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25-26 March 2026
Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland
New Zealand’s premier residential development forum will be held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on Thursday 26 March 2026, bringing together leaders from the residential development sector for one day of education and engagement, plus a bonus day of pre-summit site tours.
The Residential Development Summit is a bespoke educational event that brings together the best of Aotearoa New Zealand’s residential development, investment, and broader property community to share knowledge and think big.
With economic insights, jaw-dropping case studies and a host of industry leaders, this event promises to leave you better connected, informed and inspired.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Summit on 25th & 26th March 2026.
Watch this space for programme and site tour announcements!
Suggestions?
Do you have a topic, speaker or project you’d like to see grace the Residential Development Summit stage in future – contact the events team today!
Have a look at the 2025 highlights!
Why attend Resi?
Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier event for residential property development professionals.
“An awesome day – thanks so much! A great selection of speakers and pace of topics.”
RESI Attendee
Residential Development Summit
Featured Speakers
Meet a few of our 2025 speaker lineup – 2026 speakers coming soon!
Biography
Lucinda Hartley is an award-winning urban designer, a cofounder of world-leading social analytics company Neighbourlytics, and a globally recognised expert in smart cities and social change.
Named as one of Australia’s 100 Most Influential Women by the Australian Financial Review, Lucinda is a technology leader who offers inspiration and practical advice on the future of living, the future of work and how technology can be a force for good in turbulent times.
Lucinda is an ‘urban futurist’ who has spent the past decade pioneering innovative solutions for improving cities and neighbourhoods, now adopted globally. She helped create the UN Sustainable Development Goals for cities (Goal 11), has delivered more than 100 neighbourhood improvement projects across Australia through her social enterprise CoDesign Studio and is now spearheading world leading technology for measuring neighbourhood lifestyle and wellbeing using digital data, as Founding Director of Neighbourlytics.
Lucinda’s passion for cities and neighbourhoods began in childhood, growing up in Kenya, Zimbabwe and a host of other countries where she saw first-hand how your postcode is as likely to affect your life expectancy as your genetic code. From this point she built a career seeking new ways to live.
9:30 am | Thursday 27 March
Keynote | The Future of Housing: Beyond Bricks and Mortar
Lucinda Hartley explores the evolving housing landscape, addressing micro-apartments, co-living, and shifting demographics. Delve into the impacts of immigration, lifestyle changes, and innovative solutions for housing supply and affordability. Discover redefined homeownership models, alternative materials, and the role of technology in shaping smart, energy-efficient homes for future generations.
Hon Chris Bishop
Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure and Minister Responsible for RMA Reform
Biography
Chris Bishop is the Minister of Housing, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Leader of the House, and Associate Minister of Finance. He is the MP for Hutt South.
Chris was born and raised in Lower Hutt where he lives with his wife and young son. He has a first-class Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University of Wellington, and was the 2006 Young Wellingtonian of the Year.
Before serving as an MP, Chris worked as a researcher for the National Party in Opposition and was later an advisor to Ministers in the John Key-led Government.
Chris was the National Party Campaign Chair for the 2023 General Election.
11:30 am | Thursday 27 March
Government Update
Join Minister Chris Bishop for this exclusive Government update.
Biography
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.
Biography
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 six around New Zealand.
Outside of work, Sharon enjoys parenting, tramping, learning languages and singing.
9:05 am | Thursday 27 March
Navigating the New Zealand Residential Market
Join Sharon Zollner, Chief Economist, ANZ for a comprehensive overview of the New Zealand economy and what’s happening in the residential market, focusing on key drivers of both house prices and residential development. Sharon will delve into the outlook for inflation and interest rates, as well as the latest messages coming out of the construction sector in the ANZ Business Outlook survey. Gain valuable insights into these critical factors and their implications for the future of residential development in New Zealand.
One of the most experienced development consultants in New Zealand, Nigel McKenna is renowned for his attention to detail and his ability to achieve quality results within commercial budgets and programmes. Nigel’s enthusiasm for innovation and his ability to identify opportunities others would consider too complex, or simply unattainable, has identified him as a leading light at the forefront of better management and urban planning.
With a first class honours degree in Construction Economics, construction engineering and building management qualifications, and a globe-spanning 25-year career, Nigel has a reputation for managing diverse teams and specialised projects. His work is known for its focus on design, ensuring the finished product is both functional and viable.
Amongst many other projects, Nigel was responsible for the management of the master planning process for the Viaduct, and was the development manager for Metropolis and the DFS Customhouse Galleria. As a senior developer Nigel’s contribution has been recognised by a range of industry awards and accolades, including for Dockside and Shed 5 in Wellington, Beaumont Quarter, North & Stratis at Lighter Quay and The Quadrant Hotel.
9:00 am | Thursday 27 March
Premier Sponsor Welcome
The legendary Nigel McKenna welcomes up to the 2025 Residential Development Summit in style.
1:25 pm | Thursday 27 March
Understanding Resource Management Act Reforms
This session will explore the transformative changes to New Zealand’s Resource Management System. Attendees will gain insights into the new legislative framework, its impact on urban planning, development and environmental protection. Discover opportunities and challenges these reforms present for stakeholders, and how they aim to balance the Government’s Going for Housing Growth Policy with environmental protections.
Biography
Rachel has over 12 years of experience as an urban planner working in all aspects of the profession, including strategic planning, policy development, and consenting, in both the public and private sectors.
Rachel’s experience includes district plan reviews, structure planning, strategic planning in greenfields and brownfields areas, and consenting for large-scale developments throughout New Zealand. Rachel has experience in all aspects of consultation and engagement, as well as presenting planning evidence at hearings.
1:25 pm | Thursday 27 March
Understanding Resource Management Act Reforms
This session will explore the transformative changes to New Zealand’s Resource Management System. Attendees will gain insights into the new legislative framework, its impact on urban planning, development and environmental protection. Discover opportunities and challenges these reforms present for stakeholders, and how they aim to balance the Government’s Going for Housing Growth Policy with environmental protections.
Biography
George joined Precinct in 2010. Initially appointed as Chief Financial Officer, George then held the role of Chief Operating Officer for 5 years before taking on his current role. George plays a pivotal role in not only establishing Precinct’s strategy, but also establishing relationships and capital partnerships that help delivery on this strategy. Through a collaborative mindset, Precinct seeks to share the mutual benefits of success with our clients, and partners, forming valuable connections with those we work alongside and for.
George’s commitment to creating brighter and more prosperous futures for our cities also translates to his role as Chair of Keystone Trust which supports and mentors young people who have been held back by inequality into property and construction careers, with sponsorship from across the property and construction industry.
After gaining experience with a large accountancy firm in the United Kingdom, George moved to New Zealand, working for Fonterra and PwC before joining Goodman Property Trust, where he was Chief Financial Officer.
George has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from The University of Edinburgh and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the United Kingdom.
3:30 pm | Thursday 27 March
The Growth of Student Accommodation
This session examines the rising demand for student accommodation in New Zealand’s urban centres. Explore factors driving this growth, including higher enrolment rates, urbanisation, and changing student preferences. Discuss innovative design solutions, investment opportunities, and strategies for creating affordable, sustainable, and vibrant student living environments.
Biography
Jennifer is the National Chair of Buddle Findlay and co-leads the firm’s national resource management team. She has over 30 years’ experience in environmental law and litigation, including strategic management, oversight and leadership of complex consenting projects as well as expertise in alliancing delivery models.
Jennifer is a highly sought-after adviser for clients such as NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Auckland Transport, Kāinga Ora, and Transpower. She has held lead roles on several significant infrastructure projects (including Te Tupu Ngātahi Supporting Growth Alliance, Auckland Light Rail and the East West Link Alliance) and has been appointed as an Expert Panel Chair by the Environmental Protection Authority under the COVID-19 Recovery Fast-Track legislation. Jennifer regularly presents at environmental and infrastructure conferences and is currently a member of the NZ Property Council taskforce on fast-track consenting. She was a member of the Infrastructure New Zealand Delegation to Ireland, Northern Ireland and Copenhagen in May 2024.
1:25 pm | Thursday 27 March
Understanding Resource Management Act Reforms
This session will explore the transformative changes to New Zealand’s Resource Management System. Attendees will gain insights into the new legislative framework, its impact on urban planning, development and environmental protection. Discover opportunities and challenges these reforms present for stakeholders, and how they aim to balance the Government’s Going for Housing Growth Policy with environmental protections.
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Labour MP
Shadow Leader of the House
Spokesperson for Housing, Local Government, and Regional Development
Biography
Kieran has been a Labour List MP based in Wairarapa which also includes the Tararua and Central Hawke’s Bay districts since 2017, and served as the local MP from 2020 to 2023. Kieran previously held the portfolios of Minister for Rural Communities, Regional Development, Racing, Local Government and Emergency Management as well as Deputy Leader of the House.
Kieran did his schooling in Carterton and Masterton and, after studies at Otago University and playing some rugby in Ireland, returned home to Wairarapa to live and work in 2008. He’s been a local Work and Income case manager, a bookie at the TAB and economic development manager for the Masterton district. He lives in Masterton and is a life-long, mad keen Wairarapa-Bush supporter.
2:50 pm | Thursday 27 March
The Labour Party Update
Join Hon Kieran McAnulty as he provides a Labour Party update.
Biography
Bill sits on the board of Wesfarmers Ltd, Todd Corporation and the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
He is a director and investor with his family in private companies serving primary production, charities and disabled people. He consults to NZ and Australian companies and governments.
He is married to Dr Mary English who runs her own medical practice and they have 6 adult children.
11:35 am | Thursday 27 March
Panel | What Does Community Housing Look Like Moving Forward
Join our expert panel who will explore the evolving landscape of community housing in New Zealand. This session examines innovative solutions for affordability, sustainability, and inclusivity, addressing changing demographics, partnerships, and funding models. Gain insights into redefining housing to meet future needs while fostering vibrant, resilient communities that support social, economic, and environmental well-being.
Biography
Daniel is an accomplished director and property professional, bringing over 30 years’ experience in the property industry across various sectors, including residential, office, retail, industrial, hospitality, medical and retirement. Working in both the private and public sector, he has gained a deep understanding and appreciation for long-term sustainability and building resilient communities.
Daniel currently oversees all aspects of planning, design and procurement for the Tāmaki Regeneration Programme, bringing 10,500 new homes over the next 20 years in the East Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Point England and Panmure. He is at the helm of an $870 million development pipeline that is delivering 742 new homes over the next four years and enabling a further 468 homes through civil works, and plays a key role in the execution of $400 million in infrastructure projects.
Daniel joined Tāmaki Regeneration after leading the North Shore Commercial division at Bayleys Real Estate Limited, and following his time at Auckland International Airport, developing its business precinct through strategic masterplanning. Prior to this, Daniel was as an executive director for Smales Farm, a family-owned business with substantial real estate investment and development interests.
11:35 am | Thursday 27 March
Panel | What Does Community Housing Look Like Moving Forward
Join our expert panel who will explore the evolving landscape of community housing in New Zealand. This session examines innovative solutions for affordability, sustainability, and inclusivity, addressing changing demographics, partnerships, and funding models. Gain insights into redefining housing to meet future needs while fostering vibrant, resilient communities that support social, economic, and environmental well-being.
Biography
Steph is a National Director and the lead Valuer of CBRE’s Living Sectors Valuation and Advisory team. She is an industry specialist in Affordable Housing and the accelerating Build-to-Rent and Co-Living sectors. Steph is at the forefront of these emerging asset classes in the Australian property market, offering clients quality valuation and advisory services to better inform business decisions as this sector builds momentum. She partners with clients at a local and institutional level, including developers, private investors, operators, government entities, financiers, and not-for-profit organisations. Steph is a qualified valuer in all States and is based in Melbourne.
10:45 am | Thursday 27 March
Operating Build to Rent – Beyond the Build
This session will dive into the operational side of Build to Rent developments, focusing on creating tenant-centric experiences, managing long-term assets, and maintaining high occupancy rates. Our speakers will explore tenanting strategies, navigating the Residential Tenancies Act, and delivering exceptional user experiences. You’ll discover what sets BTR apart, explore remaining hurdles, and engage in blue-sky thinking about the future of this growing housing model in NZ.
We’ll start with Denise Lee from Property Council giving us a brief update on the current BTR issues in New Zealand, then she will lead into Steph Harper from CBRE to talk through BTR in Australia and end with Caitlin Walker from Kiwi Property giving us insight from their new Resido development in Sylvia Park.