Sound foundations in Hamilton

If Paritai Drive has become known as New Zealand's Park Lane, then much of Hamilton is probably closer to the Old Kent Rd end of the Monopoly board.

Dieter Westphal and his wife Maria built their home on River Oaks Place in Hamilton 16 years ago.

There were just six or seven homes on the street then - but now there are 21, and property values have risen with the building boom.

River Oaks Place is just one of two streets in the river city with a median value of more than $1 million.

Sure, parts of Hamilton are a bit rougher than Auckland's Parnell: a few of the neighbours have had their barbecues stolen, says Westphal. But he's not aware of any break-ins.

Maria was raised in the area and said they wanted to stay there when they decided to buy some land and build a house. "We are just ordinary people who worked hard all their lives and are still working hard."

Westphal says the decision to build was prompted by a growing family.

It is a nice, quiet, peaceful street, with views over the Waikato River, he said. "It's a good area to raise your children."