Awards Refresh – 2026

The 2026 REINZ Awards include a refreshed approach designed to reflect today’s real estate landscape. Shaped by member feedback, sector group input and industry consultation, the updates focus on clearer criteria, more representative categories in some areas, and strengthened verification and auditing processes. In this section, you’ll find a summary of what’s changed, what’s staying the same, and where to find further detail.

What's changed - and what hasn't

What's changed for 2026

Here is a summary of the key updates to award categories, structure and administration.

Real estate sales categories (Residential, Rural, and C&I)

Previously	Now
The ‘Overall’ categories were sometimes misunderstood as representing the “best of the best”, when in fact they related to partnership or team-supported operating models. Individual awards did not clearly distinguish between solo operators and those working with licensed PAs.	The word “Overall” has been removed from all categories. New Sales Partnership and Sales Team award categories have been introduced alongside Individual categories in Residential and Rural sales awards. Licensed Personal Assistants (PAs) will now be formally acknowledged for the value they add to a salesperson’s day-to-day business and considered as part of a Partnership or Team entry where applicable. The Commercial & Industrial sales categories now include a new Sales Partnership Award as well as the individual C&I Salesperson of the Year categories, but no Team category due to their operating structures. Note: The Business Broking sales categories remain Individual and Rising Star, with no Partnership or Team categories, as they have always been.

Previously

Now

The ‘Overall’ categories were sometimes misunderstood as representing the “best of the best”, when in fact they related to partnership or team-supported operating models.

Individual awards did not clearly distinguish between solo operators and those working with licensed PAs.

The word “Overall” has been removed from all categories.
New Sales Partnership and Sales Team award categories have been introduced alongside Individual categories in Residential and Rural sales awards.
Licensed Personal Assistants (PAs) will now be formally acknowledged for the value they add to a salesperson’s day-to-day business and considered as part of a Partnership or Team entry where applicable.
The Commercial & Industrial sales categories now include a new Sales Partnership Award as well as the individual C&I Salesperson of the Year categories, but no Team category due to their operating structures.
Note: The Business Broking sales categories remain Individual and Rising Star, with no Partnership or Team categories, as they have always been.

Agency and office category refinements

Previously	Now
Agency categories were assessed on the basis of one legal entity, which did not always reflect how multi-office businesses operate under a single licence. Rural Office categories included Small, Medium and Large, but almost all members in this sector matched the Small or Medium criteria. Business Broking office categories did not reflect the large number of member offices with fewer than five licensed agents. Business Broking offices could enter multiple size categories. The agency categories were named Small, Medium, and Large agency.	Agency categories are now assessed on the basis of one licensee. The large Rural Office category has been removed (Small and Medium remain, with small being those with 6 or fewer licensed salespeople and medium 7+). A Rural Region of the Year category has been created – recognising excellence across REINZ’s five rural regions. The brand with the highest total revenue in each region will be named Regional Winner. The five Regional Winners will compete for the overall title of REINZ Rural Region of the Year, which will be announced on Awards Night. New Business Broking Emerging Office of the Year (5 or fewer agents). As a consequence of introducing the Emerging Office Award, the Small, Medium and Large Business Broking Office category sizes have changed to 6-15, 16-25 and 26+ respectively. Business Broking offices may enter one office category only to ensure a level playing field within each category. Small Agency of the Year has now been named Boutique Agency of the Year, reflecting positioning rather than size alone.

Previously

Now

Agency categories were assessed on the basis of one legal entity, which did not always reflect how multi-office businesses operate under a single licence.
Rural Office categories included Small, Medium and Large, but almost all members in this sector matched the Small or Medium criteria.
Business Broking office categories did not reflect the large number of member offices with fewer than five licensed agents.

Business Broking offices could enter multiple size categories.
The agency categories were named Small, Medium, and Large agency.

Agency categories are now assessed on the basis of one licensee.
The large Rural Office category has been removed (Small and Medium remain, with small being those with 6 or fewer licensed salespeople and medium 7+).
A Rural Region of the Year category has been created – recognising excellence across REINZ’s five rural regions. The brand with the highest total revenue in each region will be named Regional Winner. The five Regional Winners will compete for the overall title of REINZ Rural Region of the Year, which will be announced on Awards Night.
New Business Broking Emerging Office of the Year (5 or fewer agents).
As a consequence of introducing the Emerging Office Award, the Small, Medium and Large Business Broking Office category sizes have changed to 6-15, 16-25 and 26+ respectively.
Business Broking offices may enter one office category only to ensure a level playing field within each category.
Small Agency of the Year has now been named Boutique Agency of the Year, reflecting positioning rather than size alone.

Residential Property Management (RPM) refresh

Previously	Now
Entries were largely based on narrative and qualitative information, with less focus on consistent, measurable performance data.	To improve fairness across offices of different sizes, RPM Office categories will now be assessed primarily on a proportional basis (e.g. percentage-based performance and revenue per property under management), rather than on absolute totals. Information required for the majority of categories is data that most RPM professionals would already hold within their property management systems and business reporting. New Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Residential Property Management Sector (20+ years in the industry).

Previously

Now

Entries were largely based on narrative and qualitative information, with less focus on consistent, measurable performance data.

To improve fairness across offices of different sizes, RPM Office categories will now be assessed primarily on a proportional basis (e.g. percentage-based performance and revenue per property under management), rather than on absolute totals.
Information required for the majority of categories is data that most RPM professionals would already hold within their property management systems and business reporting.
New Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Residential Property Management Sector (20+ years in the industry).

Entry fee

Previously	Now
No entry fee.	A nominal entry fee of $25 + GST per submission has been introduced for most award categories. This contributes to the administrative and verification processes required to maintain the integrity of the Awards. The following categories remain exempt from the entry fee: Community Service Awards Staff Wellbeing Award Award for Outstanding Contribution to the RPM Sector