There’s nothing like a big world crisis or a series of shocks in Europe to prompt Kiwis living overseas to think of returning to the safe haven of New Zealand.
That’s exactly what happened to former Newstalk ZB presenter Rachel Smalley back in 2009, when the pull of home brought her and baby Finn home.
“I’d had eight years in Dublin and London for a European broadcaster and then set up the London bureau for TV3.
“I’d covered the London terror attacks, Rugby World Cup in France, was in Washington DC when Barack Obama got into the White House. I could have been a foreign correspondent with a baby on my hip.
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“But the world was crippled by the GFC, while New Zealand was doing okay. I had an increasing pull to come home.”
She and her then husband spent weekends soaking up Auckland's West Coast beaches, longing to escape the noise and busy-ness of the city. It made sense to find a house out there too and complete the homecoming.
All it took was standing on the deck of the sunny 1980s split-level house at the crest of Piha Road, and Rachel knew she'd found the one. The house is perched above the bush, with a 180-degree views from Lion Rock across to Karekare.
She loves that she gets the best of both West Coast worlds – busy, buzzy Piha,with its café, gallery, RSA and clubs for meals, or mystical and peaceful Karekare. And because there are no other houses in view, Rachel says all she sees are “oceans and sky.”
Her off-peak commute of 40 minutes to work was never a chore, she says, knowing that on Friday night “you’re down for the weekend.” Now that she’s running her own communications business from home, she says she’s felt lucky to have had the last six weeks in isolation working from such a glorious spot.
She’s converted a bedroom into her writing room. It overlooks the that overlooks the native gardens she spent years clearing and planting, a refuge as she worked on her acclaimed World Vision Forgotten Millions campaign. Now, however, young Finn has commandeered it for home school, while Rachel works cosily beside the wood fire in the dining room.
The house has been a project for Rachel as she turned it from a weekend bach to a stylish home more expected in Ponsonby. Projects over the years included white paint and new carpets, a new Kitchen Studio kitchen put in only 18 months ago, a new roof and insulation, a gorgeous modern wood stove, new bathroom and decks, plenty of decks opening off living and bedroom levels.
Glass balustrades mean that view is always there, from nearly every room. A private downstairs bedroom, with its new bathroom and glass doors to the view is a favourite for visiting friends and family who come out to de-stress in the Piha vibe.
“It’s been an amazing ten years living here. The hills are where I learned to run and trained for marathons.”
But now Rachel and partner Dave want to move closer to Finn’s North Shore schooling. Her timing couldn’t be better as the next wave of expat Kiwis look to heading home to the peace and tranquillity.
Ray White agent and Piha local for over 25 years, Ngaire Lynch, who is selling the property by auction May 30, talks of this place as mysterious and dramatic. She says there’s a feeling of being in your own little haven in this house, with Rachel’s stylish presentation.
“If events of recent times have led you to review your lifestyle choices, then now the opportunity. This is really fabulous.”
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