Show Notes
What does it take to change an entire industry?
In this episode of Home Run, David sits down with Leonie Freeman, CEO of Property Council New Zealand, to mark 30 years of realestate.co.nz and explore the remarkable story behind New Zealand’s property industry transformation.
Leonie takes us back to 1996, when online property listings were still viewed with plenty of skepticism, and shares how realnz.co.nz became the foundation for what would eventually become realestate.co.nz.
But this conversation goes far beyond the origins of online property search.Leonie opens up about some of New Zealand’s biggest housing and property challenges—including RMA reform, development levies, seismic standards, urban density, Build-to-Rent, infrastructure, climate risk and managed retreat.
She also shares her views on creating greater efficiency across the development system, unlocking land and infrastructure, and building a more diverse property industry that creates opportunities for the next generation of leaders.
From pioneering online real estate listings to advocating for major change across New Zealand's property sector, Leonie’s career offers a fascinating look at where the industry has come from—and where it could go next.
In this episode: 00:00 – Introduction & 30 years of realestate.co.nz 00:36 – The origin of realnz.co.nz 02:02 – Meeting Peter Cook and the turning point 03:08 – How the name realnz.co.nz was created 04:08 – From property magazines to online search 07:00 – Breaking barriers as a young woman in property 09:10 – Can “Collective Impact” solve NZ’s housing challenges? 10:28 – Housing targets, affordability & homeownership 13:58 – RMA reform and the challenges of implementation 16:40 – Making development systems more efficient 18:54 – Proportionate liability & insurance protection 19:48 – Seismic standards, NBS & managing risk 24:32 – Diversity and the future of the property industry 25:46 – The rise of Build-to-Rent in New Zealand 26:45 – Unlocking land, infrastructure & developer levies 28:40 – Streamlining building product approvals 31:15 – Density, transport & the City Rail Link 34:44 – Climate change, flooding & infrastructure risk 38:25 – Managed retreat, land maps & home insurance 41:20 – The entrepreneurial journey into property management 43:15 – Business lessons: Purpose, authenticity & knowing your “why” 45:58 – Caroline Freeman and breaking new ground 48:20 – Advice for the next generation of property leaders
Home Run is brought to you by realestate.co.nz — exploring the people, ideas and stories shaping New Zealand property.
Subscribe for more conversations with the people behind the property industry.
Stay connected with Homerun Podcast 👇Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HomerunpodcastnzSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Ik9md6okR9DaNIPwS7gJdApple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/homerun-x-realestate-co-nz/id1815415116Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homerunpodcastnzTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@homerunnzLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/homerunnz/
More from HomeRun x Realestate.co.nz
Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue — it’s becoming a major issue for property, insurance and infrastructure.
Property flipping, real estate investing, auctions, agent commissions and the future of real estate in New Zealand. Matt Jones has spent more than 20 years in the industry, from school teacher and property flipper to founder of Independent Agent and a leader in the independent real estate movement.
What is really happening in New Zealand's property market? Sarah Wood, CEO of realestate.co.nz, joins HomeRun to discuss house prices, buying and selling property, AI in real estate, leadership, and what the future holds for Kiwi homeowners, investors, and real estate professionals.
Not everyone starts with deep pockets. Tama Singh proves that determination, education, and the right strategy can completely change your financial future.
In this episode of the Home Run podcast, we sit down with Qiulae Wong, leader of The Opportunities Party (TOP), to discuss their bold vision for New Zealand’s economic and political future. From a massive "tax reset" to long-term infrastructure planning, Wong explains why she believes the current political cycle is broken and how TOP intends to fix it.