The median sale price for properties in Tauranga is up significantly, bucking the recent trend of falling prices and dwindling sales in the region.

The latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand statistics show that in the three month period ending December, the median sale price rose to $379,500.

This is up from $328,150 for the November period last year.

The total number of properties sold is down slightly though, to 84 from 98 in the previous three month period.

There was also an increase in the median sale price of properties in the Mount Maunganui and Papamoa area with it up to $410,000 from $395,000.

The number of properties sold in these areas did drop substantially though, down to 49 from the 75 sold in the November period.

In Western Bay of Plenty ‘country' the median price fell to $367,500 in December from $405,000 in November.

Sales volumes eased back to 46 from the 50 recorded in the November period and the 53 in December 2009.