Waitakere City: Moving heaven and earth

Graham Hepburn meets a couple who gave their lifestyle property the feel of a country estate, with a native bush backdrop.

28 Awhiorangi Promenade, Waitakere City.

Lisa and Keith Rogers would probably be spending many more happy years on their Waitakere property if their friend's neighbours had not decided to move.

"We had always ogled their place over our friend's boundary," says Keith. "We liked the look of it - and it has a pool and a tennis court. Then one day our friend rang up in a panic and said, 'They're selling; what are you going to do?'.

"We pretty much bought it that day."

So the Rogers and their three boys are off to Greenhithe, leaving behind a property they have transformed in the seven years they have lived there.

It's not just the family that is moving out. Keith's earthmoving business, which was based on the property, has grown to such an extent that it is moving to dedicated premises in Henderson.

And that earthmoving business certainly came in handy when the Rogers recontoured and regrassed a large part of the land to make it mowable so they wouldn't have to keep stock to control the pasture. About half the land remains in bush with mature native trees and two streams running through it.

The Rogers also added a hot mix driveway, built stone walls and planted trees and hedgerows which give the property the feel of a country estate.

Down the driveway is a large barn, which could be used for extra garaging or storing machinery, and next to that is the business premises: three offices, a board room, kitchenette and toilet.

The business also came in handy when Keith acquired a playground for the boys from one of his jobs, as well as some mature Phoenix palms.

"When we moved here it was basically just a house on a bit of land so we have done a lot to it," says Keith.

And they have also done a lot to the house - modernising the kitchen and bathrooms, building a plywood-lined internal access double garage, and extending the front entrance. They've also added little touches such as putting down hard-wearing and easily cleaned oak flooring in the boys' bedrooms.

They also put in an in-ground heated swimming pool, which, Lisa says, has the added benefit of being visible from the kitchen so an eye can be kept on children.

Brushwood fencing encloses the pool area and the Phoenix palms give it a tropical feel.

"We've done a lot here," Lisa says. "But there's still plenty of room for expansion."

From the front deck there are clear and wide views across the hills to downtown Auckland and the harbour.

Lisa says the night time view, when the city is a carpet of lights, is one of the things she will miss the most.

"We're also going to miss the privacy, and it's really quiet at night. It's also a very safe area; we've never had any problems here."

The Rogers say their boys - Nick, aged 12, Chris, 9, and Daniel, 18 months - love the home and are reluctant to leave. And they are not the only ones, Lisa says.

"Keith doesn't really want to leave either."

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 5ha, house 274sq m, offices 80sq m, barn 75sq m.

PRICE: Lifestyle properties in this area have been selling for $840,000-$1.3 million. Auction July 6.

INSPECT: Open home Sat/Sun 2.15pm-3.15pm.

CONTACT: Tracy Free ph 0274 803 334 mob, Heather Hitchings 021 599 760 mob, or Maggie Milnes 0274 912 642, Bayleys.

FEATURES: Renovated four-bedroom home on park-like grounds with bush backdrop and streams. Heated in-ground swimming pool. Office space and barn.