Key takeaways: What are the best and worst places to invest?
For 2026, I consider Auckland, Christchurch City, Selwyn District, and Waimakariri District as the top ‘Green’ areas to invest in New Zealand.
These are the areas I currently have the most confidence in, based on their median sale prices, average rental yields, and whether each area appears overvalued or undervalued.
Some of the worst ‘Red’ areas to invest in New Zealand right now are Central Otago District, Thames-Coromandel District, and Mackenzie District.
These areas appear less attractive because property prices are high compared with the underlying investment fundamentals.
It’s also important to remember that I’m not saying that every property in a Red area is bad, or every property in a Green area is good.
Instead, they show where the strongest investment opportunities may be right now compared with the rest of New Zealand.
