Our region will see the rollout of key regeneration projects for Christchurch’s city centre and the first stage of Dunedin’s new public hospital build. These projects reflect the vision, commitment and leadership of our members and the strength of our communities.
The often talked about opportunities that would arise, particularly in tourism, hospitality and retail are now fast becoming a reality, and these will continue to drive the South Island’s economy. In Christchurch, the Global Settlement was an important milestone and we’ll continue to work towards the city’s return to local leadership by engaging and assisting local and central government, and key regeneration agencies. The vision of the Blueprint and Central City Recovery Plan is coming to life in central Christchurch. It reflects the vision, commitment and leadership of property, New Zealand’s largest industry. We have a reshaped city; now it is time to make it thrive.
Our members will benefit from our advocacy across multiple topics as we go into bat on their behalf to open the doors for further development and supporting infrastructure. Key areas include:
These issues will have a huge impact on the future of the property sector and it’s our job to ensure that the collective voice of our members is heard by policy makers.
Rider Levett Bucknall
South Island Regional Chair
In the regions, our regular projects include Long-term Plans, Annual Plans, District and Spatial Plans, rates differentials and development contributions. In addition to this, each Regional Committee also choose one priority to focus on for the year, with the South Island’s being:
Hear directly from policymakers, engineers, and insurance experts on navigating New Zealand’s seismic reform. The Seismic Risk Management Review represents one of the most significant potential shifts in how
Hear directly from policymakers, engineers, and insurance experts on navigating New Zealand’s seismic reform. The Seismic Risk Management Review represents one of the most significant potential shifts in how New
Authentic Leadership: Real Stories, Real Leadership There’s no single path to leadership. Authentic leadership is about understanding your values, trusting your voice, and leading in a way that feels
We’re thrilled to continue the South Island Education Trust Grants – aimed at bolstering the education and professional growth of South Island members.
This exciting programme offers funding for employees of Property Council New Zealand member companies in the South Island. These grants cover costs associated with attending a wide array of industry events and training programs, ensuring our members stay at the forefront of industry knowledge and leadership.
The South Island Regional Committee assists the Property Council team to formulate our local advocacy strategy and plan member events and initiatives in the region.
The current Committee is in effect from 1 November 2025.
The Local Government Briefing Paper has been produced in advance of the 2025 Local Government Elections to provide candidates – many of whom are unfamiliar with the property industry – with a simple guide to the challenges faced, solutions available and potential impact for their city or region.
The document outlines five key workstreams:
Singing off the same song sheet nationwide also helps ensure consistency across our national and regional advocacy workstreams. It is a working document that will evolve over time as policies are announced and issues arise, with the current version available for download by members upon logging in here. 👉
The South Island Property People Awards celebrate and recognise the people behind the projects in the South Island region.
In 2025, we brought together a crowd of 250 guests for an unforgettable evening of exceptional networking and celebration.
Watch this space for future announcements!
On 5 June 2026, Property Council submitted to the Commerce Commission on the Ring-fencing Revenue for Regulated Water Services discussion paper: monitoring and enforcement of the ring-fencing principle. Why this matters to our members Water service providers are required to ‘ring-fence’ money relating to water services. The Commerce Commission is responsible for monitoring and enforcing this principle for regulated water services (currently water supply and wastewater). The Commission is consulting on how it should carry out that monitoring and enforcement role. Our view Property Council have recommended the ring-fencing of development contributions, future development levies and IGCs under an account separation model for new growth infrastructure. As more water CCOs are created, effective regulatory oversight is crucial and we need
On 28 May 2026, Property Council submitted on the Modern Slavery Bill. Why this matters to our members A number of Property Council members are already undertaking modern slavery reporting through international regulatory requirements or contractual obligations, and therefore recognise the importance of New Zealand also having an effective regime to help combat modern slavery and exploitation domestically and across global supply chains. Our view While Property Council supports the intent of the Bill, we are concerned that aspects of the proposed regime go further than comparable international frameworks and may create uncertainty for reporting entities. Alignment with established international approaches will be important to minimise unnecessary compliance burden and support practical implementation. We also consider that the initial focus
On 8 May 2026, Property Council submitted on Wellington City Council’s Draft Annual Plan 2026/27. Why this matters to our members The Draft Annual Plan 2026/27 outlines the budget for Wellington City Council for the next twelve months and will influence outcomes across the Wellington region. Council is proposing an average rates increase of 7.4 percent and an increase to the downtown targeted rate of 6 percent. Our view These increases come as pressure continues to build across Wellington’s commercial property market. Wellington already has the highest business differential in the country at 3.7:1, alongside high water rates from the newly formed Tiaki Wai. Rising vacancy rates and reduced CBD foot traffic mean Wellington City Council needs to consider how
Property Council has several dynamic and engaged member taskforces and committees, who provide insight and support our team with a range of initiatives. These groups are ever-changing and are open to all members.
We also have numerous opportunities for sponsors to partner with us to produce and support local events.
Please contact your Regional Manager for further information:
