PHOTO: Richie and Gemma McCaw. 1NEWS
Richie and Gemma McCaw are in the process of constructing a lavish riverside mansion in Wānaka, with a multi-million dollar price tag. The construction work has commenced on this expansive residence for the former All Blacks captain and the former Black Sticks hockey star, according to the NZHERALD
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Situated in the picturesque location of Hāwea Flat near Wānaka, the mansion will overlook the serene Hāwea River and an area designated as an “Outstanding Natural Landscape.” The property benefits from a scenic biking and walking track that runs along the river’s edge in front of the McCaw’s new development.
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Architectural plans show the McCaw’s new Wānaka development.
The land value for this substantial 12,670-square-meter property, as per the Queenstown Lakes District Council, is estimated at $1.6 million. This evaluation is before the commencement of construction on the main house and an additional building planned for the site.
The McCaws, who already possess several properties in Christchurch and Otago, where Richie McCaw, the legendary 148-test player, grew up in Kurow, acquired this land last year. A resource consent application was submitted to the Queenstown Lakes District Council in July.
McCaw and his wife Gemma in their backyard in Christchurch (Getty)
The planning documents, reviewed by the Herald, reveal designs for a “large single-storey dwelling with simple gable roof forms” in an area prone to high winds. The proposed materials include natural schist stone, vertical cedar shiplap timber, and Espan 340 profile Coloursteel roofing at a 35-degree pitch, as described in a report by an urban designer and landscape architect.
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The property enjoys picturesque views.
Despite the location being within a Landscape Priority Overlay area and adjacent to an Outstanding Natural Landscape, the scale and nature of the proposed elements, such as the chimney and water tanks, are deemed not to have an adverse impact on the environment’s character, according to the report. It is also emphasized that the development will not disrupt the experience of hiking and biking trail users.
The median sales price for houses in Wānaka, according to property platform One Roof, is reported to be $1.35 million. Wānaka has become a favored destination for the affluent and famous, with celebrities like Canadian singer Shania Twain, former US TV host Matt Lauer, and US tech billionaire Peter Thiel all having invested in the area.
Richie McCaw also has connections in Wānaka, with former coach Sir Steve Hansen and former teammates Ben Smith and Damian McKenzie all owning properties there. Richie and Gemma McCaw had a private wedding in Wānaka in 2017. Before their nuptials, the high-profile couple invested in a remarkable $2.5 million five-bedroom family home in an upscale part of Christchurch.
The McCaws, along with their three young daughters, had been in France to support the All Blacks as they pursued another Rugby World Cup victory. However, Gemma McCaw decided to return home with the children earlier than initially planned, citing the challenges of traveling with three kids under the age of 5 as a “wild ride.”