Here is a high-level summary of what’s changing for each sector, along with an industry-wide snapshot.
Criteria have been clarified and refined in a number of categories.
Several new award categories have been introduced for 2026.
Verification and auditing processes have been strengthened.
A nominal entry fee of $25 + GST per submission has been introduced to support verification and auditing processes.
RPM categories now require more comparable and measurable information, which should be readily available in the systems RPM professionals use (in other sectors, the information required to enter remains largely unchanged).
A new Supreme Sales Performance of the Year Award has been introduced to acknowledge the 'best of the best' across all the real estate sales awards. The highest performing salesperson, partnership or team from the winners of all residential, rural and C&I sales awards will be announced at the gala dinner.
Clearer distinction introduced between individual operators and those working collaboratively, leading to two new categories:
New Sales Partnership of the Year category for two salespeople working as partners or an individual working with one licensed PA, whether they are ‘non selling’ or selling. REINZ recognises that some Licensed PAs hold a licence for compliance or future-proofing purposes and may operate entirely in a support capacity without prospecting, selling activity, or commission sharing. However, for the purposes of clarity, transparency and fairness, it is important that Licensed PAs are acknowledged in our Awards for the value they add to a salesperson's day-to-day business.
New Sales Team of the Year category (recognising multi-person teams of 3+ licensed salespeople, including licensed PAs).
“Overall” has been removed from category titles.
Clearer distinction introduced between individual operators and those working collaboratively, leading to two new categories:
New Sales Partnership of the Year category for two salespeople working as partners or an individual working with one licensed PA, whether they are ‘non selling’ or selling. REINZ recognises that some Licensed PAs hold a licence for compliance or future-proofing purposes and may operate entirely in a support capacity without prospecting, selling activity, or commission sharing. However, for the purposes of clarity, transparency and fairness, it is important that Licensed PAs are acknowledged for the value they add to a salesperson's day-to-day business.
New Sales Team of the Year category (recognising multi-person teams of 3+ licensed salespeople, including licensed PAs).
New REINZ Rural Region of the Year award. This award recognises the highest-performing rural brand in each REINZ region, measured by total revenue generated from rural sales within that region during the Awards Year. It is designed to benchmark brands against one another at a regional level, celebrating scale, consistency, and overall performance across New Zealand’s rural real estate sector. The Winning brand is announced on Awards Night as the top performer from the five regional winners.
The large Rural Office of the Year category has been removed - Small and Medium remain with a small office being one that has 6 or fewer licensed salespeople and a medium office 7 or more.
“Overall” has been removed from category titles.
New Sales Deal of the Year award, to recognise a single, completed commercial or industrial property transaction. The award assesses eligible transactions completed within the specified period and verified by an independent auditor, with judging based on the settlement date.
New Commercial Leasing Deal of the Year award, to recognise a single completed commercial property leasing transaction that demonstrates scale and commercial value. The award focuses on qualifying lease deals completed within the specified period and verified by an independent auditor.
The Individual Salesperson category remains the same – but without the word ‘Individual’ in the title (i.e. the award is simply C&I Salesperson of the Year); and a new C&I Sales Partnership of the Year category has been added in (NB: there is no Team category for C&I).
New Deal of the Year award, to recognise an outstanding business sales transaction, assessed on verified deal value and compliance with the award criteria, to ensure consistency, transparency, and integrity across all entries.
New Emerging Office of the Year (5 or fewer agents) category. This was introduced in light of feedback from a significant number of our Business Broking members who have smaller teams.
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 within each office category and encourage more entries.
Sales categories remain the same, with Individual and Rising Star (and no partnership or team category). Note: the title for Business Broking Salesperson of the Year no longer has the word ‘Individual’ in front of it, but it is otherwise unchanged.
Entry format updated to include more comparable and measurable evidence-based performance metrics. The information required is data that the majority of RPM members should be able to access through their systems. If the required platforms and systems for recording data are not already in place with some members we encourage them to consider entering the 2027 awards and start preparing.
New Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Residential Property Management Sector (20+ years in the industry). The winner will be someone who is nominated by their peers. This award is designed to acknowledge dedication to the industry and as such is purely subjective and based on nominations only. The winner will be someone who has a long track record of demonstrating outstanding commitment to the residential property management sector through their career. This award is judged on service and overall contribution, with one winner selected based on their outstanding impact on the residential property management sector.
Agency categories now assessed on the basis of one licensee (rather than one legal entity).
“Small Agency of the Year” renamed Boutique Agency of the Year, reflecting position rather than size alone.
New Franchise of the Year Award alongside Agency Awards.
New Staff Wellbeing Award.
Community Service awards reshaped into:
Community Service Initiative of the Year
Community Service Brand Award