Northland stories
Xero's latest data reveals small businesses in New Zealand are struggling with a 2.7% sales drop and stagnating wages, amid rising workforce downsizing.
Falling interest rates and higher inventory are drawing more buyers back, with October sales up 20% nationally, REINZ says.
Councils could face fresh funding pressure after Wellington backed wider emergency management reforms and minimum national standards.
Rising listings and stronger open-home turnout suggest buyers and sellers are regaining confidence as interest rates ease.
Buyer enquiries jumped 8.5% in the fortnight after the Reserve Bank’s cut, as more Kiwis moved into the market.
Buyer demand picked up in July, with sales rising 14.5% year on year even as the national median house price slipped 2.2%.
Four farm deaths in as many weeks have prompted WorkSafe to warn rural workers to reassess quad bike risks before lambing and calving.
A glut of listings and high borrowing costs are keeping prices flat, with Auckland edging lower and buyers enjoying more choice.
Councils must decide whether to keep water services in-house or form regional CCOs, as new laws could reshape debt and rates bills.
New Zealand’s housing recovery gathered pace last quarter, with national average prices up 2% and only Invercargill recording a fall.
Central Otago Lakes District’s average asking price has jumped 19.3% year on year, underscoring a lifestyle-driven surge in regional demand.
The viaduct’s early opening has cut months off a vital coastal link, easing supply delays and proving faster delivery can save money.
Three-quarters of Aotearoa’s land is adding too much E. coli to waterways, with farms facing the biggest cuts to meet national targets.
Spark and Lynk have begun a NZ project for a network of satellite-connected cell towers, aiming to maintain connectivity during crises.
Home values are edging higher as first-home buyers and tighter supply lift activity in several centres, despite wider uncertainty.
More stock and faster sales suggest the housing market may be turning a corner before spring, despite higher rates and election uncertainty.
National home values have edged up 0.5% this quarter, but most cities are still below year-ago levels as demand stays patchy.
Regional housing markets are regaining confidence as eased lending rules and steadier rates lifted May sales in seven areas, REINZ said.
Values are still falling in several centres, but slower declines and firmer migration are hinting the market may be nearing bottom.
National prices kept falling in March, but the West Coast and Southland posted annual gains as sales slowed and homes stayed longer on the market.
