Room with a view just perfect for NZ couple
Rod Mackenzie has been surrounded by spectacular views wherever he has lived, including the vast open space of native bush land he owns in Auckland, New Zealand. He has also enjoyed panoramic views at his former home in California, and his present 65th-floor Central Plaza office has spectacular views overlooking the old Kai Tak airport. In addition, his home at Gateway Apartments looks down on Victoria Harbour.
The breathtaking views of the harbour first drew Mackenzie and his wife to the 1,900 sqft apartment above Harbour City, in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui. 'We never draw the curtains because the view is just so amazing,' says the New Zealand Trade and Enterprise's group managing director for north Asia.
Although this is the first time they have lived in a serviced apartment, over the last three years, they have adjusted to their new set-up, which they say is not dissimilar to living in a hotel, except that there is much more space and greater flexibility to make it their own. 'We have done enough to make ourselves feel at home here,' Mackenzie says, noting that they have personalised the fully furnished flat with their own wine fridge and a variety of artefacts gathered from their travels.
Mackenzie's job, promoting his country's goods and services to north Asia, requires regular travel. His schedule underscored his decision to live in serviced quarters.
'I prefer living in a place like this. Whenever we travel, we can just tell the concierge we will be gone for a week and know that everything will be taken care of. From a security perspective, that is key because you can become somewhat of a target if people know you are away, but it is much safer if you know someone is always keeping an eye on your apartment. We can be assured that, upon our return, everything will be as we left it,' he explains.
A serviced apartment, with its range of concierge and housekeeping services, can also cushion the cultural shock of relocation, gently easing newcomers to the lay of the land.
Gateway residents also have access to the Pacific Club, Mackenzie's favourite dining destination, where he regularly eats and socialises. He has held corporate functions there and collaborated with the club to bring over a chef from his home country to host a New Zealand month.
Aside from the proximity to the harbour, the location of the apartment has helped Mackenzie soak up life in the local community. He has mastered the skill of asking for a catty of tomatoes in the wet market just down the road, yet also has the option of returning to the comforts of a modern European-style shopping malls and supermarkets that sit right below his apartment.
He and his wife have not made use of the in-room dining service available thanks to the wide variety of cuisines just around the corner and the convenience of the Pacific Club. 'I have also started to cook more regularly and bought some kitchen utensils, though Gateway provides very good equipment that was upgraded about a year ago. We now have an industrial-strength food processor,' he says.
Despite extending his initial two-year stay in Hong Kong, the New Zealander has held off from buying a home in the city because of skyrocketing property prices and the time required to look after one.
'If you buy a property, you have to watch the market. I just don't have that kind of time,' he explains. 'There were so many things to do when we were living in our own property in New Zealand. You really have to work on maintaining the house, from painting the walls to mending a broken tap, so not having to think about any of that really makes a difference. It gives you peace of mind.'
