(Real) Life in
New Zealand
Mini-Series:
SHEEP
“If you are considering buying a lifestyle block when you come to live in New Zealand then you will need to know something about keeping sheep!”
Let’s just be clear.
Everything you have heard about New Zealand having stacks of sheep?
It’s true. Every word of it.
Today’s New Zealand insight is all about what people do when they buy a ‘lifestyle’ block or property and need to care for the land.
It’s all very well thinking ‘ahh yes… when I move to New Zealand I want to get an acre of land and keep chickens’, BUT that land will need maintaining!
Now, you don’t have to have sheep (see FAQ later in the page), you can turn the land into a huge garden or vegetable plot (note that the kiwis say veggie, not vegetable) but if you DO decide to go down the animal route then hopefully you will now know that keeping sheep in New Zealand is super easy.
PS: Alpacas are also quite popular on lifestyle blocks so I thought I’d share this image from a property down the road from me.
FAQ About New Zealand Lifestyle
What is a Lifestyle Block property?
What is the difference between a lifestyle and a rural property?
If you can mow the lawns with a hand lawnmower, you’ve got yourself a residential property. If you need a ride on, it’s a lifestyle. Rural properties require a tractor.
How much is a lifestyle block to buy in New Zealand?
Obviously, depending on where you choose to live in New Zealand, lifestyle blocks vary in price.
If you are able to work remotely or don’t mind living an hours drive from a major town or city then you could grab yourself a lifestyle block for around $165,000 NZD.
This price is for a piece of bare land (half an acre) in the country that is an hours drive from Fielding which is a lovely town in the Whanganui region on the North Island of New Zealand.
The owner is willing to provide electricity to the site but apart from that, this is a bare piece of land that comes with no covenants (meaning that you can build what you like).
You can find land like this and more on the website TradeMe
At the other end of the scale, if you have a spare $22,000,000 you can buy yourself a private island just off the Northlands coast!
PS: If you DO have this kind of dosh then hit me up…we need to be friends.
Are sheep the only animal you could keep on a lifestyle block?
As I said in the video, you don’t have to keep any animals – you may prefer to keep your grass cut by a power machine – but if you DO decide to keep some livestock then sheep are often the first choice simply because they are such low maintenance.
A cow (or a beefy as the kiwis like to say), a pony, goats, chickens are all animals that you will tend to see grazing around a rural New Zealand property.
Where would I begin to look if I did want to buy sheep in New Zealand?
Other than that, Trade me or in the local farm shop noticeboard is where I would look.
Recommended Resources
Immigration services:
We cannot give immigration advice, but if you need to know more about visas etc then we recommend the company New Zealand Shores.
They are amazing. Super helpful and on the ball.
Take their FREE Eligibility Quiz here to see how they can help you.
Currency Transfer:
If you are looking for a money-saving currency solution in a volatile market where trust and transparency count (and we can personally vouch for these guys), then this is the only company that we (and hundreds of our private NZ Ahead members) recommend.
Click below for the best rates and a no-cost chat. We’ve done the homework for you! These guys are the best: https://itsadrama.com/torfx
Pet Relocation:
There is only one company we recommend when it comes to pet relocation, and that is Starwood Pet Travel. We have had many, recommendations for this company, and we couldn’t be happier with them. They can ship your furry friend from almost anywhere in the world, and they do so with love and care.
Click the link below, and don’t forget to mention that you listened to this podcast! https://itsadrama.com/starwood-pet-travel
Hiring a car/motorhome in New Zealand:
🚗 Looking for the best DEALS on car hire? We use love and trust Discover Cars.
After too many years of scrolling through car hire deals only to get to the checkout page and be hit with a ton of upsells, we now go straight to Discover Cars. Brian refuses to use anyone else. Get a free instant quote here
Travel insurance:
⛑️ Looking for the BEST Travel Insurance? We love World Nomads. Over the years, we’ve made three claims (sorry, guys), and each time the service has been superb. Get a free instant quote here
If you are travelling for longer (a few months) and are looking for the best insurance, then we recommend the Safety Wing Insurance. They offer a monthly subscription insurance for travellers. Brian and I use them when we travel long-term, and they have been superb.
Housesitting
🏡 Housesitting has saved our family of four THOUSANDS. If you want to join us in using TrustedHousesitters to travel the world (New Zealand is one of the easiest places to find housesits), use our exclusive discount code to get a WHOPPING 25% off HOUSESITTING yearly membership.
It’s cheaper than one night’s stay in an Airbnb:
I wrote this post Housesitting in New Zealand to let you know more
Want More New Zealand Content?
Coming Up Next…
I hope that this lesson has given you more of an insight into what keeping sheep is like when you choose to live in a lifestyle property (or buy a lifestyle block and build your own home)!
Look out for tomorrows email where I will share with you another aspect of real life in New Zealand.
Until then, sending you lots of warm kiwi wishes!
Liz
