Orewa

Having knocked 15 minutes from the time it takes to travel to Auckland, the new northern motorway has had a profound impact on Orewa.

Renowned for its beautiful safe beaches, this relaxing seaside village has always been an ideal place to retire. With a variety of shops and cafes within easy walking distance of the beach and its low-density population, the village atmosphere has appealed to the elderly.

But suddenly, because of Auckland's proximity, just 30 minutes drive away, Orewa is attracting a broader spectrum of buyer. Families and professionals are leaving Auckland and the North Shore, coming in search of properties that offer a better lifestyle.

Many of those families who have relocated their businesses to the thriving Albany basin, have shifted to Orewa because of the easy commuting.

There's a big variety of properties to choose from. Along the beachfront, large homes on big sections go for premium prices. A mixture of family homes and smaller retirement units sit on the flat land around the village.

Further west, away from the sea, new subdivisions are being developed with many bigger three and four-bedroom homes specifically targeted at professionals.

On the hills above Orewa, large expensive homes are being built on properties that have striking sea views.

Because the motorway now bypasses about two-thirds of Orewa, the character of the area is changing. By the year 2003, traffic will be diverted completely and the Rodney Council will continue to develop the satellite suburb as a low-traffic seaside town. The beach will become a lot more accessible to pedestrians and Orewa should evolve as a resort rather like those on Australia's Gold Coast.