By Melissa Davies
More than $800 million worth of luxury New Zealand homes, farms and commercial property has gone on show for Chinese buyers.
A local branch of Harcourts Real Estate says the pool of high-end buyers in New Zealand is not big enough so it has packed up the showcase and taken it to Chinese VIPs.
Liao Jian Feng makes a living buying and selling property in China but is now looking overseas for good deals.
He likes the look of Pakatoa Island in the Hauraki Gulf, which is on the market for $40 million.
“I see the island and it's very beautiful. I have worked for real estate for a couple of years so I have a good concept of good property to invest in,” he says.
Liao is one of around 1200 Chinese investors who have been invited to see a showcase of New Zealand’s premier property.
They range from luxury homes, such as the $9 million home which has featured on New Zealand’s Next Top Model, to rural sections, commercial property and luxury developments in areas like Pauanui and Queenstown.
The Harcourts branch on Auckland’s North Shore organised the two-week event partly because of the difficulty in finding buyers for high-ticket property in New Zealand.
“We need to be drumming up business, we need to be keeping our economy going,” says Martin Cooper, of Harcourts.
Mr Cooper rubbishes the attitude of those who are against foreign investment.
“Some people they do annoy me a bit because I’m here and no one else is coming,” he says.
“I think we've got to get with it and open our country.”
The latest Chinese rich list shows the country is second in the world for the number of billionaires, with the United States number one.
The people invited today are from a database of millionaires and billionaires who have spoken to immigration companies about investing and living in New Zealand.
Mr Liao says he would only invest - not live - in New Zealand, but Harcourts says many have confirmed they are coming to New Zealand for a closer look at property.
3 News