A historical rock wall, freshwater springs from the Whatitiri aquifer, a waterfall, wetlands and volcanic rock from Whatitiri Maunga itself, this section had everything the current owners were looking for.

Kereru and tui feed in the native kowhai, taraire and titoki. Kingfishers, hawks, fantail, grey warbler and shining cuckoo all pass through, and a resident ruru still calls after dark. Last winter alone, 300 new natives went in along the stream, part of an ongoing revegetation the family started years ago.

Building on land like this called for something considered, so they briefed an architect who specialised in sustainable design and asked for something that would last. The result is a house with a presence most new builds never get close to, solid and unmistakably its own thing. Low maintenance was the point from the start.

• 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 277m² floor
• 3.3770ha of native bush, wetlands, freshwater stream and volcanic rock
• Stacked earth walls, cement stabilised and poured in situ, with exceptional thermal mass
• North-facing, set on volcanic ground shaped by Whatitiri Maunga
• New 20-panel solar array with 3-phase inverter, battery-ready, excess power feeding back to the grid
• Handcrafted kitchen in windblown rimu
• Separate barn in sawn heart Lawson cypress with mezzanine space, workshop and tractor shed

Just off Whatitiri Road in the Maungatapere area, it's about 11km on to Maungatapere village for the cafe, local shops and school.

After more than twenty years here, the owners are ready to hand this one on. Their children have grown, they've bought elsewhere and are relocating out of Whangarei.

Contact Rae Ocean and Sandie Kirkman for the detailed property file, or join us at the next open home.

www.rwwhangarei.co.nz/WHC39343