The parents of New Zealand’s most remarkably gifted student and youngest university graduate are selling their Auckland house to remain with their son at Oxford University, where he is completing a PhD in environmental science.
Maths whizz Tristan Pang made headlines a decade ago when, at the age of 12, he enrolled at Auckland University. Two years later he was a tutor at the university, and at the age of 17, he had graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics.
He made the shift to Oxford in 2020, with mum Elaine accompanying him on the trip and dad Thomas joining the family last month.
The family have decided they can no longer keep their Auckland base and are selling up so that they can buy a house in Oxford.
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Ray White agents Caroline Yau and Steve Williams are selling the four-bedroom house at 17 Goldstine Place, in Royal Oak, with a set sale date of December 5.
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Since arriving at Oxford, Tristan, now 23, has completed two masters degrees – one in computational applied mathematics and the other in mathematics and computer science – and embarked on a PhD in environmental science, which he hopes to complete by 2026.
Elaine told OneRoof Tristan wanted to use his skills for the benefit of the planet. “The research is environmental science from the angle of mathematical modeling and from physics. He is very altruistic, you know, wanting to share his skills with other people. In his mind, environmental science was the thing that would have an immediate impact on people.”
She said he had an eye on the Southern Ocean and hoped to return to New Zealand. “He is very thankful for his New Zealand education,” she said.
Tristan Pang, now 23, at Oxford University in the UK. Photo / Supplied
The Pang family home in Auckland's Royal Oak. Photo / Supplied
The Pangs moved to New Zealand from the UK when Tristan was just four. They bought Elaine’s parents’ house at Goldstine Place in 2019.
Tristan loved swimming every morning, so having the Onehunga pool nearby was important Elaine said, as was the proximity to One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park. “He’s a very happy and healthy boy, it was a very comfortable house. We had a study and a quiet space so he could lead a balanced life,” she said.
Making the decision to sell the house was not an easy one, she said.
“We still wanted to keep the house; we really did not want to sell it. But we do not know when we will be going back to New Zealand. Because our family is so small, just the three of us, that is why we need to sell the house to buy a house here [in Oxford].
The house at 17 Goldstine Place, Royal Oak, is close to One Tree Hill and Cornwall Park. Photo / Supplied
The study, where a young Tristan studied for his university degrees from the age of 12. Photo / Supplied
“We really love the house and hope that someone will treasure it.”
Yau said that while the house had a set sale date, price feedback from the first weekend of open homes was around $1.4m to $1.5m.
“The house is plaster and brick, but we have a building inspection report – and the family have lived there with no problems for 22 years,” she said of the house, which has a CV of $1.7m.
“This is a family home, it is entry level and appealing to people from outer suburbs wanting to get into central Auckland. We have got lots of buyers wanting to move before Christmas and the family are very flexible about settlement dates.”
Yau said the rental appraisal of $950 to $1000 a week would also make it appealing to investors.
- 17 Goldstine Place, Royal Oak, Auckland, has a set sale date of December 5
