'Brad's Pit' finally finished

America's Cup skipper Brad Butterworth has finally completed work on his multi-million dollar beachfront mansion on Waiheke Island, after more than three years of upheaval.

The Alinghi sailor stunned island residents when he excavated the huge site with the help of up to five diggers at a time in 2007.

The property, on the western side of Beach Parade at Oneroa, was valued at $3.9million in 2008.

The four-level home sits on a huge sloping site facing the beach, surrounded by meticulously landscaped gardens and natural stone walls.

Despite looking every inch the celebrity dream home, the site was nicknamed "Brad's Pit", thanks to huge earthmoving efforts which left a gaping hole in the hillside - and a bitter taste in some neighbours' mouths.

This week neighbours expressed relief that the development had been finished. One, who did not want to be named, said the finished mansion was "not as bad" as she had expected.

The site was issued with stop work signs twice due to construction and management plans that differed from what was consented to.

Butterworth and his family currently live in Switzerland.