- Former All Black Julian Savea and wife Tima sold their Coatesville estate, buying another nearby.
- They reduced their mortgage while staying near friends, and Tima plans extensive renovations.
- Julian Savea has become Mahurangi’s head coach, pursuing his ambition to mentor young rugby players.
Former All Black Julian Savea and his influencer wife Tima have sold their luxury lifestyle estate – and bought a new home along the road.
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The couple had listed their five-bedroom new-build home on Mahoenui Valley Road, in Auckland’s Coatesville, in May, and were at one point looking for buyers with $5 million.
They declined to say what they got in the end, but they did reveal the new owners were not total strangers.
“Mutual friends of friends. A very lovely couple and I’m really excited to be welcoming them to Coatesville,” Tima told OneRoof.
The Saveas designed and built the five-bedroom lifestyle property while they were based in Wellington where Julian played for the Hurricanes. Photo / Supplied
The house was designed in an H-shape to give all the living areas view of the pool and land. Photo / Supplied
The loggia was a favourite spot. Photo / Supplied
“We’re very excited. We’re happy the house is going to lovely owners, and they will love it and create their own memories with it.
“I don’t feel any regrets. It’s nice because we were able to bring down our mortgage and be in a comfortable position. And we’re staying in the area.”
The Saveas’ new block is slightly bigger than the one they sold. Finding time to cut the grass had been a problem for Julian in the past, but Tima joked they had four robot lawnmowers to help them out this time.
Tima said she had plans to renovate. The to-do list includes polishing the concrete floors, painting, new curtains and a new kitchen. She confessed she didn’t like the house when she first saw it, but her parents persuaded her to look past its appearance and to focus on its potential.
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“I’m creating a new work of art,” she said. “We’d made such a good group of friends in the area, and our kids all get along – we all see each other every week. I didn’t want to leave the area for that reason, the connections that we’ve made and the friendships we’ve created.”
Julian’s new job is an easy commute away. He has taken on a head coach role for the North Harbour premier club Mahurangi, based in Warkworth, after the collapse of Moana Pasifika earlier this year.
“He’s focusing on the coaching side of his career now,” Tima said. “It’s a very nice community up there. Everyone’s welcomed him with open arms.”
The couple were delighted to do the double deal with the help of their agents, Jackie Parker and Kristina Marmont of New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, and the listing agent for their new home, Bayleys’ Ailsa McArthur.
Julian in his All Blacks jersey powering through the British & Irish Lions at Eden Park in 2017. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Julian is no stranger to extreme workouts. Here he is putting his muscles to the test in 2017. Today, his home gym is used for recovery from a recent injury. Photo / Nick Reed
The Saveas’ new home. Tima can’t wait to start the renovation. "I’m creating a new work of art." Photo / Supplied
McArthur brought the buyers to the Saveas’ home, while Parker and Marmont helped the Saveas negotiate the purchase of McArthur’s listing. “They were amazing. The whole process was made so much easier with them,” Tima said.
OneRoof got a tour of the Saveas’ home in May when it first hit the market.
They told OneRoof that their dream of a lifestyle block took root in 2018 when Julian was playing for RC Toulon in France, and they were living in a country house. When the family moved back to New Zealand and Julian was with the Hurricanes in Wellington, they busily drew up plans for their own country home with help from Alex Coburn, of QPC Build Group.
The build took 18 months. Tima was hands-on, directing the architects and designers as they brought the H-shaped house to life.
The kitchen was at the heart of the home, and the stone kitchen bar was where everyone gathered. The more formal lounge and dining area showed off the couple’s Kiwiana art, while the media room displayed Julian’s illustrious rugby jerseys and caps.
Before he took up the post at Mahurangi, Julian told OneRoof that he wanted to realise his dream of coaching and mentoring. “To give back as well, I feel like I’ve got a lot of knowledge ... that is a massive passion for me as well.”
He said early in his All Black career that some legends helped him deal with the pressure, and he would like to do the same for the next generation. “A lot of the kids are getting signed out of school now to play Super Rugby, and what I see is a lot of them not handling the pressure. I feel like I can really help with that area, and I am passionate about that.”
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