While costly, the 2025 purchase seemed prudent, given security concerns and potential “espionage” threats arising from the property’s proximity to the base.
Following the sale, there is now just one home privately-owned among a block of properties along the clifftop Calliope Rd overlooking the base. The rest have been purchased by the NZDF.
The four-bedroom, seven-bathroom house underwent a luxury renovation in 2014 before being sold to its current owners the following year for $3.75m.
The 472sq m home sits on a large section and has a current CV of $4.775m.
Its owner, a lawyer who asked not to be named, said she purchased the property 11 years ago from a building company and had never been approached by the Defence Force during that time.
“It’s a great spot, apart from the barbed wire fence. But that’s all right. You know no one’s going to break in.”
She said she had no plans to sell the property and was unsure if it would command a premium due to its proximity to the base.
“If I listed it would [NZDF] look at it? I’ve got no idea. But I’m not looking at listing it. If I did, there might be [a premium] but I’ve certainly never been approached about it.”
She couldn’t comment on whether there was a security risk for the base associated with nearby properties being privately owned, but said if she did put her home on the market, it would likely go to the highest bidder.
The NZDF would not say whether it was keen to purchase the property, citing “security and commercial reasons”.
It declined to comment on the church purchase for similar reasons, or confirm whether it bought the church site to prevent it falling into the wrong hands.
Future of Stanley Bay Wharf unclear
Meanwhile, the NZDF says it is not in negotiations with Auckland Council over the ownership of the popular Stanley Bay Wharf.
This follows a January report in the Devonport Flagstaff which referred to “secret talks” over the wharf’s ownership status and the potential transfer from Auckland Council to the Navy.
The story quoted an Auckland Transport (AT) spokesman as saying: “AT is handing the wharf over to council, who will then be in possession of it before it becomes a naval asset. AT is doing minimal maintenance on the wharf until the handover.”
Located next to the naval base, the wharf is a popular spot for fishing and diving.
The Herald put questions to the council, AT and the NZDF about what discussions had occurred over the wharf’s ownership.
The NZDF was adamant that no such negotiations had taken place.
“NZDF is not in negotiations, nor has it ever been in negotiations, with Auckland Council on ownership of Stanley Bay Wharf.”
AT said the wharf remained vested in the transport body. Any transfer of strategic transport assets would require AT board approval.
“The board has not received a request for transfer of this asset to consider a change of ownership at this stage. Any decision around this will need to be made with consideration of current/future strategic and operational value to AT in delivery of transport infrastructure, services or activities.”
Asked about the Devonport Flagstaff statement, the spokesman said this was “outdated information”.
A council spokeswoman said the wharf was owned by AT and referred further queries about the “transfer process” to AT.
Details of church sale subject to ‘gagging’ orders
Last year’s church deal is shrouded in secrecy. The Herald confirmed that non-disclosure “gag” agreements have been signed between the vendors, the NZDF and the unsuccessful buyer.
The purchase price was considerably more than the $1.3m the property changed hands for when it last sold by tender in 2017.
A source with direct knowledge of the 2025 sale said the site was a strategic asset for the NZDF, given its sensitive location, and it was “very odd” the Crown hadn’t procured it earlier at a cheaper price.
It made sense for it to be secured by taxpayers to protect New Zealand’s national security, the source believed.
“You don’t want members of the public or anybody else [monitoring base activities from the church] in light of what’s going on in the world … ”
Lesley Harris and her husband Wayne Kelly were the 2017 purchasers. They had since spent millions of dollars carrying out a painstaking refurbishment.
Harris would not comment on the unsuccessful buyer’s ethnicity or suggestions they may have links to a foreign government.
“I’m under gagging orders by two parties,” she said.
“We were just told we were not to disclose any information on who they were.”
However, Harris confirmed the individual was a New Zealand citizen and their bid would not have triggered scrutiny by the Overseas Investment Office.
“We weren’t comfortable for personal reasons going with that party.”
The Herald asked the NZDF whether it purchased the property to counter potential security concerns and – if it was a strategic asset – why it waited until the property had undergone a luxury multi-million renovation before acquiring the site.
In a statement, an NZDF spokesman said: “From time to time, NZDF acquires land that adjoins or is proximate to Defence facilities to preserve future options and mitigate potential constraints on base operations.”
Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years’ experience in the industry.
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