New Zealand residential property values have increased at their fastest annual pace in over a year, as Auckland housing prices clock the biggest gain in over a decade, fuelled by record migration and low interest rates. National property values rose nine per cent in the 12 months ended May 31, the fastest pace in 15 months and accelerating from 8.3 per cent in April, according to state-owned value Quotable Value.

The country's second-biggest listed property investor Goodman Property Trust has ratcheted up development plans with four new industrial projects in Auckland worth $NZ45.8 million ($A42.33 million).

The Reserve Bank claims its crackdown on property investors will slow Auckland house price growth by 2 to 4 percentage points during the first year of the new regime. On Wednesday the central bank published a consultation paper exploring the issues and impacts of its new rules. The beefed-up restrictions, which come into force in October, will require investors in Auckland to hold a 30 per cent deposit.

An expected interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank and a strengthening United States economy saw the New Zealand dollar fall near five-year low against the US dollar over the long weekend. The kiwi was trading at US71.46c late on Friday afternoon but was sitting at US70.95c on Tuesday morning. It closed the day at US71.15c

At Georgie Hoby Scutt's front door are stashed sets of keys, last minute make-up, sunscreen and pairs of shoes in three different children's sizes. It's the unavoidable paraphernalia of parenting and Georgie wants it hidden. So the designer has taken it upon herself to create a solution, one that also gives her an outlet for her creativity and a chance to grow a business.

Aucklanders are more worried about their finances than Wellingtonians and Cantabrians, new survey data shows. The biennial New Zealand General Social Survey (NZGSS) is the largest social survey Statistics NZ carries out after the census, questioning 8,795 people. It finished in March of this year. Aucklanders were the most likely to be just scraping by, with 26.7 percent rating themselves as having "only just enough money", compared to 20 percent of Wellingtonians and 23.8 percent of Cantabrians.

Mark Honeybone from Property Ventures interviews Real Estate Investar founder David Hows in this informative podcast. It's a great listen, check it out!

Property investors facing a looming lending crackdown borrowed $1.8 billion in April, or a third of all new mortgages issued. Earlier this month both the Government and the Reserve Bank announced measures to tackle property speculators, which come into force in October. The Reserve Bank will require Auckland investors to put down a 30 per cent deposit, while forcing banks to hold more capital against the loans nationwide.

Ten days ago, National hoped the big reveal on cracking down on quick-flicking property speculators would have a chilling effect on this very hot potato. But the overwhelming reaction by market analysts to the impending residential property rule change, merely underscores its timidity and inadequacy. It may have amounted to one of National's more circus-like flips, flops and pirouettes on capital gains but it's not going to lead to the retreat of offshore buyers gaming the New Zealand housing market.

First time home buyers are better off in the Manawatu/Whanganui region than anywhere else in New Zealand, according to new figures. Palmerston North and Whanganui are among the most affordable cities in New Zealand for first timers, with Whanganui at the top of the list.