Harbour master

This waterfront Whangārei home was crafted for easy living, close connections to nature and savouring time with family

- Tina Stephen

After raising their family in Onerahi, a stunning harbourside suburb of Whangarei, Helen and Kevin Thorne craved a simpler life. As retirement loomed, the couple envisioned more time spent on the things they loved, rather than maintaining a large home. So, when the neighbouring property came onto the market, they took a leap of faith and built the home of their dreams – with the help of friends and family.

“When the property next to us came on the market, we jumped at the chance to purchase and build,” remembers Helen. “We knew the area well and loved the northern aspect with views over the harbour. It was an easy and natural decision.”

A small bach stood on the property, which Helen and Kevin initially lived in to gain an understanding of the site and be close to hand during the planning process. The challenges of their site, which included a steep slope and poor soil quality, were outweighed by the easy access to the waterfront, nearby local parks and the cycle path to the city.

“We love to cycle into the city for coffee, and enjoy daily walks with our dog, Meg,” says Helen. “The area is great when we have family and grandchildren visiting, with a jetty across the road and a local park close by.”

THE BRIEF

In 2014, with the new section purchased and their former home sold, the couple engaged local architect Felicity Christian and the planning began.