The REINZ recorded 331 farm sales in the three months to the end of March, down 14.7% compared to the same period of last year.
In the 12 months to March 1448 farms were sold, which was down 4.3% compared to the previous 12 months, which was mainly caused by a drop in dairy farm sales, which were down 28% compared to the previous 12 months and fewer finishing farm sales, which were down 16.3%.
Conversely, grazing property sales were up 19.3% as were arable farms sales +4.5%.
However prices were stronger overall, with the REINZ All Farm Price Index, which adjusts for differences in farm type, size and location, up 11.9% over the three months to March compared to a year earlier.
The Dairy Farm Price Index, which adjusts for differences in farm size and location, was up 3.2% compared to a year earlier.
REINZ rural spokesman Brian Peacocke said several factors were contributing to the overall decline in sales, including:
increasing numbers of farmers retiring
increasing costs putting profits under pressure
difficulty obtaining qualified labour
compliance issues
lack of empathy from central government
volatility of income and climate
However Peacocke said there were also positives in the sector which included:
interest and exchange rates at encouraging levels
income levels that were good for lamb and fine wool, solid for beef, improving for dairy and excellent for some horticultural products.
Lifestyle bocks sales were also down on a year ago, with 1612 lifestyle properties selling in the three months to March, down 6.1% compared to the same period of last year.
In the 12 months to March 6984 lifestyle properties were sold, down 4.8% compared to the previous 12 months.
The median price of lifestyle properties sold in the three months to March was $680,000, which was up 5% compared to 12 months earlier.