Editorial: Embrace Auckland invasion

Andrew Austin believes Hawke's Bay residents should embrace the Auckland invasion.

Finally Aucklanders are catching on to what we all know already - Hawke's Bay is a great place to live and invest in.

In our main story today, we have spoken to the bosses of some of our largest real estate agencies and they are confirming that there is tremendous interest from the big smoke.

It seems as if it is a combination of investors, people wanting to get into the local real estate market because they planned a future move to the Bay, and people moving immediately.

This is not just estate agent hype - the Auckland invasion is starting. Having lived in Auckland for a decade, I have many contacts there who are telling me that people are looking elsewhere and the Bay, with its temperate climate, is as good a place as any. I have also heard many local tales of cashed-up Aucklanders buying gems.

There is no waiting around for houses to sell, they can buy now. And it is no wonder.

Some of our properties are fantastic and can be bought for prices Aucklanders just can't believe. Is there any comparison between a two-bedroom unit in St Heliers for $700,000 or a four-bedroom house on four acres on the backblocks of Havelock North? I know what I would choose.

While this does make life tough for locals trying to get into the market, it is good for our economy and will give our region the growth it needs. All this is anecdotal at present - the interest is yet to transfer into the official figures - but that will come.

It is all very well us loving where we live but in order for our wonderful province to survive and prosper we need skilled people, jobs and job creators, and capital.

The future is looking good.