Latest news with #WellingtonRegion
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
PM's press secretary allegedly ‘recorded sex workers'
The Prime Minister's deputy chief press secretary allegedly collected photos of women and recorded encounters with Wellington sex workers according to news outlet, Stuff. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
Two months, no offers: Is Wellington's real estate market improving?
Charlotte Weston's home. Photo: Supplied Charlotte Weston has had her Wellington home on the market for two months but is yet to receive an offer. "There's been steady interest at open homes and second viewings requested, but no offers." She said a couple of houses had sold nearby for less than the asking price so she had lowered her expectations. It is now on the market for $550,000. "Mine is currently listed for what I paid for it last year, despite all the improvements that I made to it like adding a heat pump, insulation and more storage. I can't drop it any further. I have accepted I'll lose money on it but it's surprising to me that it's taking so long to get any significant interest." She said the real estate salesperson selling her property had told her it was a slow market. Weston is moving to Melbourne for family reasons. "It's definitely tougher than I expected. The news I've seen is that although there's a slow increase on house prices, there's still an increase, and I didn't know it would sit on the market for this long without an offer. It's an ordinary ex-state house but there's nothing wrong with it." New data from shows that, although Wellington's property market has been doing it tough lately, sellers might be starting to feel more confident. Wellington's prices are still down 25.1 percent from their peak, the biggest drop in the country, according to Real Estate Institute data. But Wellington's asking price is now almost $95,000 more on average compared to May 2024, a lift of 12.9 percent. Across the country, the national average asking price is only up 0.8 percent over that same period. The house is for sale in Naenae. Photo: Supplied chief executive Sarah Wood said Wellington was worth watching closely. "After months of subdued figures, this lift could be early evidence of buyer confidence returning to the capital. A jump like this gives vendors reason to feel optimistic." New listings were down in Wellington by 32.1 percent compared to May 2024, possibly driving the average asking price increase. "We still need something significant to really move the dial in the property market. Last week's OCR drop wasn't that, but if interest rates drop and we see more investors in the market, we're likely to see a greater appetite for buying," she said. Cotality chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said Wellington's market was starting to show signs of life. "But it's also important to note it's coming from a low base and you always need to be a little careful with asking prices may not necessarily be the case here, but the mix of properties being listed can skew prices from time to time. "Long story short, yes Wellington does seem to be picking up - as are other parts of the country too, but it's not likely to be a boom any time soon." Weston said she would need to see more evidence before being confident things were turning around. "I don't know that I could judge any signs of improvement - the only way I'll really know is when I get offers. Numbers at open homes have been up and down week by week so I can't really judge by that."
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Wellington trains running again after delays, disruptions
Metlink says buses were replacing trains for the majority of the network on Tuesday morning. Photo: RNZ / Krystal Gibbens Wellington region rail commuters have been welcomed back from the long weekend with a raft of disruptions. Metlink said buses were replacing trains for the majority of the network on Tuesday morning because of a points fault affecting signal lights. It said this was not linked to the track network upgrade work over the weekend. Wairarapa commuters were being delayed on Tuesday morning because of rust that built up while the tracks were closed for the upgrade. Trains must slow to 10 km/h on affected level crossings until the rust has been worn off by several trains. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Buses replace trains all long weekend in Wellington
Passengers in Wellington should expect more travel time this weekend as busses replace trains across all rail lines. Greater Wellington Transport Committee Thomas Nash spoke to Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
