Society Insider: Sir Graham Henry turns 80, walks 240km Camino trail; multimillionaire property developer’s new relationship

Sir Graham and Lady Raewyn Henry completed the 240km Camino de Santiago last month.

On Monday, the couple, who live on a .8 hectare property on Waiheke Island overlooking Blackpool, headed up to the Bay of Islands to celebrate Ted’s 80th birthday at The Duke of Marlborough.

“It’s just the two of us celebrating, it’s also our daughter Catherine’s 50th this month and my 78th next month, so we will come together as a family for dinner at Fantail & Turtle on the North Shore very soon,” Raewyn tells Society Insider.

For more than a decade, the pair has hosted travel groups, mainly through Fortis Events, including excursions to four Rugby World Cups, tours throughout New Zealand, and a trip to Antarctica.

The Henrys in Antarctica in 2024.

Fortis Events founder Joelle Talbot tells Society Insider the couple have a rare gift for making every person feel valued.

“Their warmth, humility, stories and genuine interest in others create lasting friendships and unforgettable tour experiences, and we feel incredibly privileged to work alongside them,” Talbot says.

On their most recent tour, the couple hosted 11 guests on a journey that began in Porto, Portugal.

The group followed the scenic coastal and inland routes through northern Portugal and into Spain, finishing in the historic pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela.

The pair completed the Spanish Camino del Norte eight years ago, which Graham says was full of hills and much harder.

Sir Graham (centre in red) and Lady Raewyn with their Camino tour group in Spain.

“Some of the participants were friends from the Camino del Norte trip, and the rest of the group became firm friends,” Graham says.

He says the trek was still challenging, despite being spread over 10 days with comfortable accommodation along the way. The group sampled local wines after each day’s walk.

“It was still demanding – we walked at least four hours a day, I think I will need to have two toenails removed,” Graham says.

The pair share hosting duties equally, although Raewyn is the more organised of the two. The pair also insist they are not leaders, and are simply “hanging out with friends” along the way.

“I like the camaraderie of seeing people on the trail, where everyone respects everyone else’s efforts,” Graham says.

He says Santiago de Compostela was a highlight.

“The trip ends at the cathedral, and to see all of these people rejoicing, celebrating what they have accomplished was a joy.”

With more than one million people doing the famous Camino trails each year, the Henrys recommend a well-planned trip outside peak time for anyone considering taking it on themselves.

The week after the couple returned home, All Black coach Dave Rennie named Graham as an All Black selector.

“I felt very privileged to be asked. You think your days are up for that kind of thing,” he says.

“I’m lucky to have been head coach for 140 tests, including the Lions, so I guess people can learn from my experience.”

The Henrys’ next hosting trip will take them to South Africa and Zambia during the All Blacks’ three-test tour against the Springboks in August. Graham will have already spent two weeks with the All Blacks before Raewyn joins him.

Together, the couple will host guests throughout the tour, combining the rugby experience with visits to some of the region’s most spectacular attractions.

Raewyn says Graham never gets tired of answering questions about rugby, but the guests might get sick of him talking about it.

The All Blacks will play at FNB Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg, which was built for the 2010 World Cup.

“The All Blacks famously stepped away from their traditional home grounds to play the Springboks at the massive Arena at the Tri-Nations in 2010, and I am looking forward to seeing them play there again,” Graham says.

He loves Cape Town, especially Robben Island, where former South African President Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 of the 27 years he was incarcerated.

“Nelson Mandela is the best human who ever lived,” Graham says.

“I’ve been in his cell on Robben Island and in 2004 I saw him go on to the field, when the All Blacks were playing the Springboks at Ellis Park and Nelson Mandela shook hands with all of the Springboks.”

Although the Henrys have done a South African safari together before, they say the one on this trip is extra special.

Lady Raewyn and Sir Ted Henry on safari in South Africa.

“The spectacular Kapama Private Game Reserve offers an exclusive safari experience with fewer vehicles and more personalised game drives than the public areas of Kruger National Park,” Raewyn says.

Their tour will stay for three nights at River Lodge, the largest of four luxurious lodges on the reserve.

The group will also take in The Cape Winelands, a premier wine-producing and culinary region.

Society Insider’s couples to watch

Three relationships are on Society Insider’s radar as couples to watch, after some recent international travels.

Kiwi expat, Sydney and Monaco-based rich lister Ben Cook is said to be dating content company founder Chloe Korner-Stewart.

Ben Cook and Chloe Korner-Stewart. Photo / @Bennie_cook

Sources close to Cook, who splits his time between Sydney and Monaco, say that Cook, 50, and his partner of 12 years, Lavinia White, ended their relationship last spring.

Korner-Stewart, believed to be in her mid-20s, grew up in Sydney’s wealthy Eastern Suburbs and attended the elite private boarding school Kambala in Rose Bay. She founded the social media and marketing business The Kollectiv Agency in Sydney, two years ago.

Chloe Korner-Stewart watching the Monaco F1. Photo / @Chloekorner

Her grandmother is believed to be retired beautician Judit Korner, who helped pioneer the multimillion-dollar Madame Korner beauty empire.

Cook and Korner-Stewart are understood to have been dating for a few months, after meeting through mutual friends in the last couple of years.

Korner-Stewart is no stranger to Cook’s jet-set lifestyle. Both have similar circles of friends in Sydney, from Double Bay to Bondi. And both annually enjoy the summer season in Europe.

The couple has started the European summer season with a romantic trip to Paris, followed by time in London, visiting all the top spots in Mayfair, such as private members’ club Annabel’s and Parisian-style brasserie 74 Duke.

They recently spent a few nights at Estelle Manor, a country house hotel and private members’ club in Oxfordshire.

Ben Cook and Chloe Korner-Stewart at Estelle Manor. Photo / @Bennie_cook

They were in Monaco at the weekend, where they could watch the F1 races from the balcony above the circuit. The pair then socialised with A-listers, including influencers Alix Earle and Stassie Karanikolaou at the exclusive Gucci F1 party.

Cook told Society Insider last year that he rents in Monaco.

“It’s always great to be out of the spotlight, and for sure, I’m not on the radar in either Sydney or Monaco.”

Also enjoying Monaco have been Los Angeles-based Sleepyhead heiress Cameo Turner, 29, and her boyfriend, FS Media CMO Sean Thomas.

Cameo Turner and Sean Thomas. Photo / @Cameroturner

The couple travelled along the Mediterranean to Portofino in Italy, where they spent time on superyachts and visited spots favoured by the uber-wealthy, including the magnificent Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat.

Sean Thomas and Cameo Turner in Portofino. Photo / @CameroturnerCameo Turner and Sean Thomas at the iconic Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat. Photo / @Cameroturner

Turner and Thomas are said to have met through the Hollywood content-creating scene, where Turner works for fashion brand Show Me Your Mumu.

Thomas, who originally hails from Boston, co-founded photo and video production and performance marketing agency FS Media nine years ago in Los Angeles.

In 2020, Thomas also co-founded Steez Studios, which, at more than 1500sq m is said to be one of the largest kitchen studios in the US.

Cameo Turner and Sean Thomas in the South of France. Photo / @Cameroturner

Society Insider noted the two may be getting serious when Turner brought Thomas home to Auckland over summer.

The pair spent time at Turner’s parents’ compound in the Bay of Islands, and they also visited Te Arai and Tara Iti.

Lucy Lynch and Guy Williams. Photo / @Guywilliamsguy

Meanwhile, comedian Guy Williams, 38, has found love with professional dancer and burlesque performer Lucy Lynch, 35.

Sparks flew when Williams and Lynch were both performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last July, where Lynch choreographed and performed in The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave (TBWFITR).

Williams was there to perform his stand-up show If You Mildly Criticise Me I’ll Say It’s Cancel Culture and Turn To The Alt-Right.

Following their time at Edinburgh Fringe, the pair travelled together in London and the United Kingdom.

Guy Williams and Lucy Lynch in London. Photo / @Lucyannabellynch

This year, the couple have been navigating their busy show schedules in Australasia.

Lucy performed her TBWFITR show at the Auckland Arts Festival in March, while Guy performed a stand-up show in Hamilton, Waiheke and at the Melbourne Comedy Fest.

Lucy Lynch. Photo / Instagram @Lucyannabellynch

Party People of the Week

Viva Beauty Awards Gala

The inaugural Viva Beauty Awards Gala, presented by Glow Lab, took place on Tuesday night at Auckland rooftop bar Hi-SO.

Brand founders, content creators, beauty PRs and influencers were invited to gather to celebrate the talent and innovation in New Zealand’s world-class beauty industry. The night was MC’d by ZM’s Georgia Burt, accompanied by Viva Beauty Editor Ashleigh Cometti.

Emma Lewisham took out four awards: Brand Founder Of The Year, New Zealand Beauty Brand Of The Year, Best For Mature Skin and Best For Overnight.

Emma Lewisham at the Viva Beauty Awards 2026 Gala. Photo / Babiche Martens

And despite having recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Texas, Pure Mama CEO Lara Henderson arrived in Auckland in time to receive the Innovation Award, presented by Lifestream, for the brand’s new Complex Scar Serum.

Kennedy Anderson, who featured in last week’s column, was announced as the People’s Choice Award winner for his company The Whitening Co, as well as winning the Breakthrough Brand of the Year.

Yasmin Shepherd and Lara Henderson. Photo / Babiche MartensOliver Tyack and Kennedy Anderson. Photo / Babiche MartensKasia Stanicich. Photo / Babiche MartensJess Molina and Kylee De Thier. Photo / Babiche MartensAshleigh Scott. Photo / Babiche MartensKelly Manu. Photo / Babiche MartensRachel Reid and Danielle Lagos. Photo / Babiche MartensBianka Dalton. Photo / Babiche Martens

NZ Radio Awards

New Zealand’s biggest radio industry names descended on Auckland’s NZ International Convention Centre last Thursday for the 2026 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards.

Newstalk ZB took out the big awards, including Station of the Year for a record sixth straight year, while its Drive host Heather du Plessis-Allan took home the prestigious Sir Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year award for the second year running.

The celebrations continued after the ceremony itself, with an after party at Sweat Shop Brew Kitchen. Guests included du Plessis-Allan, RNZ and Viva’s Jesse Mulligan, ZM’s Bree Tomasel and Clint Roberts, Hauraki’s Bec Sandys and The Hits’ Patrina Roche and Callum Procter. Drinks flowed, old friendships were rekindled, and a few trophies made it on to the dance floor.

Carwen Jones, Hayley Sproull, Morgan Penn and Shannon Trim at the Radio Awards. Photo / Shaun Ross David Brice, Jason Tikao and Ashlee Brice. Photo / Shaun Ross Georgia Burt, Toni Street and Harriett Mouat. Photo / Shaun Ross Noelle McCarthy and Marcus Lush. Photo / Shaun Ross Patrina Roche and Callum Procter. Photo / Shaun Ross Gemma Vovchenko, William Terite, and Katie Mills. Photo / Shaun Ross Matty McLean and Sara O’Dwyer. Photo / Shaun RossWilliam Terite, Perlina Lau, Toni Street, Simon Barnett and Jeremy Corbett. Photo / Shaun Ross

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.