Coastguard windfall from home sale

Volunteer search and rescue charity Coastguard New Zealand has received a substantial $50,000 donation from the sale of a waterfront property at Leigh.

The 26-hectare north-facing headland property at Cape Rodney comprises about 1.5 kilometres of coastline and its own working lighthouse. It sold earlier this year for an undisclosed seven-figure sum.

As part of marketing for the property, its former owners Neil Naran and Shirley-Anne Williams, committed to donating $50,000 to Coastguard following a successful sale. The couple made good on their word, visiting Coastguard New Zealand’s headquarters in Auckland for an official hand-over of their donation.

“Being on the coast, and with the lighthouse on our headland, we always had a very close affinity with the sea,” Naran said.

“Having seen the lifesaving work which Coastguard has undertaken supporting and promoting boaties in need, as well as the coastal environment, it was an easy decision for us to offer financial support.

“Shirley-Anne and I had owned the Cape Rodney block for quite some time, and it had obviously appreciated in value over the years, so we felt comfortable giving some back to the community.”

Coastguard New Zealand chief executive officer Callum Gillespie said Coastguard was delighted with the generous gift.

“The lighthouse at Leigh has kept mariners safe for decades and the gift to Coastguard arising from the sale of the property continues this tradition and will help save lives at sea,” Gillespie said.

The working lighthouse at the tip of the landholding has been a flashing beacon since 1967. Producing a beam of LED light projecting some 10 nautical miles out into the Hauraki Gulf, the fully automated solar-powered lighthouse is administered by Maritime New Zealand. The property was sold through Bayleys Matakana salesperson Kellie Bissett.