KEY POINTS:
Work on the first houses has begun at the $450 million Mountain Landing in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand's most exclusive residential real estate project.
Giant ceiling beams were this week being hoisted by crane to the top of the first house, which is being built on the remote peninsula for a wealthy American businessman.
Ground works have started on the second house for Peter Cooper, a $550 million richlister. His new six-bedroom, eight-bathroom house _ designed by one of New Zealand's top architects, Pip Cheshire _ is expected to be worth about $15 million when finished.
Mr Cooper has spared no expense during the eight years since he bought the 400ha farm, where he plans to develop 41 large sections, keeping some but selling many others with strict rules demanding environmental sensitivity and community contributions.
But well before he made his first sale, Mr Cooper spent most of this decade and millions of dollars planting the land with indigenous species, eradicating pests, and fencing and restoring land damaged by stock.
Historical investigations resulted in this area of classical Maori settlement having a record 43 recorded sites and areas registered with the Archaeological Association and Historic Places Trust. More finds and further registrations are expected.
The Weekend Herald was this week invited to visit by Peter Jones, Mountain Landing's development manager, and by Jeremy Priddy, leasing and sales director for Cooper and Company.
Mr Cooper lives at Newport Beach, California, but spends much of his time here and refers to Mountain Landing as "another world at the edge of the world".
The son of a truck driver who grew up in Kaitaia, he is a lawyer turned property investor with global real estate interests which include Southlake Town Centre in Texas.
But Mountain Landing is the project dearest to him and one of the country's most historic properties _ adjacent to where the first mission settlement was established by the Rev Samuel Marsden, who landed in December 1814 from Australia.
"When I first saw the property, I knew that it was a very special place," Mr Cooper said from the United States.
"And then I subsequently grew to understand why, in terms of its somewhat unique role in New Zealand's pre-European and early European history,"
Three pa sites have been recorded, and the property is adjacent to the historically significant Marsden Cross.
"The process of developing a sensitive and respectful rehabilitation of the area has been a challenging and spiritual endeavour, given the depth of history lying below the ground," Mr Cooper said.
More than one million trees have been planted on the land north of Waitangi, and a 10km private internal roading network established.
As flora flourish in the wetland areas on Purerua Peninsula, more birds are being attracted.
Now that almost half the project has been completed and title has been created for 18 large sections, further house construction is expected soon.
Substantial groundwork on Mr Cooper's house started this year. Curved, cathedral-like stairs will lead up to a viewing turret and down to large subterranean levels for wine storage and tasting.
All the houses to be built on the peninsula must meet strict environmental and design standards and be built well beneath ridge tops to appear sympathetic with the environment.
Mr Cooper has rebranded his global business Cooper and Company, dispensing with the name Bluewater, which is the business leading the refurbishment and restoration of 18 heritage buildings in the Britomart precinct on Auckland's waterfront.
