I know of one member of the San Luis Obispo, California bike club who bought a condo. down there(North Island) so that she would never, ever have to endure winter, ever again.
Not that she will be there during your winter- she summers in Europe and California; but, what is a New Zealand winter like.? New Zealand is chillier than Australia, lets say.?
I thought Central Coast of California is pretty nice. Traffic congestion is less there, than So. Cal.... At least for a couple more years.