Howick: Who bought that house?

116 Bleakhouse Road, Mellons Bay, Howick.

Sold by: Mike Vermeulen and Jill Lee, Harcourts, ph 538 0138.

You know a neighbourhood great when house buyers simply move from one end of the street to the other. When Porusp Tarapore and his wife and three daughters arrived in New Zealand from India eight years ago, they settled in Mellons Bay, Howick, and have not been tempted to move far since.

"We bought our house up the road on Bleakhouse six years ago, and really don't think we'll be moving down to number 116," admits Porusp. "I was really just looking for an investment property and thought we couldn't go wrong with this house with its lovely views and great section."

However, he does concede that his daughters are tempted by the thought of a house with a swimming pool (the property has a 1970s swimming pool to complement the 1960s ranch-style architecture) and he may have some negotiating to do.

Porusp and his family moved to New Zealand after Porusp finished his career as a ship's captain in 1996. They lived in Mumbai, but after the space and freedom of life at sea found the crowded city more than they could bear.

Despite huge changes in their corner of eastern Auckland, the family is understandably amused at Aucklanders' concerns about the traffic jams and housing density. "I drive around all day for my work," says Porusp. "To me it feels great to be out and about and not stuck, like we would be back in Mumbai."

The large house and its magnificent views featured as Herald Homes' cover story on July 30, and attracted a lot of interest. There were almost 80 people at the auction and several keen bidders. But Porusp stuck by his plan and is delighted with his second property in his new homeland.