Going on safari to Newmarket

For many years the directors of Auckland - based property development company Safari Group drove through Newmarket and dreamed of bringing to the area their recipe for high quality apartments at outstanding value.

So, when an opportunity arose to buy a site on Gillies Ave three years ago, they didn’t hesitate.

“Newmarket had been on our wish list for quite a while,” says senior development manager and director Josh Van Veen. “Our acquisitions team meet once a week to discuss the areas and opportunities that excite us, and Newmarket was always one of those key areas”.

“It’s a fantastic location that has historically been severely under-supplied, so when this prime site came up, we jumped at the chance.”

Work is well under way on Newmarket Residences, a mixed hotel/apartment development due to be completed in May next year. Van Veen says it continues Safari Group’s tradition of creating sophisticated and contemporary living spaces in sought-after locations, at values that make sense.

The company started out as a partnership between builder mates Robert Neil and Stephen Taylor in 1996. Named after Robert’s Nissan SUV, Safari Group has grown from a small firm into one of New Zealand’s leading property development and construction companies, with nearly 25 years of experience under its belt.

It’s still very much a family business though, points out Van Veen. Taylor’s sons Damien and Simon work for the group and Rob’s boys Liam and Kyle are also getting involved. Even if you’re not actually related, you are treated like family, Van Veen says.

“There are some staff members who have been here for more than 20 years and they now have family members who also work here.”

Safari Group was chosen as one of the winners of the 2020 Human Resources Director New Zealand Employer of Choice awards. The award recognises companies that provide initiatives such as suitable learning and development opportunities for staff, as well acknowledging a job well done.

“It was a huge surprise to get the award, and one that we are all incredibly proud of,” says Van Veen. “One of the things we really like to do as a company is to help our people work their way up. We’ve watched new hires start out as labourers and go on to become site managers and project managers, and that’s very exciting and rewarding to see.”

Interior render. Photo / Supplied.

Safari Group isn’t solely a developer or a construction company – doing everything from design and construction through to marketing and property management.

“We are a one-stop shop and that is one of the key points that separate us from the competition.” says Van Veen. “We control everything, from finding the site to handing over the keys and beyond, including managing the investments for our purchasers. When you hand over parts of the project to a project manager or a building company, you can lose control. We keep everything in-house, ensuring total accountability of our process, which translates to being on time and on budget for our customers.”

Safari Group has constructed over 2,000 units throughout the country, with Van Veen saying they are continuously pushing the bar higher, delivering properties known for their quality. The majority of the 52 apartments in Newmarket Residences were purchased at the pre-sale stage, with only a handful remaining for sale. There is a range of one -, two - and three-bedroom apartments, some of which include a “dual key” option.

“Dual Keys - are a unique proposition, comprising a studio and a one-bedroom apartment that are individually accessed off a shared entry space,” says Van Veen. “Both units are contained on the same title, each with their own kitchen, offering the flexibility to rent out one or both units separately or to treat the space as a two-bedroom home.”

All apartments feature stylish kitchens with engineered stone benchtops and timber flooring along with an elevated appliance offering. Bathrooms are luxurious, with European styling and elegant fittings. An interior designer-curated furnishing package is also available, another value add Safari offer their customers.

Newmarket Residences comprises two north-facing buildings on the elevated site, providing all day sun. From level three upwards, Rangitoto is clearly visible, providing a picturesque vista and complementing the aesthetically attractive communal courtyard space situated between the two buildings.

In new residential developments, overseas purchasers must rent out their apartment, legally prohibited from living in them themselves. With Newmarket Residences, this is not the case, as the development offers a transitional exemption certificate, allowing overseas buyers the rare ability to not only purchase but to live in their apartment if they so choose.

“This is something you just can’t get any more, which has seen a huge number of incredibly happy overseas buyers purchase at Newmarket Residences,” says Van Veen.

He says Newmarket Residences have been appealing to a range of buyers, from families keen on the double grammar zone, through to couples who want a city home they can lock up and leave when they head off to their bach for the weekend.

“You have got everything you need on your doorstep,” points out Van Veen. “We’re a five-minute walk to the train station and then five minutes later, you’ll arrive at Britomart.”

“Plus you’ve got the new Westfield shopping centre, with its world-class restaurants and shops across the road and everything else Newmarket has to offer – like boutique shops and cafes in Nuffield Street and the Newmarket pools; everything is just so close.

“The area has been undervalued and now is definitely the time to get in and take advantage.”

For more information go to : safarigroup.co.nz/newmarket-lp

This content has been created in partnership with Safari Group.