Backyard bunker for ‘WWIII’

Japanese man Reiitsu Anamizu is worried about nuclear war.

So worried that he bought a house in suburban Christchurch and built a concrete nuclear bunker, complete with thick lockable doors, a water cleaning system and an escape shaft, in the backyard.

He figured New Zealand would be a safe haven in World War III because there are fewer nuclear weapons in the southern hemisphere.

Anamizu lives in Japan and has a second bunker under his home in the northern city of Aomori. He completed his first shelter in the backyard of his Avonhead house in 2006.

Speaking from Aomori, he told Stuff through a translator that he was worried about the Middle East and Syria. He was concerned Syria ‘‘would come up fast’’ if World War III broke out. He was worried that nuclear problems were getting worse in the world.

He chose to build his nuclear bunker in Christchurch because it has a similar climate to his hometown.

Anamizu wants to live in Christchurch in the future. He has visited the southern city a few times in the past but not for the last few years. In the event of a nuclear emergency, he said he may need both his Christchurch and Japan bunkers, depending on the circumstances.

In recent years, there have been many reports of American billionaires – known as ‘‘doomsday preppers’’ – buying South Island properties as bolt-holes from what they believe is a coming apocalypse.