Chapter 3
Real Estate Strategies
New Zealand Office Occupier Sentiment Survey 2026
The waiting game is ending
For years, many occupiers delayed major real estate decisions while attendance patterns and workplace strategies continued to evolve. That period of uncertainty is beginning to fade. Organisations are increasingly reassessing what they need from their workplace, with quality, amenity and growth ambitions influencing the next generation of real estate decisions.Drawing on responses from 67 organisations representing more than 22,000 employees across New Zealand, this section explores the factors shaping occupier priorities, relocation decisions and future space requirements.
What matters most when choosing a workplace?
Functionality and location still lead occupier priorities, but amenity considerations are catching up
When occupiers assess a building, the practical leads. Floor configuration is the highest priority feature, with 95% of respondents rating it as a priority or high priority. Geographic location. seismic performance, and quality of common spaces round out the top four.The next level includes end-of-trip facilities and a premium-grade fit-out, both of which rank higher than in previous years, reaffirming that higher quality and amenity are increasingly important differentiating factors amongst buildings competing for occupiers.
Sustainability credentials rank 12th of 16 features, consistent with previous years: sustainability matters, but the fundamentals of space and location matter more. Co-working and third-party spaces sit at the bottom of the list at 16%, reinforcing that flex is a targeted solution rather than a mainstream requirement, at least for the larger occupiers that comprised most of the survey respondents.
Wellbeing amenities are fit-for-purpose today, but the bar is rising
This is the first year the survey has asked about employee experience and wellbeing amenities, spanning end-of-trip facilities, fitness spaces and provisions for mental and physical wellbeing. The picture is one of adequacy today with rising expectations tomorrow.
48% of occupiers rate their current amenities as good or fit for purpose, and 15% describe them as extensive or high quality. 18% rate provision as limited, and just 1% say amenities are not required.
Looking forward, 57% expect to have good or fit-for-purpose amenities, and 18% expect extensive or high-quality provision. The portion reporting limited provision falls sharply. The direction is a lift in the base quality of amenity offerings, with fewer occupiers content to operate at the lower end of the scale. For landlords and developers, this shows that end-of-trip and wellbeing provision is moving towards a baseline expectation.
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Contact Us
Kirstin Cooper
Associate Director, Workplace Consulting, New Zealand
Campbell Pritchard
National Director, Leasing - Office, New Zealand
