Shy and retiring or boom town?

Right now, the population of Mahia in northern Hawke's Bay is about 10 times the normal level.

The permanent population of the remote Mahia Beach township is about 800, but sun, surf and scenery bring in holidaymakers in their thousands.

More and more of those visitors are looking at buying houses or sections – but some will get a fright when they see the way prices are rising around Mahia Peninsula, between Wairoa and Gisborne.

Local people point out sections in the sleepy-looking township that are changing hands for $100,000 and one man tells of buying a house and then watching its value rise by $5000 a week in a few months.

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