British dog owners settling in NZ are often surprised at the restrictions on dogs in New Zealand. Expats arrive in NZ expecting it to be a great country for dogs - lots of countryside and wide open spaces for starters, but the reality is that attitudes to dogs are restrictive. Dogs are not allowed [...]
There is little doubt that 2011 has been a testing year for the overseas property market. Without doubt there have been some incredible bargains to be found in locations across the globe, but the progress that could have been made in many areas has been halted by a severe lack of economic confidence or an [...]
New arrivals in NZ have been warned that the cost of living there might not be as cheap as first expected and they should do as much research into the day-to-day expenses, such as shopping, as they do into larger things, such as salaries and house prices. “Food prices really are astronomical here,” said Pattie [...]
Brits with construction and engineering skills are needed in New Zealand, after another earthquake in Canterbury on December 23 increased the need for assistance rebuilding the region, particularly the city of Christchurch. Many residents left Christchurch, which is popular with British expats, after the devastating earthquake there in February, leaving a shortage of skilled [...]
Expats in New Zealand with a soft spot for the Royal Family will welcome the news that Prince Charles will be visiting the country as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. Prince Charles last visited New Zealand in 2005 but it will be his wife the Duchess of Cornwall's first visit there. [...]
If you’re moving to New Zealand soon and plan to start house-hunting, don’t be alarmed if you come across strange dwellings dug into the sides of mounds or end up with a wizard as a neighbour. Chances are you’ve stumbled on to a set for The Hobbit movies. New Zealand is bracing itself for a [...]
A 102-year-old great-grandmother has emigrated to New Zealand in time for her 103rd birthday on Boxing Day, prompted by the news that the care home she was living in is to close down. Louise Sydes arrived in Auckland from Kent last month, after her daughter, who already lives in New Zealand, appealed to the New [...]
More and more people than ever are turning to renting in New Zealand, because the average property price to buy is so high. It is also becoming easier to borrow money which means the outlook is good for lower interest rates, thus creating a greater turnover and more borrower demand. The latest report from Roost [...]
An indicator of New Zealand’s depressed market, the number of properties sold in the area of Rororua last month fell to its lowest level since January. The average property price also fell to a meagre $215,000, which proved disappointing for the real estate sector. New figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand show [...]
More than 6,500 Brits were granted residency in New Zealand in the year ending July 2011, making the UK the top source country for immigrants there. Of the 40,737 migrants granted residency in New Zealand last year, 6,549 were from the United Kingdom, followed by 5,262 from China, 4,218 from India, 3,396 from South Africa, [...]