The debate between renting a house and buying a house looms large in New Zealand at the moment. The average kiwi is not interested in putting themselves into a massive debt that will take years to get out of, and the options that are available are becoming limited as land prices soar in different parts of the country. Land by the beach or prime spots is doubling and tripiling in price.

What's driving this? The answer is demand exceeds supply. Demographics are part of the story. New Zealand has had rapid population growth in recent years, driven by net immigration. This includes not just people coming here but people here choosing not to leave. The longstanding drift of New Zealanders north and into town is also a factor. In addition, social changes are seeing the average number of persons per home reduce. Life-style changes are increasing demand for new kinds of accommodation, such as inner-city apartments and coastal and lakeside properties.

Many migrants choose to rent a house when they first arrive in New Zealand. The benefits of initially renting a house far out-weigh any long term financial benefits of owning a home when first shifting to New Zealand. One company helping the new migrant to gain a job offer in New Zealand is NewJobZ. Emigrating can be a long and expensive process but people who have obtained permanent residency to New Zealand usually arrive with little understanding of the good areas to reside in, or which part of the country will offer the best employment or education opportunities suitable to them. For these reasons short or medium term rental allows a new migrant the freedom to move to different parts of a suburb, town, city or even the country without being committed to a mortgage or owning a home that is no longer suitable to their family requirements.