INSIDE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: New Zealand commercial property: Why the yields stack up | Matt Harris and Michael Vincent, no. 73

New Zealand commercial property is drawing serious attention from Australian investors, and the yields are a big part of why. In this episode of Inside Commercial Property, Scott O'Neill is joined by Matt Harris and Michael Vincent of Lighthouse Financial to unpack what's making the New Zealand market so compelling right now.

Lighthouse is one of New Zealand's leading financial services firms, guiding more than 4,000 Kiwis toward financial freedom since 2014 with holistic advice spanning accounting, lending, and investment. The conversation covers the forces shaping New Zealand property in 2026. New Zealand has moved through the interest rate cycle ahead of Australia, with the official cash rate easing significantly from its peak, and that shift is changing how investors think. For an everyday Australian investor, the combination of a favourable exchange rate, no stamp duty, and a maturing commercial market makes a genuine case for diversification.

Matt and Michael also explain the practical side of buying across the Tasman: how the structures, lending, and tax considerations work for a foreign investor, and why the experience is more familiar than most Australians expect.
In this episode, we cover:

• Why New Zealand's position in the interest rate cycle is reshaping investor behaviour.
• How the shift toward income-driven assets is opening the door to commercial property.
• What the exchange rate, stamp duty, and lending environment mean for an Australian buyer.
• How New Zealand's commercial market is maturing, and where the opportunities sit.
• The structures, tax, and first steps for an Australian investing in New Zealand.