Joel Little has worked with some of the biggest names in pop music, including Lorde and Taylor Swift.
But now the producer has given his Instagram followers a glimpse into a different creative project. "My incredibly talented wife has built this amazing house, and it's for sale now."
Little's wife, Gemma Robinson, had teamed up with her old school friend Samuel Parkes to build luxury baches in the Coromandel.
They had bought a 1000sqm site on Port Road, in Whangamatā, last year for just under $2m and let rip.
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The result was not one, but two high-end beach homes.
Robinson told OneRoof that property is her passion, one that has roots in her childhood. "My parents would flip houses. My entire childhood was over 20 houses, probably. I loved that, and I get itchy feet. I always want to move house and improve and do up where I can. Doing a new build was a bit of a dream.
"I have never been able to just leave my house as is. I've always changed everything here and there."
Little and wife Gemma Robinson at the 2014 Silver Scroll Awards. Photo / Getty Images
Kiwi singer Lorde at Glastonbury. She and Little soared to fame on the back of their 2013 hit Royals, which they wrote together. Photo / Getty Images
Little and Robinson sold their Titirangi home in 2023 for just over $2.8m. Photo / Supplied
Her creative touch was on full display in the Titirangi home that she and Little sold three years ago for just under $3 million. That was the perfect combination of views, cool architecture, sun and bush.
Robinson said doing a project with Parkes seemed natural. They had been friends since high school and their families had connections. They had often discussed each other's projects and the possibility of working together. “[We had kept] in touch over the years and keeping across each other's projects here and there. [Samuel] is a qualified landscape architect.”
The business partners scoured three locations for a suitable property, but Whangamatā was an obvious choice because Parkes had a bach there. When 905 Port Road came up for sale in 2025, they pounced.
The site appealed because the old bach could be moved to the rear and two new builds added. Robinson and Parkes worked with an architect friend to develop concept designs, which a draughtsman then turned into final plans. The duo wanted to build something that was “beautiful” but also practical.
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"We wanted something that was a step above what you could find in Whangamatā at the moment, but not a $5m beachfront property," Robinson said. "We really just wanted to emphasise that earthy, natural kind of vibe that you want at the beach while still making it feel like a really comfortable home you could live in year-round."
They chose Coro Group, also known as Coromandel Homes, for the build. “Sam was mostly across that. We spoke to a couple of different builders. But because they were a group home builder, we knew that they could do it [in a] timely [manner] and they'd have really good contacts down there. That was the best decision. They're just like the nicest people.”
Both newbuild baches will be sold off, as will the original. "It's a business venture. We wanted it for the experience and to create something that we're proud of," Robinson said.
"I've really enjoyed the whole process. Now that we're at the point that we're actually having to put them on the market and let them go, I'm feeling quite sad about it, to be honest."
The baches on Port Road were designed to feel like a private resort hidden away in the middle of town. Photo / Supplied
Robinson and Parkes tapped the skills of Fraser Horton Design and Coromandel Group to create the properties. Photo / Supplied
The duo are keen to do something new. "If we can find the right projects, then we would be happy to do it again for sure," says Robinson. Photo / Supplied
She added: “Having a creative outlet, first of all, has been so nice. Doing my own thing separate from Joel and the family has also been amazing."
Robinson said she expects to do more projects with Parkes. "It's worked really well for us [and] for me personally with my family life. If we can find the right projects, then we would be happy to do it again for sure."
Parkes added: "From the outset, we wanted to create something a little unexpected. Somewhere that felt less like a conventional beach house and more like discovering a private resort hidden away in the middle of town.
"One of the biggest priorities was dedicating an entire wing of the house to the master suite. We wanted it to feel unusually generous. The bathrooms were approached in much the same way, with the idea that stepping into one should feel more like entering a day spa.
"But perhaps the defining feature is the five-metre-wide opening to the outdoor living area. When the doors are pulled back, the living space effectively doubles, with the mature palms and spa becoming part of the interior experience. That connection between inside and out was central to the whole concept."
He said that the duo "spent countless hours sourcing materials, finishes and suppliers. We were particular about how everything worked together, not just visually, but in terms of texture, warmth and the overall atmosphere".
The new homes have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with open-plan living areas, oak floorboards, wood burners, kitchens, spa pools, outdoor showers, surfboard racks and subtropical planting. They are about 100m from the beach, with the wharf and town also within walking distance.
The first open home is scheduled for today at 11am, with Robinson and Parkes planning to show prospective buyers through the properties themselves.
- Click here to find more properties for sale in Whangamatā
