The regions where international millionaires are looking to buy

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Tāmaki Makaurau leads the charge when it comes to international buyer interest.

Wealthy international buyers are flooding New Zealand’s luxury property market with interest, following a relaxing of the barrier for residency-linked investment.

Searches for homes priced above $5 million on Trade Me Property surged by an average of 53% between January and April 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

Trade Me says the spike in interest follows changes to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, often referred to as the “Golden Visa.” Two months ago, the threshold for residential investment in Aotearoa was reduced from $15 million to $5 million.

Recent Immigration New Zealand figures showed AIP applications have increased fivefold since the programme was relaunched in April 2025, with Americans representing the highest number of applicants, Trade Me Property Customer Director Gavin Lloyd said.

He said the American interest was clearly visible in search data, with US-based inquiries up 73% year-on-year.

“Between January and April 2026, we’ve seen high-net-worth interest consolidated around three primary markets: Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom,” Lloyd said.

While Auckland remained the primary gateway for international money, search volumes showed wealthy individuals were widening their geographic scope.

Trade Me search volumes for $5 million-plus properties between January and April 2026

The Bay of Plenty is capturing international attention.

Auckland searches for high-end homes grew by 41% during the four-month period, while Otago and Northland saw increases of 48% and 46% respectively.

Wellington saw the highest regional growth in luxury searches, up 83% compared to last year. Canterbury followed with a 73% increase, while interest in the Bay of Plenty rose by 68%.

Lloyd said the rising interest in Northland and the Bay of Plenty suggested buyers were prioritising a combination of lifestyle and long-term security.

“High-net-worth buyers from the US and UK aren’t just looking for luxury in Tāmaki Makaurau, they’re looking at coastal Northland and the lifestyle blocks of the Bay of Plenty,” Lloyd said.

“For these buyers, Aotearoa represents a safe haven investment that also offers a quality of life that is becoming increasingly rare globally.”

However, would-be investors face a market with limited options. Despite the jump in global attention, listings in the $5 million-plus bracket account for only 1.8% of the total inventory on Trade Me Property.