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EDITION 1091
Housing market The silent elections Shows strength Roy Pilott
editor@thewanakasun.co.nz
Queenstown Lakes property continues to grow in popularity.
hile the global economy remains volatile line with pre-pandemic sales levels. The median sales price, however, has not dropped as far as sales volume continue to drop, Wānaka’s property after significant price gains during the pandemic. “With borders now opening and a realisation market has proven to be resilient. Queenstown-based Mark Harris, managing that the market has changed, we are seeing a pickdirector New Zealand Sotheby’s International up in enquiry again and good quality properties Realty says the Wānaka market has gone through in Wānaka are attracting multiple offers.” Economists estimate that national house prices a “reset” over the last six months, much like the will drop between 10-15% in 2022 and will ease rest of New Zealand. “But prices at the high-end of the market in 2023 as interest rate rises flatten off. As a result, independent economist Tony remain very solid and the region continues to grow in popularity with both domestic and Alexander said recently that Fomo, or fear of international purchasers,” he told the Sun. missing out, has largely been replaced with Foop, Harris says sales volume in the Wānaka market or fear of overpaying. and through his Wānaka agency has dropped 25 per Section sales have slowed due to supply chain cent in the first six months of 2022, bringing it back in issues and the rising cost of building, but the high
W and house prices around New Zealand
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Mark Harris
end of the market was still very strong for welllocated, good quality homes and apartments. Harris said enquiries from expats looking to return home or foreigners looking to relocate are still common. “...the ability to work remotely and commute easily to the city means an increasing number of families are moving to Wānaka. It’s a much more viable option now.” Harris’ agency has recently celebrated success in The Asia Pacific International Property Awards. It took home the official title of ‘Best Real Estate Agency 5-20 Offices New Zealand’, having been awarded the only five-star accolade in its category. NZSIR was also an award winner for the ‘Best Real Estate Agency Marketing New Zealand’.
There’s an election on. Wānaka Sun readers know that because we have produced local body stories as lead stories in recent weeks. We regard it as important – and lobby group Stand Up Wānaka does too. So it begs the question: where was the promotion in the form of advertising for the 2022 local body elections to encourage candidates? Advertising for this election throughout the country appears to have been geared to bypass genuine community newspapers which take an interest in local body politics. It might be argued more money has been spent getting Three Waters as a discussion around the dinner table than the elections. Meanwhile, many district councils have introduced Māori wards for this election. Voters on Māori rolls for general elections were automatically switched to new local body Māori rolls. But no one actually thought to tell them. So the current local body term draws to a close, relations between local and central government are testy at best. By noon tomorrow the door will have shut on nominees who will serve at local government level for the next three years. A check midweek suggested that unless a large number of nominations were going through a vetting process, in Queenstown Lakes the $200 fee to be a candidate may just buy a seat on the council or community board. If there isn’t much appetite to promote these elections, it may not be such a surprise if potential candidates – and ultimately voters – don’t get enthused either.
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