Takapuna penthouse breaks record

A new benchmark has been set for apartment living with the listing of a luxury $10 million penthouse on Auckland's North Shore.

The penthouse, which takes out the top two floors of Takapuna's 30-floor, 120m high Sentinel apartment complex, was listed last week. It eclipses the previous record of $9.2 million set by a penthouse being constructed on top of Auckland's Stamford Plaza.

Construction of the Takapuna complex is scheduled for completion in December next year, but already 99 of the 117 apartments - with an average price of $1.2 million - have been sold. The development will be Auckland's most expensive apartment complex to date and signals the growing interest in high-priced apartment living.

But while the Sentinel penthouse is New Zealand's most expensive, it pales in comparison against what is currently for sale in Australia - a $19.5 million penthouse on the Gold Coast in the 77-storey Soul Tower.

Syreeta Jones of Browns Sothebys Realty said the Sentinel penthouse would be "very cool" once completed. She wasn't sure what sort of interest there would be, but hoped it would be bought by a New Zealander rather than a foreigner, who would use it only as a holiday home.

"It is a very exclusive market. The target is the rich list and the top 10 per cent of New Zealand," she said.

The two-storey penthouse spans 795sq m with the top floor devoted to three double bedrooms, all with en suites and dressing rooms. The 29th floor is dedicated to the living, dining and entertainment area, while the balcony area includes a lap pool and hot tub and offers 360-degree views of the Haruraki Gulf and Auckland City.