Apartment for an artist
-A spacious unit with one of the largest patios in the block.
-Industrial chic combined with a modern, stylish aesthetic.
-Located in an entertainment hub with bars, cafés, & casual & high-end restaurants.
Videos & aerial shots of the block, & specification sheet: bit.ly... All units of the block were made using the same suite of high-quality materials. The colour is the most significant difference.
Being able to go between the street & unit without using the lifts is good on day 1 & very appreciated after year 1.
-Hallway: intercom with the ability to unlock the block's front door.
-Coat closet: power sockets, optical network terminal (for fibre-internet), Ethernet ports that are connected to those in the dining room & 1st bedroom, TV connections, shelf, horizontal bar for hangers.
-Bathroom: toilet, 2 sinks (regular & deep), very large shower, washing machine, water heater for the unit (supplies stable-temperature water to the shower & taps when appliances are being used, & hot water to the unit even if the electricity & water supply are cut), extractor fan (can be turned on via switch & is turned on when current is drawn from the relevant wall socket), heated towel rack & floor.
-Kitchen with high-end appliances:
--Fisher & Paykel fridge-freezer.
--smeg cooker:
---4 induction hob elements.
---Cooker (oven, grill, fan (off, low, high), clock, alarm, timer (cooker will turn on & off at certain times), cleaning mode).
--Dishwasher, sink with waste disposal unit, extractor fan, lights next to the fan & under the cupboards.
-Bathroom & kitchen: gentle-close cupboards & drawers, & gentle-touch taps that can be operated by wrist.
-Dining room: satellite & UHF TV, & Ethernet ports.
-1st bedroom: UHF TV & Ethernet ports.
-Patio: water tap, lights, very durable tiles with small gaps between them (every gap is a drain - avoiding the puddles that form when cleaning other patios).
Patio: 34m2. Rest of unit: 79.2m2. Total: 113.2m2.
Ceiling height: hallway, bathroom & 2nd bedroom: 2.85m; patio & rest of unit: 4m. Most of the block's units have ceiling heights of much less than 4m.
As a guide, the tenant’s internet package: wireless (4G), >5MB/s, $39/month.
Lights: LED.
The block has >350t of concrete & steel, & significant thermal mass. At midday summer & midnight winter it is noticeably cooler & warmer respectively than other homes. Most residents don’t bother with active heating or cooling.
Indoor car park:
-Private parking that is big enough for e.g. a large SUV, 3 motorbikes & some tool boxes. There is no official parking for guests but if one of yours occasionally parks behind you, that is tolerable. There is a security camera near here & at other locations.
-If you require an electric vehicle charger, the BC manager can install it.
-Parking for bikes shared with the block's residents.
-Air quality monitors (including CO), automatic ventilation.
-Electronically operated & monitored doors.
Residents & their guests commonly use street parking & many businesses in the area have external security cameras.
Apartment block:
-At entrance: box for couriers & others to leave notes.
-Foyer: post boxes with locks (couriers will large items on top of the boxes & in view of the camera, or with a neighbour, depending on your preference).
-Common areas: lifts, security cameras.
-Double glazing.
-Soundproofing in the floors & walls.
-Street parking on each side. If you have heavy items to move between the unit & a truck, you can park it on the pavement, which is a 10s-walk from the unit’s front door.
Driving distance (m): Four Square (grocery store; 220), petrol (240), scooter mechanic (250), car park with EV chargers (450), SH16 west (550), car mechanic (700), SH1 south (800), Countdown Ponsonby (1,300), Countdown Mt Eden (1,700), Mission Bay beach (near changing rooms, toilets, shower & a fountain; 8800).
The unit is quiet due to not being
a) high in the block (the higher the level, the more wind noise there is; levels 3 & 4 are very noticeably more noisy, & higher levels are worse; several times per year the wind is strong enough to move possessions that are on patios),
b) near a main road (the nearest is 83m away & >70m is recommended if you want to avoid noise) or train track (the nearest is 409m away & given that trains have to sound their horns >300m is recommended), or
c) in a corridor with a lot of foot traffic (only the resident of a 1-bedroom unit needs to walk past the front door of this unit; other units have >20 times more foot traffic).
Multi-award-winning developer Urban Collective converted a data centre that was built to demanding bomb-shelter standards into a modern apartment block. Many of the residents are professionals, artists or businesses people. The block is excellent for meeting clients & photoshoots (I have shot models in & around the block many times).
The tenants can stay (@ $870/w) or leave, & in the latter case the unit will be expertly serviced & cleaned. You'll have the apartment's manuals & access to friendly neighbours. If you need help with moving or anything else, before or after purchase, please ask.
9 sequential photos are labelled "105E". This unit was empty so photographing it was more convenient. It has a different layout but the ceilings, walls, floors, windows, tiles (bathroom & patio), doors, taps, switches, sinks etc. are the same re colours & materials.
The block's online group has a lot of activity, & is used by residents to share free items (usually homeware), advice, products & services.
Options: queen bed, inflatable jacuzzi with powerful 28W UV-ray sanitation system, heavy-duty cabinet with 101cm LCD TV, desks, metal & wooden shelves, drawer units, chairs, stools, 3-person sofa.
BC fee: $3,922
Rates: $2,455
CV (1.8.22): $440k land + $660k improvements = $1.1M
Elevation: 75m above sea level.
Enquires: adamdbanks@gmail.com; urgent: 0204 120 1322
107, 13 Dundonald St; between Newton & New North Road, Symonds St & Basque Park; Eden Terrace, Auckland.
Best way to use leftovers?
I'm sure you've got some excess ham at home or cold roast potatoes.
What are some of your favourite ways to use leftover food from Christmas day? Share below.
Te Pūrākau o Te Rangatira Ngākau Hūmarie - Day 34
The Tale of the Humble Leader
In a small Māori village near the coast of Aotearoa, the whānau were preparing for Te Rā o te Kirihimete (Christmas Day). It was a time of celebration, sharing, and remembering the values of aroha (love), manaakitanga (hospitality), and kotahitanga (unity). However, this year, the village faced a challenge. Their rangatira, Wiremu, had grown distant and prideful, burdened by his position.
Wiremu often made decisions alone, thinking that his wisdom and authority were enough to guide the iwi. While the villagers respected him, they felt unheard, and the spirit of unity began to fade.
As the Kirihimete celebrations approached, the kaumātua, Hinewai, decided to intervene. She invited Wiremu to the marae one evening, where she shared a story about Tāwhaki, the demigod who ascended to the heavens not through power, but through humility and service.
“Wiremu,” Hinewai said, “even the greatest leaders are at their strongest when they serve their people. Leadership is not about standing above others but walking beside them.”
Wiremu reflected on her words but was unsure how to change.
The Lesson of the Whetū (Stars)
On Christmas Eve, as the village prepared for their festivities, a fierce storm rolled in from the sea. The winds howled, and the rain poured, threatening to ruin the celebration. The central whare kai (dining hall) began to leak, and the decorations the tamariki had made were soaked. The people gathered anxiously, unsure of how to proceed.
Wiremu stood at the edge of the marae, looking at the chaos. In that moment, Hinewai’s words echoed in his mind: “Even the greatest leaders serve their people.”
Without hesitation, Wiremu took off his korowai (cloak of leadership) and joined the villagers. He grabbed buckets to catch the rain, helped rebuild the decorations, and reassured the tamariki that their work would be restored. His humility inspired others, and soon the entire iwi was working together, laughing and singing as they prepared the whare for the celebration.
A Kirihimete Under the Stars
When the storm cleared, the sky was filled with bright whetū (stars). The villagers gathered around a glowing fire outside the whare, sharing kai and stories of gratitude. Wiremu stood among them, no longer as a distant rangatira, but as a friend and servant of his people.
Under the starlit sky, Hinewai stood and addressed the iwi.
“This Kirihimete, we are reminded that true leadership is like the brightest whetū. It does not shine to outdo others but guides them through darkness. Wiremu has shown us the power of humility, and through his service, we have rediscovered our unity.”
Wiremu bowed his head humbly. “Tonight, you have all taught me that a leader is nothing without their people. Let us carry this spirit of kotahitanga and aroha into the new year.”
The villagers cheered, and the spirit of Te Rā o te Kirihimete shone brightly in their hearts.
Moral of the Story:
Leadership is not about authority or pride but about humility and service. Like the whetū that guide travelers, a true leader walks alongside their people, bringing light and unity through service and aroha. At Christmas, we are reminded of the importance of giving, humility, and leading with love.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
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