‘Yes, there’s a lump in the throat’: Former Auckland mayor on selling beloved Queenstown home

Set on the slopes of Queenstown Hill, on an 883m² section the couple bought back in 2003, sits the home Dick and Diana Hubbard built for themselves a decade ago.

The cedar-and-schist house curves gently toward Lake Wakatipu, opening to a panorama that stretches from the airport end of the lake right around to Walter Peak.

They named it Te Komata, a nod to Dick’s family history – a reference to the Hubbard land in the Coromandel where his great-grand-uncle settled, on a small hill of the same name. “The area was called Komata, which translates as small hill,” Dick says.

The couple bought the section in 2003 and the house was completed around 10 years ago. And they’ve loved every aspect of it since. “We haven’t found anything we need to change,” he adds.
A strong part of that confidence came from the team who brought the plans to life: architect Christine Hall, of Christine Hall Architects, and builder Marty Hulsman of M&S Construction.

“We were very fortunate,” Dick says. “There was a chemistry or a meeting of the minds between the builder and the architect. It doesn’t always happen that way, but the two of them really worked as a partnership.”

When the couple began planning the build, Diana brought one early reference to the table after a trip that involved sleeping outdoors under a simple shelter. “I’d made a bivvy out of a tent fly,” she says, “and I liked the roof line it made.” It became a small influence in the early design conversations, one idea among many that helped shape the home’s distinctive curves.

Those curves – almost everything apart from the lines where the floors meet the walls – demanded a high level of skill from the build team. “You can see just how much artisanship was required to build the roofs,” Diana says.

The home has received a number of building industry awards, which the Hubbards say acknowledged the level of expertise involved. “It’s been well recognised for its construction.”

Inside, the house feels quietly expansive rather than showy. Light moves easily across cedar soffits and stone, softening the curves. The open-plan living area is anchored by a kitchen designed around Diana’s love of cooking.

“A lot of thought went into the design and functionality of the kitchen,” she says. “Because I’m a bit of a foodie, so that’s my happy place.” The appliances are top-tier – Gaggenau in the kitchen, Miele in the laundry – but the overall feeling is warm and calm rather than technical.

The house rises to 385m² in total, arranged across multiple levels to follow the slope of the land. There are no lawns – something the couple chose from the start.

“It’s a low-maintenance section, so you can lock and leave the house for three or four months and not have to worry about the grounds,” Dick says. It suited their lifestyle, which has included long motorcycle journeys across continents.

Privacy is another thread that runs through the design. “Most people wouldn’t know the house was there because it’s tucked away down a right-of-way,” Dick says. “It’s a very private house. Private inside, privately located, even though it’s only minutes from downtown Queenstown.”

“A lot of thought went into the design and functionality of the kitchen,” she says. “Because I’m a bit of a foodie, so that’s my happy place.” The appliances are top-tier – Gaggenau in the kitchen, Miele in the laundry – but the overall feeling is warm and calm rather than technical.

The house rises to 385m² in total, arranged across multiple levels to follow the slope of the land. There are no lawns – something the couple chose from the start.

“It’s a low-maintenance section, so you can lock and leave the house for three or four months and not have to worry about the grounds,” Dick says. It suited their lifestyle, which has included long motorcycle journeys across continents.

Privacy is another thread that runs through the design. “Most people wouldn’t know the house was there because it’s tucked away down a right-of-way,” Dick says. “It’s a very private house. Private inside, privately located, even though it’s only minutes from downtown Queenstown.”

The home has panoramic views - even from the bedroom. Photo: Trade Me/Sotheby's International Realty

Yet the most unforgettable part, they agree, is what’s happening outside the glass. “When you look out those windows and you see simply the best view in Queenstown, you need big windows to see it,” Diana says of the floor-to-ceiling glazing.

She often feels as though she’s standing on a ship’s prow when she steps onto the main deck, which angles out high above the lake. A second, recessed deck offers shelter and a view toward the full span of the Remarkables. “At any one time,” she says, “we’ve got the choice of two decks to entertain on.”

The sunrises and sunsets are particularly memorable. “You get very good views of both,” Dick says. “Because the house is on a ridgeline – lovely changing vistas as the days go through.”

Though the home has a sense of generosity, they purposely avoided unnecessary scale. “Someone who appreciates the aesthetics of good design and for whom the view and connection with the outside is important,” Dick says, will feel at home here.

They’re selling now for what they call “age and stage”. The couple spend most of their time in Glenorchy and feel the moment is right to downsize. “Yes, there’s a lump in the throat,” Dick says. “We had 10 lovely years there.”

Some of the happiest times came from hosting. “We’ve had house guests over the years, lots of lovely guests,” Diana says. “There are two guest rooms upstairs, both with ensuites, that are virtually self-contained. It’s been an ideal place for hospitality.”

And for the next owner, those wide windows will keep providing a backdrop that speaks for itself.

The property at 114 Hensman Road, Queenstown, is listed with David Penrose of Sothebys International Realty. Price by negotiation. The September 2024 CV on the property was $5,610,000.