Southland stories
Three-quarters of Aotearoa’s land is adding too much E. coli to waterways, with farms facing the biggest cuts to meet national targets.
WorkSafe says better vehicle controls could have prevented the death, after a Southland freight firm was fined GBP £0.27 million.
More stock and faster sales suggest the housing market may be turning a corner before spring, despite higher rates and election uncertainty.
Regional housing markets are regaining confidence as eased lending rules and steadier rates lifted May sales in seven areas, REINZ said.
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.
Higher compliance costs and rising interest rates have made rural buyers more cautious, with farm sales falling sharply in late 2022.
Farm sales have fallen sharply as higher costs, volatile weather and policy pressure weigh on rural confidence across New Zealand.
Affordable Southland is drawing first home buyers and investors, with Invercargill’s median house price hitting a record NZD $488,000 in August.
This could cut emissions by up to 40% as New Zealand’s biggest heavy transport fleet starts trialling on-site green hydrogen refuelling.
With 44,000 extra workers needed, New Zealand infrastructure firms are courting schoolgirls to fill trade and technical shortages.
More listings and weaker buying power are easing competition, even as national house prices climbed 13.5% to a record GBP £885,000 in February.
Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki and Wellington now top the pay table, as median hourly wages climb to NZD $27 across trades and industrial jobs.
Buyers are getting more choice as supply improves, even though New Zealand house prices hit fresh records in November and growth begins to ease.
Tighter credit and more listings are likely to keep house price gains easing as annual growth slips for the first time since August 2020.
New Zealand’s median house price climbed by NZD $100,000 in October, with 10 regions hitting record highs amid tight supply and strong demand.
Lockdown has not cooled demand, with New Zealand house prices hitting another record as spring listings are delayed and buyers stay active.
New records in prices and sales show demand is still outpacing supply, despite efforts to cool New Zealand's property market.
Cheaper provincial suburbs have driven New Zealand's property boom, with Manunui up 51.8% and Hargest selling in just six days.
Record-low inventory is pushing New Zealand house prices higher, leaving first-time buyers with fewer affordable options.
Internationally backed data company 'New Zealand Datagrid' plans to build a carbon-neutral $1bn data center in Makarewa near Invercargill.
