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Ti Papa, a world-class events centre and equestrian facility situated in rolling farmland in the Brookby valley near Clevedon, south of Auckland, is up for sale for the first time since it was built just over 10 years ago.
In addition to hosting international show-jumping competitions and indoor polo tournaments, the complex has been the venue for numerous large-scale events including a banquet attended by 2000 guests, major charity events and large weddings. Home to the World Cup Final Showjumping Festival, Ti Papa is Australasia's largest equestrian indoor arena.
The property is featured in Bayleys Total Property portfolio for sale as a freehold, going concern with expressions of interest required to be lodged by April 28.
Bayleys' Mike Adams, who is marketing the property and business with colleagues Leon Mountfort and Hamish Disbrowe, says the building complex is an unusual one that offers many options for a new owner.
"Translated as 'the gift', Ti Papa was built as a private equestrian facility by the late Auckland businessman Bruce Drinkrow for his equine-loving wife, Greer, and daughter Kelly Hawkeswood to stable, train and ride their horses.
"However, as a top events venue since, the centre has become as much a 'gift' to the equestrian community, as it was to Kelly and Greer," Adams says.
Before Ti Papa was even completed it had its first public booking, the Australasian World Cup dressage and show-jumping finals.
Since opening in 1998, Ti Papa has become one of New Zealand's largest and most versatile, privately owned venues and it is home to the World Cup Showjumping Series final, which sees New Zealand's top riders compete for an entry at the prestigious Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup show.
Ti Papa gained international attention with former Olympian Bruce Goodin holding his annual showjumping clinics at the facility in 2005.
The New Zealand Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) is another beneficiary of Ti Papa's facilities, where local RDA member groups have had free use of the arena for therapy and rehabilitation sessions.
The huge, free-standing, high stud and covered 3750sq m main stadium, measures 50 metres by 76 metres and has a sand and bark composite material as its floor which enables it to hold an indoor winter showjumping series - a sport usually limited to summer because of slippery winter conditions.
The arena sits in 35.42 hectares of lush pasture that was formerly a sheep farm in Brookby Rd.
In addition to world dressage events, it holds other large functions like corporate-themed banquets and conference dinners for from 500 to 2000 guests, craft shows, rural field-days exhibitions, new car launches and even film-making activities.
Upstairs within the stadium is a reception lounge overlooking the arena, with its own lounge bar featuring a rural ambience and a kitchen.
Originally intended to be a groom's quarters, it was converted into function space when bookings kept rolling in and now accommodates parties of up to 150 people.
The dining room can comfortably seat 130 diners with additional room for bridal and buffet tables while the attached kitchen area can be used by hired caterers.
The bar enters on to a viewing platform over the main arena where guests can be social, standing for drinks and cocktails, or be seated for dining while viewing activities in the arena. It is this upstairs area that is used regularly for weddings and a variety of social events either separately or in conjunction with the main arena.
The venue is especially popular for "horsey people's" weddings - where horses, ponies and other pets can be included in the festivities.
Adjoining the main stadium is a spotless indoor stabling block comprising nine horse boxes with outdoor access, a tack room, feed room, office, wash bay, a centrally heated vet box and two bathrooms.
The building complex is surrounded by large parking areas and flat grounds suitable for outdoor activities.
Other amenities include a selection of covered yards with outdoor lighting and two outdoor arenas with a dressage warm-up arena.
Within an assortment of farm buildings are a large workshop with a lunchroom and office, a woolshed and stock yards, a hay shed, pump house and a shed with three implement bays.
There is also an attractive four-bedroom home on site, which is rented out and a one-bedroom self-contained unit close to the main building that serves as a manager's accommodation.
Adams says the event centre features extensive use of cedar and numerous stone columns.
It is landscaped throughout with manicured gardens and pots around the building and parking areas that add to the attractiveness of the venue.
The parking areas and paddocks surrounding the building complex are used each year for the Papakura Field Days with around 30,000 people attending over a three-day period.
Ti Papa owner Greer Draper says it has been a busy 10 years.
"Every second weekend over the summer, we seem to have a wedding in the upstairs reception area," she says.
"We've also had many banquets over the years from themed corporate dinners through to product launches, sporting events and even a banquet for QEII passengers."
Adams says that because the centre is one of a kind in South Auckland, he's fielded a number of inquiries from groups interested in looking at it, including church groups.
"The property offers a range of end uses to a wide selection of people from investors to owner-occupiers."
The centre is 20 minutes from the Auckland CBD.
