Extraordinary challenges have not stopped ex-Aucklanders Paul and Rebecca Maugham moving to Cromwell, away from friends and family.

Together, with their 14 year-old son Louis, they are now calling a new build in Cromwell's Wooing tree estate home. 

Despite building supply issues causing many delays to house builds, they moved into their new home a couple of weeks ago.

Paul said they felt so lucky to be under their new roof, only one week behind their planned move-in day.

“The slab got poured on the day we went into lockdown for [the Delta variant] in Auckland. 

“It got us through knowing things were progressing.

"That was a silver lining, there were no delays from the build side of things down here."

Rebecca said they were lucky to not have delays as a result of supply issues other than the cedar cladding.

However, the builders could still carry on with the inside work due to the wrapping on the house.

The family were captivated with Central Otago after a 2019 holiday spent checking out the area including Queenstown. 

Paul said they were attracted to a slower, quieter lifestyle.

Rebecca said the potential for more outdoor activities and the smaller mortgage they would have were additional reasons they made the move. 

Their family were sad to see them move away, but their friends were excited for them.

“They were a little bit admiring of our bravery to make such a big life change.”

The period leading up to the move had not been without its challenges.

Lockdown meant it was impossible for the couple to physically visit the site while building was going on.

Paul found out he has an inherited lung condition and has yet to find work.

The family stayed in an Airbnb for the final six weeks of the build, so that their son could start the academic year at Cromwell College.

“Then on top of finding out about [the lung condition], about two weeks after we came down, one of our cats, Mika, had to be put to sleep … the vet found tumours on his kidneys”

He was a 17 year-old British short hair and an important mainstay of family life. 

All smiles: Rebecca and Paul Maugham in front of their new home in Cromwell. PHOTO: Supplied

Their older son Thomas (22), who is in the navy and will soon transfer to the army to retrain as a combat engineer, has not been able to see the completed build yet due to Covid travel restrictions and a lack of leave.

“We haven’t seen him since December, and he’ll be going to Waiouru in July,” Rebecca said. 

This is the fourth new build the couple have completed in the past 10 years.

Paul said they discovered Wooing Tree Estate two weeks after moving into their last house project – a home in Milldale, 40km north of Auckland.

Rebecca said over time she has figured out what is worth worrying about, what is not and what the big decisions are when building a home. 

She works in client engagement for Infotools, originally a NZ owned company, who were bought last year by IPSOS, the third biggest research company in the world. 

“I can work from anywhere, and … Cromwell, well now this is certainly a beautiful place to work from,” she said.