“We successfully completed the purchase of a government-owned property located at 43 Ridgemount Rise, Māngere Bridge.
“Situated on a 637sqm section with a full area of 281sqm, the property [comprises] five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a double garage,” Tagelagi said.
“Honourable Speaker, this acquisition represents a significant investment for the future and provides a strategic asset for Niue.”
The Herald has asked the Niuean Government for further details of its strategy, and has not received a response.
In his speech, Tagelagi did not go into details about how the property would be used or who – if anyone – would live there fulltime.
The majority of the Niuean population lives in New Zealand. Of the 34,000 Niueans here, 25,500 live in Auckland. Only 1800 live in Niue. Photo / Ray White
“Designed for modern family living, the home offers multiple living areas, including a dedicated movie room and two master suites, providing an ideal setup for intergenerational families, an au pair or long-term guests,” the home’s listing said.
Community controversy
Many in the New Zealand Niuean community believe the site will be used as a new consulate building for the tens of thousands of Niueans living in New Zealand.
Diplomatic and consular services have traditionally been dealt with by the High Commission for Niue in Wellington.
Niuean community advocate and writer Zora Feilo said she had seen a mixed bag of opinions but believed the purchase would ultimately be good for Niueans.
“I think a lot of Pacific Islands have managed to make a place for themselves [in Auckland] but for some reason the Niueans haven’t got that. It’s appropriate we should have a space in Māngere. It’s very good news.”
Others have taken to social media to express views about the purchase – many asking how a multimillion-dollar family home was going to benefit them.
“A community hall would’ve been nice for the Niue people in Auckland,” one person wrote.
Pacific community leaders approached by the Herald were reluctant to comment on the purchase. One, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Niue does not need two houses in New Zealand.”
‘For all Niueans’
A staff member at the Niuean High Commissioner’s office in Wellington told the Herald the new Auckland property would be used as a consulate for the Niuean people.
The Māngere Bridge home sold for $2.2m, a record $625,000 over its capital value. Photo / Ray White
“We’re going to have a high commission down here and a consulate office up in Auckland to accommodate for all the Niueans that live up there.”
The position of high commissioner for Niue has been vacant since March 2023. Their residence – on Katherine Ave in Wellington – has also been vacant, due to structural problems and earthquake compliance issues.
The staffer said it was hoped renovations to the building would be completed by the end of the year – in time for the announcement of a new high commissioner.
The island nation has an estimated population of just 1800, while the majority of Niueans live away from their motherland, in Aotearoa.
Of the 34,000 Niueans here, 25,500 live in Auckland.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon pictured with Niuean PM Dalton Tagelagi. Photo / Pool / RNZ
The auction
Ray White real estate agent Dean Tuffley said the Māngere Bridge property attracted a lot of attention, with 100 people walking through before the auction late last month.
“There was competitive bidding right up to that level. There were multiple interested parties up to the eventual sale price,” Tuffley said.
The house was on the market for about three weeks.
The property also has three bathrooms and an indoor-outdoor flow connecting the living spaces to private entertaining areas and landscaped gardens.
Vaimoana Mase is the Pasifika editor for the Herald’s Talanoa section, sharing stories from the Pacific community. She won junior reporter of the year at the then Qantas Media Awards in 2010 and won the best opinion writing award at the 2023 Voyager Media Awards.