The once-booming market for campervans in New Zealand is facing a sharp cooling period as a combination of rising fuel prices, high interest rates, and weakening consumer confidence stretches sales timelines to record lengths.
Trade Me data reveals that campervans took an average of 36.6 days to sell in February 2026, the highest duration for that month since records began in 2010, according to an article by newsroom.
This follows a peak in February 2022, when the average time to sell was just 21.7 days during the height of pandemic-driven domestic travel.
Individual sellers are feeling the impact of this market shift firsthand. Wellington resident Sharyn Aargh reported that it took six months of persistent messaging and dozens of videos to finalize the sale of her family’s campervan.
Aargh eventually agreed to a lower price in exchange for a quick cash settlement, noting that “if you want good money, you need to be patient” in the current climate.
The downturn is being exacerbated by a spike in global oil prices following recent military conflicts, which has raised the prospect of fuel rationing and increased the operational costs of “gas guzzlers”.
Investment specialist Greg Smith of Generate KiwiSaver noted that these vehicles are “significantly more expensive” to operate now, causing consumers to tighten their belts as cost-of-living pressures accelerate.
Furthermore, interest rate hikes have made financing these major outlays more difficult for the average buyer.
Major industry players are also reporting challenged conditions. Tourism Holdings, the country’s largest operator, saw its campervan sales peak during the pandemic when it offloaded 1,125 units in 2021.
However, by 2024, sales dropped to 333 units, well below the 600 sales expected in a typical year. Forsyth Barr head of research Andy Bowley indicated that the current weakness reflects softer discretionary spending and a “forward demand” effect from the earlier pandemic boom.
Tourism Holdings Chair Cathy Quinn recently stated that sales markets remain “challenged” due to macroeconomic uncertainty, with a meaningful recovery unlikely within the current financial year.
Current retail prices at the company’s RV Super Centre range from $39,990 for older 2-berth models to $199,999 for 2025 elite units. Experts suggest the market may deteriorate further as consumers remain cautious about high-value purchases.
This trend is critical for the RV industry as it signals a transition from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market, requiring dealers and private sellers to adjust pricing strategies and emphasize fuel efficiency or alternative power sources.