NEST ASSOCIATES… EXPOSING PROPERTY IN AN OPEN MARKET

Estate agency is a simple business often seen as complicated.

We at Nest Associates don’t follow the crowd; we keep it simple, taking time to get to know you, your property and to understand your situation, so we can create a bespoke moving strategy individually tailored to you.

Tell us how it works.

Having a great rapport with the client and creating a story about the vendors, their house and location, using a film crew, and posting on our Early Bird social media platforms.

What makes you think a property in New Zealand would sell in the UK?

There are so many ex-pats in the UK who have now seen the benefits of investing back in their home town since Covid and will eventually be flying back to their original nest.

What costs are involved and how much are your fees?

Our costs are a drone, a videographer, and the best use of all social media. Also we often work 'off market', as the properties we sell are generally owned by celebrities, private clients who do not want their home listed on Rightmove UK. The cost is a fixed amount with the above, and the fees are negotiable.

Anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

Yes. Nest is opening up an opportunity, to invite vendors of Auckland to be on our platform website, all social media, magazines and Rightmove UK or just to have a conversation to discuss our investment portfolio of clients, which at the moment is over 3.8 thousand registered buyers for investment properties in Auckland, and 5,000 on LinkedIn. It’s growing daily. Why wouldn’t you want to expose your property in an open market in the UK?

Just give me a whatsapp call on +44 7950 175 270 anytime. Or email lyn.parent@nestassociates.co.uk Mint Real Estate Licensed. Agent REA 2008

MIKE LEE: FROM THE LAND OF THE ENDLESS SUMMER, THE LONG DAY - AND RAINBOW LORIKEETS

Last year there was enough politics in Auckland to fill the CRL tunnel. This year, with a major financial crisis and a bunch of leftover problems hanging over Auckland Council, as well as a general election coming – there’ll be more than enough. So this month I’m giving politics a miss.

Back in November, almost on a whim, Jenny and I decided to do something we’ve never done in January, leave Waiheke and head overseas. Given how wet things turned out, it proved to be a smart move. So, while our water tanks were being topped up we took ourselves off to sunny Coolangatta with our granddaughter Elena and daughter-in-law Ivy.

The first thing we noticed, apart from the predictably gorgeous weather, was no daylight saving in Queensland. To my surprise this seems to make quite a difference to the day, mysteriously slowing down the clock. The sun comes up at 5.05 am and goes down at 6.45 pm. By 6 am the locals are up and about their business – especially at the beach. Our accommodation was opposite the Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Surf Life Saving Club, ‘Australian and Queensland Surf Life Saving Club of the year for 2019’. Weekends are the best time to see Australian surf life-saving culture in action, which Piha historian Sandra Coney says was adopted in detail in New Zealand from the early 20th century.

Though sea conditions here are much more benign than Auckland’s wild west coast, just like New Zealand every year there are drownings, swimming is a year-round activity so water safety is taken very seriously. From dawn the beaches are ablaze with red and yellow flags. At either end of the beach are lifeguard stations in gazebos, each with a squad of watchful lifesavers in their red and yellow swim caps, equipped with a zodiac and dune buggy. On each side surf boards are mounted side-on, marked ‘surf life-saving’ and pointed out to sea like guided missiles on launch pads. Club members of all ages from ‘nippers’, ‘nipper supervisors’ trainee lifeguards and lifeguards all have their distinctive colourful togs and T-shirts, and with social seniors they throng the beach and water. Further out surf boarders wait patiently for the right wave - and all before breakfast! On weekdays professional lifeguards from the Gold Coast City Council take over. By 10 am the glare from the yellow sand is so bright it’s hard to look at but by then the whole beach is covered with colourful cabanas and beach umbrellas.

I found public transport excellent here. One morning, we decided to visit Brisbane, 134 km to the north. Armed with our ‘Go Cards’ we took the bus, which runs northward to Broadbeach where it links with the Gold Coast G-Link tram station. The popular trams run through Surfers Paradise as far as Helensvale, which is also a railway station. Here we took the train on to Brisbane (it also serves Brisbane Airport). We returned the same way - the train being the fastest (52 km/h), followed by bus (40 km/h) then light rail (34 km/h). (No evident shortage of local bus drivers here – perhaps they pay them decent wages?). A round trip of 268 km all on affordable, integrated public transport. We were back in time for dinner at the surf club.

At Brisbane I caught up with my old Auckland University lecturer, evolutionary biologist Dave Lambert. Originally from Brisbane, he is now a professor at Griffiths University. Dave met me at the station and took me to lunch. We talked of old friends and Dave’s fond memories of Auckland. We agreed that the 1980s and 90s was a golden age for biological sciences at Auckland University with its all-star cast of scientist/lecturers led by the inspirational conservationist, marine biologist and polymath Prof John Morton. Dave’s laboratory pioneered ancient DNA sequencing at Auckland, working on endangered native birds, the extinct giant moa and mummified sacred Ibises of Egypt. I recall his lectures were so enthralling that at the end of one set, the whole class applauded. Dave is now charged with the awesome responsibility of working with indigenous Australian traditional leaders, sequencing DNA of ancient remains stored in museums across Australia, linking them with some 360 language groups of the Aboriginal people to enable their proper repatriation. His lab is also helping living ‘stolen generation’ people, linking them to their long-lost relations and spiritual places.

No visit to the Gold Coast is complete without a visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (45 ha) - the legacy of New Zealand born conservationist Alex Griffiths, who created it on his parents’ block of remnant rain forest. The sanctuary began in 1947 almost accidentally when Alex started feeding the flocks of rainbow lorikeets to keep them off his commercial flowers. To this day the colourful birds are fed twice a day by sanctuary staff and visitors, who squeal with delight when the birds land on their heads and shoulders (us too!). Prior to his death in 1998, Alex donated his sanctuary to the nation. It is now the most popular visitor attraction on the Gold Coast. Anyone travelling that way should not miss the ‘Wild Sky’ performance where native Australian birds are the stars of a jaw-droppingly amazing display. (MIKE LEE)  PN

PUNEET DHALL: FROM ANCIENT GAUL TO DAPHNES BAR TAVERNA

For centuries Côte Roannaise was a forgotten wine region. But it was here tucked away in these lonely and windswept hills of Central France that I discovered one of the greatest vineyards on Earth - welcome to Romain Paire’s Domain des Pothiers.

Arriving at The Domaine after a long and winding drive, I encounter an elderly gentleman staring frustratingly into the abyss of a tractor engine. We exchange a ‘Bonjour’ to each other, but beyond that I am not even sure that he registers me. I lean back against the car and gaze on at his efforts.

A short while later Romain bounds up the rocky lane. He and his father talk ‘tractor’ for a few minutes, which seems to turn his father’s mood to a more optimistic bearing. And then, with a turn of the head, Romain faces me and unleashes a raw and gushing smile.

And straight to business Romain shows me around his house, which is at least one thousand years old and has been home to his family for as far back as records go. He tells me that for millennia this land has made wine and that his forefathers never abandoned this practice.

We take a tour to his magical ‘Clos’. An old monastery towers over this walled vineyard high up a hill. We feel as far away from civilisation as is possible but the view is awesome. From this ancient vineyard I can see the whole of France, North, South, East and West.

Romain is truly a man of the country; up at dawn working till dusk, completing more projects in a year than I will do in a lifetime. He is truly inspirational, and later that day as I taste his wines in his rustic Gaul cellars I realise that I have found an absolute gem.

The area is famous for the variety Gamay St Romain (this is not the Gamay of Beaujolais – but a different variety altogether which is prettier and more feminine). The altitude and cool climate give his wines a freshness and perfect ripenesssimply formidable.

That evening I share a wonderful meal with the familyeverything on the table is grown by themselves from the land around them. We celebrate this together.

I discover that when Romain makes a rare visit to any of his 3 star Michelin restaurant clients around France he is treated like royalty, such are the quality of his wines and the respect he has earnt. I ask Romain what one thing should I take away from my visit with him.

‘Gamay forever’ he says. And in that instant we become lifelong friends.

And here I am now 12,000 miles from those lonely hills sitting in the buzzing cauldron that is Daphnes on Ponsonby Road. Established in March 2021 by owners Joost and Clare van der Berg at the height of Covid, this establishment has only been a roaring success. General manager Tania Pucher runs a tight and friendly team and Chef Thomas Wix works his magic from the fire pit kitchen. As soon as you walk in with its open space in bright blue and white hues, you are transported to the Mediterranean as if a white sand beach and jaunty fishing boats are just a sea shell’s throw away.

It’s a summery day here in Auckland and the rose sparkling tints of my effervescent wine shimmer in my tall flute in front of me. This is ‘The Eclipse’ from Domaine des Pothiers. A sparkling Rosé biodynamic wine made from the most ancient winemaking technique for this genre; ‘Pétillant Naturel’ or ‘Pét Nat’ as it is more fondly known amongst its fans. It is one of my fave summer drinks, of course made from Romain’s legendary Gamay.

And one dish you must have on the table when the ‘Eclipse’ is in play is the signature ‘Ouzo Salmon confit with burnt honey, sesame, feta and witlof. It’s a decadent dish with layers of richness from the textured salmon to the soft cheese and ‘to die for’ honey. The Eclipse nicely complements with its freshness, red fruits and elegance and resets the palate nicely for the next bite….C’est Magnifique…Très chic. (PUNEET DHALL)  PN @puneetofponsonby