Around the Traps

By Christine Nikiel

Friday 7th June 2002

Twin towers for Wellington?

Twin tower developments have not had great press of late but it seems Melview Developments is planning one in the capital. It is understood Nigel McKenna wants to build two 16-level towers on the corner of Featherston and Bunny Sts. The development would be a mix of office, retail and residential accommodation, with one of the towers taken up by a 170-room four- or five-star hotel. The complex would be divided into unit titled investment units. Melview will be targeting all those coming to the capital on government business because the proposed complex will be the city's closest international hotel to the Parliament buildings.

Residential and office sales

Wellington's new Vodafone building has sold to a private investment syndicate for more than $3.4 million ahead of its completion later this year. The 1496sq m building was sold at a yield of 9.6 % on an estimated initial net rental income of $328,000. Vodafone will occupy the whole building on a 12-year lease from its completion, scheduled for October, with rights of renewal for a further 12 years. Bayleys was the agents for the sale. Meanwhile, the agency reported three large residential auction sales in the Auckland market in May. A four-bedroom Terrence Hitchcock-designed clifftop home was sold for $2.46 million, a Richard Priest-designed Whitford house went for $2.3 million, while a Parnell home fetched $2.2 million.

Friends in high places

What do you say when you meet a former president of the US unexpectedly in a bar? Or a bathroom for that matter? Ask Bayleys' leasing agent Paul Hain. Mr Hain, on his way to the Oman Resort in Phuket, met Bill Clinton, en route to New Zealand, in the toilet of the Long Bar at Singapore's Raffles Hotel and, after introducing himself, the great one joined the Bayleys team at the bar. Apparently two of Bill's henchmen walked into the toilet, saw Mr Hain, judged him "zero threat" and gave the all clear. The Singapore trip was a stopover on Bayleys' annual top achievers' trip.

You go girl(s)

"Not bad for a girl from Christchurch" - Harcourts' Alison Aitken on winning the agency's top national sales consultant award for the third time in a row. Harcourts, which has almost 1200 sales consultants, held its annual awards dinner in Wellington last week. The agency also recognised Suzanne Cottle as its top national rural sales consultant. Apparently after 20 years as a dairy farmer (and nurse) Suzanne thought she knew a thing or two about farms and decided to try selling them. Meanwhile, Mary Greig-Clayton received one of the agency's highest honours having been been inducted into the Harcourts Hall of Fame for her contribution to the agency. Ms Greig-Clayton has been with the agency for 23 years and runs the franchised Eastbourne office in Wellington.

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