A best-in-class passive off-grid home in the Manawatū that balances style, functionality and sustainability to provide a resilient, independent and cost-effective lifestyle close to city boundaries, is for sale.

The high-performing, energy efficient home on 10.7ha at 6/454 Stoney Creek Road, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North is featured in Bayleys’ autumn edition of Country, the firm’s dedicated rural and lifestyle portfolio.

Zoned Rural 1A, the property is billed by agents as being far enough away from urban constraints yet within easy reach of a flat white. It sits within a popular lifestyle area on the north-eastern side of Palmerston North around 9km from The Square, 6km from Palmerston North Airport, and 4km from the Kelvin Grove shops.

Built with longevity in mind, the 285sqm eHaus passive home has four bedrooms, generous living spaces, and good connection to outdoor entertaining areas.

The house has an airtight envelope with a Zhender ventilation system that continuously replaces the air within the home. There’s specially imported German joinery and glazing, two ducted heat pump systems, and smart technology, using a KNX system that provides seamless interconnection among various home devices and can smartly control lighting and airflow.

Completely off-grid, the property generates an impressive 21kW of renewable energy through solar arrays and wind turbines – much more than the property demands and plenty to charge electric vehicles. There’s also a 15kW diesel generator for peace of mind through the winter, ample lead carbon battery storage, and Starlink internet to add to the property’s independence. Rainwater is collected by four 25,000 litre water tanks, with a metered water easement from a neighbouring property for stock water.

A 90sqm three-bay shed has two regular garage doors plus a taller bay suitable for boat or campervan storage, along with a sleepout with bathroom. There are raised and irrigated vegetable gardens and citrus trees, along with plenty of room for some stock with the land benefitting from the vendor’s clever regenerative practices.

Jack Monckton and Mark Monckton of Bayleys Manawatu are taking the property through a tender campaign closing 7th May, and it will not be sold prior.

“The home was constructed in 2018 site as a forever home for its retired owners, however, life had other plans and now a like-minded buyer can pick up the legacy and benefit from the forward-thinking and eco-conscious blueprint on offer,” says Jack Monckton.

“Being self-sufficient energy wise and with more than 10ha of land to play with, this property will provide the quintessential ‘good life’ for a new owner, with practical and financial gains from being autonomous of conventional utility providers.

“As evidenced by extreme weather-affected power supply issues in recent times, and rising energy costs with suppliers warning of even higher rates this winter, this property offers resilience and independence without compromise.”

Monckton says he’s impressed with the property’s credentials, and the flexibility, freedom and value it offers.

“No corners have been cut here, it would be impossible to replicate this offering in the current market given the cost of construction today.

“It’s the antithesis of a ‘life sentence block’, effectively being a lock up and leave, low-maintenance property that gives far more than it takes.”

With the off-grid set-up the most robust and reliable he’s seen anywhere, Monckton says the land itself is also undemanding.

“The owner takes two cuts of baleage and a cut of hay each year rather than keeping stock and there are no lawns as such around the house. Green-fingered people will happily be able to grow all the produce they could need.”

Monckton says the vendor has been an innovator in the rural sector, and is well-known for being an early adopter of clever farming methods and in pioneering new agricultural systems.

“This property reflects his commitment to creating a resilient, low impact property that outperforms a lifestyle property as we generally know it.”

The latest Real Estate Institute of New Zealand property report shows that the wider Manawatū lifestyle market recorded an uptick in the number of sales and an increased median sales’ price for February 2025 on the same time last year, reflecting improved sentiment and confidence in the region.