Are Kiwis moving house more often than ever?
New data suggests the ‘forever home’ may be a thing of the past, with the ‘seven-year itch’ now closer to five.
The concept of the ‘forever home’ appears to be fading in NZ, with new data from realestate.co.nz revealing that Kiwis now hold onto their homes for an average of just five and a half years before selling.
"People move for many reasons—employment opportunities, the desire for more space, the need to accommodate aging parents, or even downsizing after the kids have left. This frequent movement is likely a reflection of changing lifestyle needs and opportunities across NZ,” says Vanessa Williams, realestate.co.nz spokesperson.
The regions where property moved more quickly than the national average were Waikato, Nelson and Bays, and Bay of Plenty, where the average time between sales was five years and four months.
But what about the financial gains? Does it pay to stay, or should you go?
“Holding for longer can sometimes mean bigger gains, but many factors can impact this, including market conditions, economic factors, legislative changes, your region, and demand in your area," says Williams.
Ultimately, you should buy based on your personal circumstances, rather than trying to predict what the market might do.
📱Contact me for all of your real estate questions. My advice is given freely with no obligation.
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Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.1% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.1% Critical thinking
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30% Resilience and adaptability
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2.9% Other - I will share below!
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
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