New Zealand

If any place knows the next best thing, it must be Silicon Valley, home of the computer and Internet revolution. So when I kept hearing about South Bay residents moving to New Zealand I had to investigate. The buzz started with my neighbor Kristi Ford, a marketing executive who said she was giving up her career to become a yoga instructor in New Zealand. Shortly afterwards I heard that Bardon, a winery owner, had purchased a place in Christchurch to live in half the year. Then I toured a house on the market, because, you guessed it, the couple was moving to New Zealand.

This small country is luring Americans with beautiful scenery, liberal politics, excellent schools, a clean environment and affordable housing. Even the Immigration Project Manager for Positively Wellington Business, Shawn Gilholey, is a former high tech executive from San Jose! “The country has major skills shortages so the government is marketing New Zealand to Americans as a place to live and work,” says Gilhooley. 

The country is looking for workers in high tech, health care, biotechnology, manufacturing and the plumbing and building trades, according to Gilhooley. Bruce Barrows, with New Zealand Immigration, says they just hired three marketing directors to work in the States. “They’re making appearances at professional events to let people know that New Zealand is an opportunity for a new life,” he says. 

Americans are increasingly responding to the invitation after viewing the Lord of the Rings film trilogy -  shot in the lush countryside of New Zealand. That green landscape is fed by water so you have to be tolerant of a long rainy season, but Gilhooley says it’s worth it. “I don’t miss the long commutes or pressure of the Bay Area,” she says. “I was working so hard that my husband didn’t know I could cook. Now, instead of going out to restaurants, we usually eat at home with our neighbors.”

“The people here are fantastic, mostly laid back and really seem to embrace the idea of live and let live,” says Ford, who loved the country so much she married a New Zealander. “I've found that Kiwi's, (the nickname for locals), tend to speak their mind and so you always know where you stand with someone.”

The Spratts were pleasantly surprised by the low crime rate. Ann saw a group of young schoolgirls waiting for their bus late one afternoon and it was getting dark. Concerned, she asked if they wanted a ride home and was surprised when they said no, they were perfectly safe. “Can you imagine that happening in the States!” exclaims Mike. The Spratts and other residents also believe New Zealand is safer from terrorists. “We’re so small we’re not on anyone’s target list,” says Mike. Despite it’s size, the country has tremendous diversity in geography.

The allure of New Zealand has caused real estate prices to soar, but it’s leveling off. Chris Palmer with Premium Real Estate on Waiheke Island says that “…the market has sobered up a little after rising somewhere between 50% -100% over the last 3 years. Property prices begin around $200,000 (U.S.) for a modest non-coastal home and up to $3 million (U.S.) for a house on coastal acreage.” Instead of multiple listing services, each realtor has private listings of properties for sale. The average sales commission is around 3%, much lower than in the U.S., and the seller pays all of the costs, including marketing.

If you decide to make the move, Ann says the New Zealand government is very helpful.