Richards, who has trained 105 winners since taking out his training licence in the early 1990s, and his wife Leanne will move north to the Byerley Park training establishment at Karaka, south Auckland, after the New Zealand Cup meeting in November.
''There are a few reasons,'' Richards explained.
''One is the climate; there are probably better opportunities for the better horses; and travelling round with Natuzzi over the summer opens your eyes a bit to what is out there.
''The timing's right for us - we've sold our property. We were going to build again on the 20 acres [8ha] we've got left, but we decided to give Byerley Park a go.''
Byerley Park is home to about 13 permanent resident trainers, and Richards has been impressed by what he has seen. A 1600m training track, along with the option of a straight 800m rising gallop, is complemented by a warm-up track, arena, lunging rings, tie-ups, wash bays and viewing box.
''We've got a barn there; it's a good set-up. Around 150 horses are trained there, so it's not near as busy as Matamata and Cambridge is,'' Richards said.
''I had a good talk with Peter Williams when we were up there nine weeks ago, because Leanne's never been up there to Byerley Park.
''He gave it a big tick as a training centre. As he said, he had a good look around and thought Byerley Park was as good as anything.''
Williams and his wife, Dawn, moved from Riccarton to Byerley Park in November 2011, and have recorded 32 winners this season.
Richards will take ''five or six'' horses with him, including Natuzzi.
The move was made easier due to Leanne Richards getting an internal transfer within Kiwibank to the Franklin district, while they will also be closer to their children, Jamie and Libby, who both work in the upper North Island.
''They've got their lives to lead - that's not a major reason to move there, but it will be nice to be closer to them.''
Richards has loved his time in Otago, and particularly on the Taieri Plain, but said a move could have come two decades ago.
''I almost did it 20 years ago when I was a jockey but we didn't. I'd hate to die wondering.
''I've been here for 30-odd years in Mosgiel - it's been a big part of my life. It'll be sad to leave, but [it's time for] new challenges and new places and new people.
''Mosgiel was a great place to bring our kids up. It's a great community and obviously on the racing side of it, it's been my life, really.
''At the end of the day, we've still got friends and family down here, and it's only an hour and a-half on the plane. It's not as though as we're going to the other side of the world or anything.''
