Renters in New Zealand are set to face easier times than those across the Tasman, a new rental report suggests. This story was first published on RNZ The latest Regional Rental Affordability Index released by property firm Property Brokers and The Property Knowledge, led by Professor Graham Squires, showed affordability had improved for nearly every region of New Zealand in the past year as rents eased and incomes rose. Average rents now consume 39% of monthly earnings per job on a national basis, down 5% in a year.