The Premium Debate: Subscriber views on bayofplentytimes.co.nz

Aucklanders stuck in lockdown have been making inquiries about Tauranga properties. Photo / File

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Aucklanders stuck in lockdown are eyeing properties in the Bay of Plenty, with some top-end Tauranga listings snapped up sight-unseen.

My recommendation to anyone considering relocating to Tauranga is to factor in the lack of health services. You definitely will need private health insurance and be prepared to travel to Hamilton, Auckland and Wellington to receive expert standard of care and sound health advice. Something to very seriously consider.
- Keith T

Tauranga has its problems too, just look at the council and backwards infrastructure, it's going to face the same problems Auckland has sooner rather than later. Yes it has a beautiful beach but Auckland has many beautiful beaches, and Northland has even more than both of them. I personally don't see the attraction of moving to another city that's on the fast track to being another Auckland. Lots of better cities to retire to if you want a quieter life.
- Donna S

Great idea for people to spread out in NZ instead of cramming into this narrow isthmus of land in Auckland. Problem is then it becomes the thing they are trying to escape because it's so popular. I got caught in a traffic jam in Totara St, (congestion with State Highway 2) and it was just as bad as Auckland. Hope the Mount doesn't become a huge Devonport with virtually one road in and one out.
- Peter S

House owners from Tauranga and other regions around NZ are happy to sell up for big money but they have to find another house to live. Locals start moaning about house prices and rents going up but it is them doing it to themselves. Just like what happened in Auckland. Agree hospitals in the regions are very limited in services. We will need to fix these for when we open up to live with Covid. Could someone please whisper this to the Government. Please.
- Chris B

Selling my Tauranga house in a couple of weeks that I've owned for 12 years. Now I can afford to build on my neighbouring section I've owned for 21 years. Cashed out of Auckland to semi-retire at 49. Happy days. The traffic in Tauranga is nothing like Auckland. Was raised in Tauranga. Glad to be home. Auckland served its purpose.
- Jason M

For those moving (or have already done so) how does the hospital stack up? We have friends who moved to Napier and have no choice on the doctor they can see at all. I expect at some point the Tauranga Council will have to face up to their infrastructure shortfall, that always works out well for ratepayers.
- Chris H

Please stay in Auckland. We don't want any more people coming here to clog our roads up even more. We simply don't have the infrastructure and it doesn't look like we ever will. This Government and the previous governments have failed this area massively!!
- John G

Unless this "flood" of Aucklanders are setting up their own business I'm scratching my head on the job front, actually several fronts. Whilst it's a great place to live we aren't rolling in 100k+ salaries. Our congestion is now far more than just a summer tourist blight. Social services are beyond full with crime and gangs entrenched. Infrastructure is a decade behind, even the new Bayfair flyover, yet to be completed, has a six-year positive on traffic flow before it's expected to reach peak operation by 2023. On quality housing stock, don't expect choice! Our beach is still bonza though …
- Warren C

And who would blame them. Auckland is a nightmare in more ways than one. Have you noticed how quickly industrial and commercial land is being swallowed up in the Waikato as smart industries see the advantages of getting out of Auckland or face growing staff shortages and huge delays owing to costs and infrastructure chaos. Plus Covid is not going away. And Auckland will always be the centre of this owing to the obvious.
- Alan S

We just don't have the housing availability for people coming to this area, but if you do walk around the older suburbs there is plenty of opportunity to infill a lot of large sections with only one house. Grow up, not out.
- Peter M

- Republished comments may be edited at the editor's discretion.