TV chef Michael Van de Elzen has found new owners for his multi-million-dollar West Auckland homestead.
The high-profile host of Eat Well For Less and The Food Truck told OneRoof that an overseas couple snapped up the 5.2ha lifestyle block on Taiapa Road, in Muriwai, at the end of last month.
"It was a win-win. It's not just our house; it's also our farm and a big part of what we wanted to do for a very long time. We did an amazing job, and it's time for us to pull back on the hospo side and let someone else take it forward."
Van de Elzen and his wife Belinda listed their home at the start of the year after deciding to sell up while the going was good.
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Van de Elzen has had a tough few years. He battled throat cancer in 2019, opened his cooking school just as New Zealand went into lockdown as a result of the Covid pandemic, and in 2023, his neighbourhood was hit hard by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The family had poured 12 years of their life into the property, turning it into a paddock-to-plate destination and cookery school that has hosted thousands of guests.
It has an RV of just under $2.385m and last changed hands in 2015 for $1.3m, according to OneRoof records.
The main house at the Van de Elzen estate dates back to the early 1900s. Photo / Supplied
The cookery school was set up just before Covid struck. Photo / Supplied
The Van de Elzens built a homely kitchen in the main villa. Photo / Supplied
Van de Elzen told OneRoof that the property settled early next year. "We have a fair amount of forward bookings. We're full for Christmas. Our last event will be our last Christmas function, which will be December 23. We're going out on a high, which is a good thing to do. And then we exit the farm on February 10," he said, adding that the family was hanging onto the Good from Scratch cooking school.
He said the buyers had bought "another reasonably large farm in the area, and so they're adding to that. We don't know what they will be doing, but they probably wanted our place because of the consents in place, and also it's a beautiful property."
He added: "They are coming from America and they're an amazing couple."
The Van de Elzens plan to relax during the Christmas holidays. "We're hoping to spend a bit more time in Taupō. We have a small place down there. I've recently bought a boat, and Belinda, she's going to be pulling back and putting her feet up."
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Van de Elzen said they got a good price for the property. "We're happy. And honestly, we would have just stayed in there if we didn't [get a good price]. We weren't doing it to lose. We were doing it to exit hospitality after 40 years."
He said the family was looking to stay in the area, noting that the couple's children were in very good schools. "We prefer to stay in Muriwai if we can. And [our next home] may not be our forever home. We may look at retiring at Taupō.
"I'm just looking forward to spending some more time with my kids and wife, and doing some new exciting things. Let's just have more fun. You know, I'm 54 years old. I'm going to be 55 this year. It's time for it, you know."
The 5.25ha block was sold with a working farm. Photo / Supplied
Van de Elzen with his Eat Well for Less co-host Ganesh Raj. “We see different challenges every single time." Photo / Supplied
Bayleys agent Chris Head, who marketed the property with colleague Matt Clifford, told OneRoof that he was helping the family find their next home.
"It is good when someone gets a result and they can just move on. I'm really happy for them. I love the passion that they put into that place - there's never a blade of grass out of place."
Van de Elzen told OneRoof earlier this year that the property had hosted some “amazing events”. “It’s had my 50th, it’s had Belinda’s 50th. We’ve had a multitude of events.”
Naturally, there were some moments he’d rather forget, including the time he nearly butchered a cow in front of a children’s cookery class. “We have our own cows, and this particular cow was to be home-killed.” The home-kill person was due to carry out their task at the same time Van de Elzen was hosting a children’s cooking class. “So, the kids would have been looking out at this big animal hung dried,” Van de Elzen said, adding that they quickly rescheduled the events.
Van de Elzen would also rather forget the time the family’s pet sheep, Pop Pops, got caught up in Cyclone Gabrielle. “She was born on the farm and kicked away by her mum, so we raised her ourselves. During Cyclone Gabrielle, she got blown down the hill, caught upside down, and wedged upside down in the fence.”
Sadly, Pop Pops died this year.
Van de Elzen is currently on TV screens with restaurateur Ganesh Raj in the latest season of Eat Well For Less.
He told OneRoof earlier this year that previous episodes of the programmes had highlighted some sad stories. “We had one family who thought KFC was healthy because it had chicken in it.
“We see, when we go into each house, different challenges every single time, from food hoarding through to a lack of knowledge around what food is, through to budget restraints, through to just absolute wastage.”
He added: “A lot of households may only have one or two dishes that they’re confident in cooking. You get sick of those one or two dishes pretty quickly. It’s just easier to go down the road and buy fast food."
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