{"id":379576,"date":"2026-04-14T21:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T21:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/379576\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T21:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T21:23:10","slug":"devonport-naval-base-nzdf-silent-on-last-private-home-overlooking-site-after-4-2m-church-purchase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/379576\/","title":{"rendered":"Devonport Naval Base: NZDF silent on last private home overlooking site after $4.2m church purchase"},"content":{"rendered":"

While costly, the 2025 purchase seemed prudent, given security concerns and potential \u201cespionage\u201d threats arising from the property\u2019s proximity to the base.<\/p>\n

\"AA map showing Defence Force land (in green) and the historic Calliope Rd church property (in red circle) overlooking the Devonport Naval Base.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The 472sq m home sits on a large section and has a current CV of $4.775m.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a great spot, apart from the barbed wire fence. But that\u2019s all right. You know no one\u2019s going to break in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I listed it would [NZDF] look at it? I\u2019ve got no idea. But I\u2019m not looking at listing it. If I did, there might be [a premium] but I\u2019ve certainly never been approached about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She couldn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

The NZDF would not say whether it was keen to purchase the property, citing \u201csecurity and commercial reasons\u201d. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Future of Stanley Bay Wharf unclear<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the NZDF says it is not in negotiations with Auckland Council over the ownership of the popular Stanley Bay Wharf.<\/p>\n

This follows a January report in the Devonport Flagstaff which referred to \u201csecret talks\u201d over the wharf\u2019s ownership status and the potential transfer from Auckland Council to the Navy.<\/p>\n

The story quoted an Auckland Transport (AT) spokesman as saying: \u201cAT 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Stanley Bay Wharf sits next to the Devonport Naval Base and is currently owned by Auckland Council. Photo \/ Google Maps<\/p>\n

Located next to the naval base, the wharf is a popular spot for fishing and diving.<\/p>\n

The Herald put questions to the council, AT and the NZDF about what discussions had occurred over the wharf\u2019s ownership.<\/p>\n

The NZDF was adamant that no such negotiations had taken place. <\/p>\n

\u201cNZDF is not in negotiations, nor has it ever been in negotiations, with Auckland Council on ownership of Stanley Bay Wharf.\u201d<\/p>\n

AT said the wharf remained vested in the transport body. Any transfer of strategic transport assets would require AT board approval.<\/p>\n

\"StanleyStanley Bay Wharf is a popular spot for diving and fishing. Photo \/ Brett Phibbs<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked about the Devonport Flagstaff statement, the spokesman said this was \u201coutdated information\u201d.<\/p>\n

A council spokeswoman said the wharf was owned by AT and referred further queries about the \u201ctransfer process\u201d to AT.<\/p>\n

Details of church sale subject to \u2018gagging\u2019 orders<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s church deal is shrouded in secrecy. The Herald confirmed that non-disclosure \u201cgag\u201d agreements have been signed between the vendors, the NZDF and the unsuccessful buyer.<\/p>\n

The purchase price was considerably more than the $1.3m the property changed hands for when it last sold by tender in 2017.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cvery odd\u201d the Crown hadn\u2019t procured it earlier at a cheaper price.<\/p>\n

It made sense for it to be secured by taxpayers to protect New Zealand\u2019s national security, the source believed.<\/p>\n

\"MoversMovers carry a mattress into the old St Augustine Church on Calliope Rd, Devonport last month after it was purchased by the NZDF. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t want members of the public or anybody else [monitoring base activities from the church] in light of what\u2019s going on in the world … \u201d<\/p>\n

Lesley Harris and her husband Wayne Kelly were the 2017 purchasers. They had since spent millions of dollars carrying out a painstaking refurbishment.<\/p>\n

Harris would not comment on the unsuccessful buyer\u2019s ethnicity or suggestions they may have links to a foreign government.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m under gagging orders by two parties,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were just told we were not to disclose any information on who they were.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe historic Devonport church on Calliope Rd underwent a multi-million renovation before being sold to the Defence Force last year for $4.2 million. Photo \/ OneRoof<\/p>\n

However, Harris confirmed the individual was a New Zealand citizen and their bid would not have triggered scrutiny by the Overseas Investment Office.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe weren\u2019t comfortable for personal reasons going with that party.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Herald asked the NZDF whether it purchased the property to counter potential security concerns and \u2013 if it was a strategic asset \u2013 why it waited until the property had undergone a luxury multi-million renovation before acquiring the site.<\/p>\n

In a statement, an NZDF spokesman said: \u201cFrom 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe HMNZS Aotearoa berthed at the Devonport Naval Base. Photo \/ Jason Dorday<\/p>\n

Lane Nichols is Auckland desk editor for the New Zealand Herald with more than 20 years\u2019 experience in the industry.<\/p>\n

Sign up to The Daily H<\/a>, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"While costly, the 2025 purchase seemed prudent, given security concerns and potential \u201cespionage\u201d threats arising from the property\u2019s…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":379577,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1563,74,2943,83701,12897,1403,133471,17629,1345,19720,3242,685,29787,171533,111,43,139,69,111462,90,26859,1523,180166,3169,117856,1136,814,13673,10715,88450,58218,1857,21539,105299,102],"class_list":{"0":"post-379576","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-42m","9":"tag-after","10":"tag-base","11":"tag-bordering","12":"tag-church","13":"tag-defence","14":"tag-devonport","15":"tag-direct","16":"tag-home","17":"tag-land","18":"tag-large","19":"tag-last","20":"tag-naval","21":"tag-navys","22":"tag-new-zealand","23":"tag-news","24":"tag-newzealand","25":"tag-nz","26":"tag-nzdf","27":"tag-on","28":"tag-operations","29":"tag-over","30":"tag-overlooking","31":"tag-ownership","32":"tag-parcel","33":"tag-private","34":"tag-property","35":"tag-purchase","36":"tag-remains","37":"tag-silent","38":"tag-single","39":"tag-site","40":"tag-views","41":"tag-warships","42":"tag-with"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379576","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=379576"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/379576\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/379577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=379576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=379576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=379576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}