A challenge to the millions estimated to fix Auckland’s Kingsland Apartments; billionaires plan Herne Bay tree chop; whistling balustrades at new $150m The Helier retirement village prompt Oceania Healthcare to silence them; and after three years the West Auckland film studios remain unsold – all in today’s Property Insider.
Property Insider: Kingsland Apartments repair bill challenged; billionaires apply to chop Herne Bay trees; whistling balustrades at The Helier; no film studios sale after three years; NZICC’s two bookings
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Correspondence between the body corporate and owners raised the issue of maintenance, “replacing worn sealants which had significantly reduced leaks”, the party noticed.
The critic said maintenance was needed and it was crucial to keep that up at the New North Rd residential complex.
“Have the owners sought input from the builders or designers?” they asked of repair scopes.
“With seismic issues, correspondence states there are varying issues with connections. What are the issues?”
They were concerned about such high amounts being quoted to fix buildings, which they said had indeed needed ongoing maintenance but were built to last.
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They said from what they knew about the situation, multimillion-dollar repair bills appeared excessive.
They encouraged owners to talk directly to builder CMP and the engineers and architects involved.
Raewyn Holmes, body corporate chairperson, has not responded to Herald questions about the situation with the apartments.
CMP said on its website last month the apartments were built in four blocks “in a prime location overlooking Eden Park. The development includes underground parking, a swimming pool, gym and retail shops on New North Rd”.
Macrae’s Victoria Park-headquartered business has a lot of experience in apartments, having built thousands.
Clients included Kāinga Ora. Luxury jobs like Remuera’s now-completed $150m Victoria Lane for Richard Kroon were also carried out by CMP. That five-level building has 22 apartments, with 52 basement car parks running the full length underground.
The managing contractor for Kingsland Apartments was Construct Management Pacific, an entity that has not traded since 2009, but is still directed by CMP’s Ron Macrae.
Billionaire garden changes
Changes are planned in the gardens of Zuru’s Nick Mowbray and Monday Hair’s Jaimee Lupton’s new $24m 3166sq m clifftop Herne Bay waterfront property.
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They want to remove nine trees within 20m of the clifftop and do more native planting at their new place.
The Tree Consultancy Company submitted an arboricultural assessment to Auckland Council for the resource consent application.
“The property owner is proposing to remove several trees and other vegetation at 7 Marine Parade, Herne Bay, and undertake enrichment planting. The site is subject to a significant ecological area overlay. The site is well vegetated and there is a desire to improve [that],” the application says. A decision was pending.
In October, the couple drew dozens of neighbourhood children to queue down the long driveway for Halloween treats when they converted their mansion in central Auckland to the “Herne Bay Horror House”.
Known for their lavish costume parties, the couple opened the home to the public.
They have also recently finished a significant upgrade of their property in the countryside. Dated decor at their Coatesville home was stripped out ready for the summer unveiling and prominent social events.
A new outdoor pool, on-site wastewater treatment plant, gym and powder room upgrades are just some of the multimillion-dollar renovations consented at the $39.3m home.
That distinctive house was previously labelled the Chrisco Mansion, after its developer Richard Bradley’s British Christmas business, but it then became the Dotcom mansion when Kim Dotcom rented it with wife Mona and their children, and was the centre of an armed raid in which the internet entrepreneur was arrested in 2012.
Whistling balustrades silenced
Whistling balustrades at Oceania Healthcare’s new $150m The Helier are being silenced.
Neighbours told Property Insider about the problem, so inquiries were made and a spokesperson referred to the development being of a modern architectural design.
That meant different facade materials, protrusions and features, including balconies, overhead operable louvres and adjustable screening to provide aesthetic interest amenities for residents, he said.
“As a result, this creates complex geometries that can cause whistling in certain weather events and directions. The whistling is very specific to the combination of weather factors,” he said.
The Helier is also on the top of the Whakamuhu volcano tuff ring.
The vertical village was designed to capture views: aspects of the Waitematā Harbour and wider Auckland vistas.
“We are aware of whistling being reported from the neighbours and some residents and we have been addressing the issues as they have arisen using a combination of additional flashings and furring strips. We have implemented this work on all balconies likely to be impacted by these wind-induced issues. We continue to monitor the matter and will address future issues should they arise,” the Oceania spokesman said.
This followed the situation with screaming balconies at a Grey Lynn apartment building last decade.
In 2017, the Herald showed film footage at Grey Lynn’s Barrington that illustrated what people around the apartments in Great North Rd say they had heard.
Wind hitting the balustrade on outdoor balconies had caused the screaming sound.
Steve Pearce, the council’s compliance resource consents manager, conceded neighbourhood distress about the situation, which has been ongoing for months.
“Following complaints about this issue, we have investigated the matter,” Pearce said. Barrington at 554-558 Great North Rd had balcony railings that were not illegally constructed, he said.
Developer Craig Kells said then the issue would be resolved soon, with sheets of glass put up to stop the wind.
Glass Projects would install glass to the inside of the handrails to stop the wind passing through and whistling, he said at the time.
Three years, still no sale
Auckland Film Studios remains under council ownership despite three years of trying to sell it.
Auckland Council group chief financial officer Ross Tucker said: “The Auckland Film Studios sale process is still under way and, due to commercial sensitivity, we can’t expand further at this time.”
In May 2022, councillors approved a recommendation from officials to sell the studios. Following that, a robust global process was undertaken.
“An outcome is now likely to be known in the first half of 2025. The sale and purchase process remains confidential to protect commercial interests and maintain the integrity of the process,” he said.
Last year, the council blamed the Hollywood strike. Council chief financial officer Peter Gudsell said then a sale was still under way, but due to commercial sensitivity, he could not expand further. A robust global process had been undertaken, he said.
“There have been some delays as the process essentially went on hold due to the international screenwriters and actors strike which required the full focus of potential buyers, but has now resumed. An outcome is likely to be known in the first half of this year,” Gudsell said.
Two conferences so far
Dates are set for two events at the New Zealand International Convention Centre.
Next year, the International Dairy Federation’s world dairy summit will bring about 1000 people to the centre. In 2028, the IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium will be held there.
More conferences are understood to be planned, but the NZICC is yet to say what they are or when they will be held.
Fletcher Construction is due to hand the centre to SkyCity this year, but exactly when remains unknown.
Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.
