is to assess the difference in median values between three bedroom and four bedroom houses – this equates to the extra debt and/or equity that needs to be found. 
It’s not a perfect measure; some people might see trading up as getting the same-sized house that’s newer or in a ‘better’ suburb. However, extra space would be how many households view a trade-up.
The areas with large gaps
Using the Cotality Market Trends dataset, the first chart shows the top 10 suburbs with the largest trade-up premium (as at mid-2026) across  three and four bedroom houses.

Few people would be surprised to see parts of Auckland in that list, as well as Queenstown-Lakes, but areas such as Mackenzie, Waipa, Hastings, Whakatane, and Western Bay of Plenty might be not as widely expected. One factor in some of those markets could be the prevalence of more desirable enclaves (e.g. Tekapo, Havelock North) where a shift from a three-bedroom house to a four-bedroom property could also tend to mean a distinct change of suburb in many cases.
Each of these areas still have a trade-up premium of $290,000 or more, although that gap has fallen by 7% over the past year in Western Bay of Plenty and Auckland City (as four bedroom properties have fallen more than three bedrooms), with a drop of nearly 12% in Hastings, and 9% in Queenstown-Lakes – albeit that shift in Queenstown is only because four-bedroom properties have grown a bit less than three-bedrooms.
Put another way (aside from Queenstown perhaps), it’s got a little easier to shift up in a lot of these areas, especially with a tendency for many households to have strong incomes too.
The areas with smaller premiums
At the other end of the spectrum, the bottom 10 all have a trade-up premium of less than $120,000, and are all smaller, provincial areas spread across both the North and South Islands. Waitomo, Otorohanga, and Kawerau all have a gap between three- and four-bedroom houses of less than $100,000. Of course, with incomes also tending to be lower in some of these areas, a trade-up may not necessarily be much more affordable than other parts of the country.
Where have the changes been?
Turning to the changes since we last looked at this topic in the middle of 2025, there have been sizeable percentage increases in the trade-up premium in Ruapehu, Grey, and Opotiki (all at least 10%). Although in the case of Opotiki, the median values for three-bedroom houses have dropped by more than four bedrooms – as opposed to slightly faster rises for the bigger properties in Grey and Ruapehu.
What about in dollar terms? Mackenzie ($26,180), Grey ($22,363), and Opotiki ($22,086) have all seen the trade-up premium lift by at least $20,000 in the past year, whereas it’s fallen by at least that amount in areas such as Western Bay of Plenty, New Plymouth, Queenstown-Lakes, Hastings, and Auckland City.
A sluggish market can be a good time to trade up
Overall, then, some areas have become more favourable over the past year for people looking to get a bit of extra space (although it’s still not necessarily ‘easy’ as such), while naturally it’s become slightly tougher elsewhere.
In general, though, it’s worth keeping in mind that soft patches in the property market can sometimes be a good opportunity to trade up; even though a lot of households tend to withdraw when uncertainty is elevated. That can be because they’re concerned about the price they might get for their current house, but they potentially overlook the fact that the bigger property may have dropped even further.
For example, take the contrast between Christchurch and Wellington City – having gone about $29,000 above Christchurch in 2021, the trade-up gap in Wellington has since drifted downwards and is now around $25,000 less than Christchurch.
Our Cotality Buyer Classification data continues to show that movers are cautious at the moment, whether that’s Wellington City, or Christchurch, or a wide range of other areas. And for as long as the current economic uncertainty stays elevated, that buyer group may remain on the sidelines. But at some stage when sentiment and job security improves, owner-occupier households are likely to start to transact again, and those who get active first could benefit the most from recent reductions in the trade-up premium in a number of areas.
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Current account deficit $4.6 billion for the March 2026 quarter – Balance of payments and international investment position: March 2026 quarter – Stats NZ news story and information release

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Insurers welcome review of FNZ levy funding model

Source: Insurance Council of NZ

The Insurance Council of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Inihua o Aotearoa (ICNZ) has welcomed the Government’s decision to review how Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) is funded.
ICNZ Chief Executive Kris Faafoi said the review is a timely and positive step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of a critical public service.
“Fire and Emergency New Zealand provides an essential service to communities across the country, and it is important it is funded in a way that is sustainable, fair and fit for the future.
“The current model relies on a levy applied to insurance premiums. While this has been in place for many years, insurers have long questioned whether it remains the most appropriate way to fund such a core public service.”
Kris Faafoi said continued reliance on insurance levies risks adding pressure to premiums over time, affecting affordability for households and businesses.
“When premiums rise, there is a real risk people reduce their cover or go without it altogether. That has broader consequences for individuals, communities and the wider economy.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Brooke van Velden, also highlighted fairness concerns, as Fire and Emergency services are used by all New Zealanders, regardless of whether they hold insurance.
“Ensuring FENZ has a stable and sustainable funding base is essential. At the same time, linking that funding directly to insurance raises longer-term challenges,” Kris Faafoi said.
Mr Faafoi said the review should also sit alongside the need for sustained investment in resilience.
“Our proposed Community Protection Levy is a practical option to help fund large-scale risk reduction, supporting communities to better withstand natural hazards and help keep insurance affordable and accessible over the long term.”
As part of the review, ICNZ also expects officials to examine international approaches as many comparable jurisdictions fund fire and emergency services through central or local government.
“We look forward to engaging constructively with officials as they consider options, including overseas models, to ensure FENZ is well-supported into the future,” Kris Faafoi said.
“The review provides an opportunity to step back and take a considered look at how best to fund a vital public service, while easing pressure on insurance premiums over time.”
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Ministerial Overreach – CMC statement on changes to Medical Council leadership

Source: Council of Medical Colleges

The Council of Medical Colleges (CMC) thanks Dr Rachelle Love for her hard work as Chair of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) and wishes her well for the future. CMC has valued our positive engagements with Dr Love and her contribution to the joint programme of work between MCNZ and medical colleges to support equitable health outcomes for all. We look forward to working with Dr Ken Clark as the new Chair.
Reports that the Minister of Health has not reappointed senior MCNZ leaders because of what he described as an “ideological agenda” are concerning. CMC recognises the Minister’s role in appointing MCNZ members. However, action taken on ideological grounds risks undermining the independence of the regulator responsible for protecting patient safety and maintaining public trust in the medical profession.
MCNZ plays a critical statutory role in setting standards, ensuring cultural competence [1], accrediting training, and safeguarding the public. The health system depends on it as a strong, stable, and independent institution that reflects the needs of the population. MCNZ must be able to carry out its statutory functions without political interference. Before setting standards, including the draft cultural competence and safety standards, MCNZ consults widely. CMC has found these consultations robust and MCNZ responsive to concerns raised.
Cultural safety is not ideological. It is evidence-based, internationally recognised, and central to good patient care. It improves communication, reduces harm, and strengthens trust. Its importance in New Zealand is heightened by our reliance on international medical graduates to staff our hospitals and health services.
CMC represents 18 medical colleges committed to high-quality, equitable care for all people of Aotearoa New Zealand. The colleges work closely together on a programme to support culturally safe healthcare in vocational training. We aim to improve outcomes for patients receiving specialist care and our approach is reinforced by the work of MCNZ. We will continue to champion high standards for vocational trainees and specialists, reflecting not only their technical skills but also how they deliver healthcare to patients.
CMC stands ready to work constructively with the Minister, MCNZ, and sector partners to ensure New Zealand maintains a clinically skilled, culturally competent and safe, and future-ready medical workforce. Patients, whānau, and communities deserve nothing less.
[1] Importantly, s.118(i) of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 requires the Medical Council to “…set standards of … cultural competence (including competencies that will enable effective and respectful interaction with Māori)…”
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Funding "boost" continues dangerous under-funding of aged care – NZNO

Source: New Zealand Nurses Organisation

The Health Minister’s funding “boost” for aged residential care continues underfunding to the sector and will continue unsafe practices and short staffing, which is putting vulnerable residents at risk, NZNO says.
Simeon Brown today announced a 4% increase of $79 million for aged care providers in the coming financial year. As part of the funding, aged care providers will be expected to receive admissions from hospitals during weekends.
NZNO Gerontology Nursing College chair Bridget Richards says the funding equates to a 2.6% increase to baseline funding, below the current inflation rate of 3.1%.
“This is a funding cut in real terms and will lock in short staffing which is preventing residents getting the health care they need and the dignity of care they deserve. Nurses and care givers are constantly forced to make impossible choices about who gets help first because they are stretched so thin.
“As highlighted in NZNO’s Care in Crisis: Manaaki i te Raru report, residents are at risk every day because of understaffing. They suffer falls because care givers are too busy to assist them, and they suffer infections because nurses are too busy to change their dressings, and facilities buy cheap dressings to save money,” Bridget Richards says.
Residents cannot be discharged from hospital back to their facilities without assessment from a registered nurse at their care home, she said. “However, not all facilities have a nurse onsite 24/7; something NZNO has been calling for. Residents being discharged from hospital are also likely to be sicker and have greater care needs than other residents.
“Without greater funding, these residents are being put at even greater risk,” Bridget Richards says.
“Care in Crisis found numerous issues caused by short staffing for residents being discharged back to their homes from hospital including poor handover communication, medication changes not being appropriately charted and unable to be dispensed by facility nurses, transfers in the middle of the night when facilities are not adequately staffed or prepared to receive them, and a lack of rehabilitative resources for post-hospital care needs.”
The funding was also likely to lead to an effective wage cut this year for care givers who are some of the lowest paid workers in the health sector, Bridget Richard says.
“NZNO hopes the Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group will provide the direction to improve all aspects of aged residential care,” she says. 
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Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners statement on changes to Medical Council leadership

Source: Royal NZ College of General Practitioners

The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) is concerned by the Minister’s comments about cultural safety being political ideology in relation to the change of board members at the Medical Council. The independence of the Medical Council as a regulator is fundamental to public trust, patient safety, and the integrity of medical standards in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Medical Council has a statutory responsibility to set standards of clinical and cultural competence, and ethical conduct for doctors. That work necessarily includes setting expectations around culturally safe care and improving health equity, particularly for Māori, who continue to experience significant and well-documented inequities in health outcomes. This all forms part of safe, competent and responsive medical practice.
The College stands firm that ensuring our workforce is well regulated and able to deliver culturally safe care and equitable outcomes for Māori must be a priority. This underpins the high standards of practice and patient safety our health system requires.
Ministers are entitled to make appointments, and those decisions should strengthen confidence in the independence of regulators. The College supports considered, independent professional regulation. We also reaffirm that cultural safety, equitable care, and improving Hauora Māori are essential components of high-quality general practice and of a health system that serves all New Zealanders well.
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Aviation – Changes to security screening at Invercargill Airport

Source: Civil Aviation Authority

From 29 June 2026, passengers travelling through Invercargill Airport will notice a change to our security screening process.

Body scanners (Automated Imaging Technology or AIT) will become the main way we screen passengers. This change supports New Zealand’s strong aviation security standards, as body scanners have proven highly effective at detecting items carried on a person at major airports. They also help make the screening process smoother and quicker for passengers.

We know that travel is important in New Zealand, and we want to help you reach your flight safely and on time. As we transition to the new screening setup, we’ll keep our Walk Through Metal Detector available for a short time to help if needed.

We also have alternative screening options available for passengers who choose not to use the body scanner or are unable to do so. Our Aviation Security Officers are at screening points to answer questions and guide you through the process.

For more information about body scanners, including accessibility, safety and privacy, visit Our new body scanners explained.

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World Vision – More than 200 schools across Aotearoa to go offline for World Vision 40 Hour Challenge

Source: World Vision

More than 200 schools across Aotearoa will be going offline to participate in the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, which kicks off on Friday, 19 June.
Thousands of young people will take on the country's largest youth fundraising event, raising funds to support hungry children in Solomon Islands.
This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging participants to go offline for 40 hours by giving up phones, gaming, social media, streaming services and even electricity to raise funds.
Across the country, young people will be taking on all manner of challenges including walking 3,500km (the distance between New Zealand and Solomon Islands), cooking 400 meals in 40 hours; completing 40 challenges in 40 hours; planting trees; undertaking community service projects; hosting school lock-ins and survivor challenges; participating in walkathons; and facing their personal fears.
World Vision National Director TJ Grant says he is continually inspired by the creativity and commitment shown by young people.
“It's inspiring to see so many young people embracing creative challenges and giving up screentime for a short time to support hungry children in Solomon Islands, where nearly half of children suffer from chronic malnutrition and climate change is making it increasingly difficult for families to put food on the table.”
More than 60 landmarks across New Zealand will light up orange in support of the campaign, including the Sky Tower, Eden Park, Christchurch Botanic Gardens, Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Royal Whanganui Opera House, and a range of unique landmarks such as the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the Gore Brown Trout, and the Wellington Cable Cars tunnel.
“The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is part of New Zealand's cultural heritage and it's an honour to see so many schools, communities, and landmarks getting behind New Zealand young people and the children we are raising funds to help,” says Grant.
Funds raised in this year’s World Vision 40 Hour Challenge will help provide families in Solomon Islands with seeds, tools, and training to grow more resilient, predictable crops so children have the nutritious food they need to grow healthy and strong.
Young people can still sign up online, with friends, through their school or church at 40hour.org.nz.
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Ministerial Appointments – Surgeons respond to Minister’s decision not to reappoint MCNZ councillors

Source: Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons notes that four senior leaders of the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ) have not been reappointed to further terms including the Chair, ENT surgeon Dr Rachelle Love.

MCNZ plays a critical role in safeguarding patient safety and maintaining public trust through the impartial regulation of the medical profession.

The Minister of Health holds the statutory authority to make appointments to MCNZ.

Dr Ros Pochin, Chair of the RACS Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee, says the exercise of this power must be carefully balanced against the fundamental principle of professional independence.

“The Medical Council’s effectiveness relies on its perceived and actual independence.”

RACS acknowledges Dr Love’s strong leadership during her time as MCNZ Chair. Her guidance during the response to the Royal Inquiry into Abuse and the work with Lake Alice survivors was a particular standout.

Dr Pochin describes her as a “strong and inspirational leader who has garnered huge respect amongst her profession and the support of the full Medical Council.

“She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to patient safety and the surgical community.”

Improving all patient outcomes and supporting the growth of the medical workforce are at the heart of both RACS and the Medical Council ‘s core business. The promotion of cultural safety and competence improves the health of all New Zealanders. It is fundamental to an equitable model of care and accepted as  a key competency for all RACS Fellows and members of all other medical colleges.

“Cultural safety and its impact on improved health outcomes for all New Zealanders is supported by evidence and data,” says Dr John Mutu-Grigg, Chair of the RACS Māori Health Advisory Group.

“This fact is accepted nationally, internationally, and is recognised in law and is fundamental to an equitable model of care.”

Dr Pochin adds: “We need independent institutions that provide evidence-based leadership and make decisions in the best interests of patients and the profession. The Medical Council is key in this respect.”

RACS welcomes Dr Ken Clark as the new Chair of MCNZ and remains committed to working constructively with the New Zealand Government and all relevant stakeholders to uphold the highest standards of medical professionalism, governance, and patient care.

About the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS)

RACS is the leading advocate for surgical standards, professionalism and surgical education in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The College is a not-for-profit and supports the ongoing development, maintenance of expertise and lifelong learning that accompanies the surgical practice of more than 8500 Fellows, 1300 surgical Trainees, and Specialist International Medical Graduates. RACS also supports healthcare and surgical education in the Asia-Pacific region and is a substantial funder of surgical research. www.surgeons.org

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Universities – Tourism firms face complex path to sustainability – UoA

Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

Tourism businesses across Aotearoa New Zealand are working to become more sustainable, but a new study shows the process is complex and rarely straightforward.

The research, based on in-depth interviews, data analysis and site visits with established tourism operators across the country, examines how businesses move from good intentions to more sustainable ways of working.

Lead author Claire Beach says although all the firms in her study were working to progress their sustainability goals, many encountered similar barriers, including decision paralysis, supplier resistance and complex recycling standards.

One quote in the paper captures the confusion some operators face: 'They want the whole area to be carbon-zero by 2030 – tell us what the hell that means.'

“Even in a small country like New Zealand, there are many sustainability definitions, organisations and certifications. As confusing as it is for consumers, it’s just as confusing for firms,” says Beach.

Her journal article, Mapping sustainable transitions in tourism, shows that businesses tend to move through three stages: considering and implementing sustainability initiatives, embedding them into everyday operations, and eventually collaborating with others to drive wider industry change.

But they don’t always follow a linear path. Businesses often move forward, stall, and sometimes regress before making further progress.

Beach, who was inspired by a lifelong love of travel and a stint working in hospitality, set out to understand sustainability from inside the tourism industry.

“I could never quite figure out what it is to be a sustainable tourist, and after working in a hotel, I was really curious about how tourism firms become more sustainable.”

She analysed companies spanning adventure tourism, mountain sports, wildlife spotting, holiday parks and lodge operators. Across these businesses, she interviewed owners, CEOs, COOs, directors, sustainability leads and managers.

Beach would like to see clearer, more consistent language and practical, bite-sized resources to help tourism operators move more smoothly from considering a green initiative to fully integrating it.

But she says defining sustainability remains difficult.

“There’s no end state. We thought carbon neutral was it, then carbon zero, then regenerative, and now nature positive. There’s probably already something out there for what comes next.”

The findings also highlight equity issues, with some valuable sustainability training and tools sitting behind membership paywalls, creating barriers for smaller, less-resourced firms.

Beach says many firms are doing sustainability well, but some lack formalisation.

“If they lose a key staff member who’s been sorting the company's sustainability initiatives, it sets them back. Formalising policy, putting responsibilities into job positions and sustainability training to future-proof efforts all help.”

Meanwhile, sustainability certifications, such as B Corp, can be resource-intensive and difficult for smaller companies to navigate.

Some organisations regretted not implementing sustainability initiatives sooner. They wanted to get started but often “got stuck” in cycles of consideration, stalling due to uncertainty and risk aversion, says Beach.

Her paper emphasises the value of establishing baseline measurements for energy use, water and waste to pinpoint starting points, build business cases, reduce decision paralysis and clarify next steps.

Digitalisation was one of the most adopted sustainability initiatives and often served as an “easy win,” according to the study.

Businesses reduced costs by eliminating printed records and receipts through online booking, check-in and ticketing processes. In several cases, these shifts were described as low-barrier changes that required minimal staff retraining and quickly generated efficiency gains.

Recycling was often seen as “low-hanging fruit” requiring little effort, yet nearly half the firms said it remained one of their biggest ongoing challenges.

Keeping up with local recycling standards, managing seasonal fluctuations in waste volumes and monitoring consumer sorting made recycling more complex and resource-intensive than expected.

In contrast, firms that pursued supply-side initiatives, such as switching to refillable soap dispensers or reducing single-use plastics, reported faster progress.

In one example of collaborating with others to drive wider industry change, Beach points to a company that partnered with direct competitors to pressure shared suppliers into providing compostable packaging.

This, she says, shows how collaboration between firms can shift market expectations and industry norms.

“Sustainability can't be achieved in isolation.”