Heavy lifting at Helena Bay transforms farm into sleek resort

Commercial-style earthworks have been carried out at New Zealand's most expensive new residential development. Helena Bay Holdings' managing director Christopher Seel said 11,500cu m of earth had to be shifted at the Northland site.

That was equal to 1437 truckloads, excavated from two main sites south of the Bay of Islands where four residences were built, although he said extensive earthworks were done elsewhere on the farm, for slip prevention and land preservation.

About 1250 truck loads or 10,000cu m were excavated under the 2500sq m five-bedroom main residence, allowing an entire subterranean level to be built for industrial-style kitchens with walk-in fridges and freezers, for sophisticated fire protection and electrical services, heating and cooling, IT, pool maintenance and storage, he said.

The resort, bought for $15.9 million by Russian oligarch Alexander Abramov - one of the world's richest men - will open next summer and the locations of the $5000-a-night villas were chosen carefully.

"Each villa is a little higher than the other and they are all orientated so the view of one villa isn't into the one next door," Mr Seel said.

One of the villas is for Mr Abramov and his family (he has three children), while two others will be rented, each one able to be split to offer accommodation for five couples.

Mr Seel said improvements to the farm had transformed the place. "From an environmental and ecological perspective, this property is almost unrecognisable and this is what large amounts of foreign capital can do for New Zealand - plant close to 250,000 plants and stabilise land with drainage coils in the soil. What's been done here is stunning."

The lodge is between Whangarei and Russell, down a long winding farm road well hidden from curious onlookers. Dozens of contractors are now finishing the four residences, while a fifth house on the hill near the entrance off Russell Rd is fully furnished and used regularly.

Mr Seel said the workforce was so big 22 baches were rented long-term for workers. "About 25 per cent of the workers are of Ngatiwai descent," he said of nearly 100 local families with members working on the project.