BNZ chief economist Mike Jones said house prices might rise 4 percent over 2026, about the same as the Reserve Bank's forecast. "We've had three years in which house prices basically went sideways - we think the trend will bend upwards." "We still have house prices going sideways or potentially drifting slightly down through the next year. Rental marketJones said what happened with the rental market would depend on population growth. Kiernan agreed the rental market was likely to be flat too.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 02, 2026 02:17 UTC