New Zealand real estate investment information for North Island, Wellington, Auckland, Tauranga, Gisborne, Napier, New Plymouth, South Island, Greymouth, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Greymouth and Stewart Island. Scroll down for more information about New Zealand.

New Zealand properties are exhibiting both strong Rental Demand and returns (yield) and excellent appreciation (capital growth) in both city and country areas. These are the characteristics of a sound investment. It must be remembered that there is a degree of risk associated with any investment and past performance of an investment does not guarantee future performance of that investment.

About New Zealand

New Zealand Population: 3,993,817 (July 2004 est.)
Languages: English (official), Maori (official)
Capital: Wellington
Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy
Independence Day: 26 September 1907 (from UK)
Legal System: Based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations.
Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Executive Branch:

Chief of State: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001).

Head of Government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002).

American Embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
Telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000 Fax: [64] (4) 499-0490

General Overview: The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Economic Overview: Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has been rising and is now 80% of the level of the four largest EU economies. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth, and it has been affected by the global economic slowdown and the slump in commodity prices. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and growth should continue at the same level in 2004. Expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately.

International Disputes: territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency).