Picture a landlord in Auckland. Their coffee is going cold on the kitchen table. They’re reading about the Resource Management Act overhaul. They agree it’s needed. They’ve been calling for it for years. But as they read, more questions pop up than answers. When will the new rules take effect? How will they interact with existing rules? What will it cost? Will any of it survive the next election?
The problem isn’t the idea of reform. It’s the lack of clear information.
In our latest Landlord Confidence and Policy Sentiment Survey, 82 percent of respondents said they would be more willing to support reforms, even ones they initially disagree with, if the government provided clearer data and explanations. That level of agreement is unusual in a sector with so many different viewpoints. It’s not about resisting change. It’s about knowing what’s changing, why, and how.
Sarina Gibbon, General Manager of APIA, says confidence is the foundation every investment rests on. “The RMA overhaul is a major reset that was long overdue. You can’t rip out and rebuild the rules without creating some noise. But investors don’t fear noise, they fear silence. If you want capital to commit, you have to show your working. Publish the numbers, walk us through the logic, and tell us how you’ll measure success. Anything less is asking people to fly blind with millions of dollars on the line.”
Transparency costs almost nothing but can change how people invest. Without it, landlords hold back. They delay maintenance, put off expansion, and keep cash on the sidelines. With it, they can plan with more certainty, take on projects, and put more homes into the rental market.
“This isn’t about who’s in power,” Gibbon adds. “Some parties lean more toward private investment, but the data tells us investors...
