Seriously, why live in Remuera?

Just 4 kilometres from central Auckland and neighbouring the city’s largest shopping centre, Westfield Newmarket, this suburb has a rich history and cultural heritage while also attracting the newly affluent. It offers numerous beautiful parks, some of the best-known schools and leading medical facilities close at hand. Together, these amenities and community strengths offer residents an ideal lifestyle.

{ad}

You have probably guessed that we are talking about Remuera, New Zealand’s long-established affluent suburb where every inch of land commands a premium.

Yet Remuera is far from the image of a wealthy enclave you might imagine: sprawling enclosed grounds, imposing barriers and glittering opulence. Instead, in this peaceful, leafy suburb, you sense the weight of history and the prestige of a neighbourhood of fine homes.

Remuera’s past and present, transport, school zones and house prices have been covered repeatedly by New Zealand’s major newspapers, websites and new media outlets. YIJU New Zealand’s WeChat account is no exception. Yet observing from afar can never offer the depth of understanding that comes from living there:

The sales team at Barfoot & Thompson’s Remuera branch includes many experienced property professionals. They are residents of the Remuera community with extensive industry experience, familiar with its history and stories, every house and its owner. As members of the community, they contribute to making it a safe, harmonious and ideal place to live.

YIJU New Zealand interviewed two experienced real estate agents whose lives and work are closely tied to Remuera, inviting them to share another side of this long-established affluent suburb with readers:

Remuera Branch real estate agent

Cici Wang

An experienced agent at the Remuera branch, with a Bachelor of Engineering and 20 years’ experience in home sales and construction. The Remuera branch’s top salesperson for several consecutive years and among Barfoot & Thompson’s national top 10.

Remuera Branch real estate agent

Rose Hu

An agent at the Remuera branch who has lived in Remuera for more than 20 years. She knows the surrounding environment, schools, cultural history and local way of life, and has a deep affection for the suburb.

 

YIJU: Could you tell our readers about Remuera’s history and stories?

Cici Wang：Remuera’s story is one of New Zealand’s old money and newly wealthy. With exceptionally convenient transport, advanced medical care and outstanding educational opportunities for children, it has attracted many famous residents. Renowned New Zealand explorer and first Everest summiteer Edmund Hillary, celebrated Chinese architect Ron Sang, New Zealand Herald founder William Chisholm Wilson, All Blacks superstar Dan Carter and world-famous F1 racing prodigy Alfred George Horton are among the illustrious names with one thing in common: they have all called Remuera home.

Remuera’s story is also the story of ordinary residents like us. We make our homes here, our children grow up in a garden-like neighbourhood, and older people enjoy access to outstanding medical care. Remuera quietly accompanies us through life’s joys and sorrows. It is our refuge and our home.

 

Rose Hu：Remuera can be a little tricky to pronounce. Locals actually say “Remu-wera”.

Long before Europeans arrived in New Zealand, Remuera was favoured by Māori tribes for its mild climate and excellent location. Its northern slopes, in particular, offered abundant sunshine, pleasant views, fertile land and proximity to the harbour. Māori began settling and cultivating the land here around AD 1000. By around 1400, as the population grew, local Māori had developed more sophisticated cultivation techniques. The wealth this generated attracted the interest of Māori tribes outside Remuera, and disputes over land occurred.

In 1840, an ambitious young man first climbed to the summit of Mt Hobson on Remuera’s northern slopes. In his memoirs, he described the view before him as “unrivalled”. He tried to buy Remuera’s northern slopes from Māori, but they fully understood the land’s appeal and gave him a firm refusal. That young man was Sir John Logan Campbell, the father of Auckland commemorated by the monument on the summit of One Tree Hill National Park.

Another major event occurred in 1840: Māori and the British Government signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 6 February 1840, making New Zealand a British colony. More European migrants subsequently arrived in New Zealand and began building homes in Remuera. The houses built then were large and beautiful: large because the wealthy residents needed space for carriages or horses, and beautiful because many had refined tastes and preferred grand homes set in landscaped gardens.

Today, to protect Remuera’s historic character, some older buildings on Bassett Rd, Arney Rd, Portland Rd and Seaview Rd have been designated as protected built heritage, with unprecedented levels of protection. Remuera has consequently retained many beautiful Edwardian homes. Its distinctive cultural environment is a product of history and the passage of time.

 

YIJU: What is happening in Remuera’s property market at present?

Cici Wang：Remuera is currently New Zealand’s third-most-expensive luxury suburb, with its average house price now exceeding NZ$2,700,000. It is a bellwether for Auckland and one of the city’s best suburbs, with owner-occupier buyers far outnumbering investors. Its advantages in transport, school zoning and medical care are unmatched and irreplaceable, which underpin resilient prices. Growth in a strong market goes without saying; in a weak market, even if prices fall elsewhere, Remuera will remain firm, because its name is a hallmark of quality.

 

Rose Hu：House sales in Remuera have remained steady over the past two years, with 534 sales from 2019 to 2020, and 548 from 2020 to 2021.

On the supply side, around 120 homes are currently for sale in Remuera, including listings with other real estate agencies. On the demand side, weekly reports from the Realestate website show that individual listings currently marketed by our Barfoot & Thompson Remuera branch receive around 6000 views per week. Its unrivalled educational and medical resources, combined with its location and amenities, have kept buyer demand for Remuera homes strong.

Over the two years since the pandemic began, Remuera’s value has become even more apparent, both in its location and in public facilities such as hospitals and schools. Statistics show that its annual median house sale price was NZ$1,900,000 from December 2019 to November 2020, an increase of 19.1%. From December 2020 to November 2021, it was NZ$2,588,000, an increase of 36.2%. The total increase over the past two years was 55.3%.

With government policies to control house prices now in effect, I believe Remuera’s price growth will slow this year. Listing volumes will be affected to some extent, and homes will take longer to sell than last year.

 

YIJU: Which parts of Remuera would you most recommend buying in?

CiCi Wang：If you can afford to buy in Remuera, I think any part of the suburb is a good choice for an owner-occupied home and worth buying in. But I can name some prominent streets: Arney Rd, Arney Cres, Eastbourne Cres, Burwood Cres, Westbury Cres and Victoria Ave, which is particularly popular with Chinese buyers.

We generally use Remuera Rd as the geographical boundary between Remuera’s northern and southern slopes. Prices on the northern slopes tend to be higher because many homes are on quiet streets, have sea views and enjoy north-facing backyards with more sunshine. On the southern slopes, more single-storey homes can be found around Armadale Rd, close to the motorway. Prices there are relatively affordable compared with other parts of Remuera.

There are some very high-end apartments on both sides of Remuera Rd, ranging from two or three million dollars to eight or nine million. Their exteriors are understated, but many have three bedrooms and sweeping sea views, adding another attractive feature to Remuera.

Another way to categorise Remuera properties is whether they are inside or outside the school zones. The best-known streets are generally within the zones. If school zoning is not a concern, Lucerne Rd is also a very well-known street, thanks to its spectacular sea views.

 

YIJU: What are Remuera’s advantages from a resident’s perspective?

CiCi Wang：As someone who has lived in Remuera for more than 20 years and also works here as an agent, I know its streets and lanes very well. My children went to school and grew up here too. The first obvious advantage is Remuera’s central Auckland location and excellent transport connections. My own home on the northern slopes is very close to the city centre, with no need to use the motorway. That is the main reason I have chosen to live here for 20 years. The drive is unaffected by public transport and congestion: it generally takes ten minutes to reach the city centre and just a few minutes to Westfield Shopping Centre.

The second advantage is Remuera’s concentration of outstanding educational resources, which is very important to us as Chinese residents. Its public and private schools are among Auckland’s best. Victoria Avenue School and Remuera Primary School are both decile-ten state schools, while Remuera Intermediate is one of Auckland’s leading state intermediate schools. A substantial part of Remuera falls within the zones for Auckland Grammar School and Epsom Girls Grammar School, the celebrated “Double Grammar Zone”. The Catholic girls’ school, Baradene College and Dilworth School also enjoy strong reputations.

Many people do not realise that Remuera also has extensive medical resources. Having lived here for decades, I have benefited greatly. My own GP is in Remuera; the fees are high, but the medical care is excellent. Many specialists also have consulting rooms on Remuera Rd.

Remuera also has many parks and green reserves, along with numerous sports clubs and facilities for cycling, tennis, bowling, badminton, basketball and football. Remuera Golf Club is also a favourite of former New Zealand prime minister John Key, and Ellerslie’s athletics grounds are close by.

 

YIJU: What are Remuera’s disadvantages from a resident’s perspective?

CiCi Wang：Personally, I do not think Remuera has any drawbacks. If I had to name one, it would be the cost. As I said earlier, its average house price now exceeds NZ$2,700,000, so moving here and enjoying a comfortable, spacious home does require a certain level of financial means.

However, average house prices have risen sharply across Auckland. Given Remuera’s clear advantages, I think price is now less of a disadvantage by comparison. More Chinese buyers will move into this excellent suburb in future.

 

YIJU: What should people looking to buy in Remuera keep in mind when viewing and purchasing a home?

CiCi Wang：First, Remuera has relatively few listings, so buyers need to keep a close eye on the market and be patient.

Second, much of Remuera’s northern slopes is hilly, and many houses are not on flat land. If you are buying land to build on, prepare a budget and communicate closely with your architect and designer. If you are buying a home to live in, I recommend commissioning a professional building report.

Third, carefully consider your needs and means. Chinese buyers, for example, tend to prefer quiet streets. Most streets on Remuera’s northern slopes are quiet, but prices are higher. Some homes on the southern slopes are close to the motorway and offer better value, providing a more affordable entry into Remuera and the Double Grammar Zone.

Also, arranging finance is the most important task when buying a home now. Once your loan is approved, if a suitable Remuera property comes onto the market, I believe it is worth buying, provided you avoid any major mistakes.

 

Rose Hu：Although Remuera has long held its place among New Zealand’s most prestigious residential areas, there are still relatively affordable options, such as smaller homes or properties outside the school zones. If you love Remuera’s location, environment and character, rather than simply wanting a large house on a large section, ask an agent who knows the suburb to keep an eye out and help you choose. Ultimately, a house’s value lies less in its grandeur than in its owner treating it as a home and living there with peace of mind.

 

YIJU: Are there any properties currently for sale that you would particularly recommend?

CiCi Wang：I highly recommend 19 Ascot Avenue. Ascot Avenue is a popular street with an exceptional location. This freehold property on 1629 square metres is zoned Terraced Housing and Apartment Buildings and offers substantial potential for high-density development. Resource consent has already been granted for 25 apartments, comprising 11 one-bedroom units, 11 two-bedroom units and 3 units with 3 bedrooms, plus 22 parking spaces. Its development prospects are promising!

19 Ascot Avenue, Remuera

CiCi Wang：For buyers seeking exceptional comfort, space for entertaining, a peaceful setting, first-class education and a desirable lifestyle, another property worth recommending is 2/34 Cotter Ave. Located in the Double Grammar Zone, it offers distinctive interiors, spacious and private outdoor areas, comprehensive nearby amenities and an excellent location. I strongly recommend it.

 

2/34 Cotter Ave

Barfoot & Thompson is the real estate agency that knows Auckland best.

In Auckland, 1/3 of home sales are through Barfoot & Thompson, 

far ahead of every other real estate agency.

Our services

• Residential sales
• Commercial property
• Property management
• Residential lettings
• Body corporate
• Project support