Imagine this – you cut all ties with your UK existence and fly your family to the other side of the world for a better life.

You’ve sold your house, you’ve taken the kids out of school – but it’s ok, you’ve already lined up a New Zealand job and your new life is on track.

But then along comes something you didn’t bargain for. You lose your job. You are then asked to leave the country.

Whilst the credit crunch has obviously played a major part in this, the New Zealand Government has also had a hand, with many accusing it of pursuing a ‘jobs for Kiwis’ policy.

With unemployment at a six-year high, tough economic times have led to jobs going to native New Zealanders first.

With many Kiwis heading back home after losing their jobs in another country, there is huge demand for every job and foreigners are losing out.

Jobless foreigners now risk losing their work visas and having to return to Britain.

Many of the 20,000 skilled Britons who made the move to New Zealand last year had expertise sought after by New Zealand employers and were given visas allowing them to take jobs and apply for permanent residency after two years.

But now, the Government seems to be asking these people to leave in order to free up the jobs for Kiwis. Meanwhile, the employers are losing skilled employees and, in some cases, having to replace them with less-skilled workers.

Mike Bell, of the migrant assistance group Move2NZ group, said, “We are seeing families who have worked here years being effectively kicked out in two weeks.

“Many have existing jobs or offers of work in areas listed by immigration as being in dire shortage. Employers are tearing their hair out as there’s nothing they can do,” he added.

Google NZ

Online search giant Google has launched a New Zealand property mapping service. Now, estate agents, franchise groups and other property websites can upload their house listings directly into Google Maps free of charge.

Prospective buyers simply enter the city or burb of their choice into the search engine and available listings will pop up on the map. More detailed searches can then be carried out by price, type of property, number of bedrooms and parking.

The map automatically updates with relevant listings when panned or zoomed to another suburb, and when the search criteria is changed.

Google Product Manager Andrew Foster said the company knew that many New Zealand home buyers were already using Google Maps to help with house-buying.

“By making the listings themselves available in Google Maps, we can drive qualified buyers directly to listings.

“It is a simple and free way for real estate companies to make their listings even more discoverable and have them seen on an easy-to-navigate map,” added Mr Foster.

For more information on properties in New Zealand and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

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Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson
Managing Director
www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

It may be on the other side of the world but that hasn’t stopped thousands of Brits starting a new life in New Zealand – in fact, it may even have encouraged them.

Despite being roughly the same size as the UK, the Land of the Long White Cloud has 56 million fewer people – meaning no more queuing for anything and shopkeepers that have time to stop and chat to you.

New research carried out by Natwest International Personal Banking found that Britons living in New Zealand rated the country highly in all areas. Not only does it have one of the lowest average property prices in the developed world, it also has lower taxes and a far better quality of life for children and those who enjoy outdoorsy pursuits.

Of course, you won’t find the same cosmopolitan offerings in terms of theatres and galleries as you will in London but that is cancelled out by the sheer weight of free outdoor activities on offer.

The stunning, unspoilt scenery also played a part in the British love affair with New Zealand.

Whilst average wages are lower than in the UK, a favourable tax regime means that earnings go further.

Of all the 2,000 expatriates surveyed in 12 countries, 86 per cent believed their lives were better than before they emigrated and 92 per cent said they were happier. Despite the global recession, eighty seven per cent were better off.

Most said their wages had gone up, with almost 80 per cent earning between £50,000 and £85,000.

Six out of ten left Britain with less than £5,000 in savings. But almost half now claim to be worth between £250,000 and £500,000. A quarter said they were worth between £500,000 and £1million.

Dave Isley, Head of NatWest International personal banking, said, “Expats say they are living healthier lifestyles abroad, whilst also benefiting financially.

“This is particularly true for expats in New Zealand who not only say they benefit from low property prices, a favourable taxation system and a healthy lifestyle but also the beauty of New Zealand’s natural environment.

“Our latest expatriate study has revealed that despite the global slowdown affecting everyone, the potential to earn more money abroad is clearly one of the main benefits expats are experiencing,” he added.

Quality, not quantity

In the quality of life index, New Zealand came ahead of Canada, which topped the poll last year. They were followed by Australia, France, the United Arab Emirates, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, the U.S. and China. Despite their wealth, Singapore and Hong Kong came last.

A feeling of being sick of Britain was the main reason given for moving abroad and almost all said that emigrating was the right decision.

Taxing times

The British Government’s decision to double Air Passenger Duty – up to £84 for long-haul flights – could mean that long-haul travellers to and from the UK will have to dig deep.

The move could lead to record numbers of routes from British airports being abandoned.

The tax is to increase by up to 112 per cent over the next 18 months. On short-haul flights (under 2000 miles) it will rise by just £2, but on a flight to Singapore, Malaysia or Australia, a family of four will pay £340 – more than double the current rate.

Over the past year, more than 40 routes from leading airports have been abandoned in response to a fall in bookings.

For more information on property in New Zealand and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

New research has revealed that residential property prices in the Land of the Long White Cloud are continuing to stabilise and values improved by a considerable amount last month, giving hope that the New Zealand market is bouncing back from the brink…

With both volume and median sale price of houses changing, economists are saying the property market — a leading indicator of the whole New Zealand economy — is slowly improving.

The QV national residential property index for May highlighted a more positive future for the New Zealand property market.

After months of falls, prices now appear to be stabilising and the index shows a dramatic improvement in values.

Overall property prices fell by 8.1 per cent over the past year – an improvement on the 9.2 per cent decline reported for the year to April and was the second month in a row where the year-on-year change had improved.

The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) said that the number of houses sold was up nearly 40 percent on last April, though turnover fell seven per cent from March to 6210.

The national average sale price fell to £143,900 in May from £144,500 in April and was 4.1 per cent lower than the same time a year ago.

This drop in sale prices is being attributed to an increase in activity at the lower end of the market – of late, minimal activity has artificially inflated prices but now that is set to change.

New Zealand cities were also celebrating as the British Economist survey ranked two major NZ centres – Auckland and Wellington – as amongst the most liveable cities in the world.

Property values in all main cities increased slightly in recent months possibly due to the low interest rates on offer, causing people to return to the market.

QV’s Glenda Whitehead said, “It is clear that investors are now back in the market along with first time buyers and those looking to upgrade.

“This improvement is due to the continued stabilisation of property values in recent months and contrasts significantly to a market that was declining sharply 12 months ago.

“But it is difficult to predict where property prices will go from here as unemployment is likely to remain high as are longer term mortgage rates,” she added.

The median of 42 days to sell a house in April improved slightly on the 44 days it took in March and in April 2008, and significantly from February’s 55 days.

House sales continued to be strongest in the under £154,900 price bracket, accounting for nearly 4000 of the total April sales.

As New Zealand is now well into winter (whilst us Brits enjoy our baking hot barbecue summer?!) property transactions will begin to slow once more.

“This seasonal decline will provide a true test as to whether the recent property market revival will continue,” concluded Ms Whitehead.

For more information on properties in New Zealand and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

It just goes to show that even the lure of celebrity may not be enough to shift a property in the current climate – the stunning house on New Zealand’s North Shore, in which TV ratings winner ‘Next Top Model’ was filmed, failed to sell at auction this week despite hundreds of viewings…

The luxurious Campbells Bay home on Beach Road is on a 1,540 square-metre section and has ocean views to Rangitoto Island from almost every room, a saltwater pool, wet- bar, waterfall and that household essential – a dancing pole.

Hopeful models on the reality TV show ‘New Zealand’s Next Top Model’ lived in the huge house whilst filming took place. There is a ‘Next Top Model’ programme in many countries including the UK, Canada and Australia and it has become a ratings hit, attracting millions of viewers.

The property in New Zealand was put up for auction this week but failed to sell, despite the weekend open homes attracting hundreds of people. Clearly the majority of viewers were more interested in stepping onto the set of a reality TV show than actually purchasing the property.

Only buyers with cash could bid on the auction. With no bidder meeting the desired price, the sale was opened to buyers who could trade property as part payment.

Harcourts Sales Consultant David Greig, who is selling the property, said he also had overseas property buyers showing an interest and that it was a ‘genuine dream property that combines sophisticated luxury with cutting edge technology and unbeatable views.’

Harcourts says that there are still three interested parties, despite it failing to meet its reserve and thus not selling at auction.

Mr Greig said the property’s owner Seeby Woodhouse was not disappointed. “Only two properties have sold for over £1.5 million on the North Shore in the last six months.

“We are confident of still making a sale within the next few days,” he added.

For more information on New Zealand properties and the property market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

A new scoring system that could tell homeowners, renters and house-hunters at a glance how comfortable and cheap running a home will be, is being developed in New Zealand, which could potentially add more than five per cent onto the value of well-insulated and well-designed homes…

The ‘Health and Comfort’ scoreboards – which are a joint initiative between the Green Building Council, housing research group Beacon Pathway and building consultancy company Branz – could be handed out to potential buyers at viewings.

Homes in New Zealand will be rated out of 10 for overall performance on factors such as insulation and dampness, how much natural light they receive and how much water their inhabitants are likely to use because of the design of the house.

If the scoreboards become popular, they could penalise the roughly one million, mostly older New Zealand homes that do not meet modern building standards.

According to the World Health Organisation, the recommended temperature for a room is around 18 degrees centigrade or 21 degrees centigrade if there are babies, young children or elderly people living in the home.

But, a study has found that a fifth of the living rooms in New Zealand have a temperature of just 16 degrees centigrade on a winter evening, which could be damaging to occupant’s health.

Homeowners who do not want to fork out for the Health and Comfort test would be able to get a rough idea by filling out an online questionnaire, but to get the official rating, they would have to pay a fee of between £193 to £387 for a professional evaluation.

Whilst most properties in New Zealand would currently score around two or three on the chart, the goal is to upgrade all of them to a four or a five rating.

A recent ShapeNZ study of more than 2000 New Zealanders found that the majority – 71 per cent of homeowners – thought their homes could be warmer and more comfortable, but many were unable to afford to do anything about it.

For more information on New Zealand property and the property market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

Bare with me here (sorry, couldn’t resist that one) – I know it sounds ridiculous but could Air New Zealand be on to something here?

With the budget airlines tacking on added costs daily, from Ryanair’s ‘wee fee’ – paying to use the toilet on flights – to easyJet’s added costs to check in luggage – Air New Zealand’s choice to show they have ‘nothing to hide’ seems like a winner.

All extras, such as beverages, baggage allowances and other services are already included in the price of its fares.

Pity the poor staff who had to take part in the making of the advert though – Chief Executive Rob Fyfe, along with seven of his brave airline staff, carried out their usual aircraft duties wearing nothing but body paint to make the ad.

Mr Fyfe was subsequently selected New Zealand's sexiest businessman.

It will be screened in New Zealand to the soundtrack of ‘Under My Skin’ by New Zealand songstress, Gin Wigmore. Sadly, those of us here in Blighty will miss out as the ad isn’t being screened in the UK- but don’t despair- check out the making of the advert on You Tube.

This is just the latest in a long line of stunts by airlines aimed at attracting more media coverage during the economic downturn.

Perhaps the most off the wall one is easyJet’s announcement that it could start in-flight weddings. The Luton-based carrier is currently applying for permission from Luton Council for marriages to take place at 30,000 ft, with the service conducted by its pilots.

On a slightly less naked note, there are some signs of recovery in the New Zealand property market, with demand for property rising.

Estate agent Harcourts said that the number of people returning to the market has increased dramatically, boosted by lower interest rates and more affordable homes.

The number of sales of property in Christchurch on the South Island appreciated by 75 per cent whilst, in the northern region of New Zealand, which includes Auckland, the rise was 72 per cent.

Harcourts have sold 44 per cent more homes in April, compared to the same month last year and Chief Executive Bryan Thomson believes this upward trend will continue.

“Kiwis have become sick and tired of all the negativity and fed up with putting their lives on hold, so they’ve decided to be positive, to stop stalling and to take action in the real estate market, said the optimistic Mr Thomson.

For more information on properties in New Zealand and the property market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

New York, London and Paris may be top of many people’s travel wishlists, but they don’t offer a good quality of life for residents, according to this year’s worldwide Mercer Quality of Living Survey.

The survey, which is conducted to help Governments and major companies place employees on international assignments, covered 215 cities and looked at everything from house prices to job opportunities and public transport to mail services.

Austrian capital Vienna took the top spot, knocking Switzerland’s Zurich and Geneva into second and third places respectively. Overall, European cities dominated the top of the ranking, with seven of the top ten cities being in Europe.

The three exceptions to this statement were Auckland in New Zealand, which took joint fourth place with Vancouver in Canada and Sydney, Australia, which crept in at number ten.

Mercer Spokesman Rob Knox said, “The global recession has meant that many organisations are reviewing international appointments and cities with favourable rankings had an advantage when it came to attracting expatriates.

“Despite the financial crisis, New Zealand remains a very attractive market for expats – particularly as a career development opportunity for high potentials.”

Andrew Lockhart, Regional Manager for Immigration New Zealand told TheMoveChannel.com “The number of Brits making a permanent move to live in New Zealand grew by 17 per cent in the year ending March 2009, with many attracted by the gorgeous scenery and landscape of New Zealand.

“New Zealanders also prides themselves on their enviable lifestyle, and especially their positive work-life balance.

“What’s more, the cost of living is generally less than in the UK and residents in New Zealand benefit from excellent healthcare and education systems.

“Migrants live all over New Zealand, but the majority (46 per cent) settle in the Auckland area. Our extensive research shows that 86 per cent of recent migrants to New Zealand are very satisfied with living in New Zealand and similar number of migrants (87 per cent) would recommend New Zealand as a great place to live,” added Mr Lockhart.

New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, took 12th place, reigniting the rivalry between Auckland and Wellington.

Australian cities also fared well in the survey, with Sydney taking 10th, Melbourne 18th and Perth 21st.

Lee Bramzell, Chief Executive of PropertyIndex.com, told us, “Britons relocating abroad choose Australia and New Zealand because of the lifestyle benefits offered by these countries.

“Factors such as the friendly nature of the local people, quality schooling, as well as the abundance of jobs where there are specific skills shortages, are just some of the reasons British migrants are being drawn to antipodean shores.

“Exchange rates between the pound and the New Zealand and Australian dollar have remained relatively stable over the past six months, whereas by contrast, the cost of living in Europe has risen with the Pound going down in relation to the Euro,” added Mr Bramzell.

Paris took 33rd place, London took 38th place and New York took 49th place. Languishing at the bottom of the list was Baghdad in Iraq, which unsurprisingly took last place in the survey.

10 Best Cities

1. Vienna (Austria)

2. Zurich (Switzerland)

3. Geneva (Switzerland)

4. Auckland (New Zealand) and Vancouver (Canada)

6. Dusseldorf (Germany)

7. Munich (Germany

8. Frankfurt (Germany)

9. Bern (Switzerland)

10. Sydney (Australia)

10 Worst Cities

1. Baghdad (Iraq)

2. Bangui (Central African Republic)

3. Ndjamena (Chad)

4. Brazzaville (Congo)

5. Khartoum (Sudan)

6. Sanaa (Yemen Arab Republic)

7. Pointe Noire (Congo)

8. Nouakchott (Mauritania)

9. Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

10. Port au Prince (Haiti)

For more information on properties in New Zealand and the property market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

320,000 Australians, 61,000 Britons and 43,000 Americans fly direct to New Zealand’s stunning South Island each year, bypassing the North Island altogether.

Thus, the need for a South Island-only guide was established by Lonely Planet and was released this month. “This is something that our readers have been crying out for, and we’re pretty excited to be finally bringing it to them,” says Errol Hunt, Author and Lonely Planet’s Australia-Pacific Commissioning Editor.

“It’s aimed at travellers who spend their entire time in New Zealand on the South Island, so removes the need for them to buy the heavier full-country guide,” he added.

But, the new guide may puzzle some readers – as they flip the pages to discover 32 pages of information about Wellington, the capital of New Zealand and situated on the North Island.

Adam Bennett, Media and Communications Manager for Lonely Planet, said the addition was intentional.

“It’s an acknowledgement of Wellington as a travel hub,” he said adding that many tourists fly into the capital and spend a few days there before heading south.

The South Island is celebrated for its astounding scenery- snow capped mountain ranges, crystal rivers and the cosmopolitan cities of Queenstown and Christchurch – the latter a hotspot for Brits emigrating to New Zealand.

‘Truly wild places are rare in today's world but the South Island delivers them in droves: fiords, sounds, glaciers, cloud-topping mountain ranges, remote islands, raggedy peninsulas and wide river plains,’ adds the guide.

The South Island’s highlights are listed as being:

Tramping in Fiordland: "New Zealand's rawest wilderness area, a jagged, mountainous, forested zone sliced by numerous deeply recessed sounds (which are technically fiords) reaching inland like crooked fingers from the Tasman Sea."

Washing down oysters with wine in Marlborough: "The name of the genius who discovered that Marlborough's cool, sunny climate is perfect for growing grapes has been lost to history, but the wine world is now toasting his (or her) legacy: Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough Wine Region is a world-class winner."

Skiing the slopes around Queenstown: "With a cinematic background of mountains and lakes you actually have seen in the movies, and a 'what can we think of next?' array of adventure activities, it's little wonder that the South Island's premier tourist town tops many travellers' Kiwi itineraries."

Taking a city break in Christchurch: "Undoubtedly one of New Zealand's most liveable cities, combining an easy-going provincial charm with the emerging energy and verve of a metropolis. Modern bars and restaurants complement Gothic architecture, and locals know how lucky they are to blend all the attractions of a city with the relaxed ambience of a small town."

Despite promoting tourism to the South Island with the new guide, it does also include a section which covers the negative impact that tourism is having on some aspects of the South Island wilderness and wildlife. Those naughty campers who shampoo their hair in the crystal waters of the Catlins are named and shamed.

The large numbers of tourists drawn by the South Island’s stunningly rugged scenery also causes locals to avoid parts of the island and the small planes bringing tourists to the island have also been blamed for causing noise pollution over Queenstown.

For more information on property in New Zealand and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

For UK retirees, Spain and France are often popular choices. Not only are they close to home, they also have a well established property purchase process and excellent lifestyle and cost of living benefits. Spain and the South of France also offer many more days of sunshine each year than the UK does.

New Zealand may not seem like an obvious choice to retire to, as it is about as far away from the UK and grandchildren as you could possibly be. But, new research has discovered that New Zealand's older citizens enjoy the best treatment by the Government than in any other country.

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) compared the income level of retirement age New Zealanders to median disposable income levels and found that just two per cent of New Zealand’s retirement-age population was classed as being below the poverty line.

Just 13 of the 30 OECD countries surveyed in the ‘Growing Unequal? Income Distribution and Poverty in OECD Countries’ survey had poverty rates of less than 10 per cent among older people, putting New Zealand way ahead of the rest. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic also scored well.

Twenty-seven per cent of over-65s in Australia are below the poverty line and the United States also scored poorly.

But, this is obviously referring to New Zealand citizens and things may be different if you were to emigrate there as a retiree. For starters, it’s far harder to emigrate as a retiree to New Zealand as they don’t have a specific retirement visa like some other countries do.

If you are aged 56 years or older and do not have close family already resident in New Zealand, then you may have to look into applying for a long term business visa or investor visa, which means you invest in a New Zealand company.

Another option would be applying for a visitor’s permit. Many retirees spend six months a year in New Zealand on a visitor’s permit and then spend the other six months of the year back in their home country or in another country.

Despite the survey suggesting that life is sweet for retirees in the land of the long white cloud, several organisations who work with older people have come out of the woodwork and said the study does not reflect the financial reality of New Zealand's retirees.

Whilst they may get a generous superannuation pension, Age Concern Chief Executive Ann Martin said, “The results of the survey just don’t match what older people are telling us.

“Common sense tells us you can't live on £5,000 – £6,300 per person after tax annually, but that's what most superannuitants have to do,” she added.

Retirees also don’t get the free medical treatment that they would get if they had stayed in the UK.

For more information on New Zealand properties and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650

The survey polled 500 people in each of New Zealand’s 12 main cities and 2,000 people from the rest of the country to find out whether they were content with their lives in the land of the long white cloud.

The results found that the vast majority of New Zealanders were happy, in good health and felt safe in their homes after dark.

Almost nine out of 10 people in the 12 cities said their overall health was good or better, and about 86 per cent in the 12 cities and 88 per cent outside them said they had enough money to cover everyday living costs.

Since the last survey, in 2006, far fewer people said they had not visited the doctor when they wanted to because of the cost. The number of people who said they wanted to visit a GP in the past year but didn’t fell from 20 per cent in 2006 to six per cent. Universal subsidies for doctor’s visits and prescriptions were introduced in 2007.

Nine out of ten people said that they felt safe in their homes even though they did have concerns about vandalism, car theft and dangerous driving. But, only 11 per cent of people said they felt safe in their city centre at night. The most common reasons given for not feeling safe were the perception of dangerous people in the area, media coverage of crime and alcohol and drug problems.

Christchurch residents were least likely to feel safe in the city centre after dark – although 71 per cent of them said that they felt proud of their city.

Christchurch Central Area Controller Inspector Derek Erasmus says, “Christchurch recorded 100 violent offences per 10,000 population, which is lower than Wellington, Auckland, South Auckland, Hamilton and Dunedin, making it the country's safest large city.

“Many perceptions about safety in Christchurch are not based on fact. Incidents of serious violence were highlighted by local media, yet there were fewer than in other major centres,” Mr Erasmus added.

People in Wellington and North Shore were the most likely to feel safe in their city centres.

People were proudest of their city in Wellington, with 82 per cent of respondents feeling a sense of pride. Manukau (43 per cent) and Auckland people (51 per cent) were least proud.

The survey was paid for by the 12 participating councils, including North Shore, Waitakere, Auckland, Manukau, Rodney, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, Christchurch and Dunedin, and also by the Ministry of Social Development.

For more information on New Zealand property and the market in general, please visit http://new-zealand.themovechannel.com/

-ENDS-

Notes to editors:

TheMoveChannel.com is a property website that was founded in 1999 as an online resource for buying, selling and learning about property. It now receives as many as 300,000 visits per month and advertises over 50,000 properties in nearly 90 countries, which are listed by over 500 partner organisations.

For further information as well as images and interview possibilities, please contact:

Dan Johnson

Managing Director

www.themovechannel.com

0207 952 7650