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US$1 equals NZ$1.87

Right now, the New Zealand dollar is worth only about US$0.53. If you’re shopping with U.S. currency, you’ll find real bargains. A new three-bedroom home here sells for as little as NZ$115,000—that’s about US$60,000. 
Several North Americans, a few Britons, and a handful of other Europeans have already bought near me, along North Island’s eastern shore in the province of Hawke Bay. It’s a wonderful place to escape North America’s cold winters. We’re only a 10-minute drive to the coast and 30 minutes to sandy beaches where we can relax, swim, fish, and dive. And with the area situated as it is, near the foot of Te Mata Peak, you can spend hours hiking the trails and exploring the glorious countryside. In the open spaces are thriving vineyards. 

Head to Havelock North
I recommend you look for property in several communities here. Start in Havelock North. A satellite borough of the larger Hastings, it’s a delightful village with an Old World feel. Built about 130 years ago, a labyrinth of narrow pathways takes pedestrians to a wealth of small boutiques. The homes here in town all sport colorful window boxes and well-kept gardens. 

At the Arataki Estates, about a mile from the village, at the edge of a vineyard, developers are targeting holiday-home buyers. They’ve created several home designs you can choose from, though each has a master bedroom en suite, a second bath, a fully equipped kitchen, a breakfast/family room, a formal living room, a dining room, and a double garage. They range in specifications and price from the high-end “Tiffany” design, which is 250 square meters and boasts three bedrooms and an additional study for NZ$165,000, to the “Abbie” model, which also has three bedrooms but is smaller, at 151 square meters, and costs only NZ$115,000. 

Taradale, situated on the outskirts of Napier about 15 minutes from the coast, is another community worth considering. The Breckenridge subdivision there is still in the planning stages, but the homes promise extensive rural views, and the developers have planned on lots as large as 2 hectares. They haven’t, as yet, set the pricing. 

On Napier’s quay-side waterfront is a block of new apartments nearing completion. Right on the water, they are priced between NZ$360,000 and NZ$380,000. 
In the vicinity is a wide variety of homes on offer in well-established neighborhoods as well. Among them are these listed through Ian Scott, an agent with Tremain Real Estate:

A five-bedroom, two-bath home with three living rooms, extensive gardens, and a beautiful swimming pool. The asking price for this property in Havelock is NZ$265,000.
A delightful three-bedroom town house in Havelock that has its own courtyard and spa as well as a two-car garage. It’s on offer for NZ$169,500.

In Waimarama, a quiet setting just 20 minutes from Havelock North, is a lovely three-bedroom home with a well-tended flower garden selling for NZ$160,000. 

Bargains closer to Auckland
Farther north along the coast, about a nine-hour drive from Hawke Bay, you’ll find the new La Pointe Beach Estates 20 minutes south of Whangarei. A new northbound highway is under construction right now, and when it is complete, this area near Whangarei will be only a 90-minute drive from Aukland. Now is a good time to buy here, before the city dwellers discover its virtues. Situated on Bream Bay, an arm of the tranquil Whangarei Harbor, the sand is almost white, and you’re within easy reach of several nice beaches, all safe for swimming. 

La Pointe Beach Estates will boast tennis courts, a nine-hole golf course, six fresh-water lakes, and wonderful views. An area has been set aside for a small shopping center. For now, there are few stores in the region. Tree Point, the closest town, is really just a rural outpost. Lot prices here range from NZ$65,000 to NZ$120,000 on the beach. 

Contacts
Ian Scott, Tremain Real Estate, 1 Gillean St., Havelock North, Hawke Bay, New Zealand; tel./fax (64)6-877-4438, E-mail: iiaannss@hotmail.com, Web site: www.realenz.co.nz/ianscott
David Mackintock, Jannian Homes H.B., P.O. Box 7357, Taradale, Hawke Bay, New Zealand; tel. (64)6-843-5833, fax 6-843-5280 or 6-870-8018
Mike Woods, La Pointe Beach Estates, P.O. Box 33-1311, Takupuna, Auckland, New Zealand; tel. (64)9-489-8859

Dorothy M. Beavan lives and writes in Hastings, New Zealand. A member of our Agora International Press Corps, she is one of over 1,000 correspondents who send news from the field each month. For more information about how you can join this organization of free-lance writers, contact AIPC, St. Catherine’s Hall, Catherine Street, Waterford, Ireland; tel. (353)51-304-557, fax 51-304-561, E-mail: presscorps@compuserve.com.

Details on residency
It is difficult to gain permanent residency in New Zealand. You must meet stringent qualifications based on your income-growth potential, your age, your work history, and on how you might contribute to the economy. However, a six-month visa will be granted quickly for people who buy property, and it can be extended for a longer stay.

Several categories exist, under which you can apply for permanent residency: general skills, entrepreneurs, business investment, family, and humanitarian. For each, you must fill out an extensive questionnaire and score a certain number of points, below which applicants are not granted residency. 
According to the immigration officer at the New Zealand Embassy in the U.S., there is talk of creating a new category of immigrant: retirees, a status that would be granted to applicants over 55 who meet various other criteria. But there is nothing officially on the books yet. 

For more details about immigration issues, visit the New Zealand Government’s Web site at www.immigration.govt.nz.