Talking Property Development with John Kenel

Final Property Development Club podcast for 2025! Andrew Crosby joins me to wrap up the year and look ahead to what's coming.

We dive deep into the government's new development levies system - how it'll replace development contributions and what it means for developers. Plus, economist Cameron Bagrie's bombshell claim that we're actually overbuilding in New Zealand right now (34,000 consents vs 20,000 homes needed).

Andrew shar...

People joke Gen Z will own nothing and be happy. They won’t be happy. If we keep tilting rules toward big corporate landlords, ownership concentrates and everyone else rents.

I’ve built more than 1,000 homes in NZ. Most were made possible by private investors backing real projects. That’s how we actually add supply.

In this video: why private landlords matter, what build-to-rent does and doesn’t solve, how student debt and low ...

Queenstown’s on a different planet: $30m sales, talk of $100m builds, and a wave of $5m+ buyers.

Meanwhile in Auckland you can still find new townhouses around $599k.

First-home buyers are 27% of the market.

The NZD sits near 0.56 USD, 0.86 AUD, 0.45 CHF.

Consents are up, concrete pours are still down.

And Auckland’s MDRS flip has blindsided projects.

We cover Queenstown’s ultra-lux market, FHB momentum, investor sentiment, ren...

If Labour’s CGT lands, rental supply falls, rents rise, and redevelopment grinds to a halt, here’s what to do.

John Kenel’s take on Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax. No fluff. Practical consequences for landlords, developers and investors.

What I cover:

• Why Treasury modelling points to roughly a 5% immediate rent rise.

• How targeting property only will shrink rental supply and clog redevelopment.

• Small business and hom...

Is New Zealand really a safe haven for anxious millionaires—or just political window dressing? In this wide-ranging chat, John Kenel (21 years, 1,000+ homes built) and Darcy dig into:

• NZ’s “Active Investor Plus” $5m visa, why demand may be limited, and a fairness take on foreign-buyer levies • Cost-of-living angle: using a levy to fund GST-off-food • Immigration settings vs “tax the rich” politics, and Australia’s Division 296 su...

In this mini podcast episode — just 5 minutes — I chat through what’s really going on in the market right now and why I reckon this could be the perfect time for property developers to get moving.

We’ll look at what’s shifting, what it means, and how smart developers can make the most of it. I’ll share a few strategies, a couple of things to watch out for, and hopefully give you a bit of clarity if you’re thinking about your next m...

If you're feeling stuck, uncertain, or just plain frustrated with where the property market’s heading — this episode will shake you awake.

In this action-packed episode of The Property Development Club Podcast, John and Andrew dive deep into:

• Whether house prices are actually affordable or it’s all smoke and mirrors

• Why youth unemployment is sitting at a shocking 18% in Auckland

• The rise of robots like "Flippy" and what i...

Global politics aren’t just headlines—they’re shaping the cost of living, the price of oil, and even what your house is worth.

In this episode, I connect the dots between wars in Europe, US debt and politics, and why oil could hit $150 a barrel.

You’ll learn how these global forces flow through to New Zealand—driving building costs, inflation, rents, and ultimately the value of your property.

I’ll also share thoughts on gold, share...

NZ Property 2025: Rising Costs, Stalled Growth…

But the Smart Move is Starting Now while headlines focus on falling prices and oversupply, because the real shift is already underway.

In this video, John Kenel and Andrew Crosby expose the truth about NZ property development in 2025 — rising infrastructure costs, council dysfunction, rental pressure, and why this could be the most important buying window we’ve seen in years.

This ...

On this episode of The Building Pulse Podcast, host Tim Haycock  sits down with seasoned developer John Kenel to explore one of the biggest questions in the housing market today: Is innovation still possible—or even necessary—to keep developments moving in New Zealand?

With over 1,000 homes built and 20+ years navigating the trenches of property development, John shares what’s changed, what’s broken, and why navigating red tape has...

This week I cover everything from Trump’s tariff chaos to the Reserve Bank’s drip-feed rate cuts—and why both are killing confidence.

I break down what’s really happening in the NZ housing market, with the latest stats from REINZ, and share my take on the government's granny flat policy. Sounds good on paper… but is it another regulation trap?

Plus, I give a behind-the-scenes update on my Moore Street project, explain why I’ve stop...

In this episode of The Property Development Club Podcast, hosts John Kenel and Andrew Crosby sit down with Johnny Gordon of Iconic Construction to explore the groundbreaking world of 3D printing in construction. Together, they dive into how this innovative approach is transforming the housing market in New Zealand and beyond.

From the efficiency and cost savings of 3D printed homes to the challenges of adapting to evolving market t...

In this compelling episode of the Property Development Club, hosts John Kenel and Andrew Crosby sit down with Shane Brealey, Managing Director of Simplicity Living, one of New Zealand's leading Build-to-Rent developers. With decades of experience and a clear vision for the future, Shane brings a wealth of knowledge on New Zealand’s property challenges, the Build-to-Rent (BTR) movement, and the impact of government policies on devel...

Want to avoid the most common mistakes developers make and get ahead in the NZ property game?

n this episode of Talking Property Development, John, Andrew, and Dave dive into the New Zealand property market. We focus on the critical role of surveying with insights from Dave McCracken, an experienced surveyor whose expertise can make or break a development.

Dave explains why accurate surveying is crucial for avoiding costly mistak...