– Brad Pitt’s former West Auckland retreat, Parihoa Estate, has been sold, but not to Pitt.
– Matt Chapman confirmed the sale but did not disclose the buyer’s identity or the sale price.
– Chapman is selling the last part of the estate before relocating to the South Island.
The West Auckland trophy home Oscar-winning actor Brad Pitt made his own earlier this year has sold, OneRoof can reveal.
But Pitt isn’t the new owner, says rich-lister and wellness guru Matt Chapman, whose 235ha Parihoa Estate has attracted the eyes of local and international stars.
Chapman told OneRoof that the Constable Road property between Muriwai and Te Henga Bethells beaches had found a buyer and was now under contract.
“It’s not Brad Pitt,” Chapman joked. “He loved it.”
Chapman, who still has one last part of the multi-million-dollar estate to sell before he permanently relocates to a new life in the South Island, would not, however, disclose the identity of the buyer or reveal the sale price.
The luxury house at Parihoa Estate, in the Auckland suburb of Muriwai, was home to Pitt when he was filming Heart of the Beast in New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
The house, designed by architect Andrew Patterson, is perched on the cliffs above Muriwai and Te Henga Bethells. Photo / Supplied
“I cannot give any details of the party [who bought it],” he said, adding: “It has been a long journey.”
Chapman told OneRoof that the well-being retreat he was hosting this week for seven international guests could well be his last at the property.
“I love the property, but my drive was one of simplification. The longer this process dragged on, the more I was like, ‘Wow, will I ever sell it?’
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“We have kept it looking beautiful. I kept the energy as high as I could with lots of philanthropic things and events. I will be happy to hand it on to the next custodian for their dream.”
Parihoa Estate recently featured in the second series of New Zealand’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer, but it hit the headlines earlier this year when OneRoof broke the news that Pitt had stayed there while filming his new blockbuster movie, Heart of the Beast, in New Zealand.
The estate is also recognisable as the setting for the Great Kiwi Bake Off and has hosted several celebrity weddings, including the ceremony for Hits host Matty Mclean and his agent husband Ryan Teece.
Matt Chapman is selling his Muriwai estate to move to the South Island: “I’m switching off my northern life.” Photo / Supplied
A young Kiwi has a surprise encounter with Brad Pitt while at a McDonald’s drive-thru in West Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Chapman said that Parihoa was set up for the new owner to “take it to the next level, whatever they want to do”.
The final piece of Chapman’s estate, the 52.2ha Tirikohua Point Farm, hit the market in November.
He told OneRoof that he bought it almost by chance in 2021. “I had a great relationship with the owners. They retired in 2021 and spoke to me about taking over the property,” he said. “I was not sure I wanted to do that because I had enough on my plate and I was already beginning to realise I did not want so many things. I threw in an offer on the last day, and I got it.”
Chapman said his Parihoa caretakers, Rose and Graham Kennedy, applied their “Midas touch” to the property, and later added a fitness centre and guest suites. The standout is the glasshouse, which features a sitting room and a bed: “It must be the most photographed place on the whole property. Friends love it.
Still up for grabs is Chapman’s 52.2ha estate at 216 Constable Road. Photo / Supplied
The glasshouse is one of the many highlights the property offers. Photo / Supplied
“Dare I say, I enjoy this property even more than Parihoa because it felt very down to earth. I feel like I changed as a person.”
Chapman said he had his favourite architects Fearon Hay draw up plans for a grand house for the property, which are included in the sale.
Chapman said he was now focused on the properties in Queenstown-Lakes. “I’m switching off my northern life,” he said, joking that he had picked up a Volkswagen California camper van, which he plans to park in friends’ driveways when he visits the North Island.
Chapman said he cherished his time in Muriwai, though. “Part of me will go with the property; my spirit is very connected with it. If I didn’t have Wanaka, I’d be super-happy to keep [these properties] forever.”
– 216 Constable Road, Muriwai Beach, is for sale, deadline closing December 11