Germans want to settle in N.Z.

Press, 22 October 1981, Page 26

Germans want to settle in N.Z.

By

KEN COATES

in London A West German real estate agent, married to a New Zealander, says that many of his countrymen are interested in buying land, houses, flats, motels, farms, and tourist hotels in New Zealand. Mr Hanspeter Maier, of West Berlin, plans to advertise in the North Island and South Island on behalf of German investors whom he says are interested in New Zealand property and investment. Mr Maier, is convinced that many of his countrymen (

have the funds and the desire to make purchases in NewZealand. although most are not sure where New Zealand is. “I was in the Merchant Navy and visitd New Zealand quite a lot. My wife comes from Alexandra and is a theatre nurse." One West German he know’s frequently visits the Bay of Islands, and would be interested in owning a holiday home there. Other Germans are interested in leaving their over-crowded country with

its problems of foreign migrants, street violence, and corruption in government. he says. "In West Berlin there are many migrant workers — in my street, for example, there are 400 Pakistanis living in inadequate housing. "Il is not their fault, but nothing effective is being done and it looks to be years before their future will be decided politically. “People also have a very real fear of war: some would sell everything and live in New Zealand if this were possible." he says.

Mr Maier is aware of restrictions on the amount of farmland that can be brought in New Zealand by foreign buyers, but says many West Germans are looking increasingly to areas where thev can "invest their money.

"There is also the back to Nature feeling about NewZealand. It costs me about SUS3O for a round of golf in Berlin and this is ridiculous."

He also says- there is a big untapped market in West Germany for such New Zea-land-made items as deerskin jackets and woollen slippers.