Emerging growth areas to watch
Waikato is one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing regions, with a population increase of 8.9% between 2018 and 2023, according to the latest data from the 2023 Census.
Hamilton City alone saw an 8.6% boost, reaching 174,741 people.
Business and job growth
Brendon O’Reilly (pictured above), Bayleys Hamilton residential and lifestyle branch manager, highlighted the appeal of Hamilton for both people and companies.
“We've got a lot of national companies and government agencies putting their buildings and offices in Hamilton, NZ Blood and ACC to name a couple,” he said. “We've got the new inland port that's happening out in Ruakura, including a large Kmart storage facility out there as well.”
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Affordable and exciting lifestyle
O’Reilly believes the combination of job opportunities and affordable property prices is a major drawcard.
“Affordability and opportunity is huge here,” he said. “There’s also been so much growth over the past few years with new eateries, new pubs, and new cafes popping up, and a kind of excitement around the city.”
The easy commute within Hamilton City further enhances its appeal.
“You can get anywhere in the city within 15 to 20 minutes at any time of the day,” O’Reilly said.
Spotlight on four Waikato areas
Morrinsville
Located just 25 minutes from Hamilton CBD, Morrinsville is an up-and-coming satellite town.
O’Reilly pointed to an exciting development, Lockerbie Estate, which will add 1,100 homes to the area.
“It’s a large-scale subdivision with three-bedroom homes starting at $750,000, and five-bedroom homes around $1.45 million,” he said.
Morrinsville offers a strong sense of community and essential amenities, with a current median sale price of $757,500.
Raglan
Known for its surfer lifestyle, Raglan is evolving with the Rangitahi Peninsula development.
“For a section, it costs anything from $350,000 through to $1 million,” O’Reilly said.
House and land packages range from $1m to over $2m.
Raglan offers amenities like new cafes, swimming pools, and easy access to the local golf course.
The median sale price in Raglan is currently $975,000.
Te Kauwhata
Situated between Auckland and Hamilton, Te Kauwhata appeals to residents of both cities.
“It’s a reasonably short commute – around 30 to 35 minutes to Hamilton,” O’Reilly said.
Entry-level homes start around $650,000, with high-spec homes reaching up to $1m.
The Lakeside suburb development is enhancing the area with new commercial aspects.
The median price for properties in Te Kauwhata is $650,000.
Tamahere
Tamahere, an established lifestyle suburb near Hamilton City, is experiencing a resurgence in sales.
“We’re starting to see some higher-end properties move again,” O’Reilly said.
Recent sales have averaged around $2.5m, with record sales reaching $6m.
The suburb is sought after for its proximity to town and easy access to Cambridge.
The median sale price in Tamahere is just over $2m.
With its mix of affordability, job opportunities, and lifestyle amenities, Waikato’s outer suburbs are definitely ones to watch, Bayleys said.
Read the Bayleys article here.
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