Security, serenity and strong leadership are just some factors that make New Zealand an ideal country to live in

If you’re one of the people eyeing the remote island of New Zealand after seeing it effectively eliminate COVID-19, why not treat yourself to the country’s most expensive property?

The gobsmacking super penthouse is the crown jewel of Auckland’s latest luxury development, The Pacifica, and has just hit the market for NZ$40 million (S$36.35 million). As a point of comparison, Robb Report’s Concourse Skyline Penthouse is listed for S$48 million, while the most expensive home in Singapore is The Harbour View House at Sentosa Cove, which goes for S$78 million. And yes, the New Zealand government has approved for it to be sold to overseas buyers.

Boasting more than 200 apartments – 85 per cent of which have already sold – the residence comprises one, two- and three-bedroom units. And the views will most definitely stretch for miles. New Zealand isn’t known for its skyscrapers, making The Pacifica, which spans a lofty 181m, the tallest residential tower in New Zealand when complete.

The pièce de résistance is, of course, the 1,272-sqm penthouse, which occupies the entire 53rd and 54th floors of the building. Owners will enjoy an incredible 360-degree overlooking the Waitematā Harbour.

The penthouse is currently a ‘warm shell’ – its exterior is complete but its interior is unfinished – which means the new owner can choose to either tackle the interior themselves or leave it to the building’s developer Hengyi Pacific (NZ) Ltd. It has been reported that those who wish to design the penthouse themselves are able to purchase it at a slightly lower price, but crunch the numbers and you’ll realise the numbers will more or less add up to be the same.

If it’s the latter, the proposed floor plan sees the first floor with an open-plan dining room, living room, lounge and kitchen, which comes with a separate butler’s kitchen, plus a conservatory, media room, office, boardroom and library.

Not to be outdone, the second floor offers five bedrooms – including a generous master suite that covers a full corner of the tower – along with a gym, sauna and spa.

The best part? When it comes to buying, there’ll be virtually no red tape. Typically, New Zealand requires foreign buyers to obtain Overseas Investment Office approval before buying a house, but all units in the Pacifica are exempt from that restriction.

The listing is represented by Jason Gaddes and Scarlett Wood of New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, and you can find more information here.