KAITANGATA, NEW ZEALAND -- A coastal town on the nation’s South Island in the South Otago region is trying to attract people from larger cities to relocate.
It has jobs and houses, but not enough people. In fact, its local industry buses people in from nearly an hour away, according to local news reports.
The opportunity has resulted in more than 10,000 inquiries with the story receiving global attention. Stuff.co.nz reported Internet searches for the town jumped to 1,000 per day on one search engine once the story went viral.
Kaitangata needs about 1,000 jobs to be filled. It offers affordable housing when compared with the rest of the island nation. For $230,000 NZD, those willing to move to the area can get a three-bedroom house with some land. The nation’s median home price is about $578,000 NZD.
Dairy and packing jobs range from from $17 to $37 per hour.
According to the Guardian, Evan Dick, a third-generation dairy farmer spearheading the town’s recruitment drive, said a bank, lawyers and town services are ready to help blue-collar workers make the move.
The housing crisis in New Zealand has made the Kiwi dream unattainable for many people, but in Kaitangata the Kiwi dream is still a reality,” said Dick.
It’s not just city-dwelling Kiwis that are interested. American teachers, Brazilian students, former Canadian journalists and others are considering the opportunity, if they can meet immigration requirements.
