New Zealand | Live a Better Life With the Kiwis
New Zealand | Live a Better Life With the Kiwis
New Zealand’s Government Extends Summer By 3 Weeks
Imagine spending Christmas Day on the beach. Nothing unusual about swimming, surfing and sun-tanning in the depths of December, you may think. Not if you can vacation somewhere warm and sunny.
But things like planning, expense and getting time off work don’t even enter the equation for New Zealand’s 4 million, or so, people.
In this English-speaking corner of the South Pacific, most people live within a 30 to 45 minute drive of a beach. At Christmas, everyone can get to enjoy hot December sunshine and clear blue skies.
New Zealand is in the Southern Hemisphere so our winter is their summer. It’s a time for music concerts in the parks, long evenings in the great outdoors, rigging up a sailboat. A time for teaching kids to play cricket on the back lawn…smoking fish in the back yard of a rustic vacation cottage…lunching on the ‘Catch of the Day’ on the deck of an outdoor cafe.
These things are all part of the ‘Kiwi lifestyle’. According to a recent New Zealand government survey, 90% of residents believe they have a great quality of life. Amazingly, that’s in the city. The figure rises to 91% outside Auckland and the other major urban settlements.
The reason why locals rate their way of life so highly is no secret to anyone who has ever traveled to New Zealand. But now the country is putting the word out to a wider audience.
You see, along with an enviable lifestyle and mind-blowing scenery, one of the other things New Zealand has is a skill shortage. And its government is doing everything it can to attract people… including:
* Operating a specialist recruitment/immigration office in California. There’s a big demand for trades people, professionals and business people.
* Giving big tax breaks to transitional residents
* Officially extending summertime by 3 weeks
Here’s another great incentive to buy a home here. If and when you come to sell your property, you’ll pay no capital gains tax in New Zealand. And get this. You’ll still find homes—and we mean proper houses you can move into—for less than US$50,000!
Of course, such opportunities may not last forever, but just let me make one thing clear. Taking advantage of much of what NZ can offer doesn’t mean you have to arrive as a skilled migrant to settle here permanently.
Enjoying what are effectively ‘endless summers’, many Americans purchase a home and live in New Zealand for part of the year.
“But isn’t New Zealand on the other side of the world?’’ you may be asking.
Well, geographically it is—but it’s closer than you may think. Just 12 hours from LAX, it means your family is only a half-day away.
New Zealand is more distant than many countries, admittedly, but in this instance it’s a positive. Distance from everywhere else—including the world’s trouble spots—is exactly what has helped maintain its old-world charm, its tight-knit community feel, and its low crime rate.
If you’re looking for a place to start over, launch a business, or spend part of your retirement, New Zealand offers a way of life that’s hard to beat. Plus you’ll enjoy a cost of living that’s less than half that in the United States.
Safe, Affordable and Sunny
New Zealand Has the Lot
Awaken a feeling of true adventure
Laid-back beach towns, hip cities, wide open spaces, and scenic splendors. First World comforts, low living costs. Cheap health-care, an English-speaking population, free schooling, great infrastructure, and one of the world’s highest “longevity” figures.
Already, New Zealand’s Immigration Service is reporting a migration wave of Californians. According to the country’s U.S. Ambassador, Charles Swindells, most of those Americans were in pursuit of “a quality of life you can’t duplicate in the States.”
So if finding out about this opportunity interests you, I urge you to read on. I’ll show you the exact reasons why so many Americans are moving to New Zealand…as well as how you could do it yourself.
Moving—and investing. In the past five years, Americans have been involved in nearly 40% of NZ’s total foreign investment. These are mostly individuals, not corporate interests—and they’ve been buying everything from vineyard land to beach houses to Auckland office towers.
Surf, Turf and Middle Earth Wonderland
Whales spout, dolphins frolic and surf booms onto pristine sands where yours might be the only footprints. Geysers gush and mud pools bubble. Snow-capped mountains tower above a picture-book landscape where vineyards, orchards and new settlers thrive.
New Zealand doesn’t take much selling as a place to live. It’s so awesomely beautiful; almost every visitor comes back a cheerleader.
Visit this topsy-turvy, upside-down land for yourself, and you’ll soon understand all the reasons why we think it’s so special. Made famous as the location for The Lord of the Rings movies, its elemental landscapes are so pristine you’d swear they were newly-minted.
Covering around 1,000 miles in length, NZ’s North Island and South Island make up what the native Maori people call Aotearoa—the Land of the Long White Cloud. Countless settlers have named it “Godzone’’: God’s own country.
There are mighty fjords, mirror-calm lakes and rainforests lush with giant ferns…places where you can go swimming and skiing on the same day…beaches with natural hot springs where you even can dig your own spa!
But New Zealand has much more than surf, turf and Middle Earth wonderland. Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are all vibrant urban centers. And numerous small coastal and rural towns offer an enviable community spirit that’s increasingly harder to find in today’s world.
The Best Country in the World
Magnificent natural beauty, rare birds, and a wide range of outdoor activities await you.
We’ve never met anybody who hasn’t returned completely smitten by New Zealand. It’s not just us who have fallen for its charms. In 2005, Condé Nast Traveler named it “The Best Country In The World.”
If you’d like to discover why, here’s your chance. Next spring, (end-of-summer/early fall in NZ), International Living is holding its second Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar in Auckland, March 5-7, 2008.
Immediately afterwards, there’ll be an optional one day Auckland City Real Estate Tour.
We’re tremendously excited about both the tour and the stellar line-up we’ve put together for the seminar. From our team of high-caliber experts and knowledgeable expats, you’ll learn the ins and outs of New Zealand residency, home ownership and business opportunities…find out about special tax advantages…discover all you need to know about healthcare, schooling and the unbeatable Kiwi lifestyle.
For the seminar, we’ll stay in Auckland’s Hyatt Regency—a top class hotel with stunning harbor views just a few minutes walk from the downtown center. Gazing out to a gulf full of islands, Auckland is regularly voted one of the world’s best lifestyle cities.
“New York, Paris and London may be the epitome of cool, but Wellington and Auckland outrank them all on quality of life.”
That headline is from a NZ newspaper, but it’s not a case of locals blowing their own trumpets. Mercer’s Human Resource Consulting is like an expat bible for the global corporate world—they produce a range of indices including one on Quality of Life. Taken on 215 cities around the world, their 2007 index has Auckland ranked at number 5 and Wellington 12.
The only cities to actually outrank Auckland (and not by very much) are Zurich, Geneva, Vancouver and Vienna. And the locals don’t enjoy December beach BBQs in any of those cities!
But before going into details about the seminar and why Auckland is a wonderful place to hold it, let me give you more of a taster of a New Zealand summertime.
Summer Just Got Longer
The summer sun setting over Auckland
Here at IL we have our own ‘native Kiwi’: Events director, Grant Perry. He tells us that summertime in New Zealand has just got longer. Beginning this year, 2007, the government will extend daylight saving by 3 weeks. Great news for seminar attendees and also for the add-on tour—you’ll be able to enjoy extra time outdoors on your trip.
I’m writing this letter at the start of our fall, but New Zealanders will soon be basking in the gilded glow of the South Pacific summertime. While many of us endure months of snow and shivers, they’ll be enjoying hokey-pokey ice-creams on the beach and firing up the BBQ.
But think about this. If you divvied up your time between the U.S. and New Zealand—which is what quite a few retirees do—you could effectively be experiencing endless summers. And like I said earlier, it doesn’t entail traveling to the ends of the earth—Auckland is only a 12-hour direct flight from Los Angeles. It’ll take you that to reach Europe from the western U.S.
Just take a minute to consider what ‘endless summer’ could mean for you…
While friends back home are clad in winter misery, you could be watching dolphins, whales and penguins. Pulling on your hiking boots and ‘’tramping’’ coastal paths…exploring old mining towns like Arrowtown and panning for gold…taking glacier walks amongst the towering Southern Alps…discovering the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua, the country’s Maori heartland.
Bucolic bliss—an hour’s drive from
downtown Auckland
“Two years ago, my husband and I acquired a coastal farm in New Zealand,” says Bonnie Rule. (They live and work here for 3-4 months a year, but expect to extend it six months annually.)
“Rick works Tuesday to Saturday from 4 a.m. until 2 p.m., coordinating with California broker’s hours. When he’s finished his work day, we head out the door for hikes and swims, returning in time to cook an early dinner so he can turn in by 9. (On weekends, we whoop it up and stay up until 10.)
“My husband’s 21-year-old daughter, Mackenzie, flew over with us the day after Christmas and stayed two-and-a-half weeks. We had plans to tour her around the country, but once she saw the white sand beaches, tropical streams, and bucolic countryside here on the property, we couldn’t budge her.’
Summertime in New Zealand—and the living is beyond easy. Music (opera, jazz, classical and rock) spills into the parks of Auckland, Wellington and numerous smaller cities and towns.
Yachts tack their white-sailed passage through the cobalt blue waters of Auckland’s island-studded gulf and the mazy waterways of the Marlborough Sounds. Around the Bay of Plenty, fishing enthusiasts are hauling in trophy standard marlin. Grapes ripen on vines and vegetable plots overflow with avocados, tomatoes and sweet-corn.
Cottage gardens are in full rose and lavender bloom. Friends are hiking, families are picnicking and lovers are punting along willow-hung rivers. The sound of a lazy-day afternoon? It’s the drone of honey-bees, the chink of glasses outside a shady inn and the thwack of ball against cricket bat.
It’s also the sweet sound your club makes when you strike the perfect putt. Tiger Woods’ caddie comes from New Zealand and, with 482,000 regularly playing, golf is the country’s number one participant sport. According to the NZ golf association, its 385 courses are the highest number per capita in the world. And it’s incredibly affordable. Green fees start at less than US$7, and you can also tee off at some of the very best courses for under US$70.
Wherever you go in New Zealand, you’ll always be within 45 minutes drive of a course. Golfing friends tell us that Kauri Cliffs offers one of the toughest tests of golf you’ll find anywhere—and what makes it even tougher are the distractingly spectacular views of the Bay of Islands. Cape Kidnappers is ideal for combining golf with vineyard visits. And at Rotorua, the hazards include boiling thermal mud pools on the course!
Beaches, Beaches, Beaches
Many NZ families have a cute little “bach’’ (a weatherboard cottage) for oceanside weekends and vacations. At the time of writing, one of these holiday cottages (2 bedrooms) lists for an equivalent US $103,500. It’s at Tangimoana, a little beach settlement in the sand dune landscape of the North Island’s Manawatu region.
If you’re interested in Maori heritage, there’s a lot to fascinate. The name Tangimoana means “The Crying Sea’’ but the Maori people also call the beach Tawhirihoe. Translating as “a firm grip on the paddle” this name dates from the 18th century when a rival taua (war party) came calling. In the battle between the local Maori and the intruders, the choice of weapon was canoe paddles.
Thing is, do you prefer beaches with heritage or beaches with an array of water sports? Beaches with thermal springs? Beaches where there’s every likelihood of tripping over a sleeping seal or encountering a colony of penguins? Black sands, golden sands or silver sands?
No need to choose—in New Zealand you can have them all. I’ve only space to mention a few, but the aptly-named Bay of Plenty has an abundance of beaches and coastal activities. Here you’ll find small communities like Mount Maunganui and Ohope whose 6 miles of unbroken vanilla sands come with heart-stopping views out to Whale Island and the (gently) smoking volcano of White Island.
Even in Auckland, NZ’s largest city, you’re spoilt for choice. Travel just 30 minutes from the city and you’ll find glorious beaches. Go east for gentle waves and the white sands of Takapuna. Go west for Murawai’s black volcanic sands where the surf is up and enthusiasts gallop horses or race across the beach in kite buggies—weird-looking go-carts with huge sails.
Then there’s the incomparable Hot Water Beach on the North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula. Take a spade, go at low tide, and you can dig your own private hot tub entirely for free.
Wouldn’t you just love to see some of New Zealand’s best beaches for yourself?
Well, join us this March for our South Pacific adventure and you will. Plus you’ll discover how you too can enjoy the Kiwi lifestyle…a lifestyle that’s impossible to beat.
International Living’s
Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar
Hyatt Regency Hotel, Auckland
March 5-7, 2008
A First World Lifestyle—at Half the Cost
New Zealand is a modern yet sparsely populated country
Whether it’s for employment, business, investment or retirement, roughly 25% of New Zealand’s population has emigrated from elsewhere in the world. However, the door hasn’t closed: NZ remains rich in opportunities for all.
But ours isn’t a seminar that’s solely focused on immigration and entrepreneurship. Plenty of part-timers—Americans included—own vacation homes here. And a fair number are retirees.
How about this? A wooden cottage on a quarter acre tree-filled lot at Milton in the verdant Otago region of the South Island. With an open fire for the winter (great for toasting marshmallows while sipping mulled wine), it’s currently rented by tenants for US $330 monthly. Price is NZ $118,000 (US $81,400).
Apartments…Victorian villas…suburban bungalows…custom-built homes with decks, swimming pools and large gardens…colonial-style weatherboard houses built in the 19th century to accommodate early British settlers…lots where you can build your dream home.
At our Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar, you’ll learn all about the different options.
Cheaper than Algiers!
On Mercer HR’s 2007 rankings for costs in world-class cities, Auckland and Wellington now slot into the respective positions of 99 and 111. Although Mercer’s is more a guide for business travelers, NZ’s two main cities are considered far less expensive than the likes of Algiers (50). Auckland and Wellington are also far more affordable than the Australian cities of Sydney (21) and Melbourne (60).
More about real estate opportunities shortly, but in New Zealand you can have a first world lifestyle where living costs are around half what they are in the States. And we mean a proper first world lifestyle—there are no slums or shanty towns here. Nor will you need to compromise on health care, schooling (which is free) or any creature comforts whatsoever.
You can hire home help for just over US $8 an hour. Visit really nice restaurants—we’re picturing Musselboys in Havelock—where smoked chicken salad costs US$9.90, a giant cauldron of green-lipped mussels is US$10.50, and the ‘catch of day’ (served with lemon butter, fries and salad) is US$14.90.
Obviously when it comes to expenditure, everybody has different priorities. But most single people on superannuation (NZ’s state pension) manage adequately on an equivalent US $465 per month. Couples receive US $704 monthly.
Free Hospital Care and Affordable Doctor’s Bills
If you qualify for residency, you’ll be entitled to free treatment in state hospitals under the public health system. Private healthcare is available, but only around 30% of Kiwis bother.
When was the last time you read headlines about doctor’s bills being slashed? Well, this just happened in New Zealand.
Family doctors are private practitioners, but although fees were low to start with, they’ve just got lower. There were already big subsidies for the old and the young, but the government recently introduced a new deal that means cheaper treatment for patients between 45 and 64.
Low income people get greater subsidies, but the vast majority of residents only pay the equivalent of around US $23 to visit the doctor.
This is No ‘Lamb Chop’ Economy
New Zealand’s economy is no longer powered by sheep alone
The affordable lifestyle and great social structure is underpinned by NZ’s increasingly self-sufficient (and totally stable) economy. One of the Pacific Rim’s stars, the country is no longer reliant on England for trade. Nor is its economy solely based in agriculture.
Yes, thousands of sheep still nibble the greensward, but New Zealand has diversified substantially from the days when the rest of the world was hard-pressed to associate it with anything other than lamb chops.
Although important, tourism and the wine industry are but two prongs of the diversification program. For example, New Zealand is “a film-making world in one country’’—not just for shooting movies, but for international post-production too.
NZ also boasts one of the world’s fastest growing biotechnology sectors. To those in the know, Kiwis are renowned ‘techies’—exporting knowledge in agritech, forestry and marine technology to countries as far apart as Chile and China.
It’s no backwater when it comes to sporting events either…and these translate into economic good times too. The Americas Cup is just one international showpiece event, and NZ will also host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
You might not know a lot about rugby and the All Blacks national team right at this moment, but most New Zealanders are rugby fanatics. And the Rugby World Cup will be huge for the country’s economy. Wherever it’s held, the tournament always draws tens of thousands of rugby travelers from the likes of the U.S.A., England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, and Australia.
A 94% Happiness Factor
Enjoy a unique, healthy and active lifestyle
Very few people regret moving to New Zealand. A recent survey by NZ’s Department of Labor asked skilled migrants from around the world about their experiences in their first few months as residents.
“They were happy to suggest the Kiwi way of life to others—94 per cent saying they would recommend a move to New Zealand,’’ commented Deputy Workforce Secretary Mary Anne Thompson.
The best part of their new lifestyle? Most cited the country’s natural beauty and friendly people. You’ll make friends quickly—there’s nothing stand-offish about New Zealanders.
The Residential Property Market—moving in favor of buyers
In August 2007, The New Zealand Herald published the latest house price figures. The national average for a home is now an equivalent US $263,000. In the three months to the end of July, prices showed an average 12.7% growth compared with the same period in 2006.
However, ANZ bank analysts (you’ll meet their chief economist Cameron Bagrie at the seminar) see house growth price moderating in the coming months. While demand still exceeds supply in Auckland, NZ’s largest city, the majority of regions show early signs of a market poised to move in the favor of buyers.
You’ll feel at home from the moment you arrive, but at home in a part of the world that’s kinder, gentler and far less troubled than many others. People in this clean, green and nuclear-free nation feel really safe.
Maybe it’s all the space they have, but Kiwis are tremendously neighborly and polite. People thank drivers when getting off buses, motorists stop for pedestrians, and everywhere is clean. In its neat flower-filled towns and cities, it’s rare to see litter or even a scribble of graffiti.
One newly-arrived UK settler in Wellington, NZ’s capital, puts it this way: “It’s like somebody picked up England and fixed everything that was wrong with it.’’
In many ways New Zealand is reminiscent of how Britain used to be…though thankfully nostalgia doesn’t extend to 1950s-style British food. Well, except for cod-and-chips sprinkled with vinegar and wrapped in newspaper! But this is blue cod fished from Pacific waters—far sweeter and flakier than its northern counterpart.
Even in small towns, you’ll eat scrumptiously well. Tender lamb, beef and venison…smoked salmon and caper fishcakes…platters of green-lipped mussels and Pacific oysters…home-made preserves and pies bursting with fruits fresh from the orchard. Washed down with world-class Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs, it’s all absolutely ’’yummy’’, as the locals say.
‘Cash Cows’, Lifestyle Farmlets and
US $40,000 Homes
The real deals aren’t in the cities
Auckland’s big city prices and oceanfront lifestyle properties skew the price picture. Away from the major cities and prime vacation areas such as the ‘Lord of the Rings’ country around Queenstown, prices are much lower—often dramatically lower.
The average price of a home in Auckland and Wellington regions is US $307,000 and US $248,000 respectively. But travel down the South Island to the regions of Otago and Southland and the picture is very different. Their regional averages are US $157,000 and US $128,000.
Admittedly NZ doesn’t have a huge choice of properties for under US$40,000, but you will find a few. Here’s the proof: a 3-bedroom weatherboard house (130 m²) on 1/4 acre, at Mataura in the Southland region. As the agents rightly point out, it’s “not a beauty’’, but some TLC and cosmetic updating would make a big difference. The price is NZ $55,000—or US $$37,950.
As elsewhere, price depends on house size and whereabouts you choose to settle. Here are a few more samples—all on the market right now.
* Auckland. Marketed as a buy for astute investors, a 27 m² furnished apartment with water views and within walking distance of Auckland University. NZ $120,000. (US $82,800)
* Rented for NZ $1,200/US $830 per month, a 40 m² apartment in central Auckland. The agents describe it as a ‘Cash Cow’. NZ $165,000 (US $114,000)
* Soak up the sun at Porangahau in the Hawkes Bay area. Willow Cottage is a 3-bedroomed home 10 minutes from the beach and has 89 m² of living space, new decking, French windows and a log-burner in the lounge. NZ $170,000 (US $117,300)
* Mountains above, water below. Within strolling distance of downtown Queenstown, a two-bedroom apartment with great mountain views up to Walter Peak. Queenstown is an all-year-round resort—you could rent it or use as a holiday home. NZ $299,000. (US$206,000)
* Indulge the farmer in you! In the Westland region, 28 acres of fertile dairy cattle land with a 5-bedroom homestead that has good B&B potential. It’s being marketed a ‘lifestyle farmlet’ and lots of outbuildings are included in the sale. NZ $360,000 (US$248,500)
* North of Auckland, historic Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands region is an semi-rural coastal settlement with a range of sporting facilities (yachting, golf and all-weather tennis), an arts and crafts scene, and lots of orchards. A new 3-bedroom home on a 1321m² plot with garden, pond and bridge is NZ $395,000 (US $272,500)
* Commanding stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds, a 2-bedroomed waterfront property with a boat mooring on the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive. NZ $399,500 (US $275,000)
* In Marlborough’s wine-tourism region, Vintners Retreat is a furnished 2-bedroom/2-bathroom villa. With views over surrounding vineyards to the mountains, the property comes with an equal share of the Vintners Retreat complex that includes a swimming pool, tennis & petanque courts. Offers over NZ $420,000 (US $290,000).
* Arty-crafty Katikati in the Bay of Plenty is NZ’s seaside Mural Town. A modern 200 m² house (4 bedrooms/2 bathrooms) with a solar heated inground pool is NZ $435,000 ($300,000).
Commercial Property: Highest Returns for 18 Years
Latest figures from New Zealand’s Property Council/Investment Property Database show an average return of 19.66 per cent from commercial property last year. The composite index is made up of retail, office and industrial properties. At 22.17 per cent, the office property sector performance was even higher.
Attracted by the juicy returns, foreign buyers plowed $1.1 billion into NZ’s commercial real estate market in the first seven months of 2007. Such is the demand, office vacancy rates in Auckland are now at a record low—just 9.45%. In 1992, the vacancy level was close to 30%.
Run Your Own ‘Wild West’ Town
“Unique is an over-used word in real estate but there is nothing else anything like it—a purpose-built wild west town offering a wilderness experience.” (Michael Pleciak, Bayleys Real Estate)
NZ commercial property is generally more about office and retail space—not about satisfying the cowboy in you. On 406 bush-clad hectares of the North Island’s central plateau area, you can’t argue that this ‘Wild West’ township and ranch isn’t unique.
In a hidden valley, this tourist venture offers lodge-style accommodation for 30 guests—and also a “wild west” experience for corporate/private groups seeking an unusual venue.
The township’s 14 buildings include Miss Nancy Ann’s Hotel for Girls, and the Lucky Strike Saloon which has a honky-tonk piano and card tables. Conference facilities are in the Courthouse which doubles as a movie theater for evening screenings of classic western movies. But although it may resemble Wyoming in the 1890s, the Telegraph Office here has internet and satellite phone.
The agents (you’ll be meeting Bayleys’ representatives at our seminar) say it could also be used as a hunting lodge. After 10 years free from hunters, the surrounding bush is full of wild life. Offers are invited—as a guideline, the property has a current Rating Value of NZ $3 million (US $2.07 million).
Wish You’d Bought into Hawaii 40 Years Ago?
We’ve often heard it mentioned that New Zealand today is like Hawaii was 40 to 50 years ago. Back in those days, visitors were few and lots on the big island sold for chump change. Not any more.
New Zealand could be set to go the same way. Pacific beachfront is getting scarcer, and the more people who discover New Zealand’s seascapes, the more prices are like to increase. We won’t pretend you’ll find oceanfront lots for US $10,000 like in Hawaii in the 60s, but there are still deals around.
For example, there’s a couple of 4,000 m² (just under an acre) bareland coastal building lots at Tokanui, in the far reaches of Southland province. Partially fenced and with sea views, they’re listing for NZ $75,000 and NZ $85,000 (US $51,750 and $US 58,650).
By the way…unlike in Australia, you’ll pay no capital gains taxes on real estate—Bwhich is why many Aussies are buying property in New Zealand. The only reason why you would have to pay CGT is if you made buying and selling real estate your business.
And buying is straightforward, with few restrictions. Transaction costs are low, financing is available, and if you’re thinking more in investment terms, the country has a healthy rental market. Although home ownership is prized, 33.1% of locals rent.
Short-term vacation rentals are on the up too. Numerous Kiwis take home-based holidays and international visitor arrivals are expected to grow by an average 4% per annum over the next seven years. According to a new Ministry of Tourism forecast, international visitor numbers are expected to reach 3.1 million by 2012, up from current figures of around 2.4 million.
Last year, international and domestic tourists spent a combined NZ $18.6 billion, an increase of 3.2% from the previous year. Both directly and indirectly, tourism contributes 8.9% to gross domestic product.
Join Us in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’
Auckland has more pleasure-craft per head than anywhere else on earth
This power-packed seminar will give you a real feel for what it would be like to relocate to New Zealand…and why you should consider doing so.
When you join us in Auckland this March, we’ll provide you with more useful, on-target information in three days than you could ever hope to find if you spent a whole year trying to track it down on your own.
What Attendees Said About Last
Year’s NZ Seminar
“Well organized and very professional presentations…the variety of information provided helped me make an informed decision. Good variety of topics and speakers.’’ – Cheryl Eastmane, Mission Viejo, CA
“This conference exceeded my expectations. I was looking for specific migration information and the speakers provided it. As well, they spoke on topics relevant to the entire group.’’ – Elizabeth Schoff, San Francisco, CA
“Every speaker has been informative, enjoyable and accessible. Congratulations.’’ – Patrick Vallaux, Pappete, French Polynesia
“NZ lawyers are a breath of fresh air. It’s fun finding attorneys who have a sense of humor and are not full of themselves. Good choice in speakers.’’ – John & Barb Anderson
“Exceeded my expectations.’’ – Kelli Wilinski, Kailua, HI
A quick word about our location, Auckland: With 1.3 million people, this is NZ’s biggest city as well as its commercial hub. Awaiting you is a busy waterfront…the Sky Tower rising 1080 feet above the city…the cafe culture of Ponsonby Road…the picture-book islands of Hauraki Gulf…and those white and black sand beaches within a 30 minute drive.
It truly is a City of Sails. Locals claim they have more pleasure-craft per head than anywhere else on earth. Auckland hosts numerous sailing events including The America’s Cup, yacht racing’s most prestigious prize.
If you’re a yachtie, you’ll agree we couldn’t have timed this seminar any better. The Auckland 2008 Boat Show runs from March 5 – 9, and the venue is within walking distance of our hotel.
As I mentioned earlier, International Living’s Conference & Events Director, Grant Perry, is himself a born-and-bred Kiwi. With his insider knowledge and contacts, he has put together a crack team of specialists whose knowledge is unparalleled.
They’ll cover all the bases: Buying or building your dream home. Financing a property purchase. Taxes, healthcare and day-to-day living. Part-time retirement. Advising on various immigration options if you plan to live and work here as a migrant.
For example, you could come to New Zealand and live here permanently as a skilled migrant…as an investor…as an entrepreneur. But if you don’t know the ropes, trying to plot a course through the country’s immigration system can be like navigating your way through a minefield.
We make no bones about this. It’s a constant moving target with a points system that always changes.
Thankfully you don’t have to do it on your own. We’ll have Kim Saull, an expert at NZ immigration, on hand to show you the best options.
New Zealand continues to thirst for new blood. Last year the country welcomed over 51,000 new permanent residents. Snapshot figures released by NZ’s Immigration Service for August 2007 show that 17% of successful applicants in the Skilled Migrant category still arrive from the UK. While the USA only accounts for 4% of Skilled Migrants, it’s now at seventh place on the ‘Top Ten’ list of countries people are selected from.
New Zealand – a Great Place to Launch a Business
A highly educated English-speaking labor force…a time zone that spans both the North American and Asian workdays. New Zealand is an entrepreneurial society (one recent study estimates 14.7% of the adult population is involved in private enterprise), which makes it a great place to launch or relocate a business.
That’s not only International Living’s view—it’s the view of the World Bank too. Their 2007 ‘Doing Business Project’ rates 175 global economies. Only pipped by Singapore, the bank says New Zealand is the world’s second easiest country in which to do business. And when it comes to protecting investors, it takes top rank.
Many NZ business owners call themselves ‘lifestyle entrepreneurs’. They’ve managed to strike a work-life balance that most North Americans can’t even begin to imagine. Could you picture yourself running a textbook publishing business from a 35-foot sailboat? That’s what one husband-and-wife couple do.
Opportunities in Wine, Whales and ‘Big Avos’
Own your own vineyard
Maybe you like the idea of owning a vineyard? They don’t come cheap, but one interesting lifestyle/income buy is a 27 hectare (approx 67 acre) property in Omarama, a gateway to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ landscapes of the Southern Lakes.
Imagine yourself the owner of a modernized old villa with a Tuscany styled, 80 seater restaurant. Your guests can dine overlooking trout filled ponds…and the restaurant’s cellar features wines from your own 3.5 hectares of mature vines. Plantings include Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Pinot Blanc. You’re also growing organic cherries and harvesting organic produce from your own market garden…plus running livestock on the hill.
The villa has great potential to expand the current business—it could be run as a B&B or homestay. Plus there’s an untapped market for it to operate as a wedding venue—a quaint church is only 200 metres away. The property is on the market for offers over NZ $1.45 million (US $1 million).
Something less expensive? How about hosting tourists all set for a wildlife quest? You certainly wouldn’t struggle to attract visitors in Kaikoura - it’s NZ’s main whale-watching center. One IL correspondent reported back that she couldn’t find vacant accommodation anywhere in town one April. And April isn’t high season.
NZ $750,000 (US $517,500) is sought for a 7-bedroom guest-house on Kaikoura’s beach road. With views out back towards the snow-capped mountains, the property is bounded by a stream where you can “enjoy the trout and feed the ducks at your leisure.’’
Get 4-years Revenge on the Tax Man
Being gifted generous tax breaks is rare in any country but that’s what NZ’s Inland Revenue has done. Anyone qualifying as a Transitional Resident is exempt from NZ Income Tax for four years on all foreign-sourced income other than income from employment and the supply of services. Basically it means that overseas-held investments that generate income, including dividends and interest, won’t have this income taxed. This also applies to certain types of pension funds held overseas.
Big Avos? In the North Island’s Bay of Plenty. Katikati is known as the Mural Town. It has 37 murals and other works of art decorating its main street. But as well as the arts and crafts talents of its 3,000 residents, this seaside settlement is also renowned for horticulture and orchards. Offering the opportunity to build a home for yourself on the property, a hectare (2.5 acres) of land is planted with avocado trees having a good production record. NZ $475,000 (US $328,000)—tractor and mower included.
But you won’t just learn about business opportunities and tax structures at the Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar. The packed program covers everything you need to know about living in New Zealand, from buying a home to banking to health care to education. Immigration, residency…just about any question you could imagine.
There’ll be a team of experts to cover all the vital issues, plus expats who are happily settled here, for all or part of the year. As mentioned earlier, our venue will be Auckland’s swish Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Although it’ll be almost continuous presentations, you’ll have the chance to relax at the end of the day and get to know the other participants—like-minded adventurers who love traveling and seek a special vacation home or a place to start over.
Your Guest Attends for 40% Off—
Plus Deep Discounts for Early Birds
This unique opportunity to explore the abundant opportunities to live and prosper in New Zealand costs just $995 per person (plus just $595 for one guest) for three days of benefit-packed meetings and access to well-informed and experienced contacts who have already been there, done that, and can tell you exactly what to expect—and what to avoid.
In other words: You can bring an associate, a family member, a friend, any guest you like… for over 40% off the regular price.
Plus, to make the seminar even more affordable, we’re offering extensive discounts. When you reserve your place by January 5, 2008, you’re entitled to $100 per person off the registration fee. That means you and a guest can come for just $1,390.
Sign Up Today…
This Trip Has All the Hallmarks of a Sell Out
A small country with big landscapes and a warm atmosphere. Pacific waters teeming with game fish and other marine life. A sporty outdoors lifestyle. An English-speaking population. A temperate climate, low living costs, high health and education standards—they all combine to make New Zealand a great place to start a new life or business venture, raise a family, retire or buy a vacation home.
At the time of writing, almost 200 people are already eagerly awaiting the details and we expect places to sell out very quickly…and I’d hate for you to miss out. Note that we can only take a very limited number of people on the real estate tour.
Sincerely,
Kathleen Peddicord
Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living
P.S. Just to consult with renowned professionals like Kim Saull, Jonathan Flaws, Bill Murphy, David Tanzer and our other savvy experts could easily cost thousands of dollars. And unless you’re a major league business insider, you’d undoubtedly have scant chance of meeting experts like Cameron Bagrie and Kevin Armstrong, the respective chief economist and chief investment officer for ANZ-National Bank.
P.P.S. If you stay on in Auckland after the seminar or the optional Auckland City Real Estate Tour, don’t miss taking the 35-minute ferry ride to Waiheke Island, a mosaic of vineyards, olive groves and sapphire coves….or across to the North Shore and Devonport, a quaint Victorian seaside settlement of craft shops, cafes and antiques stores.
Contact :
International Living’s Events Team
Phone: +1-866-381-8446 (USA & Canada toll-free)
or + 1-410-223-2688
E-mail: events (at) InternationalLiving.com
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
12:00PM-1:00PM Registration (receive your name badge and welcome pack).
Conference Registration: Check in with the IL events team and pick up your Welcome Pack and name badge. The Exhibit Hall opens.
1:00PM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits.
The program begins with a formal welcome by Grant Perry, International Living’s New Zealand born Event Director, followed by practical advice on investing and living in New Zealand. We’ll also provide an overview of the Optional Real Estate tours which follow the conference.
6:30PM-7:30PM: Welcome Cocktail Reception (featuring the famous “Haka” Warrior Dance)
7:45 PM – 10:00PM: Optional Group Dinner with staff, speakers, and fellow attendees at the Harbourside Seafood Bar & Grill. It’s situated in the center of downtown Auckland on the first floor of the elegant and historical Auckland Ferry Building, only minutes from the Hyatt hotel. The view from the extensive terracotta-tiled terrace is sensational: ferry traffic, passenger liners and lots of yachts coming and going.
Thursday, March 6, 2008:
9:00AM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits.
The morning sessions will focus on trends and pricing in the local real estate market, and a primer on the ins-and-outs of buying property in New Zealand. In the afternoon we’ll focus on banking and currency consideration and legal and tax issues—including how it affects your tax situation in the U.S.
7:00PM-8:00PM: VIP special event for World Club, Roundtable and Lifetime Members.
Friday, March 7, 2008:
9:00AM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits.
Another full day of useful information topics covered will include advice on health care options, as well as auto, health, and life insurance information and issues to consider when shipping household goods, pets or automobiles, and plenty of useful insights into the lifestyle of expats living in New Zealand. We’ll end with a Q&A session for you to get your final questions answered.
6:30PM-7:30PM: Farewell Cocktail Reception.
OPTIONAL POST CONFERENCE TOUR
*Schedule and tour times subject to change
During the seminar, you’ll get the information you need to help you make an informed decision about living and prospering in New Zealand, and you’ll have an opportunity to meet realtors and developers.
We urge you to leave yourself at least two weeks to schedule appointments and spend the days following the conference looking at opportunities in the areas that interest you, or simply explore more of this beautiful country.
To help you, we are planning two optional real estate focused tours beginning on March 8, 2008.
Saturday, March 8 - Optional Auckland Real Estate Tour.
9:00AM – 3:00PM
You will be escorted by Bayleys Real Estate Agents viewing various property types and price ranges in the greater Auckland area. NOTE: This is a pure real estate focused tours, not general sightseeing.
Cost: US$40 per person (includes transport, guides and lunch).
We’ve invited an array of speakers who have already done what you’re considering. These speakers will share with you their own experiences. They won’t only talk about hope and dreams, but about real-life strategies that can make those dreams turn into reality. They’ll tell you, straight up, what works and what doesn’t. They’ll explain what drew them to New Zealand…and why they stay. And they will give you the kind of practical, hands-on advice they themselves could have used when they first jumped in. Below are just a few of the people you’ll hear from this March:
Grant Perry was born and raised in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. He gained a bachelor’s degree in international management from Waikato University before setting off on his Big O.E. (Overseas Experience) in 1996. He fulfilled a boyhood dream by driving across the U.S. en-route to live in London.
The U.S. lured him back two years later and he spent two years each in North Carolina, California, and Maryland before following his girlfriend to Ireland. They quickly seized the opportunity for a more tropical locale, spending a year in the IL office in Panama before returning to Ireland in early 2007 where Grant continues his role managing IL’s ever-expanding range of worldwide conferences and events. Grant will Emcee the seminar and provide a virtual tour of the country too.
Martina Dunphy is International Living’s executive director, and joined the group in October 2000. Originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, Martina came to work for IL in Waterford, and has worked her way steadily up the ladder. Her horizons have broadened both within the group…and geographically. In January 2006, Martina took IL’s advice, packed bag and baggage, and moved to Panama City, where she managed International Living’s growing office in Casco Viejo.
From this base, Martina managed IL’s local office operations in Panama, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, and France. In February 2007 she returned to the head office in Waterford, Ireland to take up the position of executive director.
Martina is a lifetime over-achiever, having graduated high school early, earned her business management degree at night, and won several awards in Ireland for her efforts and results. Martina continues her studies with the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting. Martina will explain how International Living can help you make your overseas dreams a reality.
Kim Saull of E-Migration NZ Ltd received his law degree from Auckland University in the early 80’s. After 10 years in sales and marketing related to New Zealand’s wine industry, he spent several years in the export industry, before joining NZ’s largest immigration consultancy, Malcolm Pacific, where he headed their international division. In 2004, Kim decided to leave and run a smaller operation focused on referral work. Since its founding, e-Migration New Zealand has grown and now has three offices throughout New Zealand. Kim travels to both the USA and UK several times each year, handling business and skilled migrant cases for clients.
Whether your aim is to live full-time or part-time in New Zealand, Kim will discuss all the options and the various considerations to take into account. Plus he’ll be on hand throughout the seminar to answer your questions.
Cameron Bagrie is the Chief Economist for ANZ-National Bank Limited. He has been with the bank for 8 years. Prior to that he worked as an economist for the NZ Treasury and holds a master’s degree in economics from Canterbury University. He is well known around the speaking circuit for his down-to-earth and succinct style. Outside of work he enjoys all sports, Central Otago wine, and can be seen regularly walking the hills of Wellington with two very energetic canines. Cameron will tell us all about the current economic climate in New Zealand.
Kevin Armstrong is the chief investment officer for ANZ-National Bank Limited. Kevin graduated from Magdalen College, Oxford University, with an M.A. in physics in 1981. After Oxford he joined the US institutional equity sales desk of Merrill Lynch in London where he remained for the next sixteen years, eventually becoming a director and head of US institutional equity sales for Europe.
In 1997 Kevin emigrated with his wife and three sons to Nelson, New Zealand, for lifestyle reasons. He joined The National Bank, initially as a consultant to Private Banking, in 1999 and has been chief investment officer of ANZ National Bank since 2004. In addition to his role as CIO, Kevin is a keen golfer, playing off a handicap of 3, and writes regularly for the major newspapers on global investment markets and has a monthly column in New Zealand’s leading golf magazine, The Cut. Kevin will be discussing New Zealand’s investment climate.
Miles Agmen-Smith, Asco Legal. Miles Agmen-Smith is a highly experienced lawyer in looking after the needs of business-owning clients. He has practiced in the United Kingdom, as well as New Zealand. Mike has presented at seminars both in New Zealand and internationally, including national seminars for the New Zealand Law Society. His practice includes particular involvement with transnational clients and transactions. Miles is the current Chairman of the Franchise Association of New Zealand and will discuss both business requirements and personal asset protection. Miles will talk about setting up and doing business in New Zealand.
Jonathan Flaws of Sanderson-Weir is a property, banking and finance law specialist whose 30 years of expertise and experience also covers title insurance. A member of the Auckland District Law Society forms committee, Jonathan is also a director of First American Title Insurance Company of Australia. Jonathan will explain all about the legal aspects of purchasing real estate by overseas residents.
Chris Francis, Bank of New Zealand. Chris Francis may well be your new local bank manager. His various roles within the Bank of New Zealand have included customer service, personal banker, and mobile account manager – he is currently the branch manager of BNZ’s Queen Street bank in Auckland. Chris says he takes extreme satisfaction in helping people financially, whether it be helping them into their first homes, sorting out a loan for graduates or setting up accounts for the entire family. Chris will discuss various banking considerations and the options for Real Estate financing in New Zealand.
Terry and Esther Borchers Terry received a B.A. degree in journalism from Mankato State University, MN in 1973. Prior to this he served four years in the US Navy as a photographer. He left the Daily Sentinel in Minnesota in 1978 to join Mycro-Tek, Inc., supplying computerized publishing systems to the publishing industry.
Terry made his first trip to New Zealand in 1984. During the ‘80s he traveled extensively, returning many times to New Zealand. In late 1995 Terry received an offer to immigrate to New Zealand and act as General Manager for a company involved in supplying computers and support to the graphic arts and publishing industries. In 1999 he and his wife Esther acquired part of that company and launched NP Solutions.
Terry and Esther will tell us about their passion for New Zealand and what it has to offer. You can look forward to lots of first-hand experiences and learning the best way to successfully integrate.
David Tanzer, David Tanzer & Associates. An associate member of Auckland Law Society and licensed to practice in the US, David’s background is in international law. As a multinational citizen with residency status in multiple countries, David has first-hand personal and professional experience in wealth preservation — and the related issues that face individuals looking to live globally, protect their assets and minimize the tax burden.David will address pre-migration planning and the associated legal and tax issues. As he says, it’s “a critical element too many expats fail to plan for in advance of an international move.’’
Larry Allison, Computer Personnel. Larry Allison was born and raised in Oklahoma, USA. He served in the US Navy for six years, and during that time met his wife-to-be on a port visit to Auckland in 1973. After an intercontinental courtship they were married in 1977, and moved to New Zealand permanently in 1979. Larry’s first “job” was attaining his bachelor’s degree in commerce from Auckland University.
Larry has since held a wide diversity of positions, the majority having had a strong computer flavour. He utilizes his broad base of IT experience to facilitate successful IT appointments, addressing the entire spectrum of IT recruitment. Larry’s main talk for us will be on Life in NZ for an Expat.
Stephen Robertson, Capital Care Finance. With over 20 years expertise in the financial and accounting sectors, Stephen is an experienced commercial and residential broker, as well as a qualified chartered accountant. His in-depth knowledge of residential and commercial funding, provide him with an incisive understanding of structuring funding packages to specifically match client requirements.
Stephen’s established relationships with a wide range of commercial lenders (finance companies, banks, mortgage funds, project leaders and private lenders) means he has his finger on the pulse of the market conditions and outlook of the various lenders. Stephen will talk about the various financing options available.
Bill Murphy. Catalyst Management Services. Bill hails from Boston where he spent the first 20 years of his life before heading west, living in San Francisco, Marin County and more recently Seattle. Bill has also lived and worked in the UK, and for 15 years now, in New Zealand.
Bill is a certified public accountant in the US and a chartered accountant in New Zealand. He has primarily worked in the corporate sector in a variety of industries: manufacturing, transportation, construction, exporting/importing, and most recently regional economic development. Bill played an instrumental role in establishing Priority One, the economic development agency for the Tauranga, Bay of Plenty region and in that role assisted hundreds of people to settle in NZ and find investment and employment opportunities. Most recently Bill established the Business Investment Forum, which assists investors looking for business investment opportunities.
Catalyst Management Services is the Bay of Plenty’s largest business consultancy offering a full range of accountancy, tax and advisory services. Bill’s presentation ‘What makes Kiwis tick? How to succeed in NZ’ promises to be a great insight from an expat insider.
David Bayley has nearly 30 years experience in the real estate industry and was one of the founding directors of Bayleys Real Estate in the early 1970’s. Bayleys is New Zealand’s largest commercial and industrial real estate company.
David heads Bayleys international property activities, liaising at a senior level with Bayleys international partner, the Cushman & Wakefield Group. He was instrumental in establishing subsidiary Bayleys Asia in the 1980’s and was a pioneer in the marketing of New Zealand property in South East Asia. Last year David led a highly successful New Zealand property exhibition in Singapore, and this year will also be focusing on increasing the exposure of New Zealand commercial property in Asia, the Middle East, United States and Australian market.
Gerald Rundle. In 1997 Gerald Rundle joined Bayleys Research, a division of Bayleys Real Estate, as a property research analyst and took over the management of the division at the beginning of 2001. Gerald has extensive valuation experience in areas of commercial, residential and industrial property, initially attained at Robertson Young Telfer (now Telfer Young) a specialist national property valuation firm.
Gerald has both a bachelor of property and a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of Auckland, and he is a registered valuer and a senior member of the New Zealand Property Institute. His move into the property industry was after a period of time in specialist marketing roles in Air New Zealand and Oasis Industries (marketing Coca-Cola and Schweppes brands) Gerald will talk about Residential & Lifestyle Real Estate—How you can find your own dream slice of paradise in New Zealand.
Nick Ansley is general manager of Bayleys’ property services. He is responsible for overseeing and further developing Bayleys’ non agency business, which encompasses property and facilities management, valuations, consultancy, and corporate services.
Nick was previously general property manager at Auckland International Airport, responsible for the company’s substantial real estate assets. Prior to that, he worked in property management and valuation in the UK and New Zealand. Nick, a registered valuer and a senior member of the New Zealand Property Institute, will give his presentation on Residential & Commercial Rental Management.
Matt Nauer, HSBC Matt Nauer is a private clients manager with HSBC in New Zealand. HSBC is one of the world’s largest financial service organizations with over 10,000 offices in 77 countries and territories. Matt will talk about various financing options.
Paul Janssen, HiFX Ltd. Paul Janssen is the private client services manager for HiFX Ltd based in Auckland. Paul has worked in the relocation and settlement industry for several years assisting clients and businesses to make the transition to New Zealand both stress and hassle free. Paul has been involved in various aspects of the migration process including visas, finance and settlement and has experienced the big move abroad, working in London for several years.
HiFX are global foreign exchange specialists assisting both commercial and private clients with their foreign exchange transactions. Each year HiFX helps over 25,000 private individuals to manage their foreign exchange exposure, by providing them with tools, information and access to competitive rates of exchange. The moment an individual decides to move overseas they have a very real exposure to the volatility of the foreign exchange markets. Paul’s presentation on Currency Risk Management for Private Individuals will explain how to minimize that risk and employ purchasing strategies to maximize your return.
Prudence Shaw, Accent Health Recruitment. Accent was set up by Prudence Shaw in September 2004 after identifying a gap in specialist medical recruitment. Prudence is a NZ registered nurse by background, commencing her nursing career at Christchurch Public Hospital, and has a total of 10 years experience in international medical recruitment.
Having also worked both in the UK and the Middle East, Prudence is aware of the differences in the health systems and also of the challenges that applicants face when relocating from overseas to New Zealand. Prudence will talk about her particular specialty, New Zealand Health Care and Recruitment Opportunities, but her company also assists with general employment and recruitment.
Warwick Woodley, NZ Van Lines. Warwick Woodey is an executive director and general manager of New Zealand Van Lines Ltd. Based in Auckland, he has been with the company since its inception under current ownership in February 1986. In addition to his executive duties, Warwick also oversees the company’s quality standards ISO 9001; 2000 and FAIM (FIDI Accredited International Mover). Outside work, Warwick manages to play just enough golf to qualify him for an annual tournament in Thailand.
New Zealand Van Lines is a New Zealand-owned company whose core business is providing domestic and international household removals and relocations services to the NZ Corporate, Government, and private sectors. Head-quartered in Wellington and with 12 Branches nationwide, it’s the country’s largest privately owned household removals company. Warwick’s talk will cover how to go about shipping your household goods, pets or vehicles.
Dan Denning started his financial career the old fashioned way: on the ground floor. He founded and edited a private financial newsletter on small-capitalization stocks in 1998, leading over 35,000 subscribers to profits in dynamic new American companies during the height of the bull market. From 2000 to 2006, Dan was the editor of Strategic Investment, the flagship publication of internationally known Agora Publishing. His high-level, macro-economic and stock-market forecasts are read by more than 35,000 high-dollar investors and fund managers in over 70 countries. His reporting and analysis for The Daily Reckoning is read by more than 500,000 people regularly. Denning is also a regular columnist for Money Weekly, a Taiwanese financial publication.
Denning received his undergraduate degree in literature from the prestigious American University in Washington, D.C. in 1995. He earned a master’s degree in the Liberal Arts from St. John’s College. Denning spent a year observing U.S. markets from Paris before relocating to the London offices of Fleet Street Publications. Dan’s latest project has him currently residing in Australia.
Dan will be giving a bonus guest session on opportunities in Australia.
Speakers and topics subject to change.
Seminar Hotel Information
Hyatt Regency Auckland
Hyatt Regency Auckland
Cnr Waterloo Quadrant & Princess Street
Auckland
Conveniently located in the heart of Auckland City, the Hyatt Regency is only 45 minutes from Auckland International Airport (Airport code: AKL), in the heart of the city’s financial and business districts and close to many of the main tourist attractions.
For all your travel needs (including flight assistance and insurance) please contact your travel agency of choice. You may also want to consider one of the many companies that specialize in online reservations and travel assistance, like: www.orbitz.com, www.travelocity.com; or www.expedia.com.
Although March may seem like a long way off, you’ll want to get your flights planned as soon as possible. Although flights are cheaper in March than around Christmas time (and March is perhaps the best time to visit; the weather should be warm and mellow as summer ends), it’s harder to get a good deal at short notice. Although there are direct flights from L.A., San Francisco, and Vancouver, this might also be the time to book that dreamy stopover in Tahiti or Fiji.
We suggest you sign up to get newsletters and advance warning of promotional offers. This way you can get ahead of the usual vacationers and get a better deal. Good airlines to consider for non-stop direct travel to New Zealand are Air New Zealand (www.airnewzealand.com), Qantas (www.qantas.com), United (www.united.com). American Airlines (www.aa.com) flies via Australia. You might also consider Air Pacific (www.airpacific.com) or Air Tahiti (www.airtahitinui-usa.com), who offer flights to NZ via Fiji and Tahiti respectively. Also keep an eye on sites like Travelzoo (www.travelzoo.com) for great deals from around the world.
To protect your travel investment, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance protects you from all the unexpected events that can disrupt or cancel your travel plans.
Price and What’s Included
Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar
March 5-7, 2008
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Auckland, New Zealand
PRICE: 1 person = $995; 2 people = $1,590 (guest or spouse pays just $595)
The conference includes all seminars and informal Q&A sessions, introductions to contacts in New Zealand, a welcome cocktail reception, a farewell cocktail reception, and all coffee breaks. Your international airfare, hotel accommodations and transfers are not included in the price of the seminar.
Speakers and schedule are subject to change.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT — SAVE $100 PER PERSON! When you reserve your place by January 5, 2008, you’re entitled to $100 per person off the registration fee. That means you and a guest can come for just $1,390.
Discount Price: 1 person = $895; 2 people = $1,390
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received on or before February 5, 2008, will receive a full refund, less a $150 penalty per person. From February 6, 2008 through February 20, 2008 a refund less a $350 penalty per person will be given. After February 21, 2008, the conference fee is non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, please call, fax, or e-mail our offices immediately to avoid any unnecessary charges. In most cases we will be able to hold your payment for you to apply to a future seminar.
Disclaimer: International Living and any of its agents and speakers do not provide any individual, personalized investment advice. This conference provides only information to the general public, and at no time should any person acting as an agent or speaker at the Live and Prosper in New Zealand Seminar be relied upon as rendering personalized investment advice. International Living may receive compensation from speakers and presenters selling their respective products at conferences. The compensation may be in the form of a sponsorship fee, flat fee or commission from sales. Advertising you may receive from their companies should not to be construed as originating from or connected in any way to International Living.
By registering for an International Living event you’ll automatically receive our free Events e-letter. (You can unsubscribe to this at any time).
** Prices in New Zealand dollars have been quoted on the exchange rate of NZ $1 = US $0.69
*Speakers and schedule are subject to change.
Contact:
International Living’s Events Team
Phone: +1-866-381-8446 (USA & Canada toll-free)
or + 1-410-223-2688
E-mail: events (at ) InternationalLiving.com
Call Toll Free: 866 381 8446 Or +1 410 233 2688
New Zealand | Live a Better Life With the Kiwis
