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.
The Greater Atua - Day 8
In Māori culture, atua refers to spiritual beings, ancestors, or gods that embody and oversee the forces of nature and the universe. Atua can represent elements like the sea, forests, sky, or even concepts such as peace or war. They are often linked to whakapapa (genealogy) and are seen as guardians and kaitiaki (caretakers) of their respective domains.
For example:
Tāne-mahuta: Atua of the forests and birds.
Tangaroa: Atua of the sea and marine life.
Ranginui: Atua of the sky (Sky Father).
Papatūānuku: The Earth Mother.
Hine-nui-te-pō: Atua of death and the underworld.
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In the sacred realms of Te Ao Māori, Tāne-mahuta (the atua of forests and birds) and Tangaroa (the atua of the sea) once had a disagreement. Each believed their mana (prestige) and influence over the natural world made them the greatest among the atua. Their debate grew heated, and to settle the matter, Io Matua Kore, the supreme being, appeared in the form of an unending pou (pillar).
Io proclaimed, "Whoever can reach either the top or the base of this pou will prove their greatness." Tāne-mahuta transformed into a hawk, soaring high into the skies to find the top, while Tangaroa shifted into a great taniwha and dove deep into the ocean to find the base.
Days turned into nights, and neither Tāne-mahuta nor Tangaroa could find the end of the pou. Tāne-mahuta’s wings grew tired as he flew higher and higher, and Tangaroa's strength waned as he swam deeper and deeper into the dark, cold depths of the moana (ocean). Eventually, both returned to the base of the pou, exhausted but determined to share their experiences.
Tāne-mahuta, embodying his role as kaitiaki (guardian), spoke the truth. "No matter how far I flew, I could not see the top of the pou. Its height is beyond comprehension, just as Io's wisdom and power are limitless."
Tangaroa, however, in his eagerness to prove his superiority, falsely claimed that he had touched the bottom of the pou. To support his claim, he called upon a kahawai (a fish) to nod in agreement. Io, knowing the truth, rebuked Tangaroa for his dishonesty and the kahawai for blindly supporting a lie.
As a result of his deceit, Tangaroa was told that while he would continue to command the respect of the seas, the realm of the skies and land would belong to Tāne-mahuta. The kahawai was cursed to be hunted endlessly by birds and humans alike, a reminder of the cost of blind allegiance to falsehoods. Tāne-mahuta, for his honesty and humility, was praised, and his forests and birds would be revered across the land.
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Moral of the Story
The story teaches us that truth and humility are greater than pride and deception. Greatness comes not from self-proclaimed superiority but from being steadfast in honesty and embracing one’s role as a kaitiaki. It also serves as a reminder that blindly following falsehoods can lead to consequences, just as the kahawai learned. In the Māori world, living with integrity and honouring the interconnectedness of all atua ensures balance and harmony in life.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcut’s #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharp—whether it’s on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say he’s as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now ⬇️
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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4.6% Second half of November
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43.5% 1st December
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17.4% A week before Christmas
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33.3% Whenever you wish
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1.1% Other - I'll share below
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