Super rich Americans buying land in New Zealand as 'bolthole' from apocalypse

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Stuff.co.nz

Super rich Americans buying land in New Zealand as 'bolthole' from apocalypse

CHARLIE GATES

Last updated 21:36, January 24 2017

Wealthy Americans buying property in New Zealand see the country as a "bolthole" in the event of a catastrophe, a Queenstown real estate executive says.

Bayleys Queenstown executive director Stacy Coburn says Silicon Valley bosses and US hedge fund managers are buying property in the South Island as a safe place to hide in the event of a major terror attack. ... "Queenstown is seen as a bolthole for the future if things do turn to the worse in the world," he said.

"Given what has been happening around the States, they want the ability to come down here and get away from all that. Some have touched on the fact they feel that something may happen and if it does happen, but hopefully it won't, they will be in a more stable environment without the same security fears.

The trend for wealthy Americans investing in Kiwi property as "apocalypse insurance" was investigated by the New Yorker magazine.* LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman told the US magazine that "New Zealand" has become a code word for apocalypse preparedness among Silicon Valley leaders.**

* http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/30/doomsday-prep-for-the-super-rich

** http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/88712766/Super-rich-preppers-buying-up-in-New-Zealand-in-case-of-US-collapse

Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/88705064/super-rich-americans-buying-land-in-new-zealand-as-bolthole-from-apocalypse

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Hat tip, Joe.My.God:

Homocon Peter Thiel Gains New Zealand Citizenship As Wealthy Doomsday Preppers Ready For The Worst
http://www.joemygod.com/2017/01/24/homocon-peter-thiel-becomes-new-zealand-citizen-as-wealthy-doomsday-preppers-ready-for-the-worst/

Ta-ta, suckers.

One wonders if members of the Trump family have proxies snapping up land for themselves. Wouldn't that be interesting?

[marybourg]

1. Interesting. That's exactly what wealthy Hong Kong Chinese

did in the years leading up to the return of Hong Kong to China. On the east coast much of the purchasing took place, coincidentally, in Queens, N.Y., buoying the real estate market and irrevocably altering the culture of the borough.

[CrispyQ]

2. Maybe greed isn't good. Assholes.

~insert flip-the-bird smilie here.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. They sure seem to think something's up.

Human history witnessed many migrations for new opportunities, and
driving people off their land for profits.

The persecuted to found America, the Irish were forced out in the
potato famine, the Revolutions of 1848, Italian Independence, the
early 1900s and World War II. Now the scarcities and war in the Middle
East. There's no place to hide for common folk now. But I bet those
hedgies and techies won't know beans about running a farm for
production.

[Warpy]

10. They know damned full well something is up

The sleeping giant is just starting to stir.

It's happening worldwide. I doubt the Kiwis are going to take kindly to being a billionaire's hidey hole, especially when those billionaires start to remake the islands into their own playground.

As for turning their soft, pink hands to farming, I'm reminded of one of my favorite cartoons:

[bucolic_frolic]

16. We're all on the same page

thanks for posting the cartoon ... funny, poignant, sarcastic, but
also frightening

[Buckeye_Democrat]

43. Love that cartoon!

[dobleremolque]

4. One word....you rich idiots.....

Earthquakes. Big ones. Bwwwwaaaaaaaaaaa! Oh, and volcanos, too.

[cstanleytech]

17. Quakes happen all over though I wouldnt consider living in the Christchurch area and volcanoes are

limited to the north island these days it looks like so I wouldnt move there especially since alot of them are explosive up there which is why they have so many lakes on the north island.

[Yavin4]

5. Good. Now we know where we can find them.

Makes things easier.

[Chasstev365]

28. Sharpening the pitchforks!

[titaniumsalute]

6. So now that it is on the open...they aren't safe anymore

China can just aim a few ICBMs to New Zealand and wipe out a bunch of Hedge Fund Managers.

[yellowcanine]

7. How would they get there when the crap hits the fan?

New Zealand is a long ways from the U.S. If things are that bad it seems that it would not be that easy to get there even by private jet or yacht. There would likely be rogue militias and pirates just looking for rich dudes on the run.

[Warpy]

15. Corporate and personal jets using a big network of private jetports

They're letting the infrastructure we use crumble because they don't use it.

[braddy]

30. Nothing changes the situation instantly, even total nuclear war would have an international

build up to it, an earthquake wiping out California, leading to a great depression, would still leave the rest of the nation functioning long enough for the wealthy to calmly fly away. These people are prepared and ready to move when the signs indicate the wisdom of moving to, or closer to, their safe space.

[tenorly]

8. Right-wingers always gaslight social democrats by using "it's our way or North Korea" strawmen.

To which I'd say that it's "our way or billionaires causing an apocalypse knowing they can always hide in New Zealand, Hawaii, or Patagonia."

[haele]

9. Kiwis and Aussies Beware! They're setting up their own "Galt's Gulch" fantasy.

All the Bircher types and the White Nationalists are getting ready to push the American economy and social structure to the breaking point.
Their plan is to trash the environment and strain all resources, dumb down the American population, start regional mini-civil uprisings of rural against urban, so they can continue to sweep up the money from the comfort of the luxurious ranches and compounds in English-speaking areas in the Southern Hemisphere.

They're selfish enough not to care what happens to the country that gave them their opportunities for prosperity and supported all that "hard work" they did to get where they are - and they're just smart enough to know they still need servants so they can sit around on their wealthy tanned asses and congratulate themselves on how superior they are to all those low class people who sacrificed and worked harder than these wealthy "Preppers" ever did to make a great country with lots of resources - the people they cynically view as takers.

And after a decade or two, the Randriods and Birchers will turn on their new host nations, and accuse the native Aussies, NewZeelanders, and Tasmanian citizens that are making their lives easier for them as takers - and rip them off, just as they have the Americans.

They're a roving Mob of eaters. They are soulless, bored thugs in Suits playing at being Kings and Queens without any sense of responsibility or any nobility of purpose. And once they run out of places to lord over and exploit, they'll start destroying each other until there's only one or two tyrants and very little habitable world or civilization left.

Haele

[rickford66]

11. Incredibly expensive.

But, those of us with relatives there stay for free.

[blueseas]

12. Send this to everyone you know

Let them be aware.

[ileus]

13. Our dog trainer lived in NZ for 15 years.

[tenorly]

25. How did he like it?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

37. It was Ruff

[tenorly]

38. Bwahaha!

[cstanleytech]

14. Hmmm its actually the place I dream about moving to if I ever had the kind of cash

such a move would entail which I dont and barring a major lottery win I never will have it but it does look nice from googles street view.

[Warpy]

19. NZ is mostly suited to raising sheep for wool and meat

and I do have a persistent fantasy of pampered plutocrats there joining in with everybody else twice a year crutching the sheep. There's nothing like a mental picture of Joe Hedge Fund Billionaire with his face in a sheep's arse clipping out all the shitty bits in order to keep them free from blowfly maggots.

I think they all saw "hmm, far away, pretty mountains, maybe we can ski" and neglected the reality of the situation: on the ring of fire with quakes and active volcanoes, far enough south to be chilly even in summer, an indigenous population with a history of being fearsome warriors who are often barely tolerating the white folks there now.

[cstanleytech]

20. My uncle loves to ski, I never learned though I do prefer cooler weather though.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

40. There is also the wonderful town of

Hobbiton, I visited over Christmas vacation. NZ is a great place if you like a lot of green and plan to spend a lot of time outside.

[brooklynite]

18. Why would NZ let them?

You can certainly come for a visit, but they have strict rules on staying.

[cstanleytech]

22. $$$, thats why.

That or if they are in a needed profession like a doctor or something thats in demand.

[jmowreader]

21. Thanks a lot, guys...

First you foist the mangled apricot hellbeast on the good people of this country, then you set up a place to run to when he does to this country exactly what we all said he would. Nice!

[TygrBright]

23. If I were a New Zealander I sure wouldn't want these assholes making targets of me. n/t

[mainer]

24. I can't actually blame them.

Honestly, I've actually thought about buying property in Canada. In case Trump launches the apocalypse.

[Docreed2003]

26. Here's the question none of these Randians ever consider...

What good will their money do when there's nothing left??

[HelenWheels]

27. Frank Luntz moving to New Zealand?

I watched Luntz being interviewed on MSNBC where he said he was moving to NZ if Trump won. The interviewer pressed him on this and he said he was leaving in December 2016. Don't remember who the interviewer was.

[CrispyQ]

29. I thought Lutz said the repub party had become too extreme.

Yeah, after he helped make it that way. Just like these rich fucks - destroy something good & then leave.

[dhill926]

31. haven't the Bushes bought up land in Paraguay?

something about water rights....can't remember....

[Raster]

32. Ah yes, Homocon Peter Thiel, libertarian butt buddy to Donald Trump...

...adept at plaintiff shopping if he doesn't like what you say about him - regardless if it's true, and MORE THAN WILLING to help tRump fuck up the United States, as long as he can jump in his G4 and jet to NZ to escape the societal carnage he helped create.

[dchill]

33. If they'd all go now, we would avoid their apocalypse.

Too bad for New Zealand, though.

[ffr]

34. Like smoking sections on an airplane, where you going to go? It's a tube!

Same for these uber rich elites.

When the birds fly, there isn't going to be a place on Earth safe from fallout.

[montana_hazeleyes]

36. Exactly!

No matter how much "better" they think they are or "higher up", it will not matter. There will be NO place to hide. Money won't mean a thing.

[heaven05]

35. do they know

something we don't.....

[They_Live]

39. Super Rich Americans are buttholes.

Got it!

[RealityChik]

41. At least we have an extradition treaty with NZ!

So when those rich traitors drain the US Treasury before they go, at least we'll have bit of leverage getting them shipped home to stand trial and go to prison...

I can dream, can't I?

[Yo_Mama]

42. This has been going on for years. It has nothing to do with Trump.

I do think it has to do with the growing inequality in our society.