Image: RNZA town increasingly owned from afarLittle data is available on exactly who owns Queenstown's "ghost houses", but property maintenance companies told RNZ they had noticed a major shift in the market. On the other hand, it was becoming more costly to use houses for short-term accommodation, Nicol said. Photo: RNZCapital gains tax could make a difference - mayorMayor John Glover said many of Queenstown's ghost houses were legitimate holiday houses bought by people who intended to visit or move down eventually. He said a capital gains tax on second homes might lead to fewer ghost houses, although he framed that as a broader governmental debate. Without action, he warned, workers would be pushed out of the town and more houses would sit empty in the centre.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 19, 2026 19:35 UTC