New Zealand: The Best Country in the World

(With Optional Real Estate Tours from March 10-20)

Dear Taipan Reader ,

New Zealanders will soon be basking in the gilded glow of a South Pacific summertime. While many of us endure months of snow and shivers, they’ll be enjoying hokey-pokey ice-creams and barbecues on the beach.

You’re right to feel jealous because New Zealand really is special. Covering around 1,000 miles in length, the 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.

Visit this topsy-turvy, upside-down land and you’ll soon understand why. 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.

Geysers gush and mud pools bubble. Whales spout, dolphins frolic and surf booms onto sands where yours might be the only footprints. Iced with glaciers, towering mountains range above a landscape veined with rushing rivers.

A typically tranquil mountain lake setting

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.

That unique spirit is backed up by substance: affordable health-care, an English-speaking population, free schooling, a low crime rate, great infrastructure, and one of the world’s highest “healthy longevity” figures.

For those considering the country as a place to start over, launch a business, or spend part of their retirement, it all adds up to 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.

Along with that, New Zealand has some enticing real estate opportunities. More in a moment, but you’ll still find homes – and we mean proper houses you can move into - for less than US$50,000.

The Best Country in the World

We’ve never met anybody who hasn’t returned completely smitten by New Zealand. Head-over-heels, love-it-to-bits smitten. It’s not just us who have fallen for its charms. Condé Nast Traveler have named it "The Best Country In The World" too.

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 first ever Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar in Auckland March 7-9, 2007.

Immediately afterwards, there’ll be an optional add-on 10-day real estate tour, taking in the whole country.

You’ll see the very best of what New Zealand has to offer

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.

Yes, this is a real photo!

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.

But before going into details, let me give you more of a taster of what summertime in New Zealand is like.

Forever summer...with leisure satisfaction guaranteed

You see, if you divvied up your time between the U.S. and New Zealand, you could enjoy endless summers too. And it doesn’t entail traveling to the ends of the earth – Auckland is only a 12-hour flight from Los Angeles. It’ll take you that to reach Europe from the western U.S.

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.

Just take a minute to think about what ‘endless summer’ could mean for you...

A view from Mount Mauganui in the Bay of Plenty

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 and panning for gold...taking glacier walks amongst the towering Southern Alps...sampling cellar door wine tastings...discovering the geothermal wonderland of Rotorua, the country’s Maori heartland.

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 adults 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$60.

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!

"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.’’

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 at Ohawe Beach on the North Island’s ‘Mountain to Surf’ highway near Mount Taranaki National Park was listing for US $69,000.

Thing is, do you prefer beaches with an array of watersports? 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?

The peaceful town of Picton on the South Island

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, and you will.

A First World Lifestyle --- at half the cost

Whether it’s for employment, business, investment or retirement, roughly 25% of New Zealand’s 4 million population have 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.

With the sharp devaluation of the NZ dollar against the US dollar, New Zealand has become more affordable than a couple of years ago. This could be exactly the right time to stake a claim.

How about this? A 4-bedroom wooden villa at Georgetown in the verdant countryside near Invercargill on the South Island. It’s currently rented by tenants for US $397 monthly. Selling price is NZ $79,500 (US $49,300).

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.

Governor’s Beach, Nelson

At our Live & Prosper in New Zealand Seminar and during the real estate tour, you’ll learn all about the different options.

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 US $6.35 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 $654 per month. Couples receive US $1,090 monthly.

On Mercer HR’s annual rankings for costs in world-class cities, Auckland and Wellington now slot into the respective positions of 100 and 105. Although Mercer’s is more a guide for business travelers, NZ’s two main cities are considered less expensive than Warsaw (62), Lisbon (88) and even Guatemala City (93).

Free hospital care and affordable doctor’s bills

As a resident 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 US $16.75 to visit the doctor. Kim Saull, our NZ emigration expert, says his family is on the least subsidy level. The cost for him? In US dollar terms, $27.90.

Prescription costs for medications are the same for everybody: US $1.85.

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.

Maori Culture

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, amd 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 thousands of rugby travelers from the likes of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Italy, and Australia.

Here’s something else you may not know. At the last Olympics, 77 per cent of the world’s field hockey goalkeepers were supplied by a small NZ manufacturer! In fact, new niche manufacturing businesses for specialized markets are springing up all the time.

A 94% Happiness Factor

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.

A lone tree

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. In many ways it’s 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.

Homes for under US $40,000

July 2006 figures from NZ’s Real Estate Institute put the national average for a home at an equivalent US $198,000. However, Auckland’s big city prices and oceanfront ‘lifestyle’ properties skew the picture. Away from cities and prime vacation areas, prices fall dramatically.

As elsewhere, price depends on house size and whereabouts you choose to settle. Here are a few samples  - all on the market right now.

• Billed as a ‘fantastic investment opportunity’, Auckland’s historic railway station has been turned into student accommodation managed by the University of Auckland. 354 sq. ft. studios start at around NZ $60,000. (US $37,200)

• A small century-old house (1182 sq.ft.) in good condition with 2-car garage at Riversdale in NZ’s Southland: NZ $62,000 (US $38,440)

• Mountains above, water below. On the lakefront in the popular, all-year-round resort of Queenstown,  a deluxe, one-bedroom apartment with 645 sq. ft. of living space. You could rent it or use it as a holiday home. NZ $205,000. (US$127,000)

• With sea views from its lounge, a 2-bedroom apartment in a great location in downtown Auckland. Semi-furnished, it’s currently tenanted at a rent of US $818 monthly. NZ $209,000 (US $129,600)
  
  
• Indulge the farmer in you! Not far from Ninety Mile Beach and the Bay of Islands north of Auckland, a 3-bedroom bungalow with over 6 acres of land, a Dutch barn, and a ‘chook pen’ for the 30 chickens included in the sale. The grazing is enough for a pony or a few sheep. NZ $220,000 (US$136,500)

• 3-bedroom home at Horseshoe Bay in the stunning Bay of Plenty region, only one minute’s walk from a sandy beach. Fruit trees in the garden include apple, pear and nectarine --- looks perfect for a retirement or a holiday home. NZ $325,000 (US $201,500)

Thanks to juicy returns, overseas investors are also targeting commercial properties. Latest figures from the Property Council show an average return of 18.6 per cent from commercial property last year. National director Connal Townsend says that’s well above the previous year’s 14.4 per cent average. The New Zealand Herald recently reported that market conditions have been so good for specialist real estate investor and funder St Laurence Property & Finance it will almost double last year's profit.

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.

Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel

For example, here’s a 4,000 square meter plot (just under an acre) at Tokanui, in the far reaches of Southland province. Partially fenced and with sea views, it’s listing for NZ $75,000 (US $46,500).

By the way. You'll pay no capital gains taxes on real estate --- and buying is straightforward, with few restrictions. Transaction costs are low, financing is available, and the country has a healthy rental market. Although home ownership is prized, around 32% of locals rent.

Short-term vacation rentals are on the up too. The number of international tourists aged 15 and over hit 2.2 million last year. The growth in international visitor numbers is projected to continue --- and don’t forget that numerous Kiwis take home-based holidays too.

Join us in Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’

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.

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 buzzy waterfront...the Sky Tower rising 1080 feet above the city...the cafe culture of Ponsonby Road...the picturebook 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.

International Living’s Conference 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.

A river near Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital

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 for your individual circumstances.

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. Last December, the bank rated New Zealand as the easiest country out of 155 in the OECD in which to do business.

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.

The magnificent Southern Alps

Maybe you like the idea of owning a vineyard? Or of hosting 17 guests 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.

Offers over NZ $900,000 (US$558,000) are sought for one large Kaikoura guest-house lodge on 11 acres. Bounded by magnificent mountain and with sea views, it has an outdoor jacuzzi, and there’s the possibility of operating a ‘lifestyle farm’ along with the B&B business.

Being gifted generous tax breaks is rare in any country but that’s what NZ’s Inland Revenue has just 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.

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 continuous workshops, 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 33% Off –
Plus Deep Discounts for Subscribers, Lifetime Members, Roundtable Members, and Early Birds

This unique opportunity to explore the abundant opportunities to live and prosper in New Zealand costs just $895 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 33% off the regular price.

Mount Maunganui, a popular summer destination

Plus, to make the seminar even more affordable, we're offering extensive discounts. When you reserve your place by January 7, 2007, you're entitled to $100 per person off the registration fee. That means you and a guest can come for just $1,290.

What's more, if you're an International Living subscriber, you're entitled to an additional $50 off. And, if you are a Lifetime Member, you are eligible for a $150 discount off the registration price no matter when you sign up. Roundtable Members get $200 off. This brings the cost down to $1,090 for both you and your guest.

You’ve come this far...so why not stay on and join us for our real estate tours after the seminar. Tour 1: On Saturday, March 10 we’ll offer tours of real estate opportunities in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. Tour 2: Beginning Sunday, March 11 we’ll begin our 10 day tour of the entire country, returning to Auckland on the evening of March 20. Traveling by bus, plane, and train, we’ll be covering both the North and South Islands. I promise you’ll enjoy more than a glimpse of the very best that New Zealand offers --- and get to see some mouth-watering real estate too. You’ll experience countless ‘sights’ you’ll return home raving about, but this is no ordinary, run-of-the-mill sightseeing tour. In fact, it’s extraordinary. We don’t know of anything else quite like it. Whether it’s in cities or smaller communities, you’ll be chatting with expats who’ve settled here...meeting real estate agents, developers and other trustworthy local experts...enjoying gourmet dining experiences...staying in some of the country’s classiest hotels. The Adventure of a Lifetime: The  Grand North to South Treasure Hunt Auckland, on the North Island, is where we’ll be starting our tour. (The North Island is where the majority of NZ’s population live.) We’ll head north to visit the beautiful Bay of Islands before heading south. A summer playground for Kiwis, the rugged Coromandel Peninsula is heart-stoppingly gorgeous --- a hilly land with some of the North Island’s loveliest coastal scenery, laid-back resorts, small fishing towns, great beaches and lifestyle properties. Hot Water Beach (the one where you can dig your own spa) is the most famous beach, but the entire peninsula is blessed with a jigsaw of bays, coves and beaches. Auckland Harbour You’ll also get to see the Maori culture and geothermal extravagance of Rotorua – and enjoy a hangi, a traditional Maori feast cooked in the ground by hot steam. Rotorua belongs to the Bay of Plenty region --- the place Grant Perry, your Conference Director, hails from. (No exaggeration - this is the real-deal insider’s look at New Zealand!) Thanks to its temperate climate, its beach towns are attracting increasing numbers of retirees. One sought after town is Mount Maunganui. Its 14,000 residents enjoy a long white beach, water sports and safe harbors. Although small, Mount Maunganui has restaurants, movies, cafes and bars --- and the city of Tauranga is only a short drive across the harbor bridge or a ferry ride away. Champagne Pool On to the South Island for the second leg of our incredible journey... Renowned for being New Zealand's sunniest spot, Nelson offers creative culture, blue seas, sandy beaches, mountain wilderness, and some of New Zealand 's finest vineyards, and orchards. We’ll Depart Nelson and travel via the Buller Gorge to arrive in Greymouth on the historic West Coast. Board the famous Tranz Alpine train for a stunning rail journey, from one coast of New Zealand to the other - over the Southern Alps and Canterbury Plains. New Zealand’s ‘Garden City, Christchurch is the South Island’s largest city. Gothic architecture, punting on the willow-hung river Avon, botanic gardens and acres of parkland swarming with rugby players – it’s easy to see the city was planned by the English. Christchurch celebrated its 150th birthday this year, and if you love wildlife, it’s a wonderful place for a home. Only a couple of hours north of here is Kaikoura, NZ’s main whale-watching center. Construction in the city Also on the South Island, Queenstown is set amongst the stunning scenery of the Southern Alps. Arcing around Lake Wakatipu, it’s a stupendously attractive alpine resort with a twelve month season. During winter (summer in the northern hemisphere), the nearby mountains of Coronet Peak and the Remarkables range are a magnet for skiers and snowboarders. Thrill-seekers will also find bungy-jumping, jet boating, whitewater rafting, abseiling and other mad activities classed as adventure sports. (Don’t worry --- we won’t force you to participate in the Awesome Foursome or any other white-knuckle stuff!) As Kiwi summer turns to fall – the time we’ll be there - trees blaze across the hillsides in banners of royal red and gold. And the landscapes are some of the most dramatic on earth. Turning dusky pink at sunset, the saw-toothed mountains of the Remarkables range seem to enclose you in a bowl. Lake Wakatipu gleams like a sapphire and pale blue rivers – gold-bearing rivers - form strange braided patterns. This is Lord of the Rings country for real. No guarantees you’ll encounter any hobbits, but do have your camera at the ready for everything else! Note: Tour numbers are strictly limited. For more information on this tour please email events@internationalliving.com or call 1-866-291-0246.

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.

In late July, we ran a postcard mentioning the possibility of a New Zealand seminar and real estate tour. Even though nothing was then pinned down and finalized, we got well over 100 telephone calls and emails!

We expect places to sell out very quickly...and I’d hate for you to miss out. Note that we can only take a limited number of people on the real estate tour and it is only available for attendees of the seminar.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

PS. Just to consult with renowned professionals like Kim Saull, Brendan Sharkey, David Tanzer and our other savvy experts could easily cost thousands of dollars. Add on 10 days’ travel and accommodations, and you could expect to pay a small fortune if you tried arranging this same trip yourself.

Like the seminar, our tour is unique –-- a one-of-a-kind –-- and especially tailor-made to IL subscribers’ needs. I know this seems crazy, but one company out there charges $48,000 per person for an exclusive eleven-day golf tour of the country! This is NOT a typo – and we’ve got the proof if you don’t believe us.

PPS. If you stay on in Auckland after the seminar or the 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.

Click Below to Reserve Your Place Today!

Or Contact Us Now:

International Living Events Team

Phone: +1-866-381-8446 ( USA & Canada toll-free)
or + 1-410-223-2688 
E-Mail: events@internationalliving.com

YOUR DAILY SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE*
Wednesday, March 7, 2007:
11:00AM-1:00PM Registration (receive your name badge and welcome pack).
1:00PM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits.
6:30PM-7:30PM: Welcome Cocktail Reception.

Thursday, March 8, 2007:
 9:00AM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits. 
7:00PM-10:00PM. Optional group dinner.

Friday, March 9, 2007:
9:00AM-6:00PM: General sessions and exhibits.
6:30PM-7:30PM: Farewell Cocktail Reception.

*Schedule is subject to change.

OPTIONAL POST CONFERENCE REAL ESTATE TOUR*

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 an optional real estate focused tour beginning on March 10, 2007. . Tour details are being finalized, but it will run for around 10 days, taking in areas on both North and South Islands. 

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: 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. Dave Henderson is Managing Director of Property Ventures, a NZ property investment and real estate development company. Designed and developed for ‘’people focused communities’’, their high quality projects are located throughout New Zealand. Dave has a long history of success in business and real estate. Property Ventures is a public, unlisted company owned by over 500 shareholders from throughout the world. Tammy Bell emigrated from London to Christchurch in September 2000. Following her and husband Mike’s experiences, they set up move2nz: a free online community for prospective, new and settled migrants to New Zealand. The web site provides many opportunities to meet business contacts and make new friends. Tammy says ‘’networking is my middle name’’, so you can look forward to lots of first-hand experiences and learning the best way to successfully integrate. Jeff D'Arcy is an integral part of the management of Greenwood Property Development Fund Ltd, an Australian public company involved in capital raising, construction and the marketing of selective beachside residential apartment developments.   Jeff is also an Affiliate member of the Securities Institute of Australia. Brendan Sharkey is Director of Individual Travel Programs at HTH Worldwide.  He is frequently called upon by the media to discuss the crucial themes of global travel health and security. A serial expatriate, Brendan has resided in Scotland, Canada and Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing) from Australia’s Griffith University. Jonathan Flaws is a property, banking and finance law specialist whose expertise also covers title insurance. With over 30 years experience, he can explain all about issues that arise within these areas. A member of the Auckland District Law Society forms committee, Jonathan is also a director of First American Title Insurance Company of Australia. Chet Walsh is an IL Roundtable member and seasoned globetrotter with more knowledge than most about expat life. After 26 years in aircraft and engine program management, much of which was spent working in Asia, Europe and Israel, he retired in 1990. Originally from Boston, Chet will explain what it’s like to raise a family abroad as well as giving you the lowdown about life in the Northland region. This is Chet’s fourth year in New Zealand --- he owns a home in Kerikeri and spends six months of the year here. 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. David Tanzer will address tax issues commonly experienced by expats. As he says, it’s ‘’a critical element too many Expats fail to plan for in advance of an international move.’’  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 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.  He and brother John Bayley are the principal shareholders in Bayleys which is New Zealand's largest commercial and industrial real estate company. David's primary focus has been in developing relationships and servicing the New Zealand wide property requirements of substantial clients.  He has directed a number of substantial corporate marketing programmes over the last decade and holds LINZ accreditation on behalf of the company for the marketing of Government owned property. David also 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. Mike Bayley is General Manager for Bayleys Real Estate Limited and is responsible for the day to day management of the sales team and the operation of the real estate business. Before taking on his current areas of responsibility Michael was managing Bayleys Asian operation based in Singapore.  Michael has also spent time in Sydney, Australia taking responsibility for DTZ Bayleys International operations across Australia.  During Michael's time in Asia, he built strong and fruitful relationships with numerous Asian institutional investors and high net worth individuals and has played an instrumental role in Bayleys achieving sales of NZ property to Asian investors with a volume in excess of NZ$1.6 billion.  John Bayley has been actively involved in the real estate industry for more than 30 years. He joined the real estate industry in his early 20s working with his father Graham for Hamilton-based Matthews and Hyde. In 1973, Graham and John established Bayleys Real Estate. The company's first office was in Papatoetoe and much of their early business revolved around the commercial and residential development of former farmland in the South Auckland region. An office was established in the Auckland Central Business District in the early 1980s and for most of that decade Bayleys focused on the commercial and industrial real estate market where it became a substantial player. Bayleys conducted most of the large corporate property disposal programmes of the late 80s, when it introduced the concept of portfolio marketing to New Zealand. With a dearth of property buyers in New Zealand after the sharemarket crash, John and David Bayley also pioneered new offshore markets for New Zealand property in the Middle East and South East Asia. Throughout the 1990s, John Bayley led a strategic initiative to expand Bayleys nationally across all sectors of the market in all parts of the country and a national franchise network was established which now has over 50 offices with over 1200 people. John has also remained very "hands-on" on the sales side of the business and plays in a key role in managing large sales projects and in dealing with substantial clients. He has an extensive range of investor and developer contacts both nationally and internationally. Gerald Rundle In 1997 Gerald 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 brought to the position extensive valuation experience in areas of commercial, residential and industrial property that was attained at Robertson Young Telfer (now Telfer Young) a specialist national property valuation firm.  His experience in the industry is supported by Bachelor of Property and a Bachelor of Commerce degrees, both 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) Bayleys Research provides a broad range of research and consultancy services to the various internal divisions of Bayleys Real Estate, including a nationwide franchise network, as well as to a wide range of external clients.  The ongoing development of the research relationship with Bayleys international alliance partner, Cushman and Wakefield, a global real estate services company with head offices in New York, Shanghai and London, is adding a further dimension to the research services being offered to Bayley's clients. 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. By employing the services of a currency specialist like HiFX, they will be able to minimise that risk and employ purchasing strategies to maximise their return.

Seminar Hotel Information

Hyatt Regency Auckland Cnr Waterloo Quadrant & Princess Street Auckland

Hotel Reservations

Please contact the Hyatt Regency directly to reserve your accommodation. Room space is limited. Please book early to guarantee accommodation.

Telephone: 1-888-591 1234 (toll free from the US and Canada)

To register online visit:
http://www.auckland.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp

Enter arrival and departure month and date.
Enter Group code: G-ILHB
Click Check availability

As a conference attendee, you can take advantage of a discounted room rate of NZ$195 per night, single or double occupancy (approx. US$120).  We have negotiated with the hotel to allow our attendees to take advantage of the discounted rate 5 days before and after the event to accommodate your needs (based on availability).

Additional accommodation is also available in Regency Club rooms for a NZ$60 supplement per night.

Travel Information

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 specializes 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 Fij.
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 7-9, 2007
Hyatt Regency Hotel
Auckland, New Zealand

PRICE: 1 person = $895; 2 people = $1,490 (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, all coffee breaks, and travel and accommodation assistance from our staff. Your international airfare, hotel acomodations 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 7, 2007, you're entitled to $100 per person off the registration fee. That means you and a guest can come for just $1,290.

Discount Price: 1 person = $795; 2 people = $1,290

ADDITIONAL DISCOUNT FOR TAIPAN INNER CIRCLE MEMBERS: No matter when you sign on, if you're an Inner Circle Member of Taipan, you are eligible for a $150 discount off the registration price.

Discount Price for Inner Circle Members who register by January 7, 2007:
1 person = $645; 2 people = $1,140  

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received on or before February 7, 2007, will receive a full refund, less a $150 penalty per person.  From February 8, 2007 through February 20, 2007 a refund less a $350 penalty per person will be given.  After February 21, 2007, 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 "Untourist" Travel and Events e-letter.  (You can unsubscribe to this at any time).

*Speakers and schedule are subject to change