KEY POINTS:
It's a long way from the muddy and mangrove-covered banks of Henderson Creek to the Mediterranean ports of Monaco and Sardinia. But it's a journey Ivan Erceg makes often.
As a purveyor of superyachts to the rich, his base may be a sprawling, ageing 5ha boatyard in West Auckland - but his clients live in far more glamorous locations.
Sensation Yachts is also distant from Erceg's own roots, working in the family vineyard near Kumeu with his Croatian immigrant father, Mijo. What would Erceg senior, who died in 1984, think if he could see his son now?
"It's a question I ask myself often," says Erceg. "I think he'd be proud. But he'd also probably say, 'Why are you doing things so hard'?"
The comment is an admission that all has not been plain sailing for Erceg, brother of multi-millionaire liquor baron Michael Erceg who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2005. Sensation has sometimes made headlines for the wrong reasons - late payments to creditors resulting in applications to have the company liquidated.
The latest attempt to wind up Sensation, revealed in the Herald on Sunday last week, has come from its former managing director Paul Sills, who left in March claiming he was owed $89,000 in expenses.
Sills is also planning to take Erceg to the Employment Relations Authority saying he is owed a "significant amount" of unpaid salary. All of which has led to speculation that Sensation Yachts is sinking.
Erceg tells a different story. He is the first to admit the company has been through heavy weather. He stepped down as managing director 18 months ago and is unhappy with the way his company has been run.
Erceg is preparing legal action against Sills and has called in independent auditors to go over the books. He has promised full payment to all the company's creditors.
"They [creditors] are still working with us. People will forgive if you are open and honest. But if you lie and cheat, you are in trouble. Honour is very important to me."
Erceg admits the reputation of his company has suffered.
"I gave control of my company to somebody. Do you think I am going to take my eye off the ball again? I don't think so. Now the boss is back."
But why did Erceg, a former winemaker and importer before buying Sensation 10 years ago, take his eye off that ball?
He says it comes back to Michael. Erceg can't discuss his brother's death without tears filling his eyes. He was involved in the two-week search for Michael and Dutch beer executive Guus Klatte after their helicopter disappeared in November 2005.
Even after his brother was found, there was no closure. Body parts had to be placed in Michael's casket. The trauma stopped Erceg in his tracks. "After Michael's accident it was time to take a break. It was a massive head-butt and I turned a corner.
"We spent 10 or 12 days looking for my brother and we still have issues over the helicopter. I rented an apartment in Monaco. I needed to catch my breath."
During his absence he sailed Michael's motor yacht, called Sensation, to Dubai and Singapore.
"Michael was very spirited, he had an idea and he made it happen. I wouldn't mind having him on board now, with the problems we have had. He used to go into banks and tell them what to do. I can't really put it into words..."
Erceg says his brother was "inspirational" in helping to formulate his future plan for Sensation, which includes expansion into a state-of-the- art boatyard in Singapore, where he wants to create superyachts using robotic technology. He is seeking investment of about $1 billion.
His expansion into Australia has not been easy, however, and a decision will be made this week on whether to sell the company's Newcastle shipyard.
While Erceg is idealistic about his new projects, he says he bears a responsibility towards his staff of 70 in Henderson.
He disputes claims some have not been paid. "Everyone is paid up. These people who have stayed have been incredibly loyal. Financially, nobody will suffer a loss."
Erceg is a man used to being around fabulous wealth - his brother was worth more than $600 million and the family sold his company after his death for more than $1 billion.
He enjoys talking about his customers, the rich men he rubs shoulders with at the Billionaire Club in Sardinia or Jimmy'z Bar in Monaco, where people pay $100 for a Red Bull.
"You can see people in there wearing clothes worth $100,000," he comments. "The elegance is astounding."
But he also talks proudly of his father who worked as a gum digger, weathered the Depression and became a winemaker. Erceg recalls pruning vines on the family vineyard.
"In a Croatian family you work. Not nine to five - you work! My father used to say, 'don't worry, the first six days are the hardest'."
