PHOTO: ODT FILESTurn on the news right now and all we seem to read and hear about is petrol prices, petrol prices and petrol prices. That is the real link between a war on the other side of the world and your local housing market. Over the past 20 years of house price data there is quite a strong correlation with interest rates. Why this matters is that long-term most people can ride out increases of interest rates, as housing is a long-term asset. But it is hard to see this conflict in the Middle East causing a major downturn in New Zealand property.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 01, 2026 22:36 UTC