Economic Insight, Strategic Impact
What we do
Economic Insight, Strategic Impact
What we do

Services

Our Services For Clients

Property & Retail Economics

Property Economics is at the forefront of New Zealand’s property and retail market analysis for both commercial feasibility and strategic planning evaluations.

District Plan and Expert Witness Evidence

Property Economics has a team of experienced, highly skilled economists who regularly provide expert evidence to the Environment Court and at Council Hearings.

Structure Plan and Masterplan Assessment

Expert knowledge of markets throughout New Zealand with extensive experience in developing business and land use strategies from local through to regional level within New Zealand.

Economic Impact Modelling

Assess the Economic Impact of development projects including both direct and indirect effects on the local, regional and national economy. .

Residential Capacity Modelling

Residential capacity modelling for HBA and plan change scenario testing purposes. Tried and tested model used across 12 different districts.

Economic Cost Benefit Analysis

Economic Cost Benefit Assessments designed to address the statutory requirements under the RMA including the specific requirements for Highly Productive Land.

Services

Our Services For Clients

Property Market Analytics

Environment Court Expert Witness Evidence

Plan Change Economics Analyses

Economic Impact Modelling

Residential Capacity Modelling

Economic Cost Benefit Analysis

Retail Development Research

Business Land Demand and Supply

Highly Productive Land Evaluations

Projects

Recent work we have done
Wellington Regional Council
Wellington Regional Council
Provided Feasible and Realisable Residential Capacity Assessment for all seven of the Council’s within the Wellington Region. This assessment formed the basis for both the regional and individual council’s Housing and Business Capacity Assessments. These capacity assessments were also fundamental to Council’s QFM assessment for the NPS-UD required intensification plan changes with the model being used to test a variety of different planning regulations and zoning extents.
Public Sector
Surf Park
Surf Park
Supported the Fast Track Consent for a new Surf Park which was just recently accepted by the Ministry. Our assessment showed that the project would create $630m million in total economic output for Auckland and generate 5,100 Full Time Employment (FTE) years across its six-year development timeline.
Queenstown - Ladies Mile and Inclusionary Zoning Variation Hearings
Queenstown – Ladies Mile and Inclusionary Zoning Variation Hearings
Successfully supported two submissions to the Queenstown Proposed Plan as an Economic Expert Witness. Specifically, our clients sought an extension of zone as part of the Ladies Mile variation and the rejection of Council’s proposed Inclusionary Zoning regulations.
Private Sector
Agri-Tech Precinct Plan Change
Agri-Tech Precinct Plan Change
Assisting with a private plan change near the Hamilton Airport which is seeking to rezone 33ha of land for an Agri-Tech Hub.
Beachlands South PC88
Beachlands South PC88
Provided the economic justification and evidence in support of Plan Change 88 to the Auckland Unitary Plan which successfully sought the rezoning of around 307ha. This was a master planned development which enabled 4,500 homes (mixture of live zoning and Future Urban) as well as a new local centre and other mixed use employment zones. We were involved right from the start of the planning phase, providing economic advice as to the appropriate level of retail provision, housing typologies and demand for business land within the context of the Beachlands / Maraetai local market.
Private Sector
Nelson Airport Runway Extension
Nelson Airport Runway Extension
Assisted the Airport’s team as an economic witness for their runway extension hearings. This involved providing guidance and direction with the Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA) from an economic perspective as well as addressing the relative economic costs and benefits of the different options.
Private Sector
Fonterra
Fonterra
We are currently working alongside Fonterra who are seeking to rezone additional land around Cambridge from Rural to Industrial Zone, thereby enabling expansion and the co-location of supporting industry. This included reviewing the relevant strategic planning documents, mapping industrial vacancies, and assessing the economic costs and benefits in context of the NPS-HPL.
New Plymouth District Council
New Plymouth District Council
Property Economics have been engaged by New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) to undertake a variety of retail, business and residential assessments over the years. This included advising and supporting Council’s retail network strategy, and providing residential capacity modelling which was fundamental to assessing the residential zonings for the PDP. We have also subsequently supported Council in their Future Development Strategy Hearings
Public Sector
MHUD - Carrington residential development
MHUD – Carrington residential development
Currently working alongside the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as economic experts for PC94. This is a plan change which is seeking a rezoning of the Mt Albert Unitec land to a mixture of business and residential land. This is a strategic opportunity as the land is well located within Central Auckland and has good public transportation links.
Kaituna Hydro Dam
Kaituna Hydro Dam
Our work also extends to key infrastructure projections. We are currently providing an economic impact assessment for a proposed Hydro Dam in the Bay of Plenty.
Solar Farm
Solar Farm
Provided an Economic Impact Assessment for a proposed Solar Farm within Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty. Specifically, this assessment addressed the relative economic activity generated by the proposed energy production relative to the loss of Highly Productive Land.
Retail Market Analysis
Retail Market Analysis
We have undertaken several different assessments of localised and regional retail assessments including both projecting retail growth and helping identify market opportunities. One such project was analysis on Auckland’s Luxury Retail Market for Precinct Properties Holdings Limited.
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Wellington Regional Council
Public Sector
Wellington Regional Council

Provided Feasible and Realisable Residential Capacity Assessment for all seven of the Council’s within the Wellington Region. This assessment formed the basis for both the regional and individual council’s Housing and Business Capacity Assessments. These capacity assessments were also fundamental to Council’s QFM assessment for the NPS-UD required intensification plan changes with the model being used to test a variety of different planning regulations and zoning extents.

Surf Park
Private Sector
Surf Park

Supported the Fast Track Consent for a new Surf Park which was just recently accepted by the Ministry. This is a project with an estimated economic output for Auckland of around $630m and estimated to generate 5,100 Full Time Employment (FTE) years across the six-year development timeline.

Queenstown - Ladies Mile and Inclusionary Zoning Variation Hearings
Private Sector
Queenstown – Ladies Mile and Inclusionary Zoning Variation Hearings

Successfully supported two submissions to the Queenstown Proposed Plan as an Economic Expert Witness. Specifically, our clients sought an extension of zone as part of the Ladies Mile variation and the rejection of Council’s proposed Inclusionary Zoning regulations.

Agri-Tech Precinct Plan Change
Private
Agri-Tech Precinct Plan Change

Working alongside Tabby Tiger Limited on a private plan change to the Waipa District Plan. Which is seeking to rezone 33ha of land near the Airport to enable the development of an Agri-Tech Hub.

Beachlands South PC88
Private Sector
Beachlands South PC88

Provided the economic justification and evidence in support of Plan Change 88 to the Auckland Unitary Plan which successfully sought the rezoning of around 307ha. This was a master planned development which enabled 4,500 homes (mixture of live zoning and Future Urban) as well as a new local centre and other mixed use employment zones. We were involved right from the start of the planning phase, providing economic advice as to the appropriate level of retail provision, housing typologies and demand for business land within the context of the Beachlands / Maraetai local market.

Nelson Airport Runway Extension
Private Sector
Nelson Airport Runway Extension

Assisted the Airport’s team as an economic witness for their runway extension hearings. Specifically, we were brought onboard to assist with Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA) from an economic perspective.

Fonterra
Private Sector
Fonterra

We are currently working alongside Fonterra who are seeking to rezone additional land around Cambridge from Rural to Industrial Zone, thereby enabling expansion and hte colocation of supporting industri

New Plymouth District Council
Public Sector
New Plymouth District Council

Property Economics have been engaged by New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) to undertake a variety of retail, business and residential assessments over the years. This included advising and supporting Council’s retail network strategy, and providing residential capacity modelling which was fundamental to assessing the residential zonings for the PDP. We have also subsequently supported Council in their Future Development Strategy Hearings

MHUD - Carrington residential development
Public Sector
MHUD – Carrington residential development

Currently working alongside the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as economic experts for PC94. This is a plan change which is seeking a rezoning of the Mt Albert Unitec land to a mixture of business and residential land. This is a strategic opportunity as the land is well located within Central Auckland and has good public transportation links.

Kaituna Hydro Dam
Private Sector
Kaituna Hydro Dam

Our work also extends to key infrastructure projections. We are currently providing an economic impact assessment for a proposed Hydro Dam in the Bay of Plenty.

Solar Farm
Private Sector
Solar Farm

Provided an Economic Impact Assessment for a proposed Solar Farm within Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty. Specifically, this assessment addressed the relative economic activity generated by the proposed energy production relative to the loss of Highly Productive Land.

Luxury Retail Market Analysis
Private Sector
Luxury Retail Market Analysis

Retail analysis on Auckland’s Luxury Retail Market for Precinct Properties Holdings Limited.

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Meet our team.

Who we are
Tim Heath

Tim Heath

Director

Tim is a renowned expert in strategic property research having led over numerous projects for large corporate clients and government institutions over the past two decades.
Tim’s comprehensive knowledge of property market drivers allows Property Economics to deliver research that builds a bridge between planning ideology and commercial realities to ensure recommendations have ‘real world’ practicality and can be successfully implemented.

Philip Osborne

Philip Osborne

Senior Economist

Philip is an experienced economist who has been extensively involved in both public and private consultation for econometric modelling, residential and business market assessments, infrastructure investment as well as more general economic cost-benefit analysis. He has also lectured at key Australasian Universities and has consulted to the United Nations Advisory Group for Economic Development. Philip is also vastly experienced in presenting economic evidence in the Environment Court and Council Hearings for both private and public sector interests.

Stephen Ellis

Stephen Ellis

Technical Lead

Stephen’s wide range of skills from his conjoint degree have proven invaluable in his time at Property Economics. His strong passion for mathematical modelling and data analytics has enabled him to excel in leading the technical development of economic models, data analytics, visualisations and GIS analysis utilised at Property Economics.

Dr Nelwin Luo

Dr Nelwin Luo

Economist

Nelwin has been extensively involved in economic modelling both at Property Economics and as a Research Fellow for the Department of Economics at the University of Waikato. Nelwin has a passion for data analysis and econometric modelling to achieve pragmatic outcomes for clients.