- An overseas buyer is inspecting Pikarere Farm, a 742ha coastal property near Wellington, for sale for the first time in seven decades.
- The farm, marketed by Ben Atwill and colleagues, has attracted significant international interest, particularly from expats.
- Vendor Dan Stevenson, 86, is selling the property, which features multiple dwellings and panoramic views.
An overseas buyer is flying into New Zealand to inspect a 742ha coastal spread on Wellington’s far western coastline that's on the market for sale for the first time in more than 70 years.
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Bayleys listing agent Ben Atwill, who is marketing Pikarere Farm with Andrew Smith and Mark Hourigan, said international interest in the property had been “overwhelming”.
“We have been slightly surprised by the level of inquiry. But it’s buyers like that – you go, 'Wow, this is a particular fish…'”
He said those showing interest were all expats, including those living in the United States, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
“I think it’s a slice of New Zealand that we all remember. It’s such a commanding position.”
Pikarere Farm stretches along almost 6km of Wellington’s coast but is only a 30-minute drive from Wellington CBD. It also comes with its own beach and is a gated landholding.
The main residence at Pikarere Farm was designed by renowned Wellington architect Bernard Johns in 1954. Photo / Supplied
Owner Dan Stevenson, pictured on the hill, moved to Pikarere Farm when he was 10 years old and is still blown away by the scenery. Photo / Supplied
A farm manager oversees the sheep and beef operation. Photo / Supplied
“A lot of the conversations are around New Zealand is a peaceful retreat compared to what is happening around the world. To be able to come home, close the gate, have that high level of privacy, security and somewhere to retreat...” Atwill told OneRoof.
The livestock operation run by the onsite farm manager was another drawcard. “The farm operation is a positive, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. People are just wanting to secure a slice of home that they can come back to at some point in time and the farm operation will sort of wash up some objects, but other than that it’s more about securing a house and a home in a phenomenal location with a lockable gate.”
Atwill declined to give a price indication because the property is being sold by tender, but said interest so far had been north of its RV of $10m.
Vendor Dan Stevenson told OneRoof that he was 10 years old when his father bought the chunk of land in 1950. “When we came here there was only one sheep-proof paddock, and it was about 800ha. So, we fenced it and broke it in.”
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Stevenson's father removed the run-down “ghost house” and replaced it with a three-bedroom home designed by renowned Wellington architect Bernard Johns in 1954.
The family had been unable to build bigger at the time because of building restrictions, but Stevenson's father had purposely designed it so he could make additions.
When Stevenson and his wife Prue took over the property, they finished the build, adding a significant extension, including a garage, a large bedroom and bathroom and an indoor swimming pool in the early 2000s.
The mural on the wall of the indoor swimming pool room is another interesting feature.
Prue said she had a very different idea for the mural when she commissioned an artist with experience in painting ballet backdrops. “I wanted a safari scene or something with a giraffe down drinking from the pool, and she couldn’t do all that; she could only do nude figures, so what’s that we got,” she said.
The large indoor swimming pool with an eye-catching mural was added in 2002 as part of a big extension to the main 1950s residence. Photo / Supplied
The main home has four bedrooms and seven living areas, and was extended in the 2000s. Photo / Supplied
The main 500sqm residence has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and seven living areas. Three other dwellings on the estate include two four-bedroom homes (including the farm manager’s home) and a two-bedroom cottage.
Stevenson said it had been a privilege to live in such a stunning elevated spot and would miss the view and all the action of a working farm. The vista includes Kāpiti Island, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Taranaki and the distant Marlborough Sounds. He noted that just before Christmas last year, he saw two orcas put on a show between Pikarere Farm and Mana Island.
His grandson called the farm "the greatest place on earth” when he visited from Auckland, and he agrees.
“Because he would be up at 7am to go hunting for the goats, and also on our southern boundary there are deer, and the boys got a deer and it was fantastic.”
Stevenson and his wife are now in their 80s and have decided now's the time to downsize from their slice of paradise. The day comes when living on a farm – it’s exciting, something happens every day if you keep your eyes and ears open - but you need to have the health and energy, and you know I’m 86.”
The whole family was sad to be selling, he said, but with two daughters living in Auckland and a son in Wellington, it wasn’t practical for anyone to take over.
- 320-380 Pikarere Street, Porirua, Wellington, is for sale, tender closing May 22
