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A fully licensed aerodrome and a large area of native bush are being sold as part of a 382ha sheep and beef farm on State Highway 1 near Wellsford, an hour's drive north of Auckland.
Springhill farm, owned by business entrepreneur Richard Izard, is being marketed for sale by Colliers International and PGG Wrightson via expressions of interest closing November 21.
Izard has decided to leave his home of the past 30 years and move to a new house he is building in Taupo to be nearer his family.
"The farm has been a hobby but what we have achieved hasn't been easy. I created a colossus here and it is wonderful but there comes a time when you have to say, Whoa!" he says.
Colliers International North Shore managing director Andrew Hiskens says there are a number of options for a new owner: buying the farm only, buying just the four-bedroom house and 13ha home block; buying only the aerodrome that sits on about 7ha or buying the entire property and developing long-term plans for a farm park with room for 20-30 houses.
"This will be an attractive option within the next five years, particularly as government transport officials are considering a four-lane motorway and expressway links from Auckland to Warkworth and Wellsford as part of upgrades costing $1.8 billion."
The beginnings of the current extensive property go back to 1981 when Izard bought a cottage and 13ha on the site that became the first stage of Springhill.
He made the purchase as he was starting to build a major business exporting tungsten carbide-tipped circular saw blades to the United States' DIY market from a Wellsford factory.
"I had no money but managed to juggle a few things and buy the property when interest rates were about 23 per cent," he says.
A decade later Izard bought a neighbour's adjoining rundown farm and another 24ha property on Spindler Rd.
"It is the best piece of land I have ever bought. It had an airstrip used by top-dressing planes and I was able to get consent from the Rodney District Council for a full-length 870m aerodrome."
Springhill's aerodrome is Izard's pride and joy and he poured a lot of money into the project constructing three hangars and sealing the airstrip.
He learned to fly in the 1970s and has been "wheeling and dealing" in planes since then. He still clocks up 100-150 hours of flying a year in the three planes in his hangars.
Springhill aerodrome is licensed for aircraft assembly, maintenance storage and to run a maximum of five commercial flights a day. "It has a charter licence and could be used for a sight-seeing business," says Izard.
To avoid complaints from neighbours about the aerodrome, Izard bought a neighbour's land that had been split into 10 lifestyle blocks when it came up for sale.
He resold the lots with covenants in place that prevented new owners from objecting to the aerodrome's activities.
"We are not here to upset people and we have great neighbours who understand farming and the aerodrome."
He says the airfield has been particularly good for handling business around New Zealand. "Instead of having to endure a six-hour trip to Hawkes Bay by road, I can get there in a one-hour flight."
One of the hangars is leased to an adjoining property owner and part of the aerodrome is leased to Springhill Aviation Club, a model aircraft club. The club has its own buildings on the land and the lease expires at the end of July next year.
Izard says he is prepared to keep the aerodrome if nobody wants it. And he is keen to see the property kept as a sheep and beef farm, although it could be converted to a dairy unit.
"It is one of the biggest sheep and cattle farms left that is close to Auckland," says PGG Wrightson international sales manager Max Lyver.
"The property is in excellent condition, is particularly attractive and it has a fastidious owner who has not spared any expense to make Springhill a farm to be proud of."
Creating Springhill has cost a great deal in time, effort and money.
"When I took over the neighbouring farm the paddocks were covered in rushes and gorse," Izard says. "It was far worse than I imagined and we had to spend nearly $2 million cleaning it up."
He also extended the homestead while building an adjacent 309sq m office block that has extensive garaging for his car collection and a tool shed. Near the office block two floors of accommodation are being developed over a 340sq m garage.
There is also a second house on the farm as well as stables and other farm buildings. "We have been fussy about what we have done and the property is in top-notch condition. We top-dress the paddocks every year and it has good grass cover," says Izard.
Spending 90 per cent of his time in the United States while running his saw blade business Acu-Edge, Izard says Springhill was a great place to come back to.
"I built the office there so I would have pleasant and professional premises for Acu-Edge clients to visit."
Timber for the office was milled from a macrocarpa plantation on Springhill and the rest of the trees were felled, sold and nearly covered the cost of the building.
The farm, bordering the Hoteo River, runs 3500 stock units, predominantly Romney/Poll Dorset cross sheep and a number of steers for fattening.
The property runs from a basin lying to the northwest with low to medium land and steeper hill country extending around the southern, eastern and northern sides.
This drops down to easier rolling country that in turn gives way to undulating land and flats to the Hoteo River.
About 234ha of Springhill is in pasture and the rest is native bush, forestry and wetland.
New Zealand Forestry Plantation Company has a 15-year forestry right over 48ha to run a short rotation pulpwood forest. The right runs out in 2015.
Springhill's 97ha of native bush is mainly in the southern part of the property with a fringe around the river boundary and smaller pockets scattered throughout.
The southern and central wetlands are designated as significant natural areas in the Rodney District Plan.
Izard says the property is good all year round country.
"It's been a bit rough this year because of the rain but we have come through without major problems." While it is not hugely profitable, he says Springhill generates enough money to employ a manager and carry out all normal yearly maintenance.
