Post by MaxCap

Renewed confidence is quietly returning to New Zealand’s development market. At MaxCap New Zealand’s annual developer lunch last week, Head of Research Bruce Wan shared his outlook with developers. Despite higher interest rates, an election cycle and ongoing global uncertainty, discussions reflected a more measured degree of optimism. Key takeaways: • Developers are adjusting to current conditions, with greater clarity emerging around feasibility and capital deployment. • Global and Australian experience is providing a playbook for New Zealand, with strong engagement around how comparable markets have navigated the same pressures. • The latest Australian Budget – and New Zealand’s emerging status as a ‘tax-haven’ for Australian investors, supported by a more competitive Kiwi dollar – is firmly on the radar. We also explored how artificial intelligence is set to reshape markets everywhere – and what that could mean for the next phase of New Zealand’s development cycle.