David Hargreaves

New Zealand

Senior Journalist and News Editor at Interest.co.nz

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Articles

The value gap between three and four bedroom homes ranges from $97,000 in Ruapehu to $601,000 in central Auckland

2 days ago | interest.co.nz | Greg Ninness |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

The difference in value between three and four bedroom homes can range from $97,000 to more than $600,000 depending on where the property is located, according to property data company Cotality (formerly CoreLogic). Cotality compared current median dwelling values for three bedroom homes with median values of four bedroom homes around the country and found the difference was significant.
All key NZD crosses are higher

2 days ago | interest.co.nz | Jason Wong |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Currencies / analysis Calm market conditions overnight.
Apartment buildings up to 15 storeys high to be allowed around some suburban Auckland train stations

3 days ago | interest.co.nz | Greg Ninness |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

The Government and Auckland Council are proposing changing zoning laws to allow buildings up to 10 storeys high to be built in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert, and buildings up to 15 storeys high in the suburbs of Kingsland, Morningside and Mt Eden.
House price gains 'remain glacial'

3 days ago | interest.co.nz | Greg Ninness |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Economists at both ANZ and BNZ have downgraded their house price forecasts for this year. BNZ has has dropped its house price forecast to between 2% and 4% annual growth this year, while ANZ is now forecasting 2.5% annual price growth. "Price gains remain glacial," BNZ Chief Economist Mike Jones says. "Stirring a shakier demand backdrop in with our existing concerns about elevated supply, points to this dynamic continuing," says Jones.
Housing becoming more affordable for first home buyers as prices and mortgage rates both decline

4 days ago | interest.co.nz | Greg Ninness |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Mortgage affordability for first home buyers continues to improve as mortgage rates and house prices at the bottom of the market both continue a slow but steady decline. According to the Real Estate Institute of NZ, the national lower quartile selling price was $580,000 in May, down from $599,000 in April.
Oil prices drop back. NZD and AUD recover

4 days ago | interest.co.nz | Jason Wong |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

Currencies / analysis Iran orchestrates a missile strike on a US base in Qatar; but well-telegraphed and seen more as symbolic than an escalation in the conflict. Market relieved that oil infrastructure not targeted.
The politics, and politicians, of nostalgia

5 days ago | interest.co.nz | Chris Trotter |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

By Chris Trotter*What do politicians do when the present is a mess and the future promises more of the same? Mostly, in these all-too-familiar circumstances, politicians turn for help and solace to the past. They go looking for policies that seemed to work once and attempt to make them work again. Take our present Finance Minister, Nicola Willis. She has asked Treasury to become more assertive in its advice.
Can New Zealand’s trade with China survive?

6 days ago | interest.co.nz | Dan Brunskill |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

If success means nothing breaking, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s first official visit to the People’s Republic of China has been a triumph. He spent four days meeting top businesses and political leadership without receiving any obvious rebuke for New Zealand’s subtle shift in foreign policy. This shift involves speaking more openly about China as a risk to regional security and forming closer defense partnerships with US-aligned countries.
Auction activity slows as a short week and winter weather takes its toll

1 week ago | interest.co.nz | Greg Ninness |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

The number of residential properties going to auction continues declining as we head further into winter, with interest.co.nz monitoring the auctions of 246 properties around the country over the short week of 14-19 June, down from 284 the previous week. The shortened week leading up to Matariki would undoubtedly have been a significant factor in the lower level of activity.
Deceased estates sell for over $2.6 million with most proceeds going to charity

1 week ago | interest.co.nz | Mandy Te |Gareth Vaughan |David Hargreaves

The bidding was on at Ray White’s Ponsonby office on Thursday afternoon as people battled it out for properties in Ponsonby and Whangaparāoa. But these properties aren’t regular properties - and these aren’t your usual listings, because most proceeds from the sales are going to two unnamed charities. The first one to go under the hammer was a derelict three-bedroom house sitting on 412 square metres in Ponsonby.