Auckland's property sales loss has become Queenstown's gain

The super-city's share of five-million dollar-plus property sales has dipped by 14-percent in the last year alone.

Meanwhile, Queenstown's has surged by more than 20-percent in the same period.

Paterson Luxury Real Estate's Caleb Paterson says wealthy Aucklanders are looking for a lifestyle change -- with many making their holiday homes their permanent residences.

He says those with remaining ties to Auckland are opting to buy an apartment to stay in, while doing business there.