03/03/2026
I just came across this Wall Street Journal article about more Americans looking to move to New Zealand for lifestyle, safety, and amazing opportunities
If you’ve ever thought about buying, selling, or moving here, I can help make the process simple and smooth. I’m based in Remuera and work with people from all over the world finding their perfect home.
Feel free to reach out or share this with anyone you know who might be thinking about a move. Let’s chat!
Around 2018, New Zealand became known as a destination for tech billionaires said to be building “doom-prep” bunkers. The country, which has a population of 5 million on two islands, is seen as a safe haven due to its distance from the rest of the world.
Now it’s become a magnet for a larger group of Americans, many of them venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and investment advisers drawn to the country’s vibrant startup community. Adding fuel to the fire is a recent shift in New Zealand’s visa policies, which makes it easier for wealthy foreigners to buy homes in the country.
Kelly McGonigle Squier, 41, co-founder of the nonprofit Ladies Who Launch, and her husband, early-stage investor Trevor Squier, 42, are about to put an offer of roughly $2.5 million on a bungalow in Auckland’s Grey Lynn neighborhood.
They are planning to bring their parents with them when they relocate from Seattle to New Zealand. Because Kelly and Trevor have permanent New Zealand residency, their parents will be able to get visas, as long as they meet certain requirements.
The Squiers plan to buy land to put up two modular houses for their parents, who they say are all enthusiastically on board.
For New Zealand, attracting investment and expertise for its startups is seen as key to increasing growth and exports. Its economy has sputtered in recent years, with tens of thousands of Kiwis leaving the country.
“We are a little bit short of capital, which is why we love our American friends,” New Zealand’s outgoing Attorney-General Judith Collins said at a January dinner that included about 30 American tech-industry players.
U.S. investors bring in expertise and connections, New Zealand Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford said in an interview. “The caliber of the Americans applying has been absolutely outstanding.”
🔗 Read more: https://on.wsj.com/3OCZcTO
