Les Mills will: Daughter inherits shares and bulk of fitness founder’s estate

About 71% of the company is controlled by Les’ son, Phillip Mills, his wife, Jackie Mills, and long-time business partner, Gary Ivory. Accident Compensation Corporation acquired a 20% stake in 2020, while former Spark chief executive Simon Moutter is among other shareholders.

Les Mills was married to Colleen Maree Mills, who died in 2005. He then married Florence, who died on May 3, 2024.

The multi-level Les Mills Auckland City carpark on Wellesley St beside the company’s main city gym fronting Victoria St West. Photo / Google Streetview

Les Mills and his first wife, Colleen, had son Phillip Mills, who is an executive director at the international fitness and exercise business and daughter, Donna Maree Mills-McArtney.

His will named a number of family members as his main beneficiaries. The High Court in Wellington released the four-page document, dated May 12, 2024.

In 2013, Donna Mills-McArtney was supported by Peter Urlich as she paid tribute to her late husband, singer Dave McArtney. Photo / Sarah Ivey

“I give free of all my debts the shares I hold in Les Mills International to my daughter Donna absolutely,” the will said.

“I give to my son Phillip any intellectual property rights that may exist in Les Mills or any associated entity.”

Les Mills also owned a property on North Piha Rd in West Auckland which he left to Mills-McArtney, along with all works of art and household items.

Phillip Mills is the son of the late Les Mills.

Mills-McArtney was also named as the beneficiary to inherit the home her father owned in Pt Chevalier.

The will clarified that Les Mills’ “personal chattels” go to Mills-McArtney, including his vehicles, garden tools, effects, domestic animals, silver, plates, plated articles, linen, china, glass, books, pictures, paintings, prints, photographs, collection of stamps and coins and memorabilia.

The now-late Les Mills served as the Mayor of Auckland City from 1990 to 1998. Here he is pictured alongside his first wife, Colleen Mills.

The will also recorded Mills’ wish to have his ashes held by his daughter following cremation: “I express the wish that I shall be cremated and my ashes are held by my daughter for her to determine how to deal with it in the future”.

Mills-McArtney was a former Commonwealth Games medal-winning athlete, who once ran a jewellery store in Newmarket, then Ponsonby Rd.

She was also once married to the late Hello Sailor frontman Graham Brazier, who died in 2015.

Les Mills named a sibling, writing in his will that Phillip and Donna “shall, if they are able, and if it is practicable, assist my sister Carrell Mills if she gets into financial difficulty but I appreciate that this will only be an expression of my wishes and is not binding.”

Les Mills represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games, his first being Rome 1960, and the Commonwealth Games over two decades, competing in the shot put and discus throw.

Mills-McArtney referred the Herald back to her brother for comment on her father’s estate.

Phillip Mills explained why most of the assets had been left to his sister.

“That’s what I told him to do. My family is fine,” Mills said.

Donna Mills-McArtney (in white), the wife of the late Dave McArtney, at his funeral in Auckland in 2013. Photo / Sarah Ivey

“My sister looked after him for the last few years. Florence died about two years ago, so Donna lived there and took care of him. He was pretty self-sufficient until the last six months,” Phillip Mills said.

“Her kids – my niece and nephew – are like my own kids. They’ve lived with our family, and we’ve supported them and what they do.

“She has been a successful business owner, but was forced to close her jewellery shop in Covent Garden, London during the pandemic and return home to look after dad and his wife Florence, who died around two years before dad,” Phillip Mills said.

Mills-McArtney has a daughter, Moana McArtney, who is a singer and a son, Gabe McArtney, who is a filmmaker.

“We looked after them for decades, like our own,” Phillip Mills said of his artistic niece and nephew.

Two years ago, the Herald reported how Moana McArtney was in a humble flat in Mt Albert after her father died when she first felt the impulse to pick up his guitar.

Hello Sailor’s Dave McArtney with daughter Moana when she was a child. This decade, she released her own music under the moniker Prynne.

She had taken it as a keepsake but had never played music before then.

That set her off on a career in the music industry. She released her own music under the moniker Prynne, derived from a rare, delicate flower found only in Japan.

Les Mills’ death marked the passing of one of New Zealand sport and business’s most influential figures, who transformed a single Auckland gym into a global fitness brand still controlled by the family six decades on.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 26 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

Stay ahead with the latest market moves, corporate updates, and economic insights by subscribing to our Business newsletter – your essential weekly round-up of all the business news you need.