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New Zealand’s major banks have officially lifted variable mortgage rates following the Reserve Bank’s latest 25 basis point OCR hike. What does this mean for your home loan, and how are fixed rates holding up?

In this episode of the Week in Review, Debbie Roberts (Owner & Financial Adviser at Property Apprentice) breaks down the biggest property and finance headlines across Aotearoa. From National’s proposed $300,000 income threshold for 5% deposit First Home Loans to Barfoot & Thompson's latest August sales figures signal an Auckland market tipping point, we deliver the practical insights you need to navigate today's property market.

In This Episode:

• Floating Mortgage Rates Shift: All five major banks (ANZ, BNZ, ASB, Westpac, Kiwibank) have raised variable rates by 25bps. Discover why 92% of Kiwi borrowers remain insulated on fixed terms and what ASB’s customer repayment data tells us about household resilience.
• Lessons From Australia's Property Market: Australian home values fell for a fifth consecutive month, led by Sydney (-7.1% from peak). We analyze why persistent construction bottlenecks mean structural supply shortages remain unresolved across the ditch.
• National's 5% Deposit Scheme Expansion: National proposes raising the First Home Loan income cap to $300,000, potentially opening low-deposit options to over 90% of households. We weigh the benefits against the 1.2% government mortgage insurance fee.
• Auckland Market Tipping Point: Barfoot & Thompson sales dropped to their lowest August volume since 2022 while median prices edged up to $955,000. What this stabilization means for active buyers and sellers.
• KiwiSaver Loophole Closed for Rural Workers: A new amendment bill will finally allow farm staff, rural teachers, and police officers in employer-provided housing to access their KiwiSaver for a first home or farm purchase.

Free Financial Education & Events Want to build a resilient, cash-flowing property portfolio using proven, independent strategies? Join Debbie Roberts at our next live, free online event: How to Succeed with Property Investing.

👉 Register now at www.propertyapprentice.co.nz

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. We recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

*Property Advice Group Limited trading as Property Apprentice has been granted a FULL Licence with the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand. (FSP Number: FSP157564) Debbie Roberts | Financial Adviser (FSP221305) For our Public disclosure statement please go to our website or you may request a copy free of charge.

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Buyer choice has jumped by 45% as national listings hit 33,000 homes—so what does this "new normal" mean for house prices and negotiation power? Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank has lifted the Official Cash Rate to 2.75%, a landmark MBIE ruling threatens Christchurch's 5,000 Airbnbs, and an expert panel has dissected the fatal design flaws in Labour's proposed Capital Gains Tax.

In Episode 26 of New Zealand Property Insights, hosts Paul and Debbie Roberts break down the latest data from the RBNZ, Realestate.co.nz, MBIE, and the Salvation Army to deliver real facts without the headline hype.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• OCR Hike & Capital Gains Tax Flaws: Why the RBNZ raised the OCR by 25bps to 2.75%, and why top economists and tax specialists agree Labour's CGT design fails—including a total lack of inflation adjustment that levies a $280,000 tax bill on zero real profit.
• Christchurch Airbnb Crackdown: How a landmark MBIE ruling requiring commercial visitor accommodation compliance (fire safety & disability access) could impact short-term rentals nationwide.
• 33,000 Homes on Market: Why buyer inventory has jumped 45% over three years, how shortening the Bright-line test to 2 years encouraged investor listings, and why national average asking prices ($849,362) have settled into a "new normal".
• Regional Clearance Rates: Why Canterbury inventory takes just 15 weeks to clear while Coromandel takes 56 weeks and Northland takes 48 weeks.
• Salvation Army Housing Report: Why building 9.1% more homes hasn't solved housing stress, and how Aucklanders relocating to provincial cities are shrinking local rental pools.

Support the show

Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. We recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

*Property Advice Group Limited trading as Property Apprentice has been granted a FULL Licence with the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand. (FSP Number: FSP157564) Debbie Roberts | Financial Adviser (FSP221305) For our Public disclosure statement please go to our website or you may request a copy free of charge.

Send Us A Message! Let us know what you think.

Why are 65% of New Zealanders under 45 putting major life milestones like buying a home, starting a family, or making career moves on pause? And what really happens when you buy a cross-lease property with an unconsented deck, carport, or extension?

In Episode 24 of New Zealand Property Insights, host Paul Roberts breaks down fresh demographic surveys and financial credit data to expose the underlying truths shaping today's property market.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Gen Z & Millennial Financial Pressure: Unpacking the 15th annual 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey on Deloitte New Zealand. Discover why cost-of-living concerns weigh heavily on 56% of young Kiwis, how housing costs dictate career choices, and why low-deposit lending options exist for strategic buyers.
• Cross-Lease Title Realities & Traps: Demystifying 999-year cross-lease titles in New Zealand. Learn how unconsented extensions create costly defective titles, how to navigate neighbor consent rules, and how converting cross-leases to freehold sections creates instant equity.
• Mortgage Defaults & Forced Sales Myth: Examining fresh credit data from Moody's, Property Intelligence Data on Cotality, and the Credit Indicator Report on Centrix. Discover why residential default rates remain near historic lows (111 mortgagee sales in Q2 versus 763 during the GFC) and how bank serviceability stress testing protects homeowners.

🎓 Free Educational Masterclass

Looking to build long-term property wealth without falling into low-deposit traps or high-pressure sales pitches? Join financial adviser Debbie Roberts for our next live online event: How to Succeed with Property Investing.

• 100% Independent (We do NOT sell real estate)
• Zero Sales Pressure
• 👉 Register Free Here: Property Apprentice NZ

Support the show

Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute personalized financial advice. We recommend seeking advice from a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

*Property Advice Group Limited trading as Property Apprentice has been granted a FULL Licence with the Financial Markets Authority of New Zealand. (FSP Number: FSP157564) Debbie Roberts | Financial Adviser (FSP221305) For our Public disclosure statement please go to our website or you may request a copy free of charge.