Westmere | $2.87 million (NZD $5 million)
A steel-clad modernist house by an award-winning architect
This 2,200-square-foot house in Westmere, an Auckland suburb, was designed by Andrew Patterson, recipient of a 2017 Gold Medal from the New Zealand Institute of Architects. The home’s cladding, in industrial long-run steel, contrasts with the timber-slat construction of neighboring homes.
One of roughly 300 suburbs that make up greater Auckland, Westmere is about three miles west of the Central Business District, Auckland’s commercial, cultural and financial hub. Cox’s Bay Reserve, a 35-acre waterside park, is a short walk from the house. The Auckland Zoo is a mile west. Nearby Garnet Road has a cluster of Westmere’s restaurants, including the Thai newcomer Esarn Rocket as well as Catroux, a popular all-day cafe. The local branch of Farro, a New Zealand supermarket chain, is just east.
The sellers are the third owners of the house, which was built in 2012.
After barring most foreign buyers in 2018, New Zealand this year relaxed its rules around property ownership. The revised golden visa allows foreigners to buy homes worth at least 5 million New Zealand dollars ($2.87 million), with residency requirements cut from three years to three weeks.
Size: 2,206 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,300
Indoors: The lower section of the two-level house resembles a glass cube. Floor-to-ceiling windows surround an open living-dining space with terrazzo floors and an integrated fireplace. The kitchen area has a stainless-steel island, with Fisher & Paykel appliances concealed behind tall cabinet doors. There is a half-bathroom on this floor.
French oak steps lead to the second level, which has all three bedrooms, including a principal bedroom with an en suite bathroom whose shower is behind a mirrored wall. The other two bedrooms share a bathroom.
Outdoor space: A covered terrace off the primary suite is cocooned in hardwood and overlooks a stone deck in irregular “crazy paving” beside a 26-foot-long swimming pool. A steel spiral staircase protrudes from the house to connect both levels.
Inspired by the home’s shape, squared-off shrubs and hedges designed by the landscape architect Dana Johnston surround the 0.15-acre lot.
Costs: Annual property taxes, known as the Auckland Council Tax in this region, total $4,595 (NZD $8,000).
Lawyers represent both buyers and sellers in New Zealand property transactions. There are no additional taxes or fees for foreign buyers, and only sellers pay an agent’s commission. Legal fees on a property transaction typically total about $1,150 to $2,300 (NZD $2,000 to $4,000).
Contact: Ollie Wall | Wall Real Estate | +64-21-520-514
Auckland | $3.16 million (NZD $5.5 million)
An apartment with hotel amenities and views of Auckland Harbor
This three-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment is in the Central Business District. Hotel Indigo, which opened in 2024, occupies the building’s first 27 floors. Levels 29 to 41 feature two residential units per floor. Along with a private building entrance, residents have access to hotel amenities like valet parking, room service and a concierge.
The 1,076-foot Sky Tower, an Auckland monument, is around the corner. Queen Street’s luxury shops, including Dior and Louis Vuitton, are a block east. Auckland Domain, a 185-acre park that houses the Auckland War Memorial Museum, botanical gardens and native forests, is a mile south. The city’s busy cruise ship terminal is a short walk north. Auckland Airport is 17 miles south.
Size: 1,916 square feet
Price per square foot: $1,650
Indoors: Every room in this 38th-floor apartment has panoramic views and nine-foot ceilings. Its minimalist modern design features herringbone hardwood floors, Miele appliances, kitchen and bathroom fixtures in Carrara marble, and angled ceiling cutouts. The principal bedroom and en suite bathroom enjoy views of the Sky Tower. There are double-glazed windows throughout.
The sellers, who own both apartments on this floor, have been renting out the units for about $50,000 annually (NZD $88,400). The tenant in this unit has eight months remaining on the lease, which can also be ended by mutual agreement. Short-term rentals are permitted; owners must register with Auckland Council.
The apartment is being sold unfurnished.
Outdoor space: The apartment does not feature a balcony or terrace. The sale price includes two underground parking spaces.
Costs: The annual Auckland Council Tax is $6,892 (NZD $12,000). Annual common charges, which cover the apartment, parking spaces and hotel amenities, are $16,100 (NZD $28,000).
Contact: Scarlett Wood | New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty | +64-21-686-856
Lake Hayes | $3.3 million (NZD $5.75 million)
A sprawling rustic lodge on five acres near Queenstown
This four-bedroom, four-bathroom house is set on five acres near Lake Hayes, a small lake in the Wakatipu Basin of the central Otago region, on New Zealand’s South Island. Much of the home’s exterior is built from stone and macrocarpa, a cypress tree commonly used for New Zealand’s houses.
Access to the Lake Hayes Walkway, a five-mile loop around the lake, is steps from the property. Arrowtown, a gold-mining town circa 1862 with a restored main street, is just north. The Remarkables mountain range and its popular ski resort are about 15 miles southeast. Central Queenstown and Queenstown Airport are a few miles west of the property.
Size: 5,683 square feet
Price per square foot: $580
Indoors: Styled like a rustic lodge, the home is spread across a single level. The front doors lead to a lounge with peaked timber ceilings. One wing includes a living and dining space with an open kitchen, a primary bedroom with an en suite bathroom, and an office. The living room has a panoramic view of the mountains known as the Crown Range. The kitchen has a steel-topped island, Fisher & Paykel oven and Bosch dishwasher. The opposite wing includes two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a self-enclosed guest suite with its own entrance.
The sellers bought the home shortly after its completion in 2004.
Outdoor space: The verdant grounds include ponds, mature trees, gardens and open fields. Along with a covered outdoor social space, there is a fire pit. Two verandas run along the back of the house, and there is an 800-square-foot garage in front.
Costs: Annual property taxes total $6,260 (NZD $10,897), including NZD $8,265 to the Queenstown Lake Districts Council and NZD $2,632 to the Otago Regional Council, which oversees the area’s environmental stewardship.
Contact: Cam Winter | Oliver Road Luxury Real Estate | +64-21-800-889
For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here.
The post $3 Million Homes in New Zealand appeared first on New York Times.
