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Demand for luxury rental accommodation has surged in the wake of changes to New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa settings, with new data suggesting wealthy migrants are generating significant spending across the accommodation, hospitality and tourism sectors before purchasing property.
Research from realestate.co.nz found demand for luxury rentals increased 43 per cent between January and May 2026 compared with the same period last year. Activity accelerated following the visa changes, with international luxury rental demand in April and May rising 123 per cent year-on-year.
Separate figures from luxury accommodation platform Stay Luxe show property searches increased 200 per cent over the same period, as high-net-worth visitors explored New Zealand as a potential place to live and invest.
realestate.co.nz chief executive Sarah Wood says luxury rentals are often an early indicator of future purchasing activity.
“Luxury rentals give us an early read on buyer intent before it turns into a purchase,” Sarah says.
“What is interesting is that the lift is strongest in the premium rental category and becomes much more pronounced from April onwards.”
Stay Luxe co-founder Greg Owen says many prospective migrants are spending extended periods in New Zealand before making longer-term commitments.
“What we are seeing is that these visitors are not just arriving in New Zealand and buying a home. They are coming here first, staying in luxury accommodation, exploring different regions, using local services and deciding whether New Zealand is the right long-term fit for them,” Greg says.
According to Stay Luxe, Golden Visa visitors stay an average of 32 nights, compared with around seven nights for traditional luxury travellers. The company says these longer stays generate spending across accommodation, food and beverage, transport, activities, retail and concierge services.
Auckland is seeing particularly strong demand. Sarah says luxury rental activity in the city was more than six times higher in May 2026 than during the same month last year.
Stay Luxe reports international guests account for 81 per cent of bookings, with North America representing the largest source market at 41 per cent, followed by Australia at 27 per cent and Asia at 12 per cent.
The company says occupancy is tracking around 12 per cent ahead of the wider market, while average daily rates have increased 16 per cent year-on-year.
Sarah says realestate.co.nz is developing a dedicated Golden Visa rental platform to help connect premium property owners with international visitors seeking accommodation while assessing New Zealand as a place to live and invest.
