Lifestyle Block Magazine Helps Lifestyle Farmers

LIFESTYLE BLOCK MAGAZINE HELPS LIFESTYLE FARMERS AVOID THE PITFALLS OF THE UTOPIAN DREAM

With the lure to the countryside stronger than ever, education is the key to success

AUCKLAND, May 20, 2004 -- TraderGroup today launched New Zealand Lifestyle Block, the first magazine to educate and inform the rapidly-growing lifestyle farmer segment on how to get the most out of their change of environment.

"The lifestyle block sector is booming and New Zeland Lifestyle Block magazine will give people who live on, and people who aspire to live on, lifestyle blocks a practical guide to this type of farming," said Tina Clyma, business development manager for Trader Group.

"Rather than slowing down frenetic city living, moving to the countryside delivers a whole new set of challenges. There are so many things to consider when taking on a lifestyle block -- animal health and management, property maintenance, cropping, mixed-use farming, organics and a myriad of compliance issues. By covering these issues in NZ Lifestyle Block magazine, we hope to save a few dreams as well as a few animals."

With the high New Zealand dollar reducing spending by traditional farmers, lifestyle block owners have become an important economic engine for rural communities.

"I've spoken with farm equipment dealers in areas where there's a high concentration of lifestyle blocks such as Pukekohe and Kumeu and they say lifestyle block farmers who work in towns and cities are a significant customer base for them."

Statistics from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) show that sales of lifestyle blocks are consistently experiencing strong growth.

Last year 276 blocks averaging 3.7 hectares each were sold and it is estimated that there is between 90,000 and 110,000 lifestyle farm units in New Zealand. NZ Lifestyle Block magazine is aimed at this market and features a mix of practical tips and in-depth features covering every aspect of lifestyle farming.

The lure of lifestyle blocks will remain strong Rapid growth in people moving to lifestyle blocks is expected to continue, with many professionals commuting to work from lifestyle communities. TraderGroup recently ran an online survey on the Kiwi Expat Association website (www.kiwiexpat.co.nz), which confirmed that even expatriates view living on a lifestyle block as the utopian dream on their return home. The survey showed that 100 % of respondents planned to eventually return to live in New Zealand and 67% of the 66 survey respondents said they wanted to live on lifestyle block farms when they eventually returned.

Other survey results showed:

** 72% of people who viewed lifestyle blocks as most idyllic were driven by the belief that it would be a great way to bring up children
** 100% plan to eventually return home
** Only 6% said they would use a lifestyle block as their primary source of income
** 18% of respondents have already looked into buying a lifestyle block

About NZ Lifestyle Block Magazine Lifestyle Block Magazine is published by Trader Group, a division of ACP Media. The magazine serves to both inform and entertain with a mix of practical, easy to follow tips and guides and in-depth features covering every aspect of lifestyle farming. Richly illustrated and crafted by journalists with a passion in their chosen field, NZ Lifestyle Block is the authority on every aspect of lifestyle farming in New Zealand.

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