How New STR Regulation Could Reshape the STR Landscape
By Scott Mears - Aspire PRO Enterprises
New Zealand may be on the edge of a regulatory shift in the short-term rental (STR) market.
Calls for a national STR register are growing louder, sparked by what’s happening overseas—especially in Spain, where a government crackdown is forcing Airbnb to delist tens of thousands of unregistered properties.
Locally, Queenstown and Christchurch have already rolled out their own STR rules, but the real challenge lies in the lack of consistency across regions and the absence of a central enforcement model.
For Aspire PRO, these changes signal both a challenge and an opportunity. As a structured, professional operator, Aspire is already ahead of the curve. While mum-and-dad hosts may struggle to comply with evolving regulation, we welcome a national register.
Why? Because it levels the playing field. We operate transparently, tax-compliantly and with health and safety standards already in place. Clear rules mean fewer cowboy listings and more trust from guests, investors and communities.
Thousands of tourism protesters marched through Palma in Majorca in June
Why It Matters
Spain’s example shows what can happen when STR markets grow without clear oversight. Their digital register—live since January—now requires every listing to display a licence number. Failure to comply means delisting. Local authorities there are moving fast: Barcelona plans to eliminate all short-term rentals by 2028, and other regions are introducing strict density limits.
While New Zealand lawmakers aren’t looking to ban AirBnbs, we’re not immune. Queenstown’s housing shortage and tourism pressures have already led to resource consent rules for entire-home STRs. Without national leadership, more councils may introduce their own patchwork rules—confusing hosts and fragmenting the market.
Aspire PRO’s structured model thrives in regulated environments, but the lack of national direction slows investment decisions, onboarding, and planning.
What Aspire PRO Is Doing
Aspire is proactively advocating for sensible, centralised STR rules that support:
Fair competition with traditional accommodation providers
Clear guidelines for compliance, insurance, and tax
Better data to inform councils without overburdening operators
Community wellbeing, especially in high-pressure housing areas
We already meet or exceed the standards being proposed and are well-positioned to scale in a regulated environment. We’re also educating investors about the evolving landscape—so they can confidently enter or expand their STR portfolios with us.
The Bottom Line
Regulation isn’t a threat—it’s likely the future. Aspire PRO stands for professionalism, consistency, and transparency in the STR space. If a national register comes in, we’re ready. And when the dust settles, those who are prepared will be the ones who grow.
If you’re unsure what these changes mean for your investment or you’re looking to enter the STR space with confidence, we’re here to guide you—compliantly, profitably and sustainably.