SCHOOL ZONES:
Leigh School, Matakana School,
Mahurangi College
CONTACT:
Paul Elsden, ph 021 936 011
When you're a Kiwi bloke from Hawkes Bay, living in a shoebox apartment in Hong Kong with a baby does wonders for your perspective on life.
So it was for Brett Forsyth. Nearly six years ago he and his Scottish wife, Jo, were living in said apartment with said baby and forming a pretty solid idea of what environment they wanted to raise a family in - and it didn't involve an elevator.
"We wanted our kids to grow up in the kind of lifestyle we grew up in, with space to run around in, and ride their bikes in, and all that good stuff," says Brett.
When their son was 6 months old they came to New Zealand. They initially gravitated to Hawkes Bay, where Brett's family lived, but were keen to settle in "neutral" territory - somewhere they could establish a wholly new life together.
Brett had always loved Matakana, north of Auckland. He'd started going up there in university days, when it was a sleepy rural area, and he had a good mate living in Point Wells. With beaches, vineyards, golf courses, countryside and farms, and Auckland about an hour's drive away, it seemed perfect - and about as different from Hong Kong as it was possible to get.
They found a house to rent in beachside Omaha, but the move wasn't without reservation. Back then they were among the few who lived permanently in the holiday suburb, a favourite weekender destination for Aucklanders.
"Going from Hong Kong to Matakana was a bit extreme," says Brett. "We were a bit nervous. I thought I'd get bored."
He soon discovered there was little chance of that, especially once their second son arrived. By that time, the area was popular with young families, and houses were springing up on former farmland in South Omaha.
Confident they'd found the lifestyle they'd dreamed of, Brett and Jo bought two adjoining sites in the new area, near Omaha Golf Course and strolling distance from the popular surf beach. Brett was pleased he'd be able to walk out his back gate on to the sixth tee.
On the roadside site, they worked with House of Nautica to create a home, both practically and aesthetically. That meant plenty of indoor-outdoor flow to a choice of outdoor areas and hardy top-quality materials - masonry construction, oak flooring in living areas, a stone kitchen bench, double-glazed windows, copper detailing - that would withstand the rigours of coastal living and active boys.
They designed the living area to be open-plan, but with internal sliding doors to create two separate areas - the large kitchen and breakfast bar, and the dining area and lounge.
Like many Matakanans, Brett works partly from home, so they built a room above the double garage with external access so that it can be guest accommodation or a home office.
After three-and-a-half happy years, they've decided to sell to free up money for business ventures, though they plan to stay in the area.
The rear section has an elevated position with potential for broad views of the sea, the golf course, bush and hills.
"We're a little sad to be selling," says Brett. "I just love it here. We always wanted to live in a place like this. Having come from Hong Kong, we don't take it for granted. We really appreciate the space."
