Holmes' sweet home: Sir Paul's 'treasure' lodge for sale

Mana Lodge was where the late broadcaster lived with his wife Lady Deborah. Photo / Supplied

The palatial Hawke's Bay retreat broadcaster Sir Paul Holmes found comfort in while his family struggled to find privacy is to be sold.

Mana Lodge was the site of Sir Paul's investiture, held two weeks before his death in February 2013, and was where he married Lady Deborah Holmes.

Sir Paul called it his "treasure" and it has been the Holmes' family's "sanctuary" for 15 years.

The 440sq m six-bedroom, three-bathroom lodge in the Poukawa region sits on 18ha and is expected to command a high price.

Sir Paul Holmes' Mana Lodge is for sale. Photo / Supplied

Sir Paul and his wife bought Mana Lodge in 2000 and transformed it into its current grandeur.

Lady Holmes said: "It has been a sanctuary for our family for 15 years, but we feel it's time for another family to enjoy it, or an opportunity for someone to add value to the wonderful lifestyle accommodation and function business that we have created," she said.

Bayleys agent Vicki Wallace added: "Sir Paul described falling in love with Mana Lodge, saying it was a 'lovely little farm with a charisma all of its own', so it's easy to see why Sir Paul and Lady Holmes chose to be married there in 2003.

"Over the next decade, Sir Paul and Lady Deborah Holmes set out on a major project of transforming the grounds. Sir Paul was an avid gardener and could regularly be found painting bridges and planning the grounds, while Lady Holmes made the interior design decisions."

Ms Wallace said the couple built a 40m pergola extending from the lodge conservatory into the gardens.

The lodge has an open-style country kitchen, a conservatory, casual living space and study overlooking the terrace and gardens.

Sir Paul Holmes' Mana Lodge in the Hawke's Bay is for sale. Photo / Supplied

The ground floor also has an entrance hall, several living areas including a sitting room and formal lounge, and big wine cellar.

The property also has a two-bedroom gatehouse with a sleep-out and en suite.

All Black Israel Dagg married his long-time girlfriend Daisy Aitken at Mana Lodge in December last year.

Sir Paul Holmes with daughter Millie Elder-Holmes at a special ceremony to appoint him a knight of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He died two weeks later. Photo / Richard Robinson

The listing comes as Nelson's Paratiho Lodge was put on the market with an asking price of $20 million.

The 15-year old lodge has been owned by a British banking couple since 2009.