Rich listers shift to the cliff

Ted Manson. Photo / Supplied

The race is on to see which of two Rich Listers will be the first to move into their new Auckland clifftop mansion.

By next year, Michael Reid and Ted Manson will be neighbours in Hanene St, St Heliers, where teams of builders are working to finish the two properties, both designed by Sumich Architects.

Both men are selling their current homes ready for the shift to the cliff.

Property magnate Manson's modern 776sq m mansion in The Rise, St Heliers, is on the market for $17 million.

Reid has listed his 650sq m home with Barfoot & Thompson for a figure understood to be $10.5m.

The double-gated, 3924sq m property, taking up two sections in exclusive Lammermoor Drive and two in Grampian Rd, boasts five bedrooms and bathrooms, four living areas, a large heated pool with a diving board, a putting green, tennis court and pavilion, and extra accommodation in a summer house.

Barfoot agent Paul Barnao said Manson's current home was "Hollywood glamorous", with stunning sea views, a pool and tennis court.

He has another near-new home in the same street for sale for between $16m and $18m. Reid sold Marac to Pyne Gould Corp for $41m in 2000.

He didn't make the National Business Review Rich List until 2006, the year he paid $11m for two adjoining properties in Hanene St.

Valued at $125m on last year's list, Reid has a majority stake in the United Pacific Corporation group of companies with interests in milking, property and importing.

He is a shareholder and director of Viaduct Port with fellow wealthy businessmen Graeme Hart, Mark Wyborn, Adrian Burr and Graeme Bowkett.

Manson, valued at $225m on last year's list, is gutting and renovating a stately brick home built in 1936.

He paid $9.65m for the property two years ago although its latest Capital Valuation was $5.87m.

Builders are demolishing one side to make way for a new wing and interior, and the grounds will feature a clifftop infinity pool and a pond.

Reid is also building an infinity pool on his 3614sq m site created by the demolition of the existing homes on the adjoining sections.

One was a 1930s house originally owned by the Caughey family.

His new three-level, 789sq m Mediterranean-style home is due to be finished in November and will include several living spaces, a billiard room, three fireplaces, a gym, a wine room and a lift.