Zoe Hunter: Why this year will go down in history

This year has been one to remember. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

This year has been one to remember and will no doubt go down in history.

Many economists predicted things would go south post-Covid-19 lockdown.

The housing market was not supposed to bounce back the way it has and business confidence was meant to crash, with some sectors expected to hit rock bottom.

But this doesn't seem to be the case. Kiwis have pulled through, especially here in the Bay of Plenty as people really took to heart the meaning of going local.

Despite pre-Covid predictions, the country's property market has gone absolutely berserk.

Property in the Bay of Plenty is selling at a record-low median of 30 days, with the region's annual sales volumes during November at the highest they've been since 2016.

Tauranga's median house price jumped to a record $835,000 in November 2020 compared to $700,000 in November 2019, while Rotorua's median house price jumped to $567,000.

Demand from people looking to buy businesses in the Bay is outstripping supply as economic confidence in the region bounces back.

Experts say owners are in recovery mode, with fewer insolvencies - with some businesses reporting they are busier than at the same time last year and hiring more staff.

People are opening their wallets.

Paymark says Bay shoppers spent a record $67 million in the first week of December.

The latest Westpac McDermott Miller Consumer Confidence survey shows spending appetites heading into the festive season helped to boost the Bay's consumer confidence.

It's meant NZ Post staff are delivering thousands of parcels across the Bay each week to keep up with demand.

Earlier in the year, we reported the Bay's used-car market had "gone bananas", with dealers struggling to keep up with demand and having to shop further afield for good-quality stock.

New car dealerships in the Bay were emptying out as the industry felt the aftermath of factory closures due to Covid-19 lockdown, meaning longer wait times for buyers.

The Bay community's generosity has also shone post-lockdown.

Provisional numbers showed this year's Christmas Appeal for the Tauranga Community Foodbank has already set a new record of $190,990 - the largest amount raised over the 10 years the appeal has run.

The Rotorua Christmas Appeal has also already received a record $57,365.80 in cash and food.

It's mindblowing to see many predictions of a downturn being totally reversed and many milestones achieved.

For me personally, my milestones included buying my first home, celebrating my 30th birthday and adopting an adult cat called Salami.

It's been one heck of a year for all of us.

I'm not forgetting there has been some upsetting news for some including money struggles, job losses and having to close family businesses.

But I'm choosing to focus on the positives as we head into Christmas and hopefully a brighter new year.

No matter how you've chosen to remember this year, let's not forget how far we've come.

Let's continue to be kind, keep being generous, and raise a glass to the year that we'll remember forever.

Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year!