Property

* Property listings have grown in Invercargill and Southland, reflecting strong buyer interest. * Buyers are moving quickly as Southland’s rate of sale is faster than national average. * Low mortgage rates are encouraging first-home buyers and creating more movement across the market. Invercargill and Southland are seeing a noticeable lift in

* New scheme will let trusted builders and plumbers sign off their own simple work * Faster inspection targets aim to reduce costly delays for building projects across New Zealand * Changes expected to deliver thousands of homes annually without lengthy approval bottlenecks The Government has announced major changes to speed up home

• Government will allow larger granny flats to be built without resource or building consents • Rule change aims to reduce red tape, lower costs, and support multigenerational family living • Reforms to land acquisition and building materials access also introduced to boost housing supply The Government is making it easier for New

* New legislation aims to reduce red tape and boost development across the country * Two new Acts will focus on land use and environmental protection, replacing the current RMA * Cabinet estimates show reforms will cut compliance costs by nearly half compared to current system The Government has confirmed it will replace

* Complaints about disruptive behaviour now handled in around 13 days (down from around 60 days a year ago) * 553 Section 55A notices issued by Kāinga Ora since July 2024, up from 41 issued during the same period in the previous year. * Of that 553, first notices made up around 83

* Reserve Bank lowers official cash rate by 50 basis points to 3.75%. * Banks reduce floating mortgage rates, with mixed changes to fixed rates. * Economic growth expected to recover in 2025 despite global uncertainty. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) has cut the official cash rate (OCR) by 50

* Southland's average asking price rose by 112.2% in the past decade, reaching $546,216. * The growth outpaced Auckland, which saw a 29.5% increase in the same period. * Regional appeal, economic stability, and affordability continue to drive Southland’s market growth. Southland has emerged as one of

* Southland's new listings rise 30.6% in January, signalling increased activity in the region. * Local market experts predict a strong year ahead with favourable conditions for buyers and sellers. * Lending rate drops and pre-approvals drive high buyer interest across Southland and Invercargill. The Southland housing market has kicked