Francis Molesworth outlined his vision for the new city of Wellington in 1841 but he wouldn’t recognise the changes nature has wrought and continues to wreak, says Property Council Chief Executive Connal Townsend By blending 19th century thinking around planning with the inhospitable Wellington terrain, Molesworth came up with a grid configuration centered on a canal running from Thorndon Harbour to a large inland shipping basin. Continue →

Auckland’s industrial property shortage has hit record levels, with the latest Colliers International survey finding the lowest vacancy rate in more than 20 years The monthly Colliers International Research Report shows Auckland’s overall industrial vacancy rate is 2.1 per cent. Continue →

  Queenstown took the lead during New Zealand’s most buoyant period of hotel transactions in a decade, notching up the both largest sales volume and the biggest individual transaction Colliers International’s hotel sales survey has found more than $500 million of hotel inventory changed hands in 2015/16, the strongest period on record since 2005/06. Continue →

Liveability and creating healthy communities will be the focus of future cities according to international sustainability experts  Katie Swenson, a US-based leader in sustainable design for low-income communities emphasised the importance of well designed, sustainable and affordable housing. Continue →

Property Council welcomes the release of the Productivity Commission’s Better Urban Planning Report as independent proof that New Zealand’s planning system can no longer address the ever-growing challenges of our cities Chief Executive Connal Townsend believes the report provides the starting point for a national conversation about the future of our cities’ planning system. Continue →

Investor confidence in New Zealand’s commercial and residential property markets remains positive, the latest Colliers International survey results show But the research also reveals a tale of two post-quake cities, with investors remaining optimistic about the Wellington market and more negative about Christchurch. Continue →

Owners of major property portfolios are moving to benchmark all their buildings for energy efficiency as the advantages of owning energy-efficient buildings become more obvious, says the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) Chief Executive, Andrew Eagles, says both tenants and property owners are realising the benefits of greener buildings. Continue →

Demand for Auckland retail space remains strong, particularly for lower Queen Street and Britomart space, according to the latest JLL report  Auckland Retail Pulse 1st quarter highlights the lack of options available to occupiers has resulted in another period of rental growth, with average prime rents increasing to NZD 2,925psm in 4Q16, up from NZD 2,300psm in 4Q15. Continue →

A world-class luxury hotel is planned for the last remaining waterfront site in downtown Auckland Viaduct Harbour Holdings Limited has announced plans for the redevelopment of One Market Square, a site at the heart of the Viaduct Harbour that was previously occupied by the Simunovich Fisheries building. Continue →

Paying a premium for greater resilience could be among the long-term outcomes of last year’s November 14 quake, says a Wellington CBD office leasing specialist Steve Maitland of Colliers International says organisations will also look beyond the CBD as satellite offices become a more attractive option.  Continue →

Chow Group Management Limited (CGML) has announced a multimillion-dollar investment into the refurbishment of their 89 Courtenay Place tower in Wellington Upgrades will bring the new building standard rating to 88 per cent, making it one of the highest rated office towers in the area. Continue →

Tauranga’s commercial property boom is continuing on the back of an exceptional year All five properties  in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke and Taup sold at the latest Colliers International auction on Friday for a total of $10.9 million. Continue →

One of the foremost next-generation office buildings in a pivotal gateway position in Christchurch’s desirable corporate West End district is on the market The PwC Centre that is strategically located at 60 Cashel Street is for sale along with a developable car parking site at 38 Cashel Street. Continue →

If you were to be asked which commercial property market is being most affected by the Internet, a good guess would be retail says Knight Frank Head of Capitals Research Anthony Duggan The sector is undergoing major disruption as customers increasingly choose to shop via multiple channels and, in particular, mobile devices. Continue →

A burgeoning equestrian centre designed as a stabling and dressage arena training facility for young horse riders in mid-Northland has been placed on the market for sale The freehold land and buildings at 12 Parry Road in Mangapai just south of Whangarei have been developed over the past four years as a showjumping venue, which doubles up as a short-stay horse accommodation business. Continue →

Auckland in the 1990s was a very different city, Property Council Chief Executive Connal Townsend recalls It saw itself as something it was not, at least not yet.   Continue →

Auckland Airport and Tainui Group Holdings have announced an agreement to develop a new 5-star hotel adjacent to Auckland Airport’s international terminal and the existing 4-star Novotel hotel. Continue →

Early childhood education is big business in New Zealand and right now it’s a seller’s market as developers and investors seek to capitalise on the surge in demand for places at childcare centres “Childcare is all the rage in the commercial property market,” says Bayleys’ National Director Commercial and Industrial John Church. Continue →

This year will be one of opportunities and some challenges for commercial and industrial property investors, says Bayleys’ National Director Commercial and Industrial John Church Many of the factors that made last year one of the busiest ever for the commercial and industrial property market remain intact: an already strongly performing economy is forecast to get even stronger this year, which should continue to result in high levels of business, investor and consumer confidence which helps fuel leasing and sales activity interest rates, although likely to edge up a little this year, will still be at very low levels while yields have followed interest rates down, the return on equity from commercial property investment remains attractive compared to returns from bank deposits and bonds property provides a more stable investment choice than more volatile equity markets low vacancy rates across most market segments have removed much of the tenancy risk associated with purchasing commercial property these high occupancy rates are also providing rental income growth for investors, which will continue this year as the development sector is still some way off fully catching up with demand for new premises. Continue →

The first post-quake survey of Wellington office vacancies has found the most acute shortage of space in almost a decade The survey by Colliers International’s Research and Consultancy team has revealed only 7.8 per cent of office space in Wellington’s CBD was vacant last month, down from 10.5 per cent shortly before last year’s quake, and 11.9 per cent in June 2016. Continue →