Rents are rising again -- particularly in regional New Zealand

Trade Me's latest price Index shows national median weekly rent hit a new record of 545-dollars in June -- up seven-percent on a year ago.

Rents rose faster outside the main centres -- with the median increasing 16.3 percent in Hawke's Bay, 15.9 percent in Manawatu-Whanganui, and more than 11 percent in Northland.

It's the highest it's ever been in Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui and Gisborne.