Kerry is spot on about the airforce bases.
Other areas of interest should this occur would be :
Ashurst, Bulls ( a quaint little town near Ohakea airbase ) and anywhere on the main trunk between Palmerston North and Wanganui.
Another area of NZ to look out for would be Dunedin as this houses a very large and popular University – again watch out for tenants who only rent during study season – but Palmerston North is probably better because they have opened the university to all year round studying now and there is a new asian college there which is bringing in the overseas guests. Additionally Palmerston North houses the NZ institute of sport, has a new stadium and is host to the all blacks several times a year fro training sessions.
After the recent world cup this may not be such a good thing, but still food for thought.
I still wouldnt be looking at Marton too hevaily though ??? Pity – I LOVE the area and my grandparents farmed it since the turn of the century – and my uncle farms the Wanganui region.
THere isa large army camp/barracks in LINTON that may be worth looking into. THis is just south of Palmerston North, is rural, but has some good mainstay tenants ranging from army personnell through to uni students from Massey ( Palmerston Nth University ) and farmers.
On the other end of the scale ( while I have my thinking cap on ! … Palmerston North also houses NZ’s largest and most progressive agricultural and food science based study centres which is in very high demand.
Lastly – have a look at “Lincoln” just south of Christchurch in the south Island. Very cheap area and home to a large agricultural iuniversity that is in high demand from the farming circles for their kids – most students have to stay in ChCh itself as they can’t get flats, so if you can get one there it would be in high demand – just can’t quote the valuation for you – youll have to do that yourselves.
Good luck !
Patrick and Heidi
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Hi everyone.
Regarding Wanganui Im happy to say I can now give some advice of my own !!
I lived in the area ( Manawatu ) for many years and my family has farmed the local area since the turn of the previous century ! The post previous to mine is unfortunately correct ! the Mongrel mob ( gang ) are predominant in that area and the type of person living in Wanganui is not necessarily entirely wholesome hence the lower property values although outwardly it is portrayed as a gardenish city it is in reality quite a nasty place to live ( UNless you wish to take up farming ?!). As for Marton someone mentioned it above – unfortunately that is a one horse town !!! VERY LITTLE goes on in Marton ( sad to say as my family have great history there ) and it is off the main highway although there area few people starting to retire there nowadays, there is very little progress in that area and it has remained largely unchanged for the past 20 years in so far as development goes. Its a place where farmers have a beer if they are local, and has two schools which cater to out of town farmer’s kids. Apart from that you’ll find it largely deserted and defintely not a place where people are migrating TO – mainly FROM !
Have a look at Palmerston North which is close by and has a MAJOR UNIVERSITY and most people from Marton and Wanganui tend to end up there after their schooling PLUS it’s packed with student’s wanting to rent houses but BEWARE the town is like a ghost town during UNI holidays and unless you lock your tenants in for a fixed term you’ll find the flats vacated en masse during these holiday periods. The students also dont like to treat the property’s very well, but with careful investigation you may be able to find some good ones.
Cheers
Patrick and Heidi

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