An article on OneRoof.co.nz states
Matakatea, who co-owns boutique agency Sold on Kapiti with Chris Judd, said that the past two years have seen a big up-tick in Wellingtonians leaving the city. The region runs from Paekakariki, 45km north of Wellington city, all the way up the coast to Otaki, and includes Te Horo, Waikanae, Paraparaumu, Raumati Beach and Raumati South.
“We’re seeing a lot of mum and dads who are moving from the big old villa in Khandallah hills to something more modern on the flat out here,” he told OneRoof.
“Some already have the bach on Waikanae beach and are tossing up whether to demolish and build the big permanent home, or sell and buy something already built up the road.
“All the Wellingtonians want to be on the Old Beach part of Waikanae, it’s like the Gucci bag. Waikanae traditionally used to be retirees, but it’s gone from God’s waiting room to the kids’ play room,” he said.
It’s a realtor’s job to talk up an area and we probably help that with all the pretty pictures we post. But “Gucci suburb?” Not too many will agree; Waikanae is picturesque, (reasonably) clean, sedate and conservative, but this isn’t Beverly Hills, and most residents will want it to stay the way it is.
This superbrain has worked out that humans are moving from one cave to another. Astounding word, fella.
There goes the neighbourhood. Look out, gentrification is coming for you. I have seen real estate agents do this in several places. Small towns where everybody knew everybody else and accepted who they were. Good and bad looked after each other against those that meant either harm. The result afterwards is a hollow soulless places where nobody knows any one else, everyone is a plastic fake a decoy to distract from what they really are, all for the sake of appearances.
The real estate agents make their high commissions and move on to the next place that is real.