Society Insider: NZ’s two richest families play host to Lupton and McGoldrick wedding; Equestrian royalty arrives in NZ for polo, races and sales

Jaimee’s fiance is Zuru co-founder Nick Mowbray. Society Insider is told Morgan and Tim’s wedding ceremony was held on the Mowbray family’s 40m superyacht, the Mahoenui, which was moored near Church Bay on Waiheke. It was an intimate wedding with about 40 guests said to be there.

Jaimee and Morgan Lupton.

The Mowbrays purchased the superyacht from Graeme and Robyn Hart and family five years ago for more than $20 million.

Morgan looked stunning in a white strapless beaded wedding dress. The couple are believed to have had no bridal party.

After the ceremony, guests were ferried on tender boats to get from the yacht to shore for the reception at the Hart family estate, Church Bay Farm, a private enclave in Church Bay.

Guests mingled on the hills of the farm with sweeping views of the Waitematā. The reception was alfresco with long tables set with white sun umbrellas and white orchids.

McGoldrick is the brother of broadcaster Laura McGoldrick, whose family have long been close to the Harts. Twelve years ago, Laura married former Black Cap Martin Guptill at the Harts’ Glendowie compound, with the Harts’ daughter Gretchen Hawkesby among her bridesmaids. Tim is a close friend of Graeme and Robyn’s son Harry and Nick Mowbray.

Tim McGoldrick, Harry Hart and Chris McGoldrick.Harry Hart, Jaimee Lupton, Nick Mowbray, Chris and Laura McGoldrick and Martin Guptill.

The Harts have owned the land for more than 20 years, after buying multiple neighbouring sections on Church Bay Rd, Waiheke, to establish a massive holiday estate on the island.

A stunning white villa-style mansion was built as the main house, with the estate now estimated to be valued at more than $30m.

Tim was at Harry and Nick’s annual golfing tournament, the Closeburn Classic, in December. It took place at the Hart family mansion at Closeburn Station near Queenstown, which is also now estimated to be worth more than $30m.

Tim McGoldrick and rugby star Damian McKenzie at the Closeburn Classic in December.

Sources say that this year’s Classic – won by Harry’s team, the Mules, on which Tim played – doubled as an unofficial bachelor send‑off for Tim at the after‑match.

Tim and Morgan were with Jaimee and Nick and friends over the New Year break, enjoying time in the Bay of Islands on the Mahoenui, with many of the guests also said to have attended Tim and Morgan’s wedding.

Guests have been tight-lipped about the details of the wedding, which is said to have been a private affair.

Among the family and friends were Morgan’s parents, David and Patrica Lupton, and Tim’s parents, Bryn and Leanne McGoldrick. It is understood Tim’s United States-based brother, ListAssist founder Chris, made it home for the wedding, as did Laura and Martin, who have both been overseas with Laura’s broadcasting and Martin’s cricket commitments.

Tim McGoldrick and Morgan Lupton amongst the Hawkesby and Hart family at the Karaka Million in 2019. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Robyn and Graeme were also there, as was Harry’s fiancee, Australian heiress Cartier Lee.

After lunch, guests headed back to the boat for drinks and dancing, where Morgan changed into her wedding party dress and she and her new husband enjoyed a private dance on the top deck.

Tim McGoldrick and Morgan Lupton.

Guests stayed at either the Hart estate or the surrounding houses. On Sunday, the newlyweds and their wedding guests enjoyed lunch at nearby Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant.

Tim and Morgan didn’t rush off on honeymoon; last weekend they enjoyed the Ed Sheeran concert in VIP style in a corporate box at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium, joined by Nick, Jaimee and a group of their friends.

Meanwhile, the summer wedding season continued last weekend with Pals co-founder Mat Croad marrying creative director Rachel Needham at Ātaahua Estate in Croad’s native Bay of Plenty.

Newlyweds Mat and Rachel Croad. Photo /Bianca Virtue

The palatial estate in Ōmokoroa, Tauranga, is among the most luxurious in New Zealand.

The ivy-clad Italian palazzo has five staterooms decorated with exquisite artwork, antiques and Venetian furniture.

The couple married in the grounds, amongst the magnificent Italian landscaped gardens, which feature Roman-style pillars and urns.

The setup at Ātaahua Estate for Mat and Rachel Croad’s wedding.

Society Insider reported the couple, who have been dating for more than four years, got engaged last March, with Croad turning his 40th birthday aboard a superyacht into a surprise proposal for Needham.

Needham’s Trish Peng wedding gown was simple and stunning, with a strapless satin ruched bodice flowing into a full, billowing skirt from the hip. Needham wore another Peng creation for the reception.

Mr and Mrs Croad with Austin. Photo / Bianca Virtue

Croad wore a black suit with a short-sleeved white shirt. Among the wedding party of six were Croad’s good friend, Stolen Girlfriends’ founder Marc Moore, and Needham’s sister Grace, who was her maid of honour.

Also in their wedding party was the couple’s miniature dachshund, Austin, who wore a white collar and black bow tie.

Guests included Croad’s Pals co-founders Nick Marshall and Anna and Jay Reeve.

Pals co-founders Anna and Jay Reeve at Mat Croad and Rachel Needham’s wedding. Pals co-founder Nick Marshall with Amelia Jonas.

Rich list and society set arrive for NZ’s biggest equestrian week

Two of New Zealand’s most prominent equestrian families are celebrating milestones in style this week.

Sir Peter Vela and his family are set to pull out all the stops this weekend as they toast their NZ Bloodstock’s centenary.

Sir Peter Vela (right) and jockey Silvestre de Sousa.

And on Tuesday night, at the launch of next month’s NZ Polo Open, Society Insider learned that the Auckland Polo Club president, poultry magnate Tony van den Brink, is building an impressive new state-of-the-art club at the Cleveland Polo fields, ready for the Open’s 50th birthday next year.

“I want to create a legacy club for members and players to be proud of,” van den Brink tells Society Insider.

The launch was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Karaka, which is owned by the Vela family, who have a reported wealth of more than $300m. The hotel sits on the grounds of the Velas’ NZ Bloodstock’s grounds and annually partners with the NZ Polo.

Van den Brink, whose family are reportedly worth $450m, was at the launch, joined by his wife Christine and their daughter, actor, singer and polo player Greta.

Christine and Tony van den Brink.

The van den Brinks live at Willow Park in Karaka, a 136ha farm and estate worth more than $26m, where their front lawn doubles as a polo field.

The family also own Clevedon’s Barberry Downs, where they keep polo ponies, and the Ryburn Park Polo Fields, which has three polo fields.

Tony owns Van Den Brink Group, most famous for its Brink’s Chicken brand. His sons Matthew and Steve, who work in the family business with their other brother Karl, will be playing in the Open next month for their family team, Brinks.

The Open sits high on the international polo calendar, and a contingent of wealthy fans and players arrived in Auckland this week for the launch party before the New Zealand Bloodstock sales this weekend.

Brisbane-based, Australian multimillionaire Steve Urquhart, the director of All Energy Contracting, is flying in four NZ-bred horses from Australia for the Open, at a cost of just under $100,000.

Australian multimillionaire Steve Urquhart is flying four horses in from Australia.

Urquhart has taken the polo world by storm in the past three years, going from owning three horses to more than 25.

He made a name for himself last year on the European circuit, playing in Spain. In NZ, he will play with one of the world’s leading polo teams, the Swiss powerhouse Standing Rock.

The team are owned by Swiss polo tycoon Philipp Mueller, who won’t be at the NZ Open because he is in St Moritz for the snow polo.

Instead, Mueller’s son Pier has flown into Auckland to win the title for the family legacy.

Swiss‑born Pier was previously based in London but has recently shifted his studies to Argentina to focus on the sport and train alongside some of the world’s best players.

Swiss polo player Pier Mueller.

Other famous names playing in the Open are English star Jimbo Fewster, who was at the launch fresh off the plane from his win at the Melbourne Polo Cup Tournament, the largest polo tournament in Australia.

Fewster has been dating Kiwi show jumping star Laura Inkster. He is a regular on the English polo team and has met King Charles and Queen Camilla through playing for Standing Rock in the royal tournaments at Guards Polo Club.

Fellow English player Will Harper, the son of world-renowned England polo captain James Harper, will be playing against Fewster for Brinks.

Society Insider is told the Harper family play alongside the sport’s biggest tycoons and global royalty and aristocracy.

Also playing for Brinks is the highest-rated player in the tournament, Argentine player Juan Gris Zavaleta.

Marquees at the Open cost from $3620 for 10 people, while public access costs from $45 per person. Marquees are also available for groups of 20 and 30.

Meanwhile, the Karaka Millions races take place this Saturday afternoon at Ellerslie, where the Vela family will have an NZ Bloodstock marquee before the Bloodstock sales at Karaka the next day and ensuing week.

Peter Vela’s daughter, Petrea Vela, tells Society Insider that thoroughbred experts and enthusiasts will descend on Karaka from all over the world as they hope to find their next racetrack star.

Victoria and Petrea Vela. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

“We love welcoming them at our Karaka Millions raceday at Ellerslie on the eve of the sale commencing,” says Petrea Vela.

“The team at NZB has been building towards this special milestone for some time, and we’re thrilled that our vendors will be supporting this sale with their finest stock.”

Expected guests at both the Millions and the sales are Minister of Racing Winston Peters; Lance and Bridgette O’Sullivan and their family, including All Black Damian McKenzie, who is weeks away from welcoming his first child with Georgia O’Sullivan; former Black Cap Brendon McCullum; Warriors chief Cameron George; and former supermodel Kylie Bax.

Damian McKenzie, Bridgette O’Sullivan and Tom Doyle. Kylie Bax.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his wife, Amanda, have also been invited to the Karaka Millions, and if they attend, have been asked to present the prize to one of the million-dollar race winners.

Also expected at the Millions and the sales are Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan Lindsay and his wife, Lady Jo, Waikato Stud’s Mark Chittick, Windsor Park’s Nelson and Sue Schick, and Trelawney Stud’s Brent and Cherry Taylor.

Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay own Phar Lap’s horseshoes. Photo / Dean Purcell

Sunday’s bloodstock sales will be extra special, as this year marks NZ Bloodstocks’ 100th birthday. Famous sales over its history include Phar Lap, who was sold in the event’s second year in 1928. A life-size model of the famous horse will be at the entrance.

Society Insider is told interest is high in New Zealand horses this year, after horses bred here won 23% of 2025’s Group One races in Australia.

The most expensive filly last year was sold for $2.4m, bought by South Island rich lister Glenn Ritchie, the former Ritchies coach transport magnate. Ritchie has been invited to the Millions and is expected to attend the sales.

Notable names expected to attend the sales this year include trainer Gai Waterhouse, known as the Queen of Australian horse racing, as well as Australian-based Tom Magnier, the son of Irish billionaire and horse racing tycoon John Magnier, who has his Coolmore stud farms in Britain, the United States and Australia. Tom runs his father’s company in Australia.

Tom Magnier. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Also attending is Aussie billionaire Gerry Harvey, the executive chairman of Harvey Norman Holdings. The retail magnate is a major figure in the thoroughbred bloodstock industry, owning significant breeding operations, Baramul Stud in Australia and Westbury Stud in New Zealand.

Other trainers attending include world-famous Australian Peter Moody, who is notable for training more than 3000 winners; British trainer William Haggas, known for training winners for the late Queen Elizabeth II, and Aussie-based Kiwi Chris Waller, who is widely regarded as one of the best in the world.

Local rich listers who are regulars at the sales include Viaduct property barons Mark Wyborn and Trevor Farmer, and former All Black Ali Williams, all of whom are friends with the Vela family.

Party People of the Week

NZ Polo Open launch

The Milford NZ Polo Open launch party, hosted at the DoubleTree by Hilton Auckland in Karaka on Tuesday, welcomed polo patrons, players, and sponsors ahead of the event at the Auckland Polo Club, Clevedon, on Sunday, February 15.

Guests at the launch enjoyed free-flowing Veuve Clicquot and Whispering Angel magnums, beers and AF mocktails, with canapes from Double Tree’s head chef, Sergio Arroyo.

Also at the launch were the Open’s new naming rights sponsor, Milford. The company’s acting CEO, Philip Morgan Rees, spoke about how thrilled he was to be aligned with the prestigious event, and chief marketing officer Sarah Norrie performed the four-team draw.

Philip Morgan Rees and Sarah Norrie. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

Among the guests were NZ Polo Open executive director Lucy Ainsley, Moet Hennessy general manager Lisa Mackenzie, fashion designer Caitlin Crisp, Crane Brothers Robert Niwa, equestrians Kirsten Worker and Kate Disley-Ormond, Australian polo team captain Indi Bennetto and the founder and CEO of Models, Cassandra Grodd.

Tatum Savage and Lucy Ainsley. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Caitlin Crisp, Cassandra Grodd and Holly Lindsey. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Caitlin Crisp, Robert Niwa and Cassandra Grodd. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Jimbo Fewster and Laura Inkster at the NZ Polo Open launch in Karaka. Photo / Norrie MontgomeryKate Disley-Ormond, Liv Glen and Kirsten Worker. Photo / Norrie MontgomeryMechaela Yap, Donny and Jenny Mukerji.. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Greta van den Brink and Indi Bennetto. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Lousie Bentley, Guy Needham and Erin McKenzie. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Michelle and Steve van den Brink. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

SailGP at Club Silver

Auckland media, broadcasters and influencers gathered at Club Silver by Heineken at the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday evening to get behind the Black Foils as the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship kicked off in Perth.

Racing action lit up the big screen, with guests settling in to watch the high-speed drama unfold and show their support ahead of the ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix Auckland this February 14-15.

The race didn’t go the Black Foils’ way in Perth, following an on-water collision, but the spotlight now shifts to their anticipated return to Auckland next month.

Guests enjoyed a range of Heineken beverages and food from the original German schnitzel food truck Der Schnitzelwagen.

Guests included Flava’s Azura Lane, The Edge’s Yasmina Coe, The Rock’s Mel Abbot, The Hits’ Brin Rudkin, NZ rugby league player Lesley Vainikolo, and man-about-town Colin Mathura-Jeffree, alongside influencers Hannah Koumakis, Gem Pedersen, Claudia MacDonald and 2024’s Miss New Zealand Samantha Poole, who all soaked up the excitement and hospitality.

Mel Abbot and Yasmina Coe. Photo / Black on BlackBrin Rudkin and Sam Broun. Photo / Black on Black Ant Ogilvie and Azura Lane. Photo / Black on Black Jackson Baird and Claudia Macdonald. Photo / Black on Black Lesley Vainikolo and Komene Admore. Photo / Black on Black Gem Pedersen and Maisey Lendrum. Photo / Black on Black Cooper Hood and Robbie Woodward. Photo / Black on Black Angelique Fris-Taylor and Colin Mathura-Jeffree. Photo / Black on BlackHannah Koumakis. Photo / Black on Black Samantha Poole and Joanne Mutandagayi. Photo / Black on Black Yasmina Coe, Antonia Aimer and Lizzie Solly. Photo / Black on Black Monique Macdonald, Celia Ward and Zara Stevenson. Photo / Black on Black

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.