BusinessDesk talked to real-estate agent Caleb Paterson, who works with a number of offshore agents and high net-worth individuals mainly out of the US and UK markets. He said interest had “definitely perked up” since National said it would repeal its ban on foreign buyers.

Foreign buyers, with the exception of Singaporean and Australian citizens, have been barred from owning NZ properties since 2018.

Assuming it makes up the next government, National’s plan would open the door to all foreign buyers to purchase NZ homes valued at more than $2 million, with a 15 per cent foreign buyer stamp surcharge clipped on, from the 2025 fiscal year.

Enjoy paradise while it lasts.

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

These billionaires aren't going to pillage NZ.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It won't be like last time

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

You might have misunderstood me.

Billionaires aren't going to NZ to sell subscriptions or strip mine the wilderness. They've already done that elsewhere.

They're going to NZ to live out the coming apocalypse in a mansion with servants.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Billionaires aren’t going to NZ to sell subscriptions or strip mine the wilderness.

They're going to demolish nature preserves to build mega-mansions and juice up the police force to press gang local indigenous people.

Just like they've done everywhere else.

[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Billionaires want to exploit people and places but they don't want to live in an exploited place with exploited people.

As in don't shit where you eat.

Ultimately I think billionaires wanting to spend their billions in NZ is a good thing for NZ.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

As in don’t shit where you eat.

The Moss Landing Lithium Plant fire is right in the middle of California's largest vegetable producing county.

That's food going straight onto the plates of any number of Silicon Valley executives.