In her search for a spiritual retreat and a little more light in her life, a UK woman eager to escape the quakes of the south said she has not just moved to Northland for the sun, but also the seismic and economic stability.
Anna Sayce was diagnosed with seasonal adjustment disorder (SAD) when she was a teenager and has spent many sunny days in NZ with family, so it was no surprise to her that she'd make the country her home.
Ms Sayce is one of the growing number of people migrating to Northland because of its political and economic stability.
She moved to Christchurch in 2010, but after the 2011 seismic activity, she fled to Blenheim - which she swears is the hay fever capital of New Zealand.
"I just wanted to live somewhere bright and warm with my condition. I can't deal with the lack of light," she said. "But allergies in Blenheim, it was terrible."