APIA

The 0–30 Property Playbook: Frameworks For Safe and Bold Decisions In Uncertain Times
2026-03-17 18:30 - 20:30 (Pacific/Auckland)
Our annual open night brings you Matthew Harris – investor, developer, property tax specialist and managing director of Lighthouse Financial- to unpack the real decision frameworks behind growing (and protecting) a property portfolio in today’s market so you can keep moving forward confidently, even when the rules keep changing.
Who is this for?
This evening is for active and aspiring investors who can feel the ground shifting under their feet and want practical numbers-driven ways to keep buying safely and smartly. Whether you are on your first property or already deep in your portfolio, you will leave with clearer rules of thumb, better stress-tests and the confidence to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to deals faster.
What we will cover
Chapter1: From 0-5 property – getting the early calls right

The early critical deals that set Matthew up for success, what worked, what nearly derailed everything and what he wishes he had known at the time;
The 2-3 non-negotiables he now applies before buying any investing property;
How to avoid the classic rookie raps: chasing yield at all costs, under-estimating capex, ignoring tax strategy and being lulled into a false sense of security.

Chapter 2: Scaling in an age of uncertainty

Real deals from Matthew’s portfolio wnat what they taught him about weighing risk against opportunity;
How he now stress-tests a portfolio when interest rates, rents and policy settings can all move in different directions so you can spot weak points before they hurt you;
Practical ways to think about DTIs, LVRs, insurance and rates in 2026 so you can keep growing without over-extending.

Chapter 3: Today’s investor – plan with intention, don’t guess

The framework for strategy conversations including clarifying goals, mapping the gaps and pressure-testing deals before you commit;
The most common decision-making mistakes Matthew sees everyday investors make in the current environment and the simple ways to fix them;
How to build your own investment playbook so you can make calls with confidence.

Throughout the session, we will keep circling back to the questions investors are actually asking in 2026: can I still buy safely, what happens if the rules change again, and how do I balance long‑term opportunity against very real short‑term cashflow pressure.
Matthew Harris
Matthew is a seasoned businessman, property investor and developer who built a 30‑property portfolio in around 10 years and now has further projects under development. After nine years as a specialist IRD auditor, he launched Lighthouse Financial, a full‑service advisory firm that now supports thousands of investors and business owners with tax, funding, mortgage and wealth advice.
Matthew has bought through mortgagee sales, post-earthquake uncertainty and multiple policy and interest rate cycles, and has since moved into housing development and high-level strategy work with investors nationwide. Matthew is known for being candid, practical and firmly anchored in the numbers making him exactly the voice investors need to hear in 2026.
Register now
Seats are limited and we expect strong interest from investors keen to pressure‑test their 2026 strategy. Register now to secure your spot.

Next Gen Property Playbook: What Every New Investor Needs to Get Right in 2026
2026-02-26 17:30 - 20:00
The Future of Property Investing Starts Here
The property market is changing fast, and in 2026, knowledge is your greatest advantage. Join us for a free evening designed to give aspiring investors an honest, modern look at what it takes to get started the smart way.
Hosted in collaboration with Cotality, this exclusive event brings together trusted experts, accountant Stephen Tsang, industry specialist Antonette Ram, and a seasoned investor to unpack how to build a resilient portfolio in a post-slump environment.
You’ll learn:

Why “old guard” landlords are choosing to cash out and why that is great for you.
The 3 things every new investor must get right in year one
How to spot hype, bias, and misinformation in today’s market
How to use data for more clarity and less confusion

Join us for practical, independent insight from NZ’s most trusted investor network.
Seats are limited. Secure your free ticket today and start investing with confidence, not guesswork.
Join APIA on the night and unlock exclusive benefits:

3 bonus months added to your membership
1 free month of access to Cotality’s New Property Guru

Don’t just follow the noise, be part of the future of property investing.
Reserve your seat now. Space is limited and open only to early‑stage investors.

Love at Second Sight: The Investor Renovation Walk-Through
2026-02-14 10:00 - 11:00
Because enduring returns take work… the right kind of work.
Fall back in love with what a well-executed renovation can do for your portfolio. In this one-hour, on-site walk-through with APIA and Refresh Renovations, the leading renovation partner for Auckland investors, you will see how investors take a “tired but tidy” property and turn it into a harder-working asset.
This is a live, working renovation site, not a polished before-and-after slideshow. You will hear how the project was scoped, what drove the key design and budget decisions, and how those choices are expected to impact rent, value and long-term performance.
What you will get in 60 minutes

Walk a real, in-progress renovation project, not just a photo deck.
See how scope, spec level and layout changes are chosen to support rent and long-term returns.
Hear how budgets, contingencies and timelines are managed to protect cashflow.
Take away a simple checklist of questions to ask on your next renovation or value-add deal.
Enjoy a premium learning opportunity to ask candid questions and get straight answers from the team on site.

Registration
APIA members can register on this page exclusively until 4 February. Places are strictly limited to provide a premium learning experience for investors.
Non-members can email us to join the waitlist. Joining the waitlist does not guarantee a place; we can only confirm any available spots on 5 February.

The Great Reset: How to Invest After the Slump
2026-02-10 18:30 - 20:30
Keynote meeting featuring Steve Ingram, Fontaine Moore and Kris Pedersen, Kris Pedersen Mortgages
Admission from 6.00 pm
Presentations from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Who this night is for
Property investors across New Zealand are exhausted, cautious, and wondering whether the next move will finally change their trajectory. If that sounds familiar, this night has your name on it.

If you are:

Sitting on equity but scared to pull the trigger after a brutal few years
A newer investor wondering if you missed the “cheap money” era and should just give up
Holding properties that feel stuck while rates, rents, and headlines keep messing with your confidence

Expect straight talk, practical examples, and a clear roadmap for what to do next in a post-slump market.
What will you get from this meeting
By the end of the night, you will:

See where we are in the cycle and what that means for your next 12 to 24 months of decisions, not just this month’s headlines
Learn how experienced investors are structuring finance, taking risk, and choosing deals in a slower, more selective market
Walk away with two or three concrete moves you can make this quarter, whether you are refinancing, upgrading, buying, or simply shoring your position

You will not hear hype or magic bullets. You will receive clarity, context, and a decision-making filter you can apply to every podcast, listing, and “hot tip” that comes your way this year.
The fireside: Investing after the slump
A fireside chat with:

Kris Pedersen (Director, Kris Pedersen Mortgages) Mortgage strategist to serious investors, across bank appetite, non bank options, and real life finance hurdles in this cycle.

Steven Ingram (Director, Fontaine Moore) Experienced investor and business leader focused on building resilient portfolios and making numbers work when the market is not doing you any favours.

Hosted by Sang Cho, APIA board member and prolific property developer.
The conversation will cover:

What “investing after the slump” looks like in real deals and structures
Where are today’s best opportunities
Mistakes they see investors making right now and better alternatives

You will also have time for audience questions so you can put your scenario on the table, within reason, and hear seasoned perspectives on your next move.
Market context: where are we in the cycle
Before the fireside, you will hear a short, sharp market update from our property data partner.

What is happening with listings, demand, and days on market across Auckland
Where investor activity is picking up again and where it remains patchy
Key signals to watch in 2026 so you can avoid chasing the last cycle

The aim is to give you enough context to make sense of every property headline you see this year.
What’s in it for you?
If you feel stuck, second guessing every move, or tired of headlines telling you ten different stories about the same market, this night is for you. You will hear what experienced operators are actually doing with finance, deals, and risk right now, not what social media thinks you should do.
Bring your questions, your “should I hold or buy?” dilemmas, and your plans for 2026. You will walk out with a clearer plan and a few people you can call when the next big decision lands on your desk.
Seats are limited. Register now, lock in your spot, and give your portfolio a proper reset for 2026.
APIA members register for free on this page.
Non-members can purchase a ticket here.

How to Talk About Housing in 2026: A Guide to Making Friends and Influencing People
2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:00
Most tenancies are calm, not combat. But that’s not the story the media and politicians care to tell in an election year. This webinar gives you the language, charts and confidence to push back on the noise and talk about renting in a way that is fair, accurate and actually influence opinions in an election year and helps your long-term investing.
HUD’s Richard Deakin will open with a clear, big-picture walkthrough of the latest landlord and renter survey results: relationships, arrears, churn and what’s really happening behind the headlines. Then APIA GM Sarina Gibbon and President Rafiq Moses will translate that data into everyday talking points you can use with tenants, MPs, media and your own networks, including phrases to avoid, smarter ways to frame common frustrations, and how to stay calm and credible when everyone else is shouting.
If you’re a proper investor who wants:

A simple, data-backed story about renting you can stand behind.
Practical scripts you can use in emails, meetings and submissions.
To be part of a fair, thoughtful and influential landlords voice in the 2026 election

then this session is for you. Come ready to rethink how you talk about renting and leave with language that protects both your reputation and your investment.
