19/02/2026
There has been a surge in activity across many price brackets. Auctions remain the preferred method of sale for many vendors, particularly when buyer depth is uncertain but competitive tension exists. When properties are well-positioned, auctions bring all interested parties into the market at the same time, creating price discovery that private negotiations often can’t achieve.
Foreign Ownership reforms may prompt some domestic buyers to accelerate purchasing decisions ahead of increased international competition. Sellers considering bringing property to market would benefit from early engagement to ensure their asset is positioned to capture the greatest attention from these emerging buyers.
Current market is being driven by engaged buyers prepared to act. Confidence has been building for the last 12 months, and we’re now seeing that translate into forward momentum. Queenstown tends to move on its own cycle – during the downturn, activity softened but never switched off, particularly at the upper end. The result is that when sentiment improves, the market doesn’t restart from zero; it accelerates from an already active base
