World’s wealthy seek NZ refuge from virus
A luxury accommodation agent on Waiheke Island is receiving increased interest from people willing to pay thousands of dollars per night to escape from Asia’s coronavirus hotspots.
While some businesses are struggling because of the Covid-19 outbreak and plunging tourism figures, holiday home rental agency Waiheke Unlimited has experienced the opposite.
Managing director Ed Coutts said it had received about ‘‘half a dozen or more’’ inquiries from people living in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand who are keen to escape strict health authorities and isolation rules.
Many were from people who had stayed at properties advertised by Coutts before. Three families have already arrived, while others were still considering whether it was possible with current New Zealand travel restrictions.
Two of those families arrived in Auckland via private jet, as they had done previously.
Coutts said they were ‘‘higher end people who can afford to take off for months’’ while things settle down their home countries.
Those who had booked or were looking to book were willing to pay between $2000 and $5000 a night, for sustained periods. ‘‘They just feel it’s a good idea to get out of town,’’ he said, with Waiheke Island being an ideal hideaway given its isolation from crowds while still being close to the city.
Asked what property owners thought about visitors hunkering down in their homes to avoid the coronavirus, Coutts said the situation was ‘‘no different’’ than people simply booking the properties for a holiday.
It wasn’t hard to see why Waiheke Island was a desirable place to escape, he said. ‘‘It’s a pretty safe haven. If you look at the world right now, where would you run to, to be safe?
‘‘It’s not a bad place to be isolated to.’’ Coutts had expected more cancellations than usual because of the virus, but so far business had been good.
Auckland Property Investors Association vice president Peter Lewis said landlords were unlikely to rent their properties to anyone whose intentions were ‘‘a bit open-ended’’, such as those wanting to stay until ‘‘the scare has run its course’’.
‘‘Most landlords don’t want to rent to people who will be renting the property for a shorter period. We want to rent a property for every day of the year.’’
One Roof housing commentator Ashley Church said the ‘‘safe haven’’ effect could have a more general effect on the New Zealand property market if the coronavirus crisis carried on for months.
If New Zealand looked to be weathering the storm better than other countries, then ‘‘absolutely if that happens I think New Zealand will be seen as a bolthole.’’