Living the Kiwi Dream in Regional New Zealand

A competitive housing market is leading many city people to reconsider their options when it comes to setting up a home for the long term.

Flexible work environments and a continuously evolving technological landscape is allowing people to set up in regional New Zealand, but which is the region to pick?

We delve further into two specific questions about settling in regional New Zealand below.

What is the best place to move to in New Zealand?
The true answer is that anyone would be lucky to live anywhere in New Zealand. But we think the Hawkes Bay is one of the true gems of Aotearoa.

Labelled the fruit bowl of New Zealand, Hawkes Bay is consistently in the running to record the country’s highest sunshine hours and is home to acres of New Zealand’s orchards, stunning coastal landscapes and a delicious wine and food scene. Add some affordable housing options, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better place to live.

What are some cheap but nice places to live in New Zealand?
As housing prices remain sky-high in New Zealand’s main centres, regional New Zealand is becoming an increasingly popular option for people looking to buy a property. The Hawkes Bay on the North Island’s east coast is a 5-and-a-half hour drive from Auckland, and just 4-and-a-half hour drive from Wellington, making it a desirable place for city dwellers to explore and set up home.

The average cost of buying a home in the Hawkes Bay is around $500,000, about half the price one would pay for a similar home in Auckland.

Building a home in the Hawkes Bay has also been made even easier after Hawkes Bay local, and experienced builder Warren Jardine set up a David Reid Homes Franchise in the region.Warren and his team can build homes in the Hawkes Bay to suit all budgets and all styles, from pre-designed plans right through to 100% custom designed and built homes.

Alongside affordable housing, Hawkes Bay’s population of 130,000 pales in comparison to Auckland’s estimated 1.6million people, removing many of the pressures associated with populated city living. Congested roads will become a distant memory, and the commute to work, if you have one at all, will feel like a Sunday drive when compared to the hour (or more) required in the city.

Primary industries in the way of fruit, vegetables, wine, food processing, forestry and manufacturing make up a large portion of the jobs in the Hawkes Bay, while tourism has also become important, with cruise ships bringing in visitors to explore the region’s wineries, breweries, iconic art deco buildings, galleries, museums and sports facilities.

And lets not forget the increasing number of workplaces allowing employees to work remotely, not to mention the abundance of freelance professionals working for clients all over the globe from the comfort of their own homes.

Word of the good life in the Hawkes Bay is quickly catching on, and recent analysis of the housing market shows property prices are seeing an increase as a result, while prices in the larger centres plateau.

Warren himself moved to the Hawkes Bay more than 12 years ago from Melbourne. Initially visiting for a break, Warren fell in love with the lifestyle the region had to offer and it was enough for him to put an end to his life in Australia, which consisted of owning and operating a construction business in Melbourne for 18 years.

With an abundance of space and a reputation as an emerging region, there is plenty of room to grow, explore and develop business ideas and families. These people have already made the move; if you still need convincing, explore their stories here.