Mansion wins best house title and it's for sale

Photo / Dean Purcell

A sprawling mansion has been crowned the best house in Auckland - and, the great news is, it could be yours.

The $22 million Waiheke mansion last night won the supreme award in the Auckland Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

"Te Rere Cove" was built by Waiheke architect Bryce Ardern and his company Lite-House Limited. It is modelled on Northland lodge Kauri Cliffs.

The 1800sq m plantation-style building is home to British-born businessman David Parkinson, his wife Dee Crawford and their twin 4-year-old daughters Piera and Lulu.

The home boasts mod-cons fit for a king. Set on 34ha at Church Bay with spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf, it has a 2.4ha vineyard, winery, tasting room and cellar. At the push of a button a screen drops down so you can watch movies from the heated indoor pool. The master bedroom includes his and her en suites and dressing rooms as well as a secret door leading to a hidden library.

The kitchen has French oak panelled cabinetry, antique brass fittings and a 5.6m-long granite bench top. The children have their own wing complete with kitchenette and home theatre.

There are five bedrooms with en suites, three lounges, an office, a self-contained guest house, eight fireplaces, guest wing, art gallery and a six-car garage. It is fully automated so everything can be controlled by pallet, iPhone or iPad.

Parkinson made his fortune through Cartridge World in Britain, and Crawford runs children's-wear company bubbleandsqueak.net.nz.

Last month, when the home went on the market, Parkinson spoke to Herald Homes.

"We're quite enjoying it actually and won't be too dismayed if it takes a year to sell," he said.

They had decided to return to Britain for business reasons.

The other big winner at the awards at Takapuna's Bruce Mason Theatre was Daniel Hari of Onform Construction who won Renovation of the Year Award for a Remuera home. The judges said Onform had provided a "beautiful and skilfully renovated home" with modern conveniences but retaining the house's historic image from the street.