It took a lot of soul-searching but former Justice Minister Judith Collins and her family are tearing themselves away from their Pohutukawa Coast home of seven years.
The six-bedroom house at Omana, Maraetai Beach, is currently listed for sale with Ray White Lighthouse. And while it boasts all the security features any high-profile politician could hope for, it’s designed around the stunning view and is surprisingly informal.
Set on the hillside overlooking Omana, the house is appropriately named Highview House. From the top storey living area the eye is taken across Beachlands to Auckland City, past Rangitoto around to Waiheke Island.
Well-known Ray White Lighthouse real estate agent, Geoff Bignell, who is marketing the property, sold it to the incumbent Papakura MP and her family seven years ago.
“The view speaks for itself. They came here from Whitford. Judith saw the view and said ‘that’s it then’,” he says.
The house was built for a large family featuring, on the ground level a central family room opening onto an outdoor living area with two bedrooms mirrored either side, each separated by an en suite bathroom.
A feeling of spaciousness starts at the imposing ground floor foyer, dominated by a dramatic artwork set off by shiny stainless rails on the stairs ascending to the living area and descending to the family space.
Once on the top floor a major architectural feature comes into play, with a stunning vaulted ceiling a highlight of the formal living area.
The feeling of spaciousness is also created by borrowed light captured by high windows, along with screened skylight voids.
Screens and louvres play a big role in the house. They fold or slide around the decks to reveal an outlook to the views or to provide privacy. But they are also tucked elsewhere throughout the house providing points of interest, along with ventilation.
They are a feature of the outdoor deck off an informal “media room”, filled with mod cons such as home theatre and surround sound.
With a flick of a switch the louvres covering the outdoor deck can be opened or closed to make the most of a full-scale outdoor kitchen.
Trouble is, while Judith and her husband David Wong Tung installed the spectacular Grand Fire gas barbecue, set off with gas burners at the side, a wine fridge and sink complete with a catering faucet, they have still to use it.
Yes, the outdoor kitchen is brand, spanking new, testimony to the demands of political and business life.
The main kitchen is a chef’s dream yet disarmingly functional – a gigantic central stainless steel island is backed by a bank of folding doors the full length of the wall revealing all the culinary essentials.
Belying the informality of the house design however is a bank of electronic equipment hidden in a downstairs garage. It drives the sophisticated surveillance system which allows the householders to not only speak to someone wanting to come in, but to see exactly who is standing at the front gate or door.
Other special luxuries include a dumb waiter, to carry ‘groceries and grog’ to the top level and rubbish back to the ground. And an elegant guest powder room, including a urinal, is sumptuous for the smallest room in the house.
Judith calls her garden “a labour of love” and ex-nurseryman Geoff’s skills came into play to help her plan it.
The concept, he says, is easy care with a white and red theme.
White crushed shell is set off with dwarf magnolias and gardenias while dwarf tropical pohutukawa provide a splash of scarlet throughout the year.
White star jasmine is chosen for its scent and, in deference to Judith’s political persuasions, glimpses of National Party blue are seen here and there.
Garden boxes around the periphery contain camellias along with potted olive trees, potted lavender on the upstairs deck, while in the driveway fence-mounted planter boxes contain an array of herbs.
Judith grew up on a Waikato farm so it’s not surprising that a substantial vegetable planter garden is found in the outdoor service area where the rest of the gardening and water tank paraphernalia is found.
There may not have been time lately to consume home produce, but the copious crop of silver beet is testimony to a family home that has been enjoyed and loved.
• For more information, phone Geoff Bignell on 0274-976-507 or send an email to geoff.bignell@raywhite.com
Source: Times Online
3 News Reporter Anna Burns-Francis also visited the property and was shown through by Ray White Lighthouse Agent Licensee, Rex Bignell. Watch the video that featured on Campbell Live on Monday 29 September by clicking here.