New figures show January house listings slumped to the lowest level in four years.

Property prices and sales slumped in December, with soft prices predicted to continue this year. Economist Chris Tennent-Brown said it would remain titled in favour of buyers.

A rogue exec working for a Chinese company part owned by the Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has escaped prosecution for unauthorised property sales which appear likely to leave the NZX-listed hotelier out of pocket.

Mark Hotchin is living a life few Kiwis could dream of, despite a court order freezing his NZ assets.

One of New Zealand's top hotels, the Westin has been stripped of its Qualmark licence as a bitter battle between unit owners and the receiver of the hotel's management company continues.

Failed property developer May Wang's attempt to avoid bankruptcy in the Auckland High Court has been rejected after the IRD objected to a creditor repayment plan.

NZ property values are beginning to stabilise, but are still 5.6 per cent below the market peak in 2007.