realestate.co.nz has been named New Zealand's top small and micro workplace by Great Place To Work for the second year in a row. The ranking follows an increase in the share of staff who described it as a great place to work.
According to the property website, 95% of employees gave that assessment, up from 93% a year earlier. The result comes as the business continues to grow and introduce new products, including AI image and voice search.
Great Place To Work said this year's assessment drew on responses from thousands of employees across New Zealand, spanning different sectors and organisation sizes. The organisation describes itself as a global authority on workplace culture and says it has surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide since 1992.
For realestate.co.nz, the award follows an earlier re-certification by Great Place To Work. Operating since 1996, it is one of New Zealand's longest-running property websites and focuses solely on property listings and search tools.
Sarah Wood, Chief Executive Officer of realestate.co.nz, linked the repeat ranking to decisions about staff support and development rather than any single initiative.
"Taking the top spot last year was an incredibly proud moment. Winning again, with even stronger feedback from our team, tells us we're continuing to get the things that matter right.
Our culture isn't the result of one policy or benefit. It is something we build every day through consistent decisions about how our people are supported, developed and recognised for their work.
You see it in the way our people support one another, share ideas, work through challenges and take the time to celebrate success together," Wood said.
The company said its workplace approach is built around the values of Excellence, Care and Growth. It highlighted several staff benefits, including 10 additional wellbeing leave days each year, fully subsidised health insurance, individual learning and development budgets, and an annual scholarship worth $20,000 for study or professional development.
Support measures
The extra leave can be used for personal administration, rest or time with family, while the scholarship is aimed at advanced study, work-related projects or other development opportunities. realestate.co.nz also pointed to quarterly company-wide events as part of its efforts to maintain staff connection.
The ranking stands out because many businesses report pressure on staff engagement as they expand. realestate.co.nz said its employee sentiment improved during a period of commercial growth.
Wood said maintaining workplace culture during expansion required deliberate choices.
"Care means creating a workplace where people feel supported and have the time and flexibility to look after their wellbeing. When people have that support, alongside opportunities to learn and grow, they're better placed to do excellent work," Wood said.
Addressing the balance between growth and internal culture, she said: "Growing a business while protecting what makes its culture special is not always easy.
Growth brings change, new people and greater expectations. We're proud to have grown the business while continuing to improve the experience of our people. For us, the two go hand in hand."
The company's broader profile has also grown through product changes in the property search market. It said it was the first in New Zealand to launch AI image and voice search, adding a technology dimension to a business better known for residential, lifestyle, rural and commercial listings.
Even so, the workplace ranking was based on employee responses rather than product development or market position. The increase from 93% to 95% suggests staff sentiment remained strong despite the demands that often accompany growth, organisational change and higher performance expectations.
Across New Zealand, employers have faced scrutiny over how they support staff wellbeing, flexibility and career development as competition for skilled workers remains tight in many fields. Awards based on employee surveys have become one way for companies to benchmark culture internally and against peers.
For realestate.co.nz, the latest result delivers back-to-back wins in the small and micro employer category, with 95% of staff saying it is a great place to work.