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New Zealand’s Members of Parliament (MPs) hold substantial real estate assets across the country — and even overseas — according to the latest 2025 register of interests. A deep dive into the disclosure reveals a powerful and often overlooked truth: Parliament is home to some of the country’s most prolific property owners.

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From sprawling farmland in the South Island to short-term rentals in the cities and holiday homes abroad, the collective portfolio showcases just how embedded MPs are in the property market. The trend cuts across party lines, revealing that MPs from National, Labour, ACT, Greens, NZ First, and Te Pāti Māori are all deeply invested in residential and commercial real estate.

Members of Parliament Utilizing Taxpayer Funds to Own Property in Wellington

Property-Rich Parliament: Key Highlights

  • Widespread Homeownership: Nearly all MPs own at least one home, with many owning multiple properties. For example, Hon Judith Collins (National) holds a mix of family, residential, and commercial properties through various trusts and schemes in Auckland, Wellington, and Nelson.

  • Commercial and Rental Investments: Some MPs are heavily invested in rental markets. National’s Dr Carlos Cheung, a former property manager, owns at least six rental properties across Auckland. ACT’s Dr Parmjeet Parmar owns a portfolio of residential and commercial properties, including four townhouses in Bucklands Beach.

  • Farmers in the House: National and ACT MPs frequently list farmland as part of their assets. Barbara Kuriger (National) holds multiple dairy farms via limited partnerships in Ōpunake, while Andrew Hoggard (ACT) owns a family farm in Manawatū.

  • Trust Ownership is Common: Many properties are held in family trusts or through companies, a structure often used for asset protection and tax planning. Trusts feature prominently in disclosures by MPs such as Stuart Smith, Paul Goldsmith, and Hon Erica Stanford.

  • Holiday Homes and Overseas Holdings: A number of MPs own holiday homes both domestically and overseas. Rt Hon Mark Mitchell has property in Bali, Indonesia, while Hon Todd McClay owns a residence in Belgium. Some MPs, such as Hon Jenny Salesa, even hold leased land in Tonga.

  • Multiple Urban Dwellings: It’s common for MPs to own properties in both Wellington (for parliamentary duties) and their electorates. Todd Stephenson (ACT) lists apartments in Wellington, Queenstown, Sydney, and Geelong.

  • No Property Ownership: A small group of MPs report no real property ownership, including Tamatha Paul (Green), Francisco Hernandez (Green), Ricardo Menéndez March (Green), and Hon James Meager (National). This group is in the minority.

The Bigger Picture

These disclosures come at a time when the housing crisis continues to dominate national debate. The high level of property ownership among MPs raises important questions about representation and empathy with those facing housing insecurity or struggling to buy a first home.

Critics argue that the political class may be out of touch with everyday New Zealanders. Owning multiple homes, rental investments, and land through trusts might shape MPs’ views on housing policy, taxation, and regulation.

However, others argue that MPs—like many New Zealanders—are simply following prudent investment strategies, especially given the volatility of global markets and the cultural importance of home ownership in Aotearoa.

The number of properties owned by New Zealand MPs revealed

Transparency or Just the Tip of the Iceberg?

While the Register of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests offers transparency, it doesn’t require valuation disclosures or income earned from properties. Thus, the register gives us a glimpse into the extent of ownership, but not necessarily the wealth tied to it.

As New Zealand continues to grapple with housing unaffordability, it’s crucial to examine the intersection of wealth, politics, and policy. The question remains: how do these interests influence decision-making in the Beehive?

Dismissed MP Iain Lees-Galloway | Property Ownership

MPs’ real property interests (Jan 31, 2025)

Steve Abel (Green, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – West Auckland

Hon Ginny Andersen (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Belmont, Lower Hutt, Wellington

Miles Anderson (National, Waitaki)

  • Family home (owned by Braehead Grange Trust) – Southburn
  • Farmland (owned by Braehead Grange Trust) – Southburn
  • Farmland (owned by Animal Scanning Services (NZ) Limited) – Southburn

Jamie Arbuckle (NZ First, List)

  • Family home (also used as short-term rental property; jointly owned) – Blenheim
  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Wellington

Carl Bates (National, Whanganui)

  • Former family home (in trust) – Manawatū
  • Rental property (in trust) – Whanganui
  • Rental apartments (x2, in trust) – Wellington
  • Family home – Whanganui

Hon Andrew Bayly (National, Port Waikato)

  • Family home (in trust) – Bombay, Auckland
  • Farm (in trust) – Waikato
  • Apartment (in trust) – Wellington
  • Apartment (in trust) – Queenstown
  • Commercial property (through Paparimu Land Limited) – Onehunga, Auckland
  • Commercial property (in trust) – Pukekohe

Camilla Belich (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Auckland
  • Former family home (jointly owned leasehold property) – London, United Kingdom
  • Family holiday home (discretionary beneficial interest; owned by The Belich Trust) – Waikanae Beach

Glen Bennett (Labour, List)

  • Residential property (jointly owned) – Marfell, New Plymouth

Dan Bidois (National, Northcote)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Birkenhead, Auckland

Hon Chris Bishop (National, Hutt South)

  • Family home – Days Bay, Lower Hutt

Rachel Boyack (Labour, Nelson)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Nelson

Cameron Brewer (National, Upper Harbour)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Hobsonville Point, Auckland

Hon Rachel Brooking (Labour, Dunedin)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Dunedin
  • Residential property (in family trust) – Dunedin

Hon Simeon Brown (National, Pakuranga)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Pakuranga
  • Family property (jointly owned) – Pakuranga

Rt Hon Gerry Brownlee (National, List)

  • Property – Havelock, Marlborough
  • Residential property (x2) – Ilam, Christchurch
  • Residential property – Fendalton, Christchurch
  • Residential property – Wellington

Mike Butterick (National, Wairarapa)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – Masterton
  • Farmland (owned by trust) – Masterton

Mark Cameron (ACT, List)

  • Farm (owned by trust) – Ruawai, Northland
  • Farmland – Ruawai, Northland

Dr Hamish Campbell (National, Ilam)

  • Family home – Riccarton, Christchurch

Kahurangi Carter (Green, List)

  • Family home – Christchurch

Dr Carlos Cheung (National, Mt Roskill)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Mount Roskill, Auckland
  • Family home (jointly owned) – Thorndon, Wellington
  • Rental property (jointly owned) – Epsom, Auckland
  • Rental property (x3; jointly owned) – Mount Wellington, Auckland
  • Rental property (jointly owned) – Sandringham, Auckland

Hon Karen Chhour (ACT, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Auckland

Hon Judith Collins (National, Papakura)

  • Family home (owned by trusts) – Auckland
  • Commercial and residential property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington
  • Residential property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Nelson

Hon Casey Costello (NZ First, List)

  • Family home – Pōkeno, Waikato
  • Family home – Whangaruru, Northland

Tim Costley (National, Ōtaki)

  • Family home – Waikanae
  • Rental property (x2) – Palmerston North
  • Flat – Wellington

Simon Court (ACT, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Waitakere, Auckland
  • Family home (jointly owned) – Thorndon, Wellington
  • Family home (P & S Court Trust) – Glenholme, Rotorua
  • Family home (P & S Court Trust) – Whangaparāoa, Auckland

Hon Marama Davidson (Green, List)

  • Family home – Manurewa, Auckland

Reuben Davidson (Labour, Christchurch East)

  • Family home – North Brighton
  • Holiday home – Banks Peninsula
  • Rental property – Christchurch

Hon Matt Doocey (National, Waimakariri)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – Rangiora, Waimakariri
  • Residential property (owned by trust) – Merivale, Christchurch
  • Rental property (owned by trust) – Burnside, Christchurch

Benjamin Doyle (Green, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Waikato

Hon Barbara Edmonds (Labour, Mana)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Porirua
  • Family home (jointly owned) – Ōtāhuhu, Auckland

Tākuta Ferris (Te Pāti Māori, Te Tai Tonga)

  • Rental property (jointly owned) – Ōtaki

Greg Fleming (National, Maungakiekie)

  • Family home – Greenlane, Auckland

Andy Foster (NZ First, List)

  • Family home – Wellington

Paulo Garcia (National, New Lynn)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Parnell, Auckland
  • Investment property – Wellington CBD, Wellington

Hon Julie Anne Genter (Green, Rongotai)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Rongotai electorate

Hon Paul Goldsmith (National, List)

  • Family home (owned by family trust) – Remuera
  • Apartment – Wellington
  • House (half-share) – Waitakere Ranges

Hon Nicola Grigg (National, Selwyn)

  • Home – Prebbleton
  • Rental property – Rolleston

Shanan Halbert (Labour, List)

  • Residential property (in trust) – Napier

Ryan Hamilton (National, Hamilton East)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – Hamilton
  • Apartment (owned by trust) – Wellington

Hon Peeni Henare (Labour, List)

  • No recorded real property

Francisco Hernandez (Green, List)

  • No recorded real property

Rt Hon Chris Hipkins (Labour, Remutaka)

  • Family home – Upper Hutt, Wellington
  • Residential property (owned by superannuation trust) – Raumati South, Paraparaumu

Hon Andrew Hoggard (ACT, List)

  • Family farm – Kiwitea, Manawatū

Hon Willie Jackson (Labour, List)

  • Family homes (x2; jointly owned) – Māngere Bridge, Auckland
  • Family home (jointly owned) – Rotorua
  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Wellington City Centre

Hon Shane Jones (NZ First, List)

  • Family home – Bay of Islands
  • House – Maimaru
  • House – Hihi, Tai Tokerau

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi (Te Pāti Māori, Te Tai Tokerau)

  • Family home – Whangārei
  • Family rental – Whangārei

Takutai Tarsh Kemp (Te Pāti Māori, Tāmaki Makaurau)

  • Family land block – Waitōtara Valley

Dana Kirkpatrick (National, East Coast)

  • Family home – Gisborne
  • Apartment – Gisborne

Barbara Kuriger (National, Taranaki-King Country)

  • Family home (owned by L S & B J Kuriger Trusts Partnership) – New Plymouth
  • Family home (owned by L S & B J Kuriger Trusts Partnership) – Te Awamutu
  • Dairy farm (owned by Shortland Farm Limited Partnership) – Ōpunake
  • Dairy farm (owned by Shortland Farm No 2 Limited Partnership) – Ōpunake
  • Dairy farm grazing unit (joined leasehold interest) – Ōpunake
  • Apartment (owned by L S & B J Kuriger Trusts Partnership) – Wellington

Ingrid Leary (Labour, Taieri)

  • Family home – Kew, Dunedin
  • Rental property – South Dunedin

Hon Melissa Lee (National, List)

  • Family home – Auckland
  • Rental property (owned by superannuation scheme) – Wellington

Nancy Lu (National, List)

  • Rental property (x2) – Pakuranga, Auckland

Rt Hon Christopher Luxon (National, Botany)

  • Residential properties (x2) – Auckland
  • Investment property – Auckland

Cameron Luxton (ACT, List)

  • Rental properties (x2; as beneficiary of trust) – Tauranga
  • Commercial properties (x2; as beneficiary of trust) – Tauranga

Hon Jo Luxton (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Hinds, Ashburton
  • Holiday home (jointly owned) – Akaroa

Hūhana Lyndon (Green, List)

  • Family home – Tikipunga, Whangārei

David MacLeod (National, New Plymouth)

  • Primary residence – New Plymouth
  • Apartment – Wellington
  • Holiday house – Kinloch
  • Rental property – New Plymouth

Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke (Te Pāti Māori, Hauraki-Waikato)

  • Family home (in trust) – Beach Haven
  • Family whenua (in trust) – Bay of Islands

Jenny Marcroft (NZ First, List)

  • Family residential section – Warkworth, Auckland

Hon Kieran McAnulty (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Masterton
  • Flat (jointly owned) – Lower Hutt

Grant McCallum (National, Northland)

  • Family home – Maungaturoto

Hon Todd McClay (National, Rotorua)

  • Private home – Rotorua
  • Home – Belgium
  • Private home – Pukehina

Laura McClure (ACT, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Beckenham, Christchurch
  • Family home (under construction) – Halswell, Christchurch

Hon Nicole McKee (ACT, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Wellington

Dr Tracey McLellan (Labour, List)

  • Family home – Christchurch
  • Rental property – Christchurch

Hon James Meager (National, Rangitata)

  • No recorded real property

Ricardo Menéndez March (Green, List)

  • No recorded real property

Hon Mark Mitchell (National, Whangaparāoa)

  • Family home – Millwater, Auckland
  • Apartment – Thorndon, Wellington
  • Rental property (residential) – Ōrewa, Auckland
  • Family holiday home – Kūaotunu, Coromandel
  • Family holiday home – Bali, Indonesia

Joseph Mooney (National, Southland)

  • Family home – Central Otago

Rima Nakhle (National, Takanini)

  • Family home – South Auckland

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (Te Pāti Māori, Te Tai Hauāuru)

  • Kāinga (home) – Ohangai, Hāwera, South Taranaki

Katie Nimon (National, Napier)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Marewa, Napier
  • Rental property (x2; jointly owned) – Havelock North, Hastings

Hon Damien O’Connor (Labour, List)

  • Family home – Upper Moutere

Greg O’Connor (Labour, Ōhāriu)

  • Family home – Wellington

Hon David Parker (Labour, List)

  • Family home (half-share) – Auckland
  • Holiday home (owned by trust) – Karitane, Otago

Dr Parmjeet Parmar (ACT, List)

  • Residential rental property – Remuera, Auckland
  • Residential rental property – Half Moon Bay, Auckland
  • Commercial property – Mount Wellington, Auckland
  • Family home (owned by trust) – Eastern Beach, Auckland
  • Residential rental town houses (x4) – Bucklands Beach, Auckland

Hon Mark Patterson (NZ First, List)

  • Family home – Dunedin
  • Apartment – Wellington

Tamatha Paul (Green, Wellington Central)

  • No recorded real property

Hon Chris Penk (National, Kaipara ki Mahurangi)

  • Family home (owned by The Barkley Trust) – Waitakere, Auckland

Rt Hon Winston Peters (NZ First, List)

  • House – St Marys Bay, Auckland
  • House – Whananaki South, Northland
  • Land – Whananaki South, Northland

Lan Pham (Green, List)

  • Family home (owned by Ngoc-Lan Pham Partnership) – Wellington

Hon Tama Potaka (National, Hamilton West)

  • Rental property (jointly owned) – Central-East Auckland
  • Family home – Hamilton
  • Family farm and houses (in Tatau Tatau Trust) – Rangitīkei
  • Rental property (in Tama and Ariana whānau trust) – Hamilton

Hon Willow-Jean Prime (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Pakaraka, Northland

Maureen Pugh (National, West Coast-Tasman)

  • Family home – Turiwhate
  • Farm – Turiwhate
  • Timeshare – Toormina, New South Wales, Australia

Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Onehunga, Auckland

Suze Redmayne (National, Rangitīkei)

  • Farm (owned by trust) – Turakina
  • Family home (owned by trust) – Taupō
  • Apartment (jointly owned with trust) – Auckland

Hon Dr Shane Reti (National, Whangārei)

  • Residential property – Whangārei
  • Commercial building (in Shane Reti Blind Trust) – Whangārei
  • Rental property (in Shane Reti Blind Trust) – Kohimarama
  • Residential property (in Shane Reti Blind Trust) – Whangārei

Rt Hon Adrian Rurawhe (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Whangaehu
  • Interests in 26 Māori land blocks – Aotea District
  • Interests in one Māori land block – Tai Tokerau District
  • Interests in two Māori land blocks – Tākitimu District
  • Interests in 11 Māori land blocks – Waipounamu District
  • Interests in Waipū general land block – Rātana Paa

Hon Dr Deborah Russell (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Titirangi, Auckland
  • House (jointly owned) – Karori, Wellington

Tom Rutherford (National, Bay of Plenty)

  • Family home – Pāpāmoa, Tauranga

Hon Jenny Salesa (Labour, Panmure-Ōtāhuhu)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Auckland
  • Rental property (owned by Praescient Limited) – Auckland
  • Apartment (jointly owned by Kaha’u Superannuation Fund) – Auckland
  • Apartment (jointly owned by Kaha’u Superannuation Fund) – Wellington
  • Two acres of land, no dwellings (99-year lease) – Haveluloto, Tonga

Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Labour, Kelston)

  • Family home – Titirangi, Auckland

Hon David Seymour (ACT, Epsom)

  • Residential home (as discretionary beneficiary of trust) – Whangārei
  • Holiday home (as discretionary beneficiary of trust) – Northland
  • Section (as discretionary beneficiary of trust) – Whangārei
  • Residential home (as beneficiary of trust) – Auckland

Hon Penny Simmonds (National, Invercargill)

  • Family home and farm (jointly owned) – Mabel Bush, Southland
  • Farm (jointly owned) – Ryal Bush, Southland
  • Family cribs (x3; owned by family trust) – Riverton, Southland
  • Rental property (owned by family trust) – Invercargill

Hon Scott Simpson (National, Coromandel)

  • Land (owned by New Chums Trust) – Whangapoua, Coromandel
  • Family home – Thames
  • Rental property – Remuera, Auckland
  • Family home – Kūaotunu, Coromandel

Stuart Smith (National, Kaikōura)

  • Family home (owned by Tayler-Smith Family Trust) – Dry Hills, Blenheim
  • Apartment (owned by Tayler-Smith Family Trust) – Thorndon, Wellington
  • Timeshare week (owned by Tayler-Smith Family Trust) – Queenstown Mews
  • Rental property (owned by Tayler-Smith Family Trust) – Redwood, Blenheim
  • Apartment (half-share owned by Tayler-Smith Family Trust) – Frankton, Queenstown

Lemauga Lydia Sosene (Labour, Māngere)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Favona, Auckland

Hon Erica Stanford (National, East Coast Bays)

  • Family home – Ōkura
  • Residential property, holiday home (owned by family trust) – Whangamatā

Todd Stephenson (ACT, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Queenstown
  • Apartments (x2; jointly owned) – Wellington
  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Sydney, Australia
  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Geelong, Australia
  • Apartment (held in trust) – Wellington
  • Rental property (held in trust) – Te Ānau

Chlöe Swarbrick (Green, Auckland Central)

  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Auckland Central

Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Labour, Ikaroa-Rāwhiti)

  • Family home – East Coast
  • Interest in one land block – Rangitukia, East Coast

Hon Jan Tinetti (Labour, List)

  • Family home – Mātua, Tauranga
  • Apartment – Wellington Central

Teanau Tuiono (Green, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Manawatū
  • Whānau home – Manurewa

Hon Phil Twyford (Labour, Te Atatū)

  • Family home (owned by family trust) – Te Atatū Peninsula

Sam Uffindell (National, Tauranga)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – Paengaroa

Tanya Unkovich (NZ First, List)

  • No recorded real property

Hon Louise Upston (National, Taupō)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Cambridge
  • Apartment (jointly owned) – Wellington

Tangi Utikere (Labour, Palmerston North)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Palmerston North

Tim van de Molen (National, Waikato)

  • Horticultural property (owned by Caritim Limited) – Tamahere, Waikato
  • Residential houses (x2; owned by van de Molen Family Trust) – Tamahere, Waikato

Hon Brooke van Velden (ACT, Tāmaki)

  • Family home – Auckland

Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall (Labour, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Wellington
  • Family property (jointly owned) – Malé, Maldives

Celia Wade-Brown (Green, List)

  • Family home and native forest – Wairarapa
  • Rental property – Island Bay, Wellington

Rawiri Waititi (Te Pāti Māori, Waiariki)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Whakatāne, Eastern Bay of Plenty

Hon Simon Watts (National, North Shore)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – North Shore
  • Residential section (owned by trust) – Cambridge
  • Commercial property (owned by trust) – Cambridge
  • Holiday home (owned by trust) – Waihi Beach

Hon Dr Duncan Webb (Labour, Christchurch Central)

  • Family home (owned by trust) – Christchurch
  • Share in family home (owned by trust) – Wellington

Catherine Wedd (National, Tukituki)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Havelock North
  • Apartment – Wellington

Dr Vanessa Weenink (National, Banks Peninsula)

  • Family home (x2; jointly owned) – Christchurch
  • Apartment – Wellington

Helen White (Labour, Mt Albert)

  • Home (owned by Puriri Trust) – Sandringham, Auckland

Arena Williams (Labour, Manurewa)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Manurewa, Auckland
  • Family home (jointly owned) – Te Aro, Wellington

Hon Nicola Willis (National, List)

  • House (jointly owned) – Karori, Wellington
  • House (owned by Appledore Trust) – Kelburn, Wellington
  • House (owned by Appledore Trust) – Riversdale, Wairarapa
  • House (owned by Appledore Trust) – Wānaka

Scott Willis (Green, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Waitati, Dunedin

Hon Dr Megan Woods (Labour, Wigram)

  • House – Hillmorton, Christchurch
  • Home (jointly owned) – Hillmorton, Christchurch

Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan (Green, List)

  • Family home (jointly owned) – Mt Wellington, Auckland
  • Rental property – Richmond, Christchurch

SOURCE: NZHERALD

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