
As world events threaten the comfortable lifestyles of the West's super-rich they have begun buying up fabulous 'bolt hole' properties in the far-away safe haven of New Zealand.

The world's elite are snapping up properties in the tiny country, which they see as a shelter from the threat of terrorism, civil unrest and instabilities in the financial markets.

Interest in pricey land and homes in the North and South Islands has soared in recent years following terrorist strikes and civil disobedience in North America, the UK and Europe.

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Threatened: The super-rich are fear their comfortable lifestyles in the west could be destroyed by terrorism or civil unrest, so have started buying up 'boltholes' in New Zealand, like this award-winning five bedroom house, just a five minute drive from Queenstown

Safe: The country is considered the third safest on the planet, so is an attractive proposition for those scared by the prospect of unrest elsewhere. This five-bedroom home, a 40-minute drive from the city of Whangeri, has electric shutters so it's easy to secure

Bonus: Many of the plots come with huge amounts of land set in the stunning New Zealand landscape. This 6,505-hectare farm is nestled along the breathtaking shore of Lake Hawea. The house on this farm can be seen above, at the bottom of the mountain's slope

Financial experts attending the recent World Economic Forum in Davos this month revealed many wealthy hedge fund managers have already started planning escapes for themselves and their clients should life in the northern hemisphere descend into chaos.

Robert Johnson, president of the Institute of New Economic Thinking, said: 'I know hedge fund managers all over the world who are buying airstrips and farms in places like New Zealand because they think they need a getaway.'

Pointing out that the gap between the rich and the poor was increasing even in wealthy countries, Mr Johnson added: 'People need to know there are possibilities for their children - that they will have the same opportunity as anyone else.'

Mr Johnson was backed up by Stewart Wallis, executive director of the New Economic Foundation.

Mr Wallis told CNBC Africa at the Davos gathering that a New Zealand bolthole was 'a way to get off', adding: 'if they (the wealthy) can get off onto another planet, some of them would. I think the rich are worried and they should be worried.'

He pointed out that the 80 richest people in the world had more wealth than the bottom three-point-five billion: 'Very soon we'll get a situation where that one per cent, one percent of the richest people, have more wealth than everybody else (combined), the 99 per cent,' he said.

Suggesting that there was a risk the poor would rise up against the rich, he said: 'What's happened now mean we are going to see all sorts of social problems. It is a breeding ground - not just for terrorism.'

Airstrips: Properties like this five-bed home, close to the world renowned Franz Jospeh Glacier, are especially attractive to international buyers because they come with their own airstrip

Convenient: Your own personal airstrip means you can fly in, or out, with the minimum of fuss - and all for just $NZ850,000, about £410,000

Grand plans: This property on Lake Hawea, wouldn't match a hedge funder's expectations - but there is plenty of scope for redevelopment when money is no object

Agriculture: Many of the best properties are working farms. The Lake Hawea property comes with a sheep and cattle farm sitting at the mouth of a river, and includes several huts and a five-bed lake-front homestead

New Zealand, which is about the size of the UK, but has a population of just 4.4million, offers them all the modern luxuries they have come to expect - but miles from any country which may implode into chaos.

The country is 11,658 miles away from the UK, while its closest neighbour is Fiji - 1,612 miles away, more than double the distance between Lands End and John O'Groats.

Homes at the top end of the market come with tennis courts, swimming pools and media rooms - and some even boast their own personal jetties where a family can moor their boat.

But the icing on the cake for those looking to make a quick escape comes in the form of private helipads or, better, your own airstrip.

Such a property is currently on sale at the foot of New Zealand's Alps for a modest $NZ850,000 - about £410,000 - and just 6km south of the world-famous Franz Josef Glacier.

Many of the properties look ripe for redevelopment allowing the buyer to build their dream mansion - and, with prices significantly lower than in London or New York, there will definitely be money left over for that extra wing or safe room.

And once there, the New Zealand lifestyle - which has been attracting Brits to its shores for years - is said to be one of the best in the world, with a favourable tax regime as an added bonus.

Solitude: This entire island - once a holiday resort - is up for sale, complete with three sandy beaches and '62 units', so there is plenty of choice on where to stay

Space: Pakatoa Island, in the Hauraki Gulf Islands, has its own golf course, squash court and staff quarters - but exactly how much it will set you back is not known

Increases:Terry Spice, director of Luxury Real Estate, said they see increases in international inquiries to our portfolio of luxury properties throughout the country when a global crisis, civil or global conflict and economy weaknesses are discussed

Already, several billionaires have bought themselves homes in New Zealand.

Russian industrial magnate Alexander Abramov, who lives in Moscow, has transformed a farm in Helena Bay, two-and-a-half hours north of Auckland, sparing no expense to build five homes on the land.

The entire project - which included a warren of underground passages, to be used by staff, and its own power station in case of cuts - is thought to have cost £24million, according the New Zealand Herald.

But he isn't planning on living there full time. Instead, two of the homes will be used as a luxury resort, with visitors about to travel to it by helicopter.

American billionaire William Foley is one of several who have snapped up vineyards, buying Te Kairanga, in Martinborough, in 2011.

Paypal co-founder Peter Thiel also has property in the country, as does Tony Malkin, whose family's property portfolio includes the Empire State Building.

Wine: American billionaire William Foley is one of several who have snapped up vineyards like this one, which is on sale for £4,932,695. The ocean-front property includes a four-bedroom house, its own beach and forest - as well as red deer, sheep, cattle and Boer Goat

Water: This peninsula, just half-an-hour from Auckland, has been on sale since January 2014, and comes with a turn-of-the-century three bedroom house - although there are plenty of plots available should the new owner want to build something a little grander

Island living: This plantation-style house looks across the bay to Auckland from the island of Waiheke, and boasts a 'boutique' winery, four bedrooms, a home theatre and a private art gallery

New Zealand real estate agents - who no doubt benefit from changes in the world's stability - dealing with wealthy, jittery, overseas buyers say the turmoil in other countries is a sharp contrast to the peaceful lifestyle that the country has to offer.

The 2013 Global Peace Index, which compares 158 countries for the risk of personal violence, rates New Zealand as the world's third safest country after Iceland and Denmark.

I think the rich are worried and they should be worried… Stewart Wallis, executive director of the New Economic Foundation

British-born Terry Spice, director of Luxury Real Estate, said: 'We certainly see increases in international inquiries to our portfolio of luxury properties throughout the country when a global crisis, civil or global conflict and economy weaknesses are discussed.

'More and more high net worth individuals want a "safe haven" or "legacy asset" they can count on should things go wrong in their country of residence.'

Mr Spice, from Dulwich, revealed he had recently sold a 2.9 acre plot of land to an overseas buyer for $NZ3million, about £1.5million.

However, the land was just the starting pointing: the purchaser is now planning a multi-million dollar retreat on the property, which has stunning views of a lake and surrounding mountains, creating a private paradise, which Mr Spice says would be difficult to out-match by anywhere else in the world.

Matt Finnegan, of Sotheby's Reality in New Zealand, which handles high value properties, told MailOnline: 'It might be that the people who don't particularly want to migrate here still want to have somewhere to run to in times of trouble.'

'We do get comments about personal safety from clients in countries like the US, but there are also expat Britons living in Asia who have expressed concerns about what is happening around them.

Retreat: This NZ$2,995,000 property, on a farm accessed by a bridge built with old railway sleepers, has 'all the aspects needed to build the ultimate alpine retreat' - yet it is just 10km from Queenstown

Large: The lucky person who buys this house will get a master suite which takes up the entire top floor of one wing, with views over the lakes, as well as formal and informal living rooms and space for three cars

Haven: Sothebys Matt Finnegan told MailOnline his clients might not be planning to move permanently to New Zealand, but 'still want to have somewhere to run to in times of trouble'. This bathroom's views are not the only thing to recommend this home - it also has an olive grove

Luxuries: Many of the properties on sale at the top end of the market come with extras like swimming pools. This particular property also comes with a barn, an equestrian arena, tennis court, jetty and boat ramp - for NZ$10,000,000, or £5million

'Yes, there is definitely a degree of paranoia when trouble erupts and they start looking for somewhere that is safe and stable.'

Mr Finnegan, whose properties include a ranch selling in the $NZ15million to $NZ20million bracket - about £7.2million to £9.6million - at Lake Hawea in Central Otago on the South Island, said overseas buyers sometimes preferred to leave their property in the hands of a farm manager or a caretaker until such time that they need it.

The views on offer are a bonus to the security, real estate agents agree - but only the super-rich, the likes of whom were associated with Davos, could afford to sink their money into the high-end properties of New Zealand.

Buying property in New Zealand is subjected to a few rules and buyers do not have to be a residents.

Helicopters: This home, set in 330 acres of land and complete with its own helipad, fishing ranch, cinema and 22 bedrooms across four different houses - not to mention the swimming pool complex (picture above)

Sailing: The waterfront properties on sale all seem to come with one very important addition: their own jetties. This particular property, about 13km from the town of Kerikeri, has permission to build a new house as, the estate agent admits, the person who buys it will primarily be after the land and location

Climate: New Zealand's climate has something for everyone - from hot summers on the beaches and in the swimming pools, to snow in the mountains during the winter

Wide open spaces: New Zealand is about the size of the UK, but has a population of just 4.4million - so it means there is plenty of land to go around

However if the property is purchased for more than $NZ10 million, or when it comes with more than 12 acres of land or consists of coastal land which is larger than 2,000 sq. m., buyers have to apply to the Overseas Investment Office for approval.