The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Anne Gibson
Property Editor

Anne Gibson, Property Editor for New Zealand's Herald, has been writing about real estate since 1985 and is a skilled and knowledgeable journalist with deep insights into property as well as other businesses.

After studying politics at Canterbury University, she worked at the Christchurch Star, hired as their first female sub-editor. From there, she moved to Wellington's Evening Post where she covered court, softball, hockey, trade, travel and tourism... interviewing then-Prime Minister Sir Rob Muldoon and doing some Parliament work. National Business Review invited her to found that publication's property section in the heady '80s. Then she moved to Melbourne in the late ‘80s to work for The Australian writing about real estate. After writing books on property and about starting businesses, she joined the New Zealand Herald in February 2000 as property editor. Her roles also include radio work with RNZ, Newstalk ZB, podcasts, writing about iwi and Māori in business as well as retirement villages and many other topics. You can contact Anne at anne.gibson@nzme.co.nz.

Check out Anne’s latest content
Premium
All rentals must meet five Healthy Homes standards by July 1
Rural Property

All rentals must meet five Healthy Homes standards by July 1

17 Jun 11:00 PM
Premium
'Past the first hurdle' - Fletcher Living on progress at $500m The Hill
Rural Property

'Past the first hurdle' - Fletcher Living on progress at $500m The Hill

11 May 07:00 PM

Fletcher bought site in 2021, earthworks now advanced, first four homes nearly finished.

WorkSafe issues maintenance warning for quad bikes after man killed
The Country

WorkSafe issues maintenance warning for quad bikes after man killed

30 Apr 09:59 PM

Tragedy could have been avoided if farm manager had kept bike in good working order.

Premium
'I did get bored during lockdown': Whangaparāoa man convicted of illegal tree felling
The Country

'I did get bored during lockdown': Whangaparāoa man convicted of illegal tree felling

29 Oct 10:01 PM

Man prosecuted after trees felled then advertised as firewood on Facebook.

Premium
New house at Gibbs Farm sculpture park on NZ's Best Homes with Phil Spencer
The Country

New house at Gibbs Farm sculpture park on NZ's Best Homes with Phil Spencer

08 Jul 02:00 AM

'Leveraging our innovative reputation in the pursuit of creating remarkable homes'.

Premium
NZ dairy business blames Ethiopian ministry for insolvency
The Country

NZ dairy business blames Ethiopian ministry for insolvency

21 May 04:38 AM

'Pioneering' company wanting to develop heat-tolerant cattle hit trouble overseas.

Premium
'Bonkers' or brave? Restoring wonky buildings at $200m Ayrburn
The Country

'Bonkers' or brave? Restoring wonky buildings at $200m Ayrburn

15 May 05:00 PM

'Some of these farmers must have thought we were bonkers when we turned up.'

Premium
Cow-abunga: American surf park developer buying Dairy Flat cattle farm
The Country

Cow-abunga: American surf park developer buying Dairy Flat cattle farm

27 Mar 10:49 PM

Perfect waves, incredible experiences for surfers, families and kids envisaged at park.

Premium
Plans to escape giant warehouse: Fonterra/Port of Tauranga JV seeks tenants
The Country

Plans to escape giant warehouse: Fonterra/Port of Tauranga JV seeks tenants

18 Mar 04:15 PM

Intermodal freight hub expansion back in 2016 was hailed as a big leap forward.

Premium
Slaughterhouse Fire: Chinese-owned meat company fined $51k
The Country

Slaughterhouse Fire: Chinese-owned meat company fined $51k

03 Mar 10:00 PM

Penalty for discharging slaughterhouse waste, lighting rubbish fire that burned for days.

Premium
'Last few years difficult': Waiheke Island vineyard for sale
The Country

'Last few years difficult': Waiheke Island vineyard for sale

30 Nov 03:08 AM

Covid, shut borders, a lack of customers and a lack of sales took a heavy toll.

Premium
‘It’s not all profit, profit, profit’: Sir George Fistonich launches new winery
The Country

‘It’s not all profit, profit, profit’: Sir George Fistonich launches new winery

31 Oct 12:15 AM

The Croatian word for guardian, custodian or watchman - used for the new winery's name.

Premium
Nearly 400,000 chickens reared in 7 weeks at huge Helensville farm
The Country

Nearly 400,000 chickens reared in 7 weeks at huge Helensville farm

04 Jul 05:24 AM

The farm is also the same one where 180,000 chickens died in 2019 after a power outage.

Premium
NZ's richest man does year's biggest leasing deal on new $100m warehouse
The Country

NZ's richest man does year's biggest leasing deal on new $100m warehouse

02 Jun 05:35 AM

Warehouses for Synlait's new southeast Asia plant-based export operation.

Premium
Ikea-linked Dutch forestry giants buy 1600ha more land
The Country

Ikea-linked Dutch forestry giants buy 1600ha more land

03 May 05:30 AM

Ministerial inquiry into destructive slash examining what needs to change.

Premium
Central Otago vineyard: What went wrong, why IRD called liquidators
The Country

Central Otago vineyard: What went wrong, why IRD called liquidators

06 Apr 05:00 PM

IRD wants $40,000, other creditors claim $97,000 from pinot noir specialist.

Premium
Fonterra liquidates NZ exporter to China for unpaid debt
The Country

Fonterra liquidates NZ exporter to China for unpaid debt

28 Mar 04:32 AM

All did not go according to plan and exports were unsuccessful.

Premium
Horror chainsaw accident: MP bounces back from disaster
The Country

Horror chainsaw accident: MP bounces back from disaster

26 Jan 08:17 PM

'Pretty rural bloke' who broke his neck is now ACC spokesman.

Premium
'It’s about time': Experts respond to RMA reform, speeding up consents process
The Country

'It’s about time': Experts respond to RMA reform, speeding up consents process

15 Nov 04:24 AM

'It’s about time. We’ve been waiting years for this.' - lawyer Kate Storer.

Premium
Foreigners double NZ land purchases: post-Covid recovery
The Country

Foreigners double NZ land purchases: post-Covid recovery

21 Oct 03:55 AM

Largest deals are often offshore parties selling Kiwi assets to other overseas entities.

Family of the late Julian Robertson to sell Wairarapa's Dry River Wines
The Country

Family of the late Julian Robertson to sell Wairarapa's Dry River Wines

19 Oct 04:22 AM

'Chance to refocus and consolidate our business interests' - Jay Robertson.

The bank that gave away its $150m farm to Mount Albert Grammar School
The Country

The bank that gave away its $150m farm to Mount Albert Grammar School

03 Oct 04:30 AM

Mount Albert Grammar School had previously leased the farm for nearly a century.

Premium
Villa Maria estate loss 'a travesty', Sir George Fistonich says
The Country

Villa Maria estate loss 'a travesty', Sir George Fistonich says

30 Sep 04:33 AM

"Once the bulldozers are there, this asset will be lost forever," vineyard founder says.

Premium
$100m Gulf Harbour waterfront housing estate planned
The Country

$100m Gulf Harbour waterfront housing estate planned

03 Aug 06:01 AM

The site is one of the last remaining large waterfront plots of its kind.

Premium
Driveway dilemma: No EQC cover for couple highlights concerns
The Country

Driveway dilemma: No EQC cover for couple highlights concerns

29 Jun 05:40 AM

EQ cover for land is limited to land that is within your property boundary.

Premium
Waiheke vineyard loses yet again
The Country

Waiheke vineyard loses yet again

24 May 05:00 AM

Business argued the Environment Court had exceeded its jurisdiction.

Premium
'Offensive, objectionable odours' upset neighbour
The Country

'Offensive, objectionable odours' upset neighbour

19 May 12:00 AM

An 80sq m part of a neighbour's property "wet, stagnant, usable" area, court finds

Foley Wines granted consent to buy Central Otago vineyard
The Country

Foley Wines granted consent to buy Central Otago vineyard

20 Apr 05:30 AM

Business expanding via developments in Central Otago, Wairarapa.

Premium
Goodbye Gewürztraminer, hello sav blanc
The Country

Goodbye Gewürztraminer, hello sav blanc

15 Apr 12:00 AM

"Operating model used to run the vineyard was clearly not sustainable" - Steven Murray.

Premium
Tuaropaki buys Vinoptima Estate, wine 'lake' not included
The Country

Tuaropaki buys Vinoptima Estate, wine 'lake' not included

29 Mar 01:00 AM

Gisborne area boutique winery founded by prominent vintner Nick Nobilo has been sold.

Gisborne farm leader rallies against carbon sink fears
The Country

Gisborne farm leader rallies against carbon sink fears

18 Mar 12:00 AM

"If the farm goes, so does the school" - Toby Williams, Federated Farmers.

Premium
'Forgotten treasure' housing plans hit snag: Developer loses court ruling on trees
The Country

'Forgotten treasure' housing plans hit snag: Developer loses court ruling on trees

14 Mar 04:00 PM

It plans a much larger scheme for the land but even its tree-planting is ruled illegal

Premium
'It hasn't sunk in yet': Meet the $10 million man, Dudley Barton
The Country

'It hasn't sunk in yet': Meet the $10 million man, Dudley Barton

25 Feb 04:00 PM

He first tried to sell half in 1996, then fought the council over $400,000 rates

Premium
Creditor moves on West Auckland vineyard
The Country

Creditor moves on West Auckland vineyard

11 Feb 04:37 AM

List of creditors with security over the business includes Westpac.

Premium
Villa Maria receivers vow vigorous defence against legal claims
The Country

Villa Maria receivers vow vigorous defence against legal claims

26 Jan 04:38 AM

'Very considered and careful about the processes' - receivers on actions to date.

Premium
What next for Villa Maria vineyard land? $500m project planned
The Country

What next for Villa Maria vineyard land? $500m project planned

01 Oct 05:00 PM

Goodman planning $500m logistics/warehouse estate on Villa Maria vineyard land.

Premium
$20,000 fine for illegal rural land purchase
The Country

$20,000 fine for illegal rural land purchase

06 Sep 05:28 AM

Those involved had not sought permission, required under the Overseas Investment Act.

Shanghai billionaire fined $20,000 over Northland property
The Country

Shanghai billionaire fined $20,000 over Northland property

01 Sep 05:20 AM

OIO intended to progress investigations and get court orders for asset sales.

Premium
Freight costs up almost 100% in last 6 months
The Country

Freight costs up almost 100% in last 6 months

31 Aug 05:34 AM

"True impact of price increases has not been felt by clients and property owners."

Forestry companies fined $756k after East Coast fatality
The Country

Forestry companies fined $756k after East Coast fatality

18 Jul 09:56 PM

Both companies failed to ensure the dangerous work was being carried out safely

Could this help housing shortage? First look at RMA reform
The Country

Could this help housing shortage? First look at RMA reform

28 Jun 09:00 PM

'RMA takes too long, costs too much and hasn't protected the environment.'

Premium
Waiheke marina opponents go for injunction hearing
The Country

Waiheke marina opponents go for injunction hearing

30 Apr 05:22 AM

Koroā presence sparks new litigation: May 14 hearing set down.

Premium
Tenders close on $50m Halfway Bay Station
The Country

Tenders close on $50m Halfway Bay Station

29 Mar 04:30 AM

It's now a case of the owners wading through the offers.

Premium
Taking a bite: Ngāi Tahu buys into apple business
The Country

Taking a bite: Ngāi Tahu buys into apple business

05 Mar 04:23 AM

A 6 per cent stake in the grower exporter has sold for an undisclosed sum.

NZ's biggest builder wins consent for vast housing project
The Country

NZ's biggest builder wins consent for vast housing project

02 Feb 04:37 AM

Sale price, vendor all suppressed in Overseas Investment Office decision.

Premium
Huka Lodge, favoured by Royals and Hollywood elite, sold
The Country

Huka Lodge, favoured by Royals and Hollywood elite, sold

29 Jan 04:23 AM

One of the most high-end places to stay in this country: sold.

Premium
500 building projects impacted due to Covid, minister told
The Country

500 building projects impacted due to Covid, minister told

15 Dec 04:33 AM

Building and construction is New Zealand's fourth-largest employer.

Premium
From Irish dairy farm to running SkyCity Entertainment
The Country

From Irish dairy farm to running SkyCity Entertainment

27 Nov 04:42 AM

"Having a job like this ... what a perfect opportunity" - New SkyCity CEO Michael Ahearne.

Premium
'Tight' NZ timber supplies, price rise forecast
The Country

'Tight' NZ timber supplies, price rise forecast

27 Nov 04:28 AM

Going from spring to summer, timber supplies forecast to be short.

Premium
Farmers fret over investment in troubled Nido building
The Country

Farmers fret over investment in troubled Nido building

19 Nov 04:00 PM

"We have people in there to verify exactly where things are at" - accountant Mark Hughson.

Premium
KiwiRail incurs $565,000+ bill in Onehunga rent dispute
The Country

KiwiRail incurs $565,000+ bill in Onehunga rent dispute

24 Aug 06:05 AM

But true cost to SOE is actually far higher.

Premium
Richlister reveals he's bought Glenorchy's Arcadia Station
The Country

Richlister reveals he's bought Glenorchy's Arcadia Station

07 Aug 05:50 AM

The property was listed as "one of the most beautiful farms on earth".

Premium
Supreme Court reaches limit, rejects ex-KiwiRail tenant palm farmers' plea
The Country

Supreme Court reaches limit, rejects ex-KiwiRail tenant palm farmers' plea

16 Jul 07:19 PM

Men "granted extensions of time to file their submissions on seven occasions", court says.

Two NZ vineyards feature in world's top 50 list
The Country

Two NZ vineyards feature in world's top 50 list

14 Jul 08:24 PM

List compiled by voting academy made up of more than 500 wine experts.

Premium
US billionaire backs new multi-million NZ project
The Country

US billionaire backs new multi-million NZ project

03 Jun 05:50 AM

A 100-seat restaurant and barrel hall part of the big new venture.

Premium
Tee-off time for American billionaire's second golfing venture
The Country

Tee-off time for American billionaire's second golfing venture

08 May 05:00 PM

It's tee-off time for Kayne's second project to bring two new courses to NZ.

Premium
Sam Morgan's station selling gated housing lots
The Country

Sam Morgan's station selling gated housing lots

04 Mar 04:50 AM

Hillend Estates is a new gated luxury housing community.

Austrian billionaire cleared to buy 800ha of NZ land for $8m
The Country

Austrian billionaire cleared to buy 800ha of NZ land for $8m

01 Mar 07:19 PM

Wolfgang Leitner now has consent to purchase 1289ha of land, some classified as sensitive.

Big stink: 17 charges laid against golf course for sewage dumping
The Country

Big stink: 17 charges laid against golf course for sewage dumping

09 Dec 04:52 AM

Hidden cameras understood to be involved in case resulting in charges

'Not in the national interest': Govt blocks massive farm sale
The Country

'Not in the national interest': Govt blocks massive farm sale

01 Dec 08:27 PM

Ministers Eugenie Sage and David Clark blocked the sale.

Arvida spending 'millions' upgrading Kerikeri road
The Country

Arvida spending 'millions' upgrading Kerikeri road

24 Nov 09:51 PM

A 17ha farm site is being developed at the end of the cul de sac on the outskirts of town.

Danish seed group cleared to buy $413m NZ seeds business
The Country

Danish seed group cleared to buy $413m NZ seeds business

04 Jun 07:27 PM

Details of 12 Overseas Investment Office decisions are out.

'They can't catch you': Truckie told by boss to fabricate logbook
The Country

'They can't catch you': Truckie told by boss to fabricate logbook

23 May 01:15 AM

Sten Semenoff wins next round against NZTA.

Why major developer will spend 'hundreds of millions' on a Drury town hub
The Country

Why major developer will spend 'hundreds of millions' on a Drury town hub

20 May 08:06 PM

Kiwi advancing Homestead Park plans at Drury

Premium
'Not fantastic': Nobilo's pioneering vineyard remains unsold; offers 'too low'
The Country

'Not fantastic': Nobilo's pioneering vineyard remains unsold; offers 'too low'

01 May 07:32 AM

Vineyard remains unsold, despite tender, eight months after going into receivership.

No capital gains tax: big-time commercial landlords react
The Country

No capital gains tax: big-time commercial landlords react

17 Apr 02:17 AM

Relief expressed from landlords in $50 billion-plus sector.

NZ timber exporter Sequal signs big Saudi deal
The Country

NZ timber exporter Sequal signs big Saudi deal

09 Apr 07:15 AM

The deal was signed in November and would move to its next level this year.

Road rage: Trucking firm hits back at agency over claims of 116 traffic offences
The Country

Road rage: Trucking firm hits back at agency over claims of 116 traffic offences

08 Apr 05:00 PM

Whangarei transport business hits back at NZTA.

Capital gains tax: What will it mean for your property?
The Country

Capital gains tax: What will it mean for your property?

28 Mar 05:20 AM

Views for and against CGT on residential rental property.

Vinoptima Estate owes $15m, report reveals
The Country

Vinoptima Estate owes $15m, report reveals

19 Oct 02:56 AM

A receiver's first report reveals Vinoptima Estate has debts of around $15 million.

Trade creditors claim $1.8m from Nobilo-founded Gisborne vineyard
The Country

Trade creditors claim $1.8m from Nobilo-founded Gisborne vineyard

18 Oct 07:09 PM

Vinoptima Estate has 100,000 litres of wine stored on site.

Wine lake: 100,000L of premium NZ wine set to drench market
The Country

Wine lake: 100,000L of premium NZ wine set to drench market

16 Oct 09:57 PM

The wine could have a total value of over $9 million.

Nobilo's Gisborne vineyard up for sale after receivership
The Country

Nobilo's Gisborne vineyard up for sale after receivership

14 Oct 06:25 PM

A vineyard founded by Nick Nobilo is up for sale.

Workers locked out: Auckland construction firm in receivership
The Country

Workers locked out: Auckland construction firm in receivership

31 Jul 08:53 PM

Developer confirmed this morning that Ebert Construction has gone into receivership.

Earn $180K and qualify for 'affordable' KiwiBuild home
The Country

Earn $180K and qualify for 'affordable' KiwiBuild home

03 Jul 10:17 PM

Kiwibuild has announced that couples earning up to $180,000 will be allowed to apply.

Overseas investment law change a potential $4b forestry earner boost: Jones
The Country

Overseas investment law change a potential $4b forestry earner boost: Jones

19 Jun 07:04 PM

Jones hopes the relaxed Overseas Investment law will boost forestry investment.

OIO grants Fletcher bid for sensitive land
The Country

OIO grants Fletcher bid for sensitive land

15 Jan 06:29 PM

OIO approves Cromwell bid

NZ's most expensive property
The Country

NZ's most expensive property

09 Nov 09:30 PM

The $33m Glenorchy home dubbed NZ's 'most expensive' has been trumped.

Fancy your own island? This one's for sale for $16m
The Country

Fancy your own island? This one's for sale for $16m

03 Nov 04:00 PM

The only privately-owned island in Cavalli group is on the market.

Phil Twyford reveals $2b KiwiBuild housing scheme
The Country

Phil Twyford reveals $2b KiwiBuild housing scheme

24 Oct 10:34 PM

Housing Minister Phil Twyford reveals details of $2b KiwiBuild scheme.

Foreigner land sale ban could hurt economy: finance expert
The Country

Foreigner land sale ban could hurt economy: finance expert

20 Oct 04:00 PM

Finance expert worried about foreign regime crackdown

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP