UK media personality Phil Spencer, known for hosting Location Location Location, is set to explore some of Aotearoa's best homes in a new series on TVNZ+.
Launching on Sunday, new show New Zealand's Best Homes will explore 18 of Aotearoa's most beautiful properties.
Speaking to 1News, its presenter Phil Spencer said it's been "wonderful" being in New Zealand to film the show.
"We've deliberately picked a variety of homes, from city homes, mountain homes, lake homes, beachside, island, off-grid.
"There's 18 of them, and they are all absolutely incredible, they are phenomenal. The creativity of the architects, the willingness of the owners to build remarkable homes and really design conscious.
"Also the craftsmanship of the builders and tradies, those are all things that we don't get in the UK.
"Not that many people build their own homes and the planning system restricts a lot of the creativity so it has been wonderful to come out to New Zealand and see some of the work that these architects and builders are doing."
He said what's interesting about New Zealand is that it's a small country, but there's such a large diversity of landscape within fairly short distances.
"The architects are also always conscious about designing homes that fit within their landscapes and that's just been wonderful to see."
Lifestyle matters to Kiwis
Comparing homes in New Zealand to those in the UK, Spencer says a major difference is the Kiwi tendency to build homes to suit particular way of life. "These homes that I've seen, many of them have been designed and built to enable a lifestyle.
"I don't think we see that in the UK so much, if at all. What I mean by that is if somebody likes walking, or fishing, or surfing, they've created their home to suit the lifestyle and the hobbies and passions that they enjoy doing."
"Lifestyle is super important to the Kiwis from what I've experienced, and that's great."
Asked to name his favourite place in New Zealand, Spencer struggles to choose between the mountainous south and the beachy north. He loved spending time in Queenstown before he flew to Great Barrier for the first time, which he also fell in love with. "They're really different, total opposite ends of the spectrum, but I could get used to both so I just couldn't pick a favourite.
He also noted the enviable proximity of nature to our cities.
"To work in Auckland, at the cutting edge of an industry and commute 45 minutes, you can lead an incredible lifestyle in a beautiful place whether that's in the hills, by the beach, on an island, that's pretty special."
"It has really opened my eyes, it's a very special place, a very beautiful place with very beautiful people."
NZ’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer will premiere tomorrow, Sunday June 9, 7.30pm on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+.
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