When “Buy, Reno, Revalue, Repeat” Stops Working: How Smart Investors Pivot in 2026

A bold, honest evening for property investors who know the old playbook is breaking – and are ready to edit it, not burn it.

For 20+ years, the default New Zealand property strategy has been simple: buy, reno, revalue, repeat. It worked brilliantly in a world of falling interest rates, looser credit, and rising house prices.

But 2026 is a different stadium:

• The rate cycle has turned; the cost of debt isn’t a rounding error anymore.
• Banks, tax rules, and compliance have all tightened, making it harder to recycle equity at speed.
• Capital gains are lumpier, and high-leverage portfolios feel much more fragile.

We don’t believe you should rip up the old playbook. We do believe it needs a serious edit if you want your next decade to look as good as your last. This event is about that edit.

Who this is for

We’ve designed this night for private “mum and dad” investors who:

• Built their wealth in residential property and can feel the old model straining.
• Are smart enough to know “just buy another townhouse” is not a strategy.
• Are curious about commercial property as a complement, but don’t have $5–10m to buy big assets outright.
• Want candid, macro-grounded insight and practical ideas – not a thinly veiled product roadshow.

What you’ll walk away with

By the end of the night, you will:

• Understand where New Zealand sits in the economic and interest rate cycle, and what that actually means for leveraged property investors over the next 3–5 years.
• See, in plain language, why the traditional “buy, reno, revalue, repeat” sequence is under pressure – and which parts still work if you tweak them.
• Learn how professionally managed commercial property funds give everyday investors access to diversified portfolios of industrial, office and large-format retail property – without having to be a wholesale player or full-time landlord.
• Hear real-world examples of investors blending residential and commercial-fund exposure to build more resilient income, not just bigger debt stacks.
• Take part in a short, high-energy group exercise where you stress-test your own “old playbook” instincts against a 2026 reality – and leave with 3–5 questions to put to your accountant, adviser, or business partner.

The speakers

Keynote: Mark Lister – Investment Director, Craigs Investment Partners

Mark is one of New Zealand’s most widely followed investment commentators, known for his clear, candid take on markets, interest rates, and where risk is really hiding in a portfolio. He regularly appears in media and investor forums, helping everyday investors make sense of global moves and local implications.

On the night, Mark will deliver a 30–40 minute keynote on the New Zealand economic and investment landscape as at mid-2026 – including what the rate cycle turn means for property investors, why high leverage is a blunter tool than it used to be, and why the smartest money is thinking in portfolios, not properties.

Commercial snapshot: Rory Diver – Head of Investor Relationships, PMG Funds

Rory leads investor relationships at PMG Funds, one of New Zealand’s longest-standing unlisted commercial property fund managers, with a national portfolio spanning industrial, office and large-format retail.

In a concise 15-minute session, Rory will:

• Explain how commercial property is really performing across sectors in 2026.
• Show how PMG’s retail and wholesale funds connect everyday investors with diversified, professionally managed commercial assets – often with well-known national tenants.
• Share practical examples of how investors are using funds to complement, not replace, their residential holdings.

Not recorded – attend in person to get the content

This session will NOT be recorded. The only way to get the content, insights and Q&A is to attend in person on the night – so book your seat and come along.

If you’ve ever said “I’ll just buy one more and see how we go,” this is the night to update that script.

This event is proudly sponsored by PMG Funds. Registration is free for APIA members, and available at a discounted price for non-members here.