Latest news with #LakeTekapo
Forbes
06-07-2025
- Forbes
What It Means To Be Wealthy In New Zealand
Lake Tekapo, Mount Cook, New Zealand getty With its breathtaking landscapes, vibrant Māori culture, and reputation as a global adventure capital, New Zealand is a dream destination for travelers and expats alike. But what does being wealthy in New Zealand mean? Whether you're considering a move or just curious about Kiwi life, understanding the cost of living, average salaries, and visa opportunities can help you decide if this island nation is for you. Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings exposed New Zealand to an entirely new audience, enraptured by the stunning scenery. The cliché is that the country has more sheep than people—there are 23.6 million sheep and 5.3 million people, as per AP, meaning there are about 4.5 sheep for each New Zealander. And it's this beauty, adventure, and culture that make the country 8th in CNTraveler's recent list of the Best Countries in the World. New Zealand ranked ninth on U.S. News' list of the best countries in the World in 2024, up from eighth in 2023, and performed highly in categories such as adventure, quality of life, and social purpose. It came in at number two for a comfortable retirement. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that the average household net-adjusted disposable income per capita in New Zealand is approximately $39,024 annually, which is lower than the U.S. average of $51,147, but higher than the OECD average of $30,490. Incidentally, when asked to rate their general life satisfaction on a scale from 0 to 10, New Zealanders, on average, graded it a 7.3, which is higher than the OECD average of 6.7. Being Wealthy In New Zealand—New Zealand's Cost Of Living The cost of living in New Zealand is slightly less than in the U.S., where, according to Numbeo, the cost for a single person per month, not including rent, is as follows: Switzerland: $1,659 France: $1,200 U.S.: $1,166 Germany: $1,139 Ireland: $1,112 U.K.: $1,095 Australia: $1,050 Canada: $1023 New Zealand : $1,012 : $1,012 Japan: $927 Italy: $905 Latvia: $874 Greece: $832 Malta: $801 Spain: $731 Thailand: $650 Mexico: $637 Portugal: $592 Philippines: $573 Brazil: $466 Certain expenses, such as housing, can be significantly higher than in Europe—rent in New Zealand can be about 19% higher than in France. In comparison to the U.S., though, rent in New Zealand is 38% lower. Restaurant prices in New Zealand are typically about 15% lower than in the U.S., and groceries are approximately 9% less expensive. Being Wealthy In New Zealand–Average Net Worth The 2024 Global Wealth Index by UBS found that New Zealand ranks among the top 10 wealthiest countries in terms of average and median wealth—the average net worth by adults was $408,231. The median household wealth in New Zealand, as reported in a 2021 study, was approximately $397,000. Being Wealthy In New Zealand—Getting A Golden Visa Or A Digital Nomad Visa New Zealand offers several visa options for those looking to live and work in the country. The Prime Minister recently relaxed New Zealand's golden visa program, eliminating the English language requirement. It also introduced two new portfolio types with varying minimum stay requirements in the country, ranging from 21 days to 105 days. The investment amounts range from $2.9 million over three years to $5.8 million over five years. In February, the New Zealand government also launched a digital nomad visa that doesn't have a minimum monthly income requirement, unlike other countries. It is also now possible for travelers to work for a foreign employer while visiting the country, a practice that the government previously prohibited. New Zealand is attempting to attract more tourists to the country to restore visitor numbers to pre-pandemic levels. From the peaks of the Southern Alps to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the country offers a unique blend of natural beauty and modern living. With its affordable and laid back lifestyle, coupled with adventure landscapes and a new digital nomad visa, despite its distance from many other places, New Zealand has never seemed so close. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes New Zealand To Relax Golden Visa Program In April 2025 By Alex Ledsom Forbes Digital Nomad Visas—New Zealand Launches New Long-Term Working Visa By Alex Ledsom Forbes Portugal Golden Visa: Government Plans To Enhance Incentives By Alex Ledsom
RNZ News
28-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Hymns on Sunday, 29 June 2025
It's the middle of winter, and we're celebrating the season in this week's programme with some carols of the snowy variety: it's the perfect time of year to sing In the Bleak Midwinter ! Church of the Good Shepherd, on the shore of Lake Tekapo. Photo: Public Domain work / Bernard Spragg Artist: New Zealand Youth Choir (2009) Words/Music: Trad Recording: TVNZ 398174 I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna sing when the Spirit says sing, and obey the Spirit of the Lord. I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna pray when the Spirit says sing, and obey the Spirit of the Lord. I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says sing, I'm gonna shout when the Spirit says sing, and obey the Spirit of the Lord. Artist: Lincoln Minster School Chamber Choir, Alex Prentice (dir), Charles Harrison (organ) Words/Music: Stuart Townend, Keith Getty Recording: Priory 2013 In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; This cornerstone, this solid ground, Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My comforter, my all in all – Here in the love of Christ I stand. In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe! This gift of love and righteousness, Scorned by the ones He came to save. Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied; For ev'ry sin on Him was laid – Here in the death of Christ I live. There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain; Then bursting forth in glorious day, Up from the grave He rose again! And as He stands in victory, Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; For I am His and He is mine – Bought with the precious blood of Christ. No guilt in life, no fear in death – This is the pow'r of Christ in me; From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home – Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand. Artist: Choirs of the Diocese of Leeds Words/Music: Bernadette Farrell Recording: Herald HAVPCD 397 Longing for light, we wait in darkness Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us Your own, Your holy people Light for the world to see. Refrain: Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts. Shine through the darkness. Christ, be our light! Shine in Your church gathered today. Longing for peace, our world is troubled Longing for hope, many despair. Your word alone has pow'r to save us. Make us your living voice. Refrain: Longing for food, many are hungry Longing for water, many still thirst. Make us Your bread, broken for others Shared until all are fed. Refrain: Many the gift, many the people Many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another Making Your kingdom come. Refrain: Artist: The Sixteen, Harry Christophers (dir) Words/Music: Christina Rossetti/Harold Darke Recording: Coro 16085 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, In the bleak midwinter, long ago. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain; Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign. In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ. Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day, Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay; Enough for Him, whom angels fall before, The ox and ass and camel which adore. What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart. Artist: Cambridge Singers Words/Music: Jean de Brébeuf/Trad Recording: Collegium COLCD 111 'Twas in the moon of winter-time When all the birds had fled, That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead; Before their light the stars grew dim, And wandering hunters heard the hymn: "Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria." Within a lodge of broken bark The tender Babe was found, A ragged robe of rabbit skin Enwrapp'd His beauty round; But as the hunter braves drew nigh, The angel song rang loud and high... "Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria." The earliest moon of wintertime Is not so round and fair As was the ring of glory On the helpless infant there. The chiefs from far before him knelt With gifts of fox and beaver pelt. Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria. O children of the forest free, O sons of Manitou, The Holy Child of earth and heaven Is born today for you. Come kneel before the radiant Boy Who brings you beauty, peace and joy. "Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria." Artist: Choir of Ely Cathedral Words/Music: John Newton/Alexander Reinagle Recording: Priory PRCD 703 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds In a believer's ear! It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear. It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast; 'Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest. Dear name, the rock on which I build, My shield and hiding place, My never failing treasury, filled With boundless stores of grace! Jesus! my shepherd, brother, friend, My prophet, priest and king, My lord, my life, my way, my end, Accept the praise I bring. Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought; But when I see thee as thou art, I'll praise thee as I ought. Till then I would thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath, And may the music of thy name Refresh my soul in death! Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral Words/Music: Frederick Faber/Maurice Bevan Label: Hyperion 112105 There's a wideness in God's mercy, Like the wideness of the sea; There's a kindness in his justice, Which is more than liberty. There is no place where earth's sorrows Are more felt than up in heaven; There is no place where earth's failings Have such kindly judgment given. For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man's mind; And the heart of the eternal Is most wonderfully kind. But we make his love too narrow By false limits of our own; And we magnify his strictness With a zeal he will not own. There is plentiful redemption In the blood that has been shed; There is joy for all the members In the sorrows of the head. There is grace enough for thousands Of new worlds as great as this; There is room for fresh creations In that upper home of bliss. If our love were but more simple, We should take him at his word; And our lives would be all goodness In the joy of Christ our Lord. Artist: Choir of Wells Cathedral, Malcolm Archer (dir), Rupert Gough (organ) Words/Music: William Williams/John Hughes Recording: Hyperion 112105 Guide me, O my great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more. Open now the crystal fountain, where the healing waters flow. Let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield, be thou still my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside. Death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side. Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to thee, I will ever give to thee.
RNZ News
16-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Black ice and freezing temperatures a concern for Mackenzie Basin
Photo: RNZ / Maja Burry The Transport Agency is warning motorists to take care with black ice and freezing temperatures expected to cause issues in the Mackenzie Basin this week. Waka Kotahi says fog, hoar frosts and black ice are likely to make driving challenging on State Highways 8 and 80 in inland Canterbury over coming days. Parts of State Highway 8 near Lake Tekapo have been reduced to 50 kilometres per hour and roads will be closed if conditions get worse. Waka Kotahi system manager Mark Pinner said while reducing speed is not a usual approach, typical de-icing agents were working at an extreme range, making them less effective. "The nature of the conditions forecast for this week means we need to use every tool we can to keep people safe on the roads," he said. Pinner said motorists should slow down, especially with the roads expected to be busy over the Matariki long weekend. "We also know it's going to get busier later in the week as we get closer to the long holiday weekend for Matariki. Reducing speed is the biggest thing drivers can do to keep themselves safe and to help keep the highways open." Meanwhile, State Highway 7 between Canterbury and the West Coast will remain closed for a second night after a slip discovered on Sunday morning led to the closure between Springs Junction and Island Hills. Waka Kotahi says contractors have worked with a geotechnical expert to prevent further debris falling at the slip, which is just south of Riordan Creek Bridge. The closure includes Lewis Pass and Maruia Springs. There is no detour, and motorists have been asked to delay travel and avoid the area. A single lane is expected to open at 7am Tuesday, with traffic management in place.
RNZ News
26-05-2025
- RNZ News
'Environmental vandalism': The debate over stacking stones on Lake Tekapo's foreshore
Recent visitors to Lake Tekapo said they believed stacking rocks was part of a local custom. Photo: Karen Jiang Lake Tekapo locals want to ban visitors from stacking rocks on the foreshore due to concerns about their impact on the natural ecosystem. However, experts are somewhat divided over whether the structures are harming the environment. Alison Parish, a photographer based in Christchurch, traveled to Lake Tekapo with her husband in April and was surprised by the number of upright rock formations that had been erected along the foreshore. "I said to my husband at the time how messy they made the waterfront look," Parish said. "They weren't there at the end of last year when we last visited." Parish had previously observed similar stacks of rocks at Fantail Falls in Mount Aspiring National Park. She believed the formations were diminishing the beauty of New Zealand's landscapes and posed a risk to local ecosystems. "Why do tourists feel the need to erect them?" she said. "To me, they detract from the beauty of the place, as well as ruin the natural environment for native wildlife such as insects and birds - particularly at Lake Tekapo, where the black stilt is known to feed along the lake's edge." Parish said the practice should be banned and signage installed to discourage it. "Surely the beauty of Lake Tekapo with its blue coloring and mountains in the background is enough for a memory or a photo," she said. "Why build something like this? It's just ridiculous and ruins it for others," she said. "We claim to be a clean, green [country], yet these [rock piles] look nothing but messy, manmade and unnatural." Sharon Heatherbell, a Christchurch resident and former Mackenzie Basin local, echoed Parish's concerns. Heatherbell lived in the region for five and a half years, often hiking in the bush and photographing native birds and plants. She criticized visitors who stacked stones as a recreational activity, arguing that it misrepresented the original purpose of such formations, which historically have been used to serve as navigation markers in remote areas. "Stacking is the making of a proper cairn to mark a track point," she said. "They have a purpose." Heatherbell expressed concern about the ecological impact of stacking rocks on top of each other in a pile. "To [stack stones] along a foreshore in an area where we have rare birds and plants is destructive to the environment," she said. "It's straight-out pure environmental vandalism. It's the equivalent of someone going there with a spray can and spray painting the lake edge." Heatherbell said the rock structures should be banned nationwide, except where cairns are used to mark trails. "The rule in New Zealand is 'Take only photographs, leave only footprints'," she said. Some locals have been calling for visitors to refrain from stacking stones along Lake Tekapo's rocky foreshore, citing concerns about its impact on the ecosystem. Photo: Karen Jiang The stone-stacking debate has also sparked discussion among tourists. Several recent visitors to Lake Tekapo believed that stacking rocks was a local tradition. Deheng Peng, a visitor from the southeastern Chinese city of Shenzhen who traveled to New Zealand in April, said he followed other tourists in building a small rocky mound on the foreshore near the Church of the Good Shepherd, thinking it was part of a local custom. "When we visited, we saw a few tourists stacking rocks just in front of the church," Peng said. "We thought it was some kind of custom in Western cultures, maybe something to do with praying, so we built a small pile to pray. "There were already a huge number of rock piles there when we arrived, which made us believe even more that it was some kind of tradition." Peng did not believe that stacking stones was problematic but would support a ban if local communities objected. "We should respect and follow local customs when traveling overseas," he said. "I agree that indigenous culture and their way of life shouldn't be affected by tourists," he said. "Local values and perspectives should be respected." Karen Jiang, a visitor from Australia who also traveled to Lake Tekapo in April, also believed that stacking stones was part of local culture. "When we got to the foreshore, we saw a lot of stone towers there, which was quite mind-blowing," Jiang said. "[But] we thought it was a local tradition, so we also created two small piles." Jiang said she was familiar with mounds of rocks used for prayer in Tibet, which further encouraged her to build the structures at Lake Tekapo. She said clearer signage could help guide tourist behavior if stacking stones was harmful to the environment. "I saw a sign saying, 'No drone flying' by the lake but I didn't see anything about stacking stones," she said. "If the practice really affects the local ecosystem, it definitely shouldn't continue," she said. "There should be a warning sign, otherwise many tourists might think it's fun and just keep doing it." Recent visitors to Lake Tekapo said they believed that locals stacked stones as part of a local tradition. Photo: Alison Parish Chris Clarke, general manager of information, engagement and community development at the Mackenzie District Council, said stacking stones was not unique to Lake Tekapo and had been observed in other locations nationwide. He described the practice as a social media-driven fad, often fueled by Instagram, and said such trends typically faded over time. He expected the same to happen at Lake Tekapo. Clarke said the council did not currently have a formal position on stacking stones at Lake Tekapo. He said Environment Canterbury (ECan) had assessed the issue and found no ecological concerns. "We understand that ECan has indicated there is no ecological or environmental impact, and so there are no concerns from that perspective," Clarke said. "Given that ECan has ruled out ecological concerns, the objections would seem to relate to the aesthetics, which is very much a matter of personal opinion." Clarke said Lake Tekapo is a hydro lake used for power generation, and its water levels regularly rose and fell due to rainfall, snowmelt and water usage. He said the constant movement of water naturally shifted stones on the foreshore over time. Clarke said the council didn't see a practical solution for addressing the issue of the rocky formations effectively at Lake Tekapo, including the use of warning signs, which many have suggested. "Signs are unlikely to be effective," Clarke said. "It could be argued they would damage the lake view as much - if not more - than the behavior they're trying to discourage." "Enforcement would also be challenging," he said. "We don't have the resources to do this, and I don't think the majority of our ratepayers would consider this a sensible use of public funds." A spokesperson for ECan said the council did not consider the structures to be a major concern at Lake Tekapo but encouraged visitors to leave the landscape as they found it. Jo Monks, a conservation biologist and senior lecturer at the University of Otago, said she did not have specific ecological concerns about the rock structures at Lake Tekapo. "I don't know of animals that are using the rocks [there], but I think it's definitely worth being mindful," she said. She said people should avoid stacking piles of rocks in areas where reptiles rely on rocks for shelter. "In places where lizards and other native animals use rocks as essential resources for shelter, the building of rock piles should be done thoughtfully - and only for essential navigation on routes," she said. Even when used as route markers, Monks said, upright rock structures should be erected sparingly and with care. Jennifer Schori, senior biodiversity ranger for the Department of Conservation, said the rock structures were not on public conservation land and were not directly affecting protected or endangered wildlife. However, she said the Tekapo lakeshore was home to several threatened species and should not be disturbed. "There are critically endangered herbs, such as the uniquely named New Zealand fish guts plant, around the shoreline, and the mudflats are an important feeding ground for a number of threatened bird species," she said. "Moving rocks anywhere in the natural environment can have unintended impacts on an ecosystem," she said. "We would like to promote the values of kaitiaki [to visitors] - caring for the land, leaving minimal trace, and not disturbing nature and the environment."
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Despite being negatively affected residents say tourism is good for Mackenzie District
Acting mayor Karen Morgan wants the government to help pay for critical infrastructure like roads, car parks and toilets. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock A survey of residents living in the picturesque Mackenzie District finds almost everyone believes tourism is good for the region - and almost everyone has been negatively affected by it. The survey released by the district council found 92 percent of residents said tourism was good, and 87 percent said they had personally benefited from it. But 99 percent also said they been adversely affected by tourism in their local area. "The survey echoes what we are hearing on the ground: we support tourism but urgently need to address the impacts - and top of that list is infrastructure," acting mayor Karen Morgan said. She wanted the government to help pay for critical infrastructure like roads, car parks and toilets. "You just can't make the math work. "Lake Tekapo needs a new wastewater treatment plant to accommodate the large visitor volumes. At an estimated cost of $47m, it is unaffordable by a district of 5,500 ratepayers alone - it would almost take the Council to their debt ceiling, and Lake Tekapo is only one of our townships," Morgan said. She said the district had a housing shortage because so many homes had been converted to short-term holiday rentals. "Businesses had a good summer with absolutely stunning weather but they didn't work as much as they could have because they didn't have staff - because they couldn't house them. "For all that the government has a 'grow, grow, grow' agenda for tourism it has to make sure that the infrastructure that supports tourism, particularly in small communities, meets that demand as well." Morgan said tourism in the region had returned to pre-Covid levels, especially over summer. In 2024, the Mackenzie District had the highest visitor to ratepayer ratio in the country at 130.7:1. The national average was 7.3:1, and Queenstown was 85.3:1. She said the district was also disproportionately impacted by drive-through visitors who used facilities like public toilets but didn't contribute to the local economy. The survey found Mackenzie residents' feeling towards tourism was much lower than the wider population of Aotearoa. The Tourism Approval Rating (TAR), which measures residents' overall perceptions of tourism, is 11 in the district - the lowest of all participating regions. The National benchmark is 49, Queenstown's is 20. The range is from -100 to 100. As well as help with infrastructure, residents wanted more visitor education about road safety and environmental protection, more police, and more controls on freedom camping and short term rental housing. Morgan said the council was engaging with tourism minister Louise Upston about its particular challenges. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
