Businessman Bruce Hancox to quit New Zealand

Former Brierley Investments chief executive and chairman, Bruce Hancox, and his partner, Judi Lenart are quitting New Zealand for Australia at the end of the year.

Mr Hancox will join a number of 1980s business high fliers including Michael Fay, David Richwhite, Doug Myers and Tony Gibbs who have decided to leave New Zealand in recent years.

The couple will move to Sydney in December to be closer to family. After living in Nelson for 16 years, they have put their Port Hills home on the market for $3.3 million .

Ms Lenart said she had decided earlier this year to retire from Founders School, a private primary school the couple helped establish in 1991, but the decision to move to Sydney was made recently.

The school would not be sold, although Ms Lenart would no longer be involved in its management.

Mr Hancox has been a Port Nelson director for more than 10 years. He will retire from that position at the end of the year. He has also owned several businesses in the region.

Mr Hancox owned private investment firm Active Equities with former Brierley executives Paul Collins, Patsy Reddy. It played a crucial role in the takeover of Hawke's Bay meat company Richmond by PPCS of Dunedin.

Mr Hancox said he would have been happy to remain living in Nelson and thought he had found the right lifestyle with his Port Hills property and boat nearby, but the decision to leave had been made for family reasons.

Mr Hancox said he planned to become more involved in several business ventures he has in Australia.

- nzpa