Society Insider: Beauden Barrett’s holiday on Fiji’s ‘Millionaire’s Row’; Colin Mathura-Jeffree hosts A-list party at Auckland adult club

The home sits among properties owned by dozens of wealthy Kiwis, including Rich Listers Ross and Dallas Pendergrast and philanthropist Fran Wyborn, situated on canals in The Cove and around the harbour at Paradise Point.

They were joined by Beauden’s younger brother, fellow All Black Jordie and his fiancee Alice Marshall, and other members of the Barrett family, including younger sisters Jenna and Zara.

Alice Marshall, Ella and Jordie Barrett at Ella’s wedding.

Just before Christmas, all eight Barrett siblings were in Taranaki for the wedding of their youngest sister, Ella, to Sam Lewis. Beauden and Hannah’s daughters, Billie and Coco, were flower girls.

After Beauden and Hannah spent Christmas at the Laity’s smart beach house in Mangawhai, north of Auckland, they headed to Fiji for the extended family holiday. Fiji is a special place for the couple; they got engaged eight years ago at Tokoriki Island Resort.

Society Insider is told the family getaway to Fiji was a good way to celebrate some family milestones.

Beauden and Hannah are expecting their third child soon, and their youngest daughter, Coco, turned three while they were on holiday. Jordie and Alice are four months into their engagement.

Hannah and Beauden Barrett in Denarau.

The Fiji waterfront enclaves are adjacent to some of Port Denarau’s best ocean-front five-star hotels, including the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa and the Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort.

Most of the Millionaire’s Row houses, which range in price from $1.5 million to more than $5m, have pools and jetties with boats backing out onto the canals.

The Laitys and Barretts heading out for a day of boating in Fiji.

Sources tell Society Insider that many of the residents do not rent out their homes, instead creating rosters for family and friends to enjoy their slice of paradise.

Former Real Housewife of Auckland, Angela Stone, stayed at The Cove over summer, ahead of a soon-to-be-announced career change after leaving Eye magazine late last year. She tells Society Insider the homes are “breathtaking”.

“There are gated communities, with 24-hour security,” she says. “As a girl from Christchurch, I am pleased to say a huge amount of the owners in Millionaire’s Row are wealthy South Islanders.”

On their New Year holiday, the Laitys and the Barretts enjoyed time at the pool, playing board games and barbecues, as well as out on the Laitys’ boat, fishing and visiting nearby islands and beaches. The families also enjoyed some of the restaurants close by within the hotels and eateries at Port Denarau.

Jordie Barrett and his fiancee Alice Marshall enjoy the pool in Fiji.Jordie, Jenna and Hannah Barrett boating in Fiji.Hannah and Beauden Barrett boating in Fiji.

Known for their competitive drive and swings, Beauden and Jordie played golf together an hour’s drive north of Port Denarau, at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.

And with pre-training for the Blues and the Hurricanes coming up, the brothers kept up their fitness at the gym in Denarau.

Beauden and Jordie Barrett playing golf in Fiji. Photo / Supplied

Many of the crew came home last week. Jordie is playing in the Hot Spring Spas T20 Black Clash on Saturday, returning for Team Rugby at Bay Oval in Tauranga.

Colin Mathura-Jeffree’s midnight mischief

Colin Mathura-Jeffree hosted a Rocky Horror-themed New Year’s Eve party at Auckland adults club Kuffs.

Man about town, model and television personality Colin Mathura-Jeffree had a risque New Year, as host for a party at adult club Kuffs on Auckland’s Beach Rd.

The club, known as an adults’ playground, welcomes people from all alternative lifestyles who like to explore kink, fetish, burlesque, cirque, bondage, discipline and swinging.

Kuffs owner Neil Rennick asked Mathura-Jeffree to host the NYE bash in character as Frank-N-Furter for the Rocky Horror Picture Show-themed party.

“I had played Frank-N-Furter for a L’Oreal showcase decades ago and love the persona, so it was a yes,” Mathura-Jeffree tells Society Insider. “I thought, let’s go into the new year free and fabulous.”

He says Rennick is an old friend.

“I know he runs a discreet fetish establishment, and in my modelling days I went to similar parties all over the world.”

Mathura-Jeffree says Kuffs is strict on its guest list, with consent and a safe environment as a priority. He says the “spicy” action happens in the back rooms, not where he was MCing.

“What I love about Kuffs is it’s not about influencers photographing themselves; cameras are restricted, and duty of care to patrons is paramount. It also has an underground speakeasy vibe of privacy, which I love.”

Colin Mathura-Jeffree as Frank-N-Furter leaving for the no-cameras NYE party at Kuffs.

The former Next Top Model host would not name attendees at the party, but said that among the kinksters, there were a few famous chefs, TV personalities, some very wealthy patrons and a former Real Housewife of Auckland.

He describes the party’s atmosphere as a mix between the Rocky Horror theme, Madonna’s Erotica video and the movie Eyes Wide Shut.

“Mistresses and masters were walking around, and someone asked me to be a submissive, and I just laughed,” he says.

Society Insider highlighted New Zealand’s growing naked party scene in a column three years ago. Mathura-Jeffree says that Rennick’s operation is boutique and naughty.

Mathura-Jeffree hosted from 8pm, where he says pink batch cocktails such as Dammit Janet punch or Transylvanian Twist flowed, and guests entered a different world of decadence, where he welcomed them into Frank-N-Furter’s lab.

“I couldn’t keep my eyes off the performers, their acts were delightfully outrageous and not for the faint-hearted, kink mixed with artistry,” he says.

Mathura-Jeffree, with his own riding crop in hand, kept the party titillated and led the New Year countdown at midnight.

“What happened after midnight, stays after midnight,” says Mathura-Jeffree.

He did have a surprising reunion with two legends from the 90s club scene, Steve and Linsey Cleary, who Mathura-Jeffree was quick to point out left Kuffs before midnight.

Now Cambridge-based, the Clearys run Savvy Touch, a wellness brand with products made from 100% natural ingredients, including sinus support, insect repellent, fly spray and sunscreen. Mathura-Jeffree is now doing business with the Clearys, lining up exports to India.

With New Zealand’s growing trade relationship with India, this year Mathura-Jeffree is flexing his prestigious little black book full of Bollywood stars, models, politicians, smart businesspeople and royalty, to help promote NZ boutique and luxury brands into India.

“It’s been a dream of mine since my early career success as an Anglo Indian, New Zealand-born model who lived the high life through the 90s in India, to help NZ products enter the massive Indian marketplace,” he says.

Colin Mathura-Jeffree is using his contacts to help Kiwi brands export to India.

He plans to introduce Savvy Touch into India, as well as the Becca Project, a range of luxurious New Zealand handcrafted home fragrance and body care products.

Mathura-Jeffree is featured in this month’s Eye magazine, promoting Becca Projects’ New Haven Beard Oil.

“I was called by the publisher of Eye magazine and asked to front Becca’s campaign – it’s a match made in heaven,” he says.

Colin Mathura-Jeffree is on the inside cover of this month’s Eye magazine.

He says he is also in talks with other businesses and has been in negotiations with a New Zealand tech company to become their trade ambassador.

Next week, Mathura-Jeffree will shoot a music video for NZ-based English singer-songwriter Serene for her song Midnight Mischief.

“My role is to be the focus of attention, the love interest at an elegant house party which spills out to the beach under moonlight,” Mathura-Jeffree says. “The theme is romantic noir with seduction as the Champagne flows, with elements of French New Wave cinema and a sensual tone that encompasses intrigue and playful allure.”

The music video of Midnight Mischief will premiere on Juice TV on Valentine’s Day, and is available on Serene’s YouTube channel.

Glam backyard weddings

Toby Baker and Mikayla Haycock married at Baker’s parents’ St Heliers estate.

The summer wedding season continues this month, with the latest nuptials taking place at glamorous “backyard” celebrations in beautiful locations.

Liam Lawson’s talent agent Mikayla Haycock married Arizona-based robotics engineer Toby Baker on Friday at the St Heliers estate of his parents, motoring Rich Listers Donna and Grant Baker.

Lawson and his US girlfriend, Hannah St John, who is also managed by Haycock, were in attendance.

Liam Lawson and Hannah St John at the Baker wedding.

The bride was stunning in a custom white satin Vivienne Westwood gown, accentuated by a round brilliant graduating diamond necklace from Partridge Jewellers. The groom and his three groomsmen looked smart in Working Style black suits and black ties.

Mikayla Baker wears a custom Vivienne Westwood gown with a diamond necklace from Partridge Jewellers.

Haycock’s three bridesmaids wore black Caitlin Crisp dresses and carried merlot-coloured flowers. The theme at the palm-lined estate with panoramic views of the Waitematā was merlot, red and white. Merlot and cream flowers flowed up the main stairs of the mansion.

Toby and Mikayla Baker surrounded by their wedding party.

Grant, famous for his collection of Ferraris, had a merlot-coloured one parked out front.

The couple performed their nuptials at the bottom of the stairs, with up to 90 guests sitting on red and white striped chairs, who threw red rose petals on the newlyweds. The relaxed affair continued with speeches and dancing beneath a central fairy‑lit marquee, with pop-up marquees and umbrellas scattered across the grounds – and a gelato van parked nearby for good measure.

“I had the best day of my life, marrying my best friend surrounded by all the people we love,” Haycock tells Society Insider.

The newlyweds enjoy their wedding cake.

“I am so grateful to my new mother-in-law, Donna, and the team of vendors that helped create our vision for an incredible day.”

Then on Saturday, former The Block NZ contestant and co-founder of medicinal mushroom brand Mother Made, Emily Blanchett, married Blink design and production co-owner, Tim Slane, at their mid-century home in West Auckland’s Te Atatū Peninsula.

Tim Slane and Emily Blanchett on their wedding day.

Blanchett’s Mother Made business partner, London-based model Jessica Clarke, was one of Blanchett’s bridesmaids. The pair have known each other since their school days in Palmerston North.

Britt Cutts with Emily Blanchett and her business partner and bridesmaid Jessica Clarke.

Clarke’s plus-one was her fiance, UK sports and entertainment manager David Gardner, who is the best friend and business partner of Sir David Beckham.

The couple have been taking the opportunity to tiki tour around New Zealand, driving straight to the Far North after they arrived last weekend, taking in Tane Mahuta on the drive to Northland. They spent a few days at exclusive luxury lodge The Landing in the Bay of Islands, and had a wine tasting with Clarke’s brother Sam.

Jessica Clarke and her fiance, David Gardner, in Northland.

Clarke and Gardner then returned to Auckland and based themselves around Viaduct Harbour, enjoying the local eateries and scootering around town.

Clarke attended Blanchett’s bachelorette party on Friday, which involved a Pilates session at Cora in Grey Lynn, the wellness studio opened by Marc Ellis and partner Mibella Villafana last August, followed by a long lunch at Darling on Drake.

Blanchett and Slane have been dating since 2020 and have lovingly used both of their design skills in beautifully renovating their mid-century home.

In that time, the couple welcomed two daughters, Penelope and Lola.

Blanchett looked stunning in a strapless dress with a ruffled bust and skirt with corset bodice, while Slane looked cool in an unstructured brown suit and black singlet.

White umbrellas and bench seating made the tropical outdoor area the perfect place for their nuptials and a laid-back after-match.

Jessica Clarke and her fiance, David Gardner, are based in London but have been holidaying in NZ while here for friends’ weddings.

Clarke and Gardner are said to be attending another wedding this month, of Pals co-founder Mat Croad and creative Rachael Needham, who were also in attendance at Blanchett’s wedding.

Party people of the week

The best of the tennis

The ASB Classic continued to deliver both on and off the court during women’s week, setting the tone ahead of the men’s championship this week.

A familiar mix of sport, media and entertainment faces were spotted courtside across women’s week. Guests in the boxes included comedians Urzila Carlson and Leigh Hart; politicians Judith Collins and Louise Upston at the women’s semi-finals; sprinter Zoe Hobbs; UFC star Carlos Ulberg; The Hits’ Matty McLean, fashion designer Kiri Nathan, and influencers Brit Cunningham, Jasmine Kim, Raukura Huata and Jess Quinn all making the most of the summer tennis atmosphere at Manuka Doctor Arena.

At the Aperol party on Saturday evening, players, partners, media and influencers enjoyed an evening of colour, cocktails and celebration. Guests included ASB’s executive manager of commercial partnerships, Mark Graham, actors Vinnie Bennett, Ria Vandervis and Amelia Reid-Meredith, TVNZ’s Lucy Bendell and Zion Dayal, and influencers Samantha Richards and Jasmine Kim, with players Casper Ruud, Luciano Darderi and Roberto Bautista Agut spotted in the stands.

With men’s week now underway, the celebrity spotting continues, with All Blacks Cam Roigard, Patrick Tuipulotu and Samipeni Finau all headed along on Tuesday, and Coast’s Toni Street and ZM’s Clint Roberts all tipped to make appearances courtside in the coming days.

Alejandro Garcia Prieto, Spanish player, Roberto Bautista Agut and Pepe Vendrell at the ASB Classic.Italian player Luciano Darderi.Lucy Bendell, Celia Ward, Zeal Jones and Finn Fenning.Jamie Mainds and Matty McLean.Ria Vandervis and Amelia Reid-Meredith.Matthew Stretton and Brianna Baker.Bayon Kim, Alex Glucina and Marcus Upton.UK player Cameron Norrie. Vinnie Bennett and Angela Stone.Vanessa Smolcic, Allegra Bruce, Phoebe Brown and Mia Smith.VJ Knell and Rich Kemble.Mark and Lyn Graham.Zoe Hobbs and Alex King.Katie Armstrong, Lewis Hampton, and Ian Hepenstall. Haylee Nitschke, Jasmine Kim and Brittany Cunningham.

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.