The Dotcom mansion is being marketed as "distinguished and magnificent" but many people will recall the unusual spectre of police swooping on the property at Coatesville, northwest of Auckland.
An expansive mansion estate marred by controversy surrounding its previous tenant will soon be filled with fun, laughter - and water fights.
The new owners of the Coatesville mansion, once home to internet mogul Kim Dotcom, are the founders of Zuru, the globally successful toy company behind Bunch-o-Balloons and Robofish.
Cambridge siblings Anna, Mat and Nick Mowbray confirmed to the Weekend Herald this week they are the new owners.
The siblings initially wanted to keep their purchase confidential but soon realised the interest in the sale was too high. They also felt "there was a responsibility" to inform the public of their intention with the land.
Mat, Anna and Nick Mowbray are all in their early 30s.
Mowbray siblings Nick, Anna and Mat are the new owners of 186 Mahoenui Valley Road - previously known as the Coatesville and Dotcom Mansion. Photo / supplied
The trio paid $32.5 million for the property in June.
In an exclusive interview with the Weekend Herald Anna Mowbray said the trio were excited about their new home but the purchase of such an extravagant property went against their usual no-frills approach.
"It's certainly very grand and this went a little against our ethos but we decided to take the plunge anyway," she said.
"We knew that we would never regret owning a slice of prime real estate in New Zealand and this really is a very special place with its calming aura and impeccable build plus finishings."
The grand cascading waterfall feature steps at Mahoenui Valley Road, Coatesville Photo / supplied
The siblings live in Hong Kong where their business is based but the Coatesville mansion will be home base when they return for months at a time.
"I'm already planning a big family Christmas, and a few other family related events have been lined up for the property so it'll be very well loved and utilised," Mowbray said.
The house was built for Chrisco multi-millionaire Richard Bradley in 2006 and was later leased to Dotcom.
It was up for tender with agency Barfoot and Thompson when it caught the attention of the Mowbrays, who flew home to view it.
Quirky features like the hedged maze and larger-than-life giraffe sculpture fitted with the trio's love of fun.
The Mowbrays fell in love with the life-size giraffe sculpture (left) on the lawn of the mansion and have named him Gizzy. Photo / Jason Dorday
"There may have been one of us who also fell in love with the giraffe, Gizzy," Mowbray said.
The Mowbrays understood other interested parties wanted to subdivide the 22.6ha property but the siblings didn't want that to happen.
"It is a property we want to share and keep in the family for generations," Mowbray said.
"It is a slice of New Zealand we are keen to keep in one piece."
No expense was spared in the build - the dining room features chandeliers and floors from Italy. Photo / Barfoot and Thompson
The mansion would also serve as a New Zealand retreat for key staff members at Zuru who would be welcomed to the property "on an annual basis to revitalise".
Mowbray acknowledged the "chequered past" of the property, which was the scene of armed raids by police when it was home to Dotcom.
But she said the family were keen to bring fun and positivity to the property - the labels Chrisco Mansion and Dotcom Mansion were in the past and the property would now be known as Mahoenui Valley.
The dramatic winding stairwell at the mansion features balustrades from France and chandeliers from Italy. Photo / Barfoot and Thompson
Mowbray said her two children, both under 5, hadn't yet seen the property but she hoped it would become the "children's paradise" they planned.
The whole family felt very fortunate they were able to purchase such a special property and it was only possible because of the success of Zuru.
The Olympic length indoor lap pool is one of three pools at the mansion. Photo / Barfoot and Thompson
Owning property was the furthest thing from the siblings' minds when they were sleeping on the factory floor to save money when Zuru was in its infancy.
The company's first toy was a miniature hot-air balloon eldest brother Mat invented and which won the New Zealand Science Fair in 1993.
The sibling team commercialised the product, enlisting friends and family to manufacture the balloons from plastic bags, Coca-Cola cans and hand-bent wire in the family garage.
The company now has more than 8000 people working for Zuru and making Zuru products worldwide. It distributes toys to 121 countries.
Zuru's biggest successes include:
Bunch-o-Balloons - It fills 100 water balloons in one minute and shipped 30 million units in 2016. It has won several industry awards including the Australian Toy Association Toy of the Year (2015).
Bunch o Balloons by Zuru revolutionised water fights and made the company millions. Photo / supplied
More than 35million robofish have been sold since their launch in 2013. Photo / supplied
Collectible squishy toys Tsum Tsums are popular in New Zealand. Photo / supplied
RoboFish - 35million robotic fish have been sold since 2013 and the toy was judged Collectible Toy of the Year in 2013
XShot - Outsells Nerf and with more than 27 million blasters shipped worldwide in 2016.
