Even before the WRC team decision he said he had a few other projects happening this year too - while he wasn't planning to contest NZRC (nothing left to prove, just the enjoyment of driving the roads), I think his NZ team are developing a second Hyundai AP4 car.
He has unfinished business with the Ashley Forest Rallysprint (a popular NZ event) after mechanical failures previous years, maybe he is building something mental to smash the record there.
Its possible the empty garage means bigger changes though.