Heather du Plessis-Allan and husband Barry Soper have had another baby, David Shearer has also welcomed a new child, and the Rua Moana was among luxury yachts that became entwined at the SailGP.
Man about town Ricardo Simich brings you Society Insider. This week, David Shearer, 67, and Barry Soper, 72, both welcomed new babies, a yacht entanglement at SailGP, Phil Spencer returns to New Zealand
It’s been a happy time for some of our veteran political figures recently, with two dads aged over 65 welcoming new arrivals.
Society Insider is told former Labour Party leader David Shearer, 67, welcomed a baby before Christmas with his 44-year-old English partner. And last week, long-time Newstalk ZB political journalist Barry Soper, 72, welcomed a baby daughter, his second child with ZB Drive host Heather du Plessis-Allan, 40, his wife of more than 15 years.
Shearer and his former wife, lawyer Anuschka Meyer, have an adult son and daughter, who were both adopted from Russia as children.
Before his time in politics, Shearer did humanitarian work for more than 20 years in places such as Rwanda, Lebanon and Iraq.
Shearer and Meyer ran one of the biggest aid camps in Somalia in 1992, which saw the NZ Herald make them New Zealanders of the Year, recognising their humanitarian work.
In Jerusalem, Shearer was head of the UN Humanitarian Office from 2003 to 2007.
Shearer became an MP in 2009, when he was elected to a seat in the Mt Albert electorate. He resigned from Parliament in December 2016, with Jacinda Ardern taking over his seat.
In 2017 he was appointed as Special Representative for South Sudan and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Shearer was deployed at a “non-family duty station” — meaning the deployment was deemed dangerous or unsuitable for spouses or children.
He held the position until 2021. Shearer’s name was bandied about as a possible replacement for Auckland Mayor Phil Goff before the 2022 local elections.
Shearer has kept abreast of war-torn situations. Last month he spoke to RNZ about the latest events in Syria. Last year, based on his experience working with private security contractors, he criticised Labour MP Ginny Anderson in the Herald for her comments about Government Minister Mark Mitchell’s past security work in Iraq. Anderson later apologised for her comments.
Meanwhile, Soper and du Plessis-Allan welcomed Mackay du Plessis-Soper to the family last Wednesday, a younger sister to their 2-year-old son Iggy. Mackay is Soper’s seventh child. She weighed in at 8 pounds, 6 ounces and, according to du Plessis-Allan, “Iggy already adores his new sister and has quickly claimed her as his new number one girl”.
Last November, Soper was on the Herald Podcast Ask Me Anything, hosted by former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett. Soper talked about his life-changing heart issues in 2023 while also talking about being an older dad and the impending arrival of his baby daughter.
“One can only hope that I live long enough for her, first of all, to remember her dad, although she’ll have older brothers and sisters who’ll tell her about the dad,” Soper told Bennett. “But I would like to see her get to a reasonable age so that she doesn’t forget me.”
While there was plenty of drama in the SailGP racing in Auckland last weekend, there was drama between a couple of rich listers’ superyachts, too.
On Sunday afternoon, as the pleasure boats jostled for prime position on the edges of the Waitematā Harbour course before racing, the police maritime boat was called.
It is understood the Rua Moana, a 26.8-metre luxury catamaran superyacht, and the Mahalo, a 29.8m motor yacht, had their anchors entwined together.
Harbourmaster captain Andrew Hayton said, “These were relatively large vessels with a number of passengers on board. Several of these large vessels were having difficulty maintaining position in the prevailing weather and tidal conditions.
“Everyone was trying to position themselves for their guests to get the best view of the racing and unfortunately some tried to anchor too close to other vessels causing their anchors to foul.”
Anchored nearby was the 19.8-metre Heineken motorboat, which was hosting A-listers getting ready to watch the racing. Heineken’s guests included Kiwi tennis star Paige Hourigan, Blues Super Rugby player Ricky Riccitelli, fashion designer Caitlin Crisp, and media personality William Waiirua with his fiancee, lawyer and entrepreneur Taylor Sutherland.
Society Insider is told some guests on the Heineken cruise had a front-row seat to the drama of the two big boats unfolding before them.
“It looked like the boats were dragging each other, with their anchors tangled,” a guest told Society Insider. “Both boats’ crews looked quite alarmed looking over the bows of their boats.”
Another guest said the maritime police came over and oversaw the disentanglement until both boats were safe.
The Mahalo’s owners are understood to be rich listers and philanthropists Ross and Josephine Green. The boat is estimated to be worth more than $12 million.
Ross Green is reported to be worth $750m. Among his immense property portfolio, Green is a quarter shareholder in the Viaduct Harbour precinct and serves as a trustee on numerous charities.
The Rua Moana is co-owned by Craig Armstrong, who is the owner and manager of Cruise New Zealand. The upmarket tourism company has two other vessels available for charter, as well as the Rua Moana.
A spokesperson for Cruise New Zealand did not want to comment to Society Insider except to say the incident involved the captains of both vessels.
The Rua Moana featured on TVNZ+ series, Lap of Luxury and was chartered by Prada when Auckland played host to the America’s Cup in 2021.
A half-day cruise on the Rua Moana is $14,950 for up to 40 guests.
Maritime Police directed enquiries to Auckland Transport, which is in charge of the Harbourmaster.
It wasn’t all drama on the high seas. Among the massive flotilla along the course, two Kiwi billionaires' boats stood out from the crowd.
Xero founder Rod Drury’s 51.8-metre luxury catamaran, Kokomo One, was packed with A-list guests, including tech titan Carmen Vicelich and show designer Kathryn Wilson.
Zuru’s Nick Mowbray and fiancee Jaimee Lupton had their guests, including Formula One driver Liam Lawson and his US girlfriend Hannah St John, onboard Zuru’s 39.6-metre Mahoenui superyacht.
Mahoenui was the place to be for many famous faces. Helen Emett was onboard enjoying the A-list hospitality, while her husband, Josh Emett, was catering the fine dining catering at the private SailGP Adrenaline Lounge on Wynyard Point.
She was joined by Lucinda Burling, the wife of Black Foils’ driver Peter Burling, Centuria NZ chief executive Mark Francis and his wife, Redroom Wellness owner Dominique, Pals’ co-founders Anna and Jay Reeve, and broadcaster Dominic Bowden and his fiancee, model Esther Cronin.
Mowbray’s good friend Cam Roberston was on the DJ decks and kept the guests dancing well after the last SailGP race finished.
Yet the Drury and Mowbray boats were dwarfed by that of Australian billionaire James Packer, whose 107.8-metre gigayacht IJE is reportedly worth nearly $300 million.
The IJE is the longest yacht ever built by Italian yacht builders Benetti and reportedly has seasonal charters available for more than $2 million a week.
While his boat was admired as it was moored at Westhaven Marina last weekend, Packer was reportedly dining with the world’s richest man, US billionaire Elon Musk and then-President-Elect Trump, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Empire Capital’s Simon and Paula Herbert took to the air to watch the racing. Their luxury superyacht H is moored in the Mediterranean, and with the weather preventing their tender from coming down from their Bay of Islands compound, the couple instead watched the action from above in their white Airbus H130T2 helicopter.
Last week British TV star Phil Spencer arrived back in New Zealand for a second time to check out our multimillion-dollar mansions and estates for another season of filming for his TVNZ show New Zealand’s Best Homes with Phil Spencer.
Before jumping into filming this week, the freshly arrived Location, Location, Location star, who is staying in smart accommodation in the central city, got over his jet lag by working out at Les Mills on Victoria St.
Last weekend, Spencer enjoyed a beer out at Ponsonby Central.
“I’m excited to be back in New Zealand this summer to explore more stunning properties in some of Aotearoa’s most breathtaking locations,” Spencer tells Society Insider.
Around his packed filming schedule, Spencer says he has loads of activities lined up in Aotearoa, a country he calls “one of the world’s greatest playgrounds”.
“I’ve already got several rounds of golf lined up, a couple of days fly fishing in the diary, some horse trekking, and a tramp or two,” says Spencer. “I can’t wait — there won’t be a dull moment.”
When Spencer, 55, was here last summer, he clocked in 18 of the best architectural homes from around the country.
This time around it’s not just fine homes, he will also be checking out Auckland penthouses, beach houses, a tree villa, a clifftop abode, an island getaway and some rural retreats in the Bay of Islands, Waikato, Coromandel, Queenstown and Wānaka.
“I’m ready to be wowed, once more, most especially. We will be travelling a lot more from the white sand beaches of Northland, which I have heard are amazing.
“I am checking out a few beachfront homes at various locations in the Coromandel and I am looking forward to seeing the homes around the mountains and lakes of Otago,” he says.
Spencer says he will be revisiting a few friends he met last year, including leading architects Paul Clarke, Anna-Marie Chin and Andrew Patterson, as well as meeting some new architects and owners.
“The homes, the locations, the craftsmanship are all incredible, and I keep pinching myself that I get to experience all this as a job,” says Spencer.
Spencer holds Kiwi architects and their creativity and flair in high esteem. He says the feedback from UK viewers of the show, has experienced the wow factor Godzone’s best homes have to offer.
“The series went down very well in the UK, as much as appreciating all the incredible houses we explored, people also enjoyed the opportunity to get a bit of look and feel of life in New Zealand.
“Not being a huge country, the variety of both the landscapes and lifestyles offered in New Zealand is phenomenal.”
Spencer says with the UK’s history, heritage and resulting planning restrictions, the creativity of Kiwi architects, builders and house owners is not something viewers ever see in the UK.
“Virtually every single one of my architect friends now wants to come over to work on the other side of the world!”
New Zealand’s uber-wealthy will be heading to two of Auckland’s hottest events this weekend — the TAB Karaka Millions at Ellerslie and the Centre Court Sounds at Stanley St.
The twilight racing includes three $1 million-plus races and is held the day before the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales.
It’s the biggest week of the year for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Vela family, who hold an annual event for hundreds of international and local industry figures at the Millions. They mingle in style with Auckland’s social elite.
Sir Peter Vela and his wife Lady Pam are worth more than $300 million, and their daughters Petrea and Victoria have the best marquees at the top of the lawn for their guests to enjoy.
Last year, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was on course, as was Anton Lienert-Brown. The All Blacks and Chiefs player is expected back this year with fellow AB Damian McKenzie — the pair are business partners behind the RTD Grins. McKenzie is no stranger to racing — he’s dating Georgia O’Sullivan, daughter of legendary jockey Lance and Waikato horse breeder Bridgette. Georgia’s sister Caitlin is an ambassador for The Auckland Racing Club, alongside Ryan Teece, who is married to The Hits’ Matty McLean, and fashionistas, Hannah Marinkovich and Carena West.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing’s head of communications and content Andrew Gourdie will be trackside, and is expected to bring his girlfriend, broadcaster Rebecca Wright.
Other guests expected at Karaka are ABs coach Scott Robertson, former ABs Israel Dagg, Keven Mealamu, and Ali Williams, Williams’ wife Zeil founder Anna Mowbray, former Black Cap Brendon McCullum, and a contingent of NZ Warriors players.
Across town on Saturday at Parnell’s Manuka Doctor Arena (formerly ASB Tennis Arena), new music event Centre Court Sounds is set to go off for rich listers and music lovers alike.
It’s the first live music gig by events maestro Nick Randell of Podis, with a planned 360-degree stage to give an immersive experience for the crowd. Headliners are New Zealand electronic act Leisure.
There are 80 VIP serviced boxes, seating six people each, priced at $1800, with complimentary champagne, drinks and snacks on arrival. Rich Lister Matthew Pringle, the owner of Manuka Doctor, is said to have two boxes guaranteed from his sponsorship of the arena. Society Insider hears that uber-rich listers Libby Owen, Dominique Francis and Cartier Lee, mega influencer Simone Anderson, and media star William Waiirua and Taylor Sutherland have already secured theirs.
This week, one of New Zealand’s most in-demand models, Ruby Honore relocated to Paris, after signing with leading global fashion management agency Next.
Last January, Honore, 18, made Society Insider’s list of the new generation of movers and shakers to watch in 2024.
Since then, Honore has spent several months in London modelling. On her way home in September she met with the top model agencies in Paris and impressed them all.
Honore is following in her father Dean Honore’s footsteps who, in his early 50s is still an in-demand model in New Zealand.
Dean was primarily based in Paris during the electric era of the 90s, and was a star around the scene, partying with the likes of pop culture phenomenon Grace Jones.
The father and daughter modelled together at the Commercial Bay Solstice Fashion Show in 2023. The pair first modelled together five years before that for the NZ Woman’s Weekly, which Ruby says is one of her most cherished memories.
Her father serves as Ruby’s inspiration, as she makes her mark on the fashion scene in Europe and Dean is extremely proud of his daughter. Watch this space.
The ITM New Zealand SailGP at Wynyard Point
Dozens of well-known faces joined the more than 16,000 fans on shore at Wynyard Point to watch the action of the ITM New Zealand SailGP on Waitematā Harbour last weekend.
SailGP chief executive Sir Russell Coutts mingled with guests at the private SailGP Adrenaline Lounge beneath the waterfront grandstand. Politicians included Government ministers Erica Stanford and David Seymour, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown.
Sporting celebrities included Olympian Dame Lisa Carrington and her husband Michael Buck; Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns Ruby Tui and Renee Holmes; and Kiwi music royalty, newly married Six60 singer Matiu Walters and his brother Nico.
Also at the Adrenaline Lounge were Coutts’ son, make-up artist Grayson Coutts; celebrity chef Hercules Noble with The Cosmetic Clinic’s Vicky Lourens; and former rugby league star Monty Betham and wife Jaymie.
Business and media names in the Adrenaline Lounge included Auckland FC co-owners Ali Williams and Anna Mowbray; Rich Listers, property developer Greg Smale and his wife Felicity; Eco Store’s Pablo Kraus and wife, Denizen publisher Claire Sullivan Kraus; NZ Herald Editor at Large Shayne Currie and his wife, NZ Woman’s Weekly editor Marilynn McLachlan; and TVNZ’s Jane Webber and Melodie Robinson.
The catering at Adrenaline was done by A-List chef Josh Emett and was said to be top-notch. MCs for the weekend were broadcasters Melanie Homer and Mike Puru, who had busy afternoons interviewing notable guests and sailing elite.
Ricardo Simich has been with the Herald since 2008 where he contributed to The Business Insider. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider. The weekly column gives a glimpse into the worlds of the rich and famous.
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