UK farmers to be lured to the greener pastures of New Zealand
The buoyant state of New Zealand’s rural economy, combined with a falling New Zealand dollar, is being used as a tempting lure to attract British farmers considering immigrating to greener pastures here.
Leading New Zealand real estate company Bayleys is conducting a rural seminar roadshow throughout rural UK locations next month – with the strategic aim of attracting British farmers to ‘downunder’ country landholdings.
Bayleys has been holding the ‘Farming NZ’ seminar series annually in the UK since 2002 – and in that time, has sold some $400million worth or rural property specifically to British farmers who have immigrated to New Zealand. Farms and lifestyle blocks have been sold in such New Zealand provinces as the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, Nelson/Marlborough, and Canterbury.
Bayleys country manager Richard Graham said several economic indicators were now pointing toward a favourable New Zealand property investment scenario for the UK market – most notably record milk solids pay-outs for dairy farmers, and a recovering beef and lamb sector.
“From a foreign exchange perspective, some eight years of a high-valued New Zealand dollar against the British pound is coming to an end – adding to the attractiveness of New Zealand farms as business opportunities. This comes at a time when UK rural land prices have skyrocketed over the past 18 months, and the regulatory operating environment for British farmers is becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating,” Mr Graham said.
Richard Graham said New Zealand’s rural sector had always been held in high esteem by British farmers envious of our technology-led farming practices, and the world-leading efficiency of our commercial units. To generate additional interest in New Zealand rural properties on the market, Bayleys is taking its more than 500 copies of its country portfolio to the roadshow presentations. The portfolio will contain some 100 New Zealand farms currently available for sale in New Zealand.
Seminar content will cover such issues as the growth of rural support services in the New Zealand farming industry, diversification opportunities on marginal land holdings, economic forecasts on international demand for New Zealand primary produce, the growth of Fonterra’s global marketing activity, and production efficiency trends.
Pro-actively trying to lure farmers to New Zealand from the UK, the Bayleys seminars will also contain information on applying for New Zealand residency visas, our tax system, setting up bank accounts here and business registration, and the processes of purchasing New Zealand country property.
The Bayleys ‘Farming NZ’ roadshow kicks off in Devon on October 13 then rolls through the strong farming centres of Worcestershire, Peterborough, West Yorkshire, and Carlisle before heading across to Ireland with dates in Antrim, County Kildare and finishing in Cork on October 22.
For further information or commentary, contact Bayleys country manager Richard Graham. Phone 09 375 8495 or mobile 021 880 454.
