For the three months ended April 2013 the median sales price per hectare for dairy farms was
$34,819 (87 properties), compared to $35,487, for the three months ended March (83 properties),
and $33,132 (68 properties) for the three months ended April 2012. The median dairy farm size for
the three months ended March 2013 was 129 hectares.
Included in sales for the month of April were 29 dairy farms at a median sale value of $27,616 per
hectare. The median farm size was 129 hectares with a range of 47 hectares in the Waikato to 409
hectares in Canterbury. The median production per hectare across all dairy farms sold in April 2013
was 928kgs of milk solids.
The REINZ All Farm Price Index increased by 1.4% in the three months to April compared to the three
months to March, from 2,907.18 to 2,946.57. Compared to April 2012 the REINZ All Farm Price Index
fell by 5.2%. The REINZ All Farm Price Index adjusts for differences in farm size, location and farming
type compared to the median price per hectare, which does not adjust for these factors.
Six regions recorded increases in sales volume for the three months ended April 2013 compared to
the three months ended April 2012. Auckland recorded the largest increase in sales (+23 sales),
followed by Waikato (+11 sales) and Northland (+10 sales). Eight regions recorded decreases in sales
volume with Southland recording the largest fall (-18 sales), followed by Canterbury (-17 sales) and
Nelson (-9 sales). Compared to the three months ended March 2013 11 regions recorded an increase
in sales, lead by Manawatu/Wanganui (+13 sales).
“In spite of the earlier dry conditions that resulted in some vendors being reluctant to commit to the
marketplace, sales volumes have remained steady, prices have remained fully firm and the demand
for rural property has been consistently strong across the country,” says REINZ Rural Market
Spokesman Brian Peacocke.“Highlights this month include, strong interest in dry stock and dairy properties in the Waikato and
King Country, a re-emergence of interest in kiwifruit sector in the Bay of Plenty, steady activity in the
horticulture sector in Gisborne, and increasing demand for dairy land in the lower North Island,
underpinned by bank support.”
“In the South Island, there has been very strong demand for dairy, dairy support, finishing and arable
land across Canterbury, strong demand for drystock properties in Otago and a busy market in
Southland for all property types.”
Grazing properties accounted for the largest number of sales with 46.3% share of all sales over the
three months to April. Dairy properties accounted for 19.6%, finishing properties accounted for
18.7% and Horticulture properties accounted for 7.0% of all sales. These four property types
accounted for 91.6% of all sales during the three months ended April 2013.
