- One of New Zealand’s avocado pioneers is selling his four-bedroom luxury home in Maunu, Whangārei.
- The couple are returning to their family farm, owned by the Wade family since 1941.
- Lynwood Nursery propagated more than half of New Zealand’s avocado trees as the industry expanded.
One of New Zealand's avocado pioneers is selling the dream home he built just two-and-a-half years ago.
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Stephen Wade, who propagated more than one million trees over 40-plus years, told OneRoof that the four-bedroom luxury home at 160 Millington Road, in Maunu, Whangārei, had become too large for him and his wife now that their children had flown the nest.
The couple are moving back to their family farm, which the Wades have owned since 1941.
Stephen was one of the early adopters of avocado farming in New Zealand.
In 1986, he expanded the family orchard to 10ha and started the Lynwood Avocado Nursery as the avocado industry began to take off.
The four-bedroom home was designed by renowned architect Steve Povey. Photo / Supplied
The vendors are selling up now that their children have flown the nest. Photo / Supplied
"We rode the wave," Stephen told OneRoof. "We were employing 60 full-time people [at one point] and over half the avocado trees in New Zealand have come from Lynwood here."
He estimated there are around 1.8m commercial avocado trees in New Zealand now and that the Lynwood Nursery had propagated more than half of them.
Stephen said his grandparents, George and Lyn Wade, established the family farm in Maunu soon after the war broke out. "My grandparents moved here just before [the Japanese bombed] Pearl Harbour. They moved here onto the fertile soils of Maunu, so if things really went bad in the war they could grow all their own food."
The couple farmed, had a family, and set up an award-winning chicken hatchery. Then in the early 1980s Wade's parents John and Pamela approached the then Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries [MAF] for suggestions of what could be planted on the fertile volcanic soil.
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"MAF said avocados, kiwifruit or macadamias," Stephen said. John chose avocados and started planting. "They were very exotic. We'd never even eaten an avocado then." The family gifted four of the first year's crop of 10 avocados to their bank manager.
Stephen was the third-generation Wade to bring up children on the family farm/orchard/nursery. Then in the late 2010s, Stephen and Samantha decided it was time to build a dream home and bought land near the family farm that would be suitable for her horses.
"Samantha has fantastic vision, and she found this property," Stephen said. "There was an obvious house site, and fantastic views, and she said we could turn the wet paddock into a wetland." And they did just that.
Stephen, being a tree man, propagated hundreds of Kauri granddaughter stock of Tāne Mahuta, which are now planted on the property: "They're not just ordinary kauri," he said. "You can't get seed stock from there anymore, so we're very lucky to have them.
The 4.72ha property includes wetlands and approximately 2000 trees, 250 of which are kauri. Photo / Supplied
"Developing the property has been a labour of love. It's got park-like settings. I love planting trees, and we've planted a lot. "
The 434sqm home at 160 Millington Road sits on 4.72ha of land, has an RV of $2m (although it is expected to sell for more) and was designed by renowned architect Steve Povey.
Bayleys agent Tracy Dalzell described the property as a landmark lifestyle estate in her listing on OneRoof.
"The residence has been thoughtfully positioned to maximise privacy, all-day sun and sweeping views across the property and beyond to captivating western sunsets," she writes.
"Rich in character and crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the home delivers a warm yet luxurious living experience with four generously appointed bedrooms, each complete with its own ensuite, multiple living areas, and exceptional spaces for entertaining."
Stephen said he and Samantha loved the views and loved the wetlands. However, it had taken longer to build than expected, and their youngest child was about to leave home.
"When you build a house, you think you're going to get it the next day. That's the mindset. Oh, heck no, it's years down the track.
"It took so long because it was right through Covid. It was hold-up after hold-up and by the time we moved in, in February 2024, the family dynamic had changed. Now we're in this enormous house."
Stephen, who had lived his entire life in old homes on the family property, absolutely loved the modern, luxurious feel. "It's very flash, and it's lovely living in a new house [because] everything works."
- 160 Millington Road, Maunu, Whangārei, goes to auction on September 9
