KEY POINTS:
Eric Watson's business buddy, multi-millionaire Mark Hotchin, is building a $30 million mega-mansion on New Zealand's most expensive section in Auckland's exclusive Paritai Dr.
Work has already started on the 4322sq m site to build an enormous three-level home which will have at least 10 toilets, basement parking for 12 cars - including Hotchin's Ferrari - and enough bedrooms to host a football team.
Hotchin paid more than $17m for the land, buying two large Paritai Dr sites in 2005 and another large adjoining site in Orakei's Huriaro Pl, last year.
The house will be more than 3000sq m. Most of the living spaces and bedrooms will have sweeping views of Waitemata Harbour.
The Sumich-designed project has breached several building restrictions including height, site coverage, the height of boundary walls and tennis court fence, and landscaping minimums - but Hotchin has been granted consent.
Two existing homes and 12 "generally protected" trees were removed before work on the foundations and basement began.
Apart from a huge master bedroom suite with a dressing room bigger than the average lounge, the Hotchin house has six other bedrooms and en suite bathrooms, two family rooms, a living room and dining area, three studies, a home theatre, gym, swimming pool with diving board, spa and paddling pool, a children's room, music room, an art room, an outside room plus two outdoor dining areas. Add to that a huge games room, separate guest house, tennis court and pavilion, wine room, a car wash and vast basement parking.
Extensive landscaping will shield the Hotchins from prying eyes.
The garden includes several lawns, a kitchen garden and two water features.
The basement plans include detailed drawings of Hotchin's Ferrari to ensure the low-slung car does not bottom out. Last year Hotchin ranked 8th on National Business Review's Rich List, which estimated his fortune at $450m.
He paid $14m, the highest price recorded for a New Zealand house, for a property at Boatshed Bay on the eastern side of Waiheke Island's Palm Beach.
He also has property in Fiji and has owned a house in Tuscany.
He and his high-flying business partner Eric Watson own Hanover Group and were responsible for the Matarangi Beach Estates development.
