LittleGreyCat

Back in the day (10-15 years or more ago?) this seemed to be a thing.
Have a home in the UK/Europe and another in NZ.
Fly between the two and have two summers each year.

A bit more long range than having a winter home by the Mediterranean and a summer home in the UK.

Is this still a thing?
If not, when did it stop?
The last time I looked the new tourist visa arrangements didn't seem to permit this any more.
You could probably do 4 on and 8 off (or similar) but not the 6/6 variant.

Covid would also have put a big stopper on this (depending on where you were when the shutters came down, it could have different impacts for different folks).

To be clear, we are not contemplating this, it is just idle curiosity on my part from remembering this used to be a thing.

Moses2013

I don't think it was a thing 10-15 years ago and even before that a very small minority did it. There were times in NZ/UK when you didn't have to be a millionaire to buy a property, but even then it was probably a small group of people who split time between these countries. Of course due to history there were always some who inherited a property in NZ and did it, was it really a thing? Flights were also not cheap back in the day.
Maybe it stopped when banks stopped lending and we reached the prices you see today. Or maybe it is still is a thing and we don't hear about it, because we don't belong to the elite who can afford it. Now there are more bans and it's more likely someone from Singapore would do it.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/foreig...DJPNYWRBEUSU4/
Former National finance spokeswoman Amy Adams was among the politicians opposing the introduction of the ban in 2018.

In 2018, she said buyers made up a “very small proportion” of the real estate market.

National also argues allowing foreign buyers to buy in New Zealand means wealthy people will then invest in the country and spend money elsewhere on services.

Former prime minister Sir John Key put it more bluntly in 2020 when he called for the “crazy foreign buyer ban” to be ended.

“Why do we care if someone who lives in New York wants to spend $10m building a house in Auckland, using NZ craftsmen and NZ tradespeople?”

Key sold his Parnell home to a Chinese buyer for $23.5m. The buyer sold the house for a more than $7m loss just a few years later.

LittleGreyCat

2010 was (I think) the first time we visited NZ since our original visit in 1987 looking to emigrate (but didn't find a job).
At that time under $400k would have been affordable, and I think the average is nudged up by Auckland prices.
At 2016 the prices start to skyrocket, but there were still houses in places like Russel under $400k.
So possibly affordable from the UK without having to sell up.
[Depends very much where you are in life and what your savings are.]

I suspect that the average price is now a bit higher than 2020 despite the recent falls.
From the graph, house prices have at least doubled since 2016 which certainly hasn't happened in our part of the UK.

The demographic would be retired people with pensions, savings, own home, no mortgage.
Or, as you say, super rich who could afford several houses in several countries (which isn't us, sadly).

I do have a strong recollection of people talking about "six on/six off" which could well have been 2010 where that was our only option if we wanted to spend significant time in NZ.
By 2016 we had our advance guard installed and the prospect of residence, so likely before then.

Anyway, looks like is not a thing for people on this Forum.

Timmy Chch

I've certainly heard of Brits doing 6 on/off with Spain/Italy/France etc but not with NZ. Isn't the term called a swallow? NZ summers can be pretty fierce, it's not my fav season. UK seems to have a half decent 2 months of summer these days but nowhere near 6 months 'good' weather if that's the intention

BEVS

Yes. Wehave known several that did this.
Not sure about now as the pandemic put the mockers on.
I always thought it was a heck of a journey

Moon_River

*Have a home in the UK/Europe and another in NZ.
Fly between the two and have two summers each year.*

I realise you said this was just idle musings but are you lottery winners ?

Moses2013

Then again, the ferry journey from Ireland to Spain takes even longer than flying to NZ and these people would only do it every 6 months.
I drive 4 hours to the port, then 30 hours on the eco ferry + another 7 hour drive through Spain.
I suppose it would be similar for people living in Auckland who have a holiday home in Queenstown and drive there.

BEVS

That lot fifo. Have vehicles both places.

Yes. I had forgotten ferry trips. The Santander was a long'un.
The 2 back to back long haul in economy is a killer though.

Moses2013

I try to no longer fly and don't really like flying, so for me it's Ok and I must say the journey isn't that bad if you see it as part of the holiday. The new Brittany ferry Salamanca goes from Ireland and the UK to Spain and is powered by LNG, so no smell of diesel or anything when we went. They also have a partnership with ORCA charity organisation, so they educate people on board, have whale watching and everything. Didn't see any whales when I was there, although plenty of dolphins swimming next to us.

It looks like Interislander will also have new ferries by 2025/2026 https://www.interislander.co.nz/inte...5/new-ferries/

LittleGreyCat

Even today flying a round trip over a year - fly out, then six months later fly back - is not very expensive if you fly Economy.

Skyscanner search 6 month trip

There seem to be flights for two people, one stop, around the £2.5k UKP all in.

If there is no hidden catch, then £2.5k UKP a year is probably affordable without winning the lottery.

Flying out November and flying back June does seem to be reasonably priced and gets you over 6 months in NZ.

You are then just looking at additional living costs.
Which will depend on how you live, bottom line is probably living in Motels.

Moon_River

*Which will depend on how you live, bottom line is probably living in Motels.*

Is that really living ?

Moses2013

Another thing to consider is maintenance depending what type of property you have, leaving your property empty during the winter months can also mean dampness in many parts of NZ, so probably need someone to look after it (additional heating bills etc.). Not all have big gardens, but the grass grows fairly quickly in NZ and the first cut will be a struggle You'd probably need a car unless you are in a larger town.

LittleGreyCat

Yes, it is really living.

Last summer we toured NZ for a couple of months and lived mainly in Motels and Top Ten campsites in the cabins.
Stopping in one place for 6 months might not be as attractive, but why should we stop in one place?

LittleGreyCat

The intention is not to buy in NZ (although the thread has drifted from a hypothetical to our plans if we get a visa).
Yes, for the original 6 on 6 off the empty property needs looking after.
In the UK you just leave the central heating on low.
In NZ the property would have to have central heating (and probably air conditioning) to keep it dry over the winter months.
Your average cold and damp NZ bungalow would probably not be suitable.

A car would be essential, but there are cheap ones.
A gardener once a month to cut the lawns would not be that expensive.

Bo-Jangles

I don't think it ever was much of a thing, most people have to have a job in order to get a visa and therefore have to commit one way or the other. You really can't flit across the world unless retired and / or are very wealthy, as logistics of for most people simply would not work - you can't maintain family life, with work, kids and pets in tow on a half assed basis and the cost is prohibitive to most. If the centre of your world is still in the UK earning UK pounds it may be a different kettle of fish; but I don't know anyone here that is financially able to afford much beyond paying the bills and putting food on the table. The cost of a six monthly flight to Europe would simply be unthinkable for the majority of people, unless it was being funded by their employer.