The search for sanctuary

You’re most likely reading this issue of NZ Lifestyle Block in April, but we put it together in February, about the time Cyclone Gabrielle caused widespread destruction in the Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne and Northland. At the time, it felt trivial to produce stories about anything other than the cyclone aftermath, especially with so many people struggling with the loss of property, land, livestock and, in some cases, their loved ones. But I reminded myself that readers needed a break from the stories of tragic loss and hardship that fill our screens and newspapers, and the magazine proceeded largely unchanged.

The features in this issue, which are devoted to the topic of buying bare land to build a home and life, were locked in before the cyclone. It turns out, however, the extreme weather events of early 2023 have made these stories all the more relevant.

The effect of heavy rain on farms and lifestyle blocks on the East Coast and Northland, and on urban properties in Auckland, have shown that all New Zealanders are at the mercy of the climate – no matter the region they live in. Likewise, the food shortages and price increases caused by the cyclone’s destruction of crops have illuminated the fragility of the food systems that so many of us depend upon.

This, of course, will be making the prospect of acquiring a safe, sound, accessible and productive piece of land increasingly important for so many people. The features in this issue explore this topic, providing readers with solid yet realistic foundations and inspiration on which they can build their bare block journey and quest for self-sufficiency.

I, too, have been thinking more about my bare land ever since the cyclone. Because my property is elevated and will be offgrid, it shouldn’t be too susceptible to floods or power cuts. It could, however, be prone to slips, either on the property itself or on the surrounding roads. There’s not much I can do about closed roads, but I can start thinking about how I can make my property and resources as robust as possible to weather any storms massing on the horizon.