A luxury villa in Jervois Rd, in Auckland's Herne Bay, was scooped up at the end of last year. Photo / Supplied
A buyer paid $26 million for neighbouring villas in New Zealand’s most expensive suburb, property ownership records supplied by CoreLogic to the Herald show.
The Herne Bay transactions are unusual because each sale was for such a large amount: a $15m sale, followed by a separate $11m sale.
Transactions of $26m for New Zealand residential properties are unusual and, even more unusually, CoreLogic listed a single buyer, Aaron Boonshoft, as settling both homes last month.
The villa in Jervois Rd settled for $15m on January 31 after an offer was made on December 20, records show.
The adjoining villa settled for $11m on the same date after a December 17 offer. The vendors were Rebecca and Scott Bradley who sold to Boonshoft.
Auckland Council lists one of the Jervois Rd properties as having 2029sq m of land and a rateable valuation of $12.2m. Annual rates are $25,000.
The council lists the other house as having 1391sq m of land and being worth $8.2m. Annual rates are $17,000.
All up, the homes are on sites of about a third of a hectare.
Boonshoft’s LinkedIn profile says from 2000 to 2005, he was the founder of Oregon3D, “a visualisation centre for advanced training in the disciplines of 3D animation, visual effects, editing, compositing, data visualisation and simulation”.
From 2007 to 2017, he developed and owned Home Based Games in Portland.
From May 2020 to now, he has been the founder of the Compassionate Action Team of the United States.
American media reported him as being an heir to a commodities trading fortune who funded prostitution legalisation efforts in Oregon.
Anne Batley Burton, a former Real Housewives of Auckland star, thanked Boonshoft on her Instagram account last year.
She indicated he was a generous benefactor and accompanied that post with a Herald on Sunday page showing the Society Insider and people at a charity event.
“A special thank you to all our amazing volunteers who unfailingly turn up in all sorts of weather to look after our cats who need us all so much, our wonderful friend Aaron Boonshoft who is an angel with his incredible support and our tireless vet Dr Elsa Flint who is making such a difference to the health of our cats,” Batley Burton wrote.
The Herald has approached Boonshoft for comment about the purchases. An associate sent a message to him but the associate said he did not wish to speak.
One person who knows him was well aware of the two property purchases and confirmed he had bought both homes.
That person said spending $26m in Auckland would not go unnoticed.
Such transactions would be of interest to many people, but Boonshoft was an extremely private person and the person said he did not feel comfortable talking to reporters.
“He has no comments and would prefer you not mention him.”
Although Boonshoft was from the United States, he lived in New Zealand and had done so for about three years, that associate said.
“He considers New Zealand home,” the person said, and that is why he bought the two villas.
He supported people involved in animal welfare and other charitable endeavours, the associate said.
Records show Boonshoft also supports the Auckland Theatre Company where he is listed as a “saint” for 2024 youth company supporters, along with Dame Jenny Gibbs, Sir Chris and Lady Dale Mace, Peter Macky and Joan Vujcich.
Companies Office records show Boonshoft is involved in four companies, all with offices at accountants Gilligan Sheppard at the Smith & Caughey Building in Queen St.
Those four are:
Property records show Boonshoft also owns a property in Ridge Rd, Riverhead.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.