In yet another case of lenders jumping the fence to join the ranks of mortgage brokers, former New Zealand manager for Australian wholesale lender Interstar Raoul Collings and local lending manager Joyti Singh are branching out to form a new broking firm, Mortgage Providers NZ.

Outsiders' perceptions may be negative but the reality is that Porirua is surging ahead economically, business people say.

Auckland City Council does not have the regulatory tools to control urban and apartment development in Newmarket, says its business association.

Outsiders see Porirua as unsafe, rough and dangerous and do not want to move there, a confidential report reveals.

Hot demand for coastal properties has seen most of a Golden Bay subdivision sell out in a matter of days.

All new homes built in the Tasman district after January 19 will have to comply with new building standards Aucklanders are using to combat the leaky building crisis.

An Auckland developer was yesterday fined $20,000 for failing to provide proper sediment controls at a subdivision.

Manukau is predicted to overtake Christchurch as New Zealand's second largest city this year - a year marked by significant growth and change for the region.

Opponents of a plan to build a tourist lodge at Cape Kidnappers are happy to meet the developer but not before lodging an appeal in the Environment Court.

Residential property was a gold rush-like investment in 2003, but Andrew Macdonald finds change could well be in the wind for the housing bonanza.

It's been a bumper holiday period for the central North Island with accommodation booked out, roads jammed with traffic, restaurants

New Plymouth's historic Dolphins on Queen building is up for sale once again.

House prices are likely to rise a further 10% to 15% next year but they will fall "to some unforecastable extent" in 2005, according to Bank of New Zealand chief economist Tony Alexander.

The people of Mahia value the peace and beauty of the area. Now, it seems, everyone wants a piece. Bernard Carpinter reports.

The first seven lots of a 26-lot residential development on Paewhenua Island near Mangonui go on sale on January 11 with tenders closing in late February.

Auckland house prices went through the roof in 2003. In a series starting today we look at some of the spectacularly high risers.