Society Insider: NZ entrepreneur Charlotte Devereux rebuilding confidence with new venture; Auckland FC and Blues’ sporting dynasties

After a summer spent exploring some of New Zealand’s best wellness retreats, she is getting ready to launch her new business, TempTango, a range of sauna and contrast therapy accessories, including hats, yoga mats, towels and more.

Charlotte Devereux modelling her new TempTango range.

“There’s such a global movement happening around wellness, and particularly hot and cold therapy, and I feel like TempTango has a place within that,” Devereux tells Society Insider.

“In the next year, I’d like to see it become a recognised brand within the contrast therapy space – not just in New Zealand, but starting to reach further afield as well.”

She says the new business has come from a period of “rebuilding” as she aims to get her “business confidence back”.

Devereux opened the self-named hotel in what was then a 100-year-old grand villa in Remuera in the 1990s, and sold it in 2000. The hotel still carries her name.

Ten years ago, she sold the internationally successful Egg Maternity brand.

The year before the sale, Devereux had been left “devastated” when her children’s Argentinian nanny stole $40,000 from the business, at a time when Devereux was grieving the death of a friend.

Devereux founded the business in 2003 with her late mother, Colyn Devereux-Kay.

Colyn Devereux-Kay and daughter Charlotte at their EGG Maternity store in 2004. Photo / Martin Sykes

Devereux-Kay, a single mother of two, created the mega-successful and award-winning Les Floralies range of scented products in the late 1980s, and was inducted into the New Zealand Hall of Fame for Women Entrepreneurs in 2012, which Charlotte collected on her behalf.

Colyn Devereux-Kay and daughter Charlotte at an event in 2008. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

“Mum created something from nothing with such elegance and instinct, and it had a huge influence on me,” Devereux says.

Her grandmother, Zoe Mellor, was also an inspiration. Devereux says she was quite ahead of her time as a female entrepreneur in the 1940s – her doll clothing company Joytoy went on to make clothes for Barbie.

Devereux’s mother died in 2021 after being diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2008.

“Looking after Mum shifted something in me,” she says. “It was confronting but also clarifying. It made me realise how much life we take for granted, but at that stage I still didn’t quite know how to change things.”

Colyn Devereux-Kay and daughter Charlotte Devereux at an event at their Egg Maternity store in 2008. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

When Devereux was caring for her mum, she found herself constantly looking for ways to help – how to keep her mother calm, comfortable, and supported.

“At the same time, I began thinking about how I could help myself, and others going through something similar.

“I started a blog called A Beautiful Mind, which journaled my experience with Mum’s Alzheimer’s and documented my own research into how to stay healthy myself. Then contrast therapy found me.”

After selling Egg, Devereux co-founded skincare company Girl Undiscovered, before her next big move in 2019, when she honoured her late mother’s dreams of one day restoring a classic yacht.

Devereux and her partner, former Team New Zealand grinder Simon Greenwood, purchased the multimillion-dollar Sea Breeze III in 2019, a 32-metre superyacht originally owned by Graeme Hart.

Simon Greenwood, Charlotte Devereux and their dog Augie on Seabreeze III in 2022.

After a back-breaking refurb, restoring the boat back to her former glory, the couple had Seabreeze ready for the America’s Cup and hired it out for upmarket charters through their business, Boutique Superyachts.

Seabreeze III.

The couple stepped away from the business in 2024, and Seabreeze was sold in September of that year. Devereux says that of all her businesses, closing Boutique Superyachts was the most emotional of them all.

“It wasn’t just a business, it was a passion project,” says Devereux. “What was initially meant to be a six-month refit turned into a two-year project through Covid, which came with significant financial pressure that we were never quite able to get ahead of.

“Bringing her back to life and then sharing her with guests was an incredible experience. There were real highs – the travel, the people, the creativity – but also, its challenges.”

She says the business projections for Seabreeze didn’t match the downturn in the luxury travel market.

For the first time in her life, Devereux found herself without a business of her own, and she says that was quite a shift.

“I’ve always been someone who brings ideas to life, so suddenly having space – and the opportunity to step into something new, even working within someone else’s vision – felt both unfamiliar and exciting.”

TempTango came about from Devereux working at Grey Lynn’s Genki Vitality, which was opened by her friends and former neighbours, Rebecca Greenhough and Justin Edgar.

“Genki offers traditional sauna, cold plunge, and infrared with red light therapy, but what I love most is how unintimidating it is and the community it forms,” Devereux says.

Charlotte Devereux taking a cold plunge.

“For me, it marked a turning point – from feeling like life might be following a certain path, to realising there’s so much we can influence, and that shift in perspective is what ultimately led me to TempTango.”

Her products include the Ritual Hat – a bucket-style hat in a wool knit that protects hair from drying out in saunas and regulates body temperature, as well as keeping your head warm while doing ice plunges.

Charlotte Devereux modelling her new TempTango range. Photo / Supplied

“It’s also something you can throw on afterwards and head out for a coffee, which I love,” she says.

She is also releasing sauna mats made from wool felt, towels, essential oil blends, waterproof notepads and travel pouches.

“This is just the beginning, with more pieces of contrast therapy accessories coming through as I continue to build out the range.”

The next generation of footy stars keeping the family dynasties alive

Blues legend Carlos Spencer with son Payton, who made his debut for the club last month.

Auckland’s biggest sporting teams are becoming family businesses, with the sons of famous players beginning to make their mark and follow in their dads’ boot-steps.

The Blues already have All Black Caleb Clarke, son of former All Black and Blues player Eroni; Hoskins Sotutu, whose dad Waisake played for the team in 1996; and Charles Howlett, son of former AB and Blues star Doug, who is involved in the Blues youth pathway.

Now Carlos Spencer’s son Payton has made his Blues debut, 30 years since his dad first took the field for the club in the Super 12 competition.

Payton, 21, played for the Blues for the first time against the NSW Waratahs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium two weeks ago.

Dad Carlos, 50, tells Society Insider seeing his son start to succeed on the sports field in his own right has made him very proud.

Payton Spencer greets his family after his debut for the Blues at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

“Watching him run out in the Blues jersey, knowing I did that myself all those years ago, it brought back a lot of special memories,” Carlos says.

Carlos and Payton’s mum, Jodene, were joined in the stands by their daughter Asha and Payton’s girlfriend, Terina Te Tamaki.

Both Payton and Terina attended high school in Hamilton, and they have both represented New Zealand in sevens, for the All Blacks and Black Ferns, respectively.

Terina Te Tamaki and Payton Spencer at a wedding earlier this year. Photo / Terina Te Tamaki

Carlos says his son has shown a lot of resilience over the past few years, pushing through injuries that have caused a few setbacks.

In 2024, Payton had shoulder surgery, which ruled him out of playing for Auckland in their NPC campaign.

“To see him come through that and earn his opportunity, that means a lot. It’s emotional, for sure. But more than anything, I’m just stoked for him. This is just the beginning.”

Payton says he has watched enough highlights on YouTube and Instagram to appreciate what a talented player his dad was back in the day.

“As I’ve got older, I’ve realised … how much he influenced people,” says Payton. “But he’s just Dad to me, his legacy is always going to be there.”

Payton says there is always a bit of expectation that comes with the family name, and he sees it more as motivation.

“I’m never not going to be my old man’s son. But I try to embrace that. I’m proud of it. I don’t want to shy away from it, I just want to be myself at the same time.

Carlos, Payton and Jodene Spencer in the locker room at the after-game speeches at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

“I’m still only 21, so for me it’s about trusting the process, working hard and taking opportunities when they come.”

Payton and his father share a love of golf and play together often. Although Payton says his dad isn’t a big talker, he has given him some good advice over the years.

“He just tells me to go out there, back myself and do my thing.”

Terina Te Tamaki, Asha, Payton, Jodene and Carlos Spencer at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

Meanwhile, across town at Auckland FC, former All White Ivan Vicelich’s son Luka has already made history as the club’s youngest ever professional signing, aged 17. He previously played at his dad’s former clubs, Central United FC and Auckland City FC.

Auckland FC coach Steve Corica and his new signing, Luka Vicelich. Photo / Auckland FC

Luka made his Auckland FC debut against the Newcastle Jets last month. Entering the match in the final minutes, he managed a smooth clearance as the team went on to beat the table leaders 2-1. In his second match for Auckland FC against Macarthur at Go Media Stadium, Luka came on for the second half and was named the man of the match.

Luka Vicelich playing for Auckland FC.

“We are proud parents of both our sons,” says Ivan. “Luka’s younger brother Ivan also plays football and is enjoying coming up the grades through Central United and Auckland City, as his older brother did.”

Ivan snr, who played for the national under-17 team in 1995, was a spectator in November when Luka took his first steps on the world stage, as a key member of New Zealand’s squad at the Fifa U-17 World Cup in Qatar.

In the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa, Ivan was a starter in the All Whites’ draws with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay and earned three of his record 88 international caps for the national side.

Ivan Vicelich is welcomed home from the Fifa 2010 World Cup by his wife Marisa and 2-year-old son Luka. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Ivan also played in the NSL – Australia’s National Soccer League – in the late 1990s and early 2000s for Auckland FC’s predecessor, the Football Kingz, before playing professionally for nearly a decade in the Netherlands.

Ivan’s wife, Marisa, came home to New Zealand a few months before him in the late stages of her pregnancy with Luka. Ivan finished his season with RKC Waalwijk in time to fly back to New Zealand to see his son born, 18 years ago next month.

Ivan and Marisa Vicelich at the 52nd Halberg Awards at Vector Arena in 2015. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

The family are based in Mt Eden, and both Ivan jnr and Luka are at St Peter’s, Luka juggling his studies with his professional football career.

Ivan says he and Marisa didn’t push football on their sons: “They were encouraged, of course, but grew to love the game themselves.

“As parents, we raised our boys to be happy and work hard towards their dreams.”

The Vicelich family: Ivan, Luka, Marisa and Ivan jnr.

Party people of the week

The New Zealand Cricket Awards

Stars from the cricket world hit the red carpet last Thursday for the New Zealand Cricket Awards at the Princes Ballroom at The Pullman Auckland.

MCing the evening was NZ Cricket’s head of communications, Willy Nicholls, whose brother Henry won several domestic batting awards that evening, including the Domestic Player of the Year and the First-Class Batting Award.

Henry, Willy and Orla Nicholls at the New Zealand Cricket Awards. Photo / Photosport NZ

Other winners included Black Cap bowler Jacob Duffy, who was awarded the ANZ Test Player of the Year and the overall Sir Richard Hadlee medal for the first time; and White Ferns captain Melie Kerr, who won the Debbie Hockley Medal for women’s supreme player of the year for the fourth consecutive year.

Hadlee and Hockley were on hand to present their awards.

Sir Richard Hadlee. Photo / Photosport Melie Kerr and Debbie Hockley. Photo / Photosport

It was a big night for the Kerr family, with Melie’s sister Jess winning three trophies of her own for domestic bowling, super smash women’s player of the year and overall women’s domestic player of the year.

Other guests spotted include Black Cap Jimmy Neesham and his wife Alex, White Fern Suzie Bates and her partner, broadcaster Scotty Stevenson, the Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation, Chris Bishop and broadcaster Sharyn Casey.

Jimmy and Alex Neesham. Photo / Photosport Suzie Bates and Scotty Stevenson. Photo / Photosport Melie Kerr, Ben Sawyer and Eden Carson. Photo / Photosport Will O’Rourke, Maddison Davies, Mitch Hay and Lara Wall. Photo / Photosport Fran Jonas and Izzy Gaze. Photo / Photosport Rob Walter and Henry Nicholls. Photo / Photosport Lachlan Stackpole and Polly Inglis. Photo / Photosport Adithya Ashok and Ellie Toogood. Photo / Photosport Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine. Photo / Photosport

Ambassadors Polo Cocktail party

The biannual New Zealand Ambassadors Polo Tournament had a welcome cocktail party at rich-listers Tony and Christine van den Brink’s stunning private residence last month, under the stars and overlooking the magnificent Willowpark polo field on the water.

The tournament is a global invitation that attracts the who’s who of the international polo scene.

Van den Brink’s son Steve and his wife Michele played host to a guest list of polo power players and patrons, including executive director of the Milford NZ Polo Open, Lucy Ainsley and her husband Kel of Ainsley Polo; Texas players Kirstan Lamont and Matthew Morgan; and United Kingdom players, Tony Fitzsimmons and Andy Cochrane.

The large contingent from Australia included some of the polo industry’s biggest names: Jeff Sinclair, John Grant, Paul Cutliff, Tim Berry, Greg Browne and Barry Deacon.

Michele and Steve van den Brink. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Kel and Lucy Ainsley at the Polo Ambassadors cocktail party. Photo / Norrie MontgomeryMatthew Morgan and Kirstan Lamont. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Jenny and Tony Joyce. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Gailene and Jonny Wade. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Lachie and Martha Johnstone. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Wendy Pryde, Robyn Smith, Janene Cole and Jo Wills. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Louise van den Brink, Chanel Worker and Greta van den Brink. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Robbie and Liv Glen. Photo / Norrie Montgomery Barry and Sandra Deacon. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

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.