American flees Trump for NZ

Outgoing President Barack Obama (R) greets President-elect Donald Trump before the inauguration ceremony in Washington, DC. Photo Reuters

At the very moment Trump swore his oath to become America's 45th President, Gary Belis (64), was flying through the sky to start a new chapter in his life.

Belis told The Daily Beast he chose New Zealand for its location alone - 9000 miles from his home soil.

``It is as far away as I can get from Donald Trump,'' he said.

His departure date, the day before the inauguration or January 19 in America, was carefully choreographed.

``I do not want to be here for one minute of his presidency,'' Belis said to The Daily Beast.

Bellis will land in New Zealand today, January 21, meaning he avoided the day of Trump's inauguration altogether.

``I literally will have erased January 20th from my life,'' he said to The Daily Beast.

Belis has had a personal run in with the new President himself.

Nearly 30 years ago, Belis reviewed Trump's book, The Art of the Deal, for Fortune Magazinee where he worked as a publicist.

Trump responded with a letter describing Belis' ''stupidity'' and ``deep seated prejudice'' in great detail. He even demanded Belis be fired.

''The letter has been on my wall for 30 years, it is a badge of honor,'' Belis told The Daily Beast.

Belis isn't alone.

On Election Night, Google searches in the United State spiked for ``move to New Zealand'' among other countries including Australia.

Anti-Trump Americans also searched for property on our shores ahead of and after the election.

New Zealand's biggest real estate listing web site - realestate.co.nz - had recorded a 141 per cent rise in Americans searching for property in the lead up to last year's election.

Several celebrities also vowed to leave America should Trump be voted in, but have since backtracked.

These include Amy Schumer, Whoopi Goldberg and Samuel L. Jackson.