Wellington, May 1 NZPA - A home touted as New Zealand's largest and most expensive has been listed for sale overseas -- with a dedicated "Christmas gift room" and miniature ponies among its attractions.

Described as a "$30 million house" when built a couple of years ago at Coatesville, 24km northwest of Auckland, it has been listed by Browns Sotheby's International Realty in Britain for 7.6 million pounds ($NZ20 million).

British couple Richard and Ruth Bradley, who emigrated to New Zealand in 1993, commissioned Parnell architect Greg Noble to construct a "traditional English country home".

The couple -- the founders of Christmas hamper company Chrisco -- "wanted a home from home" Sotheby's said.

Mr Bradley has also been also heavily involved in finance and property investment.

The four-storey home, which sits on 22.26ha on Mahoenui Valley Rd north of Albany and covers 4459 square metres, took four years to build.

Reports at the time said the average Chrisco hamper costs just over $350 and the house cost the equivalent of 85,000 hampers.

As well as the gift wrapping room it has seven bedrooms, a guest cottage, wine cellar, theatre, garden maze, tennis courts, vineyard and boathouse.

In addition to the Bradleys, it is home to four miniature ponies and two llamas. It is being marketed as an "easy drive" to popular beaches in Northland.

The estate agent noted the construction "sadly cost the life of a tradesman", who was killed after being struck by a steel boom while two co-workers were trying to dismantle a crane.

The Chrisco Hamper Club recently expressed interest in buying assets of a troubled rival, Mrs Christmas, which also sells hampers paid for by people who make regular contributions during the year.

Mrs Christmas was placed in liquidation on April 22, Chrisco and its other main rival, Hampsta, have been reported to be separately considering taking over the business, which has about 3500 customers.