Google unveils NZ real estate site

A screen from the new Google real estate pages.

Global tech giant Google has unveiled its latest weapon to take over all aspects of the internet, with today's launch of a New Zealand real estate mapping service.

Real estate agents, franchise groups and other real estate websites are now able to upload their house listings directly into Google Maps free of charge.

Google product manager Andrew Foster said the company knew that many New Zealand home buyers were already using Google Maps to help with house-buying.

By making the listings themselves available in Google Maps, the company could "drive qualified buyers directly to listings."

Foster said it was "a simple and free way for real estate companies to make their listings even more discoverable and have them seen on an easy-to-navigate map."

Potential home buyers enter a city or suburb and see available listings represented by markers or small circles on the map. They can then refine their search by price, type of property, bedrooms, bathrooms, and parking.

The map automatically updates with relevant listings when panned or zoomed to another suburb, and when the search criteria is changed.

Chief information officer for real estate firm Harcourts Jason Wills said the internet had "become an indispensable tool for New Zealand home buyers and renters".