Live at the Nut Bar

So, what comes next for New Zealand’s housing market?

In part two of our housing market deep dive, DC and Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr turn their attention to 2027 and beyond. Jarrod shares his outlook for house prices, what could help — or derail — a broader recovery, and why different regions could continue to tell very different stories.

They also zoom out to the next 10 to 20 years, covering population growth, infrastructure and land supply, the future of property investment, and what New Zealand could learn from places like Australia and Singapore. Plus, they touch on the wider economic outlook, inflation, interest rates and the potential impact of AI.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with DC [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided reflects personal views and is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part one of our housing market deep dive, DC is joined by Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr to look back at the extraordinary run in Kiwi house prices, what drove the boom and subsequent fall, and why different parts of the country are now heading in different directions.

They cover the impact of ultra-low interest rates, migration and housing supply, why Christchurch and the South Island have been outperforming, and the growing role of first-home buyers in today’s market. Plus, they get into KiwiSaver, construction costs, our changing demographics, and why infrastructure matters so much for housing affordability.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with DC [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided reflects personal views and is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Reserve Bank lifted the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 2.5% on 8 July 2026 — but does that mean New Zealand's economy is finally turning a corner?

In this episode, DC and JB discuss why the Reserve Bank made the call, whether more OCR hikes are likely, and why they're not convinced the recovery is as strong as policymakers expect.

They also discuss:

• Why mortgage rates may not rise much further
• Whether house prices are close to a turning point
• Why Auckland and the South Island are telling very different property stories
• How the upcoming election could affect business confidence and investment
• The long-term impact AI and technology could have on inflation, productivity and interest rates

If you're wondering what the latest OCR decision means for your mortgage, investments or the wider economy, this episode if for you. 

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with DC [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided reflects personal views and is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode David Cunningham is joined by Squirrel Head of Advisory Callan Wayne-Bowles and Squirrel Adviser Kat McInnes to explore the reality of first home ownership in 2026, revisiting Callan’s headline-making claim that “anyone can buy a house in four years.”

The team breaks down:

• how KiwiSaver can accelerate your deposit
• what banks are really looking for
• the impact of credit cards and Buy Now, Pay Later
• whether 10% deposits are enough
• why more buyers are teaming up with partners, siblings, or friends
• apartments vs townhouses vs standalone homes
• why today’s market conditions may actually favour first home buyers

Plus, they share practical advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed, unsure where to start, or convinced home ownership is out of reach.

If you’re wondering whether buying your first home is still possible, you might want to check this out.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do we make financial decisions that feel right… but cost us in the long run?

In this bonus episode of Live at the Nut Bar, Chief Squirrel David Cunningham is joined by Katie Wesney (enable.me) and Squirrel mortgage adviser Emma Wallace to unpack the behavioural habits quietly holding New Zealanders back from building wealth.

From “well-intentioned waiting” to first home buyer blindspots, they dive into the real cost of delaying decisions — whether it’s investing, insurance, KiwiSaver, or paying off your mortgage faster.

You’ll learn:

• Why “later” almost never comes (and what that’s costing you)
• The biggest mistakes first home buyers make after getting the keys
• How small changes (like higher repayments or automation) can shave years off your mortgage
• Why KiwiSaver timing matters more than you think
• The simple systems that help you stay on track — without giving up the fun stuff

If you’ve ever thought “I’ll sort that later”… this one’s for you.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the season finale, JB and DC pull up a stool at the Nut Bar to chat about the final OCR cut of 2025, why house prices haven’t boomed, what’s tugging the housing market in different directions, and why 2026 should feel better—though still a bit weird in an election year.

Happy holidays everyone!

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time DC is joined by Kat McInnes and Dave Tyrer to dive into better ways to manage your home loan. They talk cashbacks, clawbacks and what to watch out for.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica James talks to JB and Sarah Hahn from TRA about exactly property how developers can use hard facts obtained in our research to connect with the hearts and minds of buyers. Particularly important in today's competitive market.

If you're a property developer, there are actionable insights in this ep so it's a must listen!

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week JB is joined by Sarah Hahn from TRA and Nathan Miglani from Squirrel's Christchurch office to talk all about the recent research that we undertook to find out all about what home buyers are really looking for in a new home. If you're a property developer, builder or architect you won't want to miss this!

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NZ housing market has been...sluggish at best. Let's dig into the dirt and discuss what's going on. DC and JB are joined by Mary Jo Vergara, Senior Economist at Kiwibank for this discussion.

If you have any questions or things you’d like to hear us talk about, get in touch with us at [email protected] or [email protected].

The opinions expressed in this podcast are not financial advice, or a recommendation of any financial product. Any commentary provided are personal views and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of Squirrel. As always, we recommend seeking professional investment or mortgage advice before taking any action.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.