The 2027 Residential Development Summit will unite leaders from across the housing, infrastructure and development sectors to explore the opportunities ahead. Join developers, iwi, councils, government and innovators as we tackle the challenges of housing delivery, planning reform and infrastructure funding — and uncover the ideas shaping thriving communities across Aotearoa.
With expert speakers, real-world case studies and global perspectives, this two-day summit is your chance to connect, collaborate and help unlock smarter, faster pathways to progress.
Book now and save – only 150 early bird tickets available!
New Zealand’s housing system is at a crossroads. Unlocking progress will take bold thinking, coordinated investment and genuine collaboration between public and private partners.
The 2026 Residential Development Summit brought together the people driving that change — developers, investors, planners, iwi, local government and policymakers — to explore the future of housing and infrastructure delivery.
Across one intensive day at the New Zealand International Convention Centre, delegates heard from national and international experts, including insights from world-leading case studies, and thought-provoking discussions on planning reform, funding models, construction innovation and community outcomes.
From the site tour to the closing keynote, this is where ideas turn into action — and where the future of residential development takes shape.
We can’t wait to see you at the NZ International Convention Centre in March!
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Check out the 2027 speaker lineup
Mindy Wight is CEO for Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation, the wholly owned economic development group of the Squamish Nation, and previously held roles as its CFO and Treasurer of the Board. She provides leadership in strategic decision-making, business planning and financial management for the organization and its subsidiaries with a focus on real estate development. Mindy also serves as a Director for the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and the Board of Veren Inc.
Prior to joining Nch’ḵay̓, Mindy held progressive tax roles at MNP LLP from 2016 to 2021 and most recently was a Partner and National Leader of Indigenous Tax Services for the firm. Mindy has also worked for two of the Big Four National accounting firms, the Chartered Accounting School of Business and the Canada Revenue Agency since graduating from the University of Northern British Columbia with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree, Accounting in 2007. She also holds a diploma in accounting and finance from the College of New Caledonia and a certificate from Harvard University’s executive education program Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities. Mindy possesses CPA, CA, and CAFM designations and is a proud member of the Squamish Nation.
Sen̓áḵw is one of the most ambitious residential developments in North America, delivering more than 6,000 homes through a landmark partnership between the Squamish Nation and its development corporation, Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation. In this keynote, CEO Mindy Wight will explore how this First Nations-led project is redefining urban development through collaboration, long-term vision and innovative delivery. She will share the project’s origins, the partnership model, and the opportunities and challenges of delivering a high-density community in the heart of Vancouver, offering valuable insights for those shaping the future of housing and city development.
Since establishing his practice in 2002, Andrew has focused on a dear mission: turning complex spatial challenges into engaging, sustainable architecture. Driven by the belief that design must serve a broader social purpose, he has become a leading voice in rethinking how we live together. Rather than relying on traditional developer models, Andrew has championed cost-effective, ecologically sound, and community-focused housing – pioneering this approach through milestone multi-residential projects like Terrace House and Parklife. His work has been exhibited around the world and recognised with numerous national and international awards. Most notably, his practice was named the Dezeen Architecture Studio of the Year. Beyond his built work, Andrew is passionate about making architecture accessible to everyone. As one half of the celebrated duo Archimarathon, he hosts educational videos that communicate complex design concepts to a following of almost one million people. A dedicated advocate for social equity and environmental responsibility, Andrew continues to challenge how we think about the future of our built environment.
Detail to come.
Geoff Cooper is the Chief Executive at Te Waihanga. He has a background in global policy having worked for the United States Federal Reserve, the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development, and the United Nations. He is a former Chief Economist for both PwC and Auckland Council, where he worked on infrastructure, housing, regulation, and financial policy, including business case development for Auckland’s City Rail Link. At Te Waihanga, Geoff was previously the General Manager of Strategy, where he had purview over research capabilities, the National Infrastructure Pipeline, and development of the New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy. He holds a Master of Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University.
New Zealand’s infrastructure has a critical role to play in enabling growth and creating thriving, connected communities. Geoff Cooper, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga, will draw on the National Infrastructure Plan to reflect on New Zealand’s infrastructure journey to date, and what the future looks like from here. He’ll explore how our infrastructure needs will change to support a growing and changing population, and how we can better plan, fund and deliver for the long term. What needs to change today to ensure our infrastructure can support the homes, places and communities New Zealand will need over the next 30 years?
Greer O’Donnell is a Managing Director at The Urban Advisory, bringing a sharp commercial focus to the intersection of strategic urban planning, housing innovation, and practical project execution. Specialising in the establishment phase of complex developments, Greer equips developers and sector leaders with the structured governance, feasibility insights, and delivery frameworks needed to navigate market realities and policy shifts.
Her work focuses on cutting through delivery bottlenecks, establishing clear implementation pathways, and translating high-level concepts into commercially viable, fundable projects.
A recognised thought leader in residential growth, Greer brings a relentless drive for commercial execution and delivery excellence. Presenting Homes for Tomorrow: Understanding Changing Preferences at RESI 27, she shares actionable insights into shifting market demand, innovative housing models, and strategies to help developers successfully design and deliver the next generation of housing.
What are New Zealanders looking for in a home, and how are those expectations changing? Drawing on insights from The Urban Advisory’s New Zealand Housing Survey, Greer O’Donnell and Dr Natalie Allen will explore the evolving preferences, priorities and trade-offs shaping housing choices across Aotearoa. Using the latest data and trends, the session will examine what matters most to people when choosing where and how they live, and what this means for the residential development sector. From housing typology and affordability to location, amenity and community, Greer and Natalie will consider how developers can better respond to changing expectations and deliver the homes and neighbourhoods New Zealanders want into the future.
Fa’amatuainu draws on his cultural values to lead the organisation. He has transformed his 30+ years of working in the system into actual solutions to address the disparities faced by Pasefika communities. He has extensive leadership experience in building organisations to deliver Pasefika outcomes.
Fa’amatuainu is a Chiefly Orator and High Chief from the village of Lufilufi, Samoa.
Can a community-led housing model developed in Porirua be replicated across Aotearoa? Our Whare, Our Fale, winner of the Community & Affordable Housing Best in Category at the 2026 Property Industry Awards, offers a compelling case study in creating housing that reflects the needs, culture and aspirations of the community it serves. Central Pacific Collective will share the story behind the development, including the partnerships, funding model, design and delivery approach that made it possible. The session will explore the lessons from Porirua and, importantly, what it would take to adapt and replicate this model in other cities and communities.
Sharon grew up on a farm near Methven, and holds a Master of Commerce from the University of Canterbury. She started her career at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in 1998, and has also worked at the central bank of Norway. She moved to the New Zealand banking sector in 2006. She joined the ANZ economics team in 2010 and became Chief Economist in late 2017. Sharon manages a team of five around New Zealand.
Outside of work, Sharon enjoys family time, tramping, learning languages, and singing, including leading a community choir.
What lies ahead for New Zealand’s residential market? ANZ Chief Economist Sharon Zollner will unpack the economic forces shaping the sector and what they mean for developers, investors and buyers. From inflation and interest rates to construction costs, debt and access to finance, Sharon will explore the key pressures influencing market activity and development feasibility. She’ll also provide her perspective on current buying and financing conditions and the factors likely to shape confidence, demand and residential development in the period ahead.
Natalie Allen is a Managing Director of The Urban Advisory, working at the intersection of housing, strategic spatial planning, and emerging technologies for the built environment. She leads complex projects and multidisciplinary teams addressing housing, city growth, and regional development challenges, combining research, strategy, and delivery to support more informed urban decision-making.
Alongside her consulting work, Natalie leads The Urban Advisory’s housing research programme and has played a key role in developing the New Zealand Housing Survey (NZHS), a longitudinal framework for understanding how housing demand emerges and evolves over time. Her research examines how household circumstances, preferences, aspirations, and constraints shape housing choices, enabling direct observation of housing mismatch and housing adjustment processes before they become visible in market data.
What are New Zealanders looking for in a home, and how are those expectations changing? Drawing on insights from The Urban Advisory’s New Zealand Housing Survey, Greer O’Donnell and Dr Natalie Allen will explore the evolving preferences, priorities and trade-offs shaping housing choices across Aotearoa. Using the latest data and trends, the session will examine what matters most to people when choosing where and how they live, and what this means for the residential development sector. From housing typology and affordability to location, amenity and community, Greer and Natalie will consider how developers can better respond to changing expectations and deliver the homes and neighbourhoods New Zealanders want into the future.
Bill Loutit is a partner at Simpson Grierson and heads the firm’s national Planning and Environment practice. He is one of New Zealand’s leading environmental and resource management lawyers, specialising in resource consents, private plan changes, and major infrastructure and land development projects.
Bill advises developers on land development projects throughout New Zealand. His experience includes large-scale residential developments across Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato, including referral and substantive applications under the Fast-track Approvals Act. He has also advised on some of the country’s most significant transport and water infrastructure projects and recently consented the $5 billion hyperscale datacentre in Invercargill.
Bill brings a practical, strategic perspective to navigating legislative reform and its implications for consenting, project planning and delivery.
New Zealand’s development landscape is facing significant legislative change. This session will unpack the key reforms set to have the greatest impact on residential development, with a focus on RMA reform, development contributions and the Fast-track Approvals regime. Bill Loutit, Partner at Simpson Grierson, will explore what the changes mean in practice for developers, including the opportunities, risks and implications for getting projects off the ground.
Award winning journalist, Miriama Kamo, is the presenter and a reporter for TVNZ’s flagship current affairs programme, Sunday and a presenter on TVNZ’s bilingual Maori and English current affairs show, Marae.
Miriama has worked across most of TVNZ’s stable of news and current affairs programmes, including 20/20 and 1 News at Six.
As a newsreader, Miriama has been at the forefront of many major New Zealand events, including the Pike River Explosion, the passing of Sir Edmund Hillary, and the Christchurch earthquakes.
A writer, Miriama’s work is regularly featured on news sites, online publications and in magazines and in early 2018 Miriama had her first children’s book published.
Have a look at the 2026 highlights!
Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier event for residential property development professionals.
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