She and husband Stephen, chairman of the Spirit of Adventure Trust, have owned the Sarsfield St property for more than 45 years. It has an RV of $25.5 million but is expected to fetch far north of that.<\/p>\n
Virginia and Stephen Fisher at an event earlier this year. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n
One of Auckland\u2019s leading luxury real estate agents told Society Insider<\/a> the property is one of the finest in Herne Bay and in the top five offerings on the suburb\u2019s waterfront.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be many people\u2019s favourite, as Virginia\u2019s taste is so sought after,\u201d said the agent.<\/p>\n Fisher told Society Insider it was far too early in the process to grant an interview about selling the home.<\/p>\n NZME\u2019s OneRoof<\/a> last month revealed the property was for sale, but it wasn\u2019t appearing on NZ Sotheby\u2019s websites.<\/p>\n The Fishers went international with their listing on Sotheby\u2019s global, wanting to keep any NZ attention on the down low.<\/p>\n The property has featured on the websites of Sotheby\u2019s affiliate partners Mansion Global and James Edition.<\/p>\n The 719sq m Simon Carnachan-designed mansion sits on a 2253sq m section within a private bay with its own jetty and boat shed.<\/p>\n The home\u2019s numerous living areas reflect Fisher\u2019s varying design tastes, and all flow on to numerous terraces, with manicured Italian-style gardens juxtaposed with p\u014dhutukawa trees, sculptures and a resort-style pool and spa.<\/p>\n There are six bedrooms, all with ensuites, and a separate guest house.<\/p>\n The master bedroom features a gold ceiling with twinkle star lighting, and the home also has its own wine bar.<\/p>\n The Fishers\u2019 adjacent property at 91 Sarsfield St is also available for purchase, which it is understood would take the RV up in value.<\/p>\n The property neighbours the Sentinel Rd mansion, recently sold by Australian-based Rich Lister and property developer Ben Cook, for a reported $35m.<\/p>\n NZ Sotheby\u2019s International Realty agents Patrick McAteer and Suzanne Browne would not comment to OneRoof on why the \u201cvery private\u201d owners were selling. <\/p>\n But sources close to the Fishers\u2019 circle tell Society Insider the couple plan to downsize to an apartment in Auckland.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were very keen on Chris Meehan\u2019s Wynyard Quarter developments, which are unfortunately on hold at present,\u201d says the source.<\/p>\n Meehan is the CEO and founder of property development company Winton, which was planning a $750 million Northbrook Wynyard Quarter retirement village and neighbouring apartment complex. Winton announced last December the project was on hold.<\/p>\n The scheme is planned to be NZ\u2019s highest-price retirement village, and Winton wants to be prudent, proceeding when construction costs and interest costs are moderate and the timing in the cycle is right.<\/p>\n Fisher told Society Insider that she was indeed interested in Meehan\u2019s proposed Wynyard Quarter plans and that she was a big fan of his work. His company\u2019s other high-profile recent developments include Ayrburn, the multi-venue hospitality precinct in Queenstown.<\/p>\n A lock-up-and-leave Auckland apartment would suit the Fishers nicely, who are said to spend a lot of time at their waterfront beach house in Matarangi in the Coromandel, where ultra-wealthy residents are beachfront or on the golf course.<\/p>\n In 2023, Peter and Lucinda Burling got married in Matarangi with a stunning beachside wedding.<\/p>\n The plans to downsize her much-loved home don\u2019t mean Fisher has been slowing down professionally. This year has been full of big projects, including the completion of the full refurbishment of Taup\u014d\u2019s Huka Lodge, and the recent opening of the Roki Collection in Queenstown.<\/p>\n The Huka redesign was a full-circle moment for Fisher. It\u2019s been more than 40 years since she first worked on the lodge\u2019s interiors, bringing Dutch businessman Alex van Heeren\u2019s vision for the luxury accommodation to life. Over the years she has also worked with van Heeren on his South Africa lodge, Grande Provence, and Dolphin Island in Fiji.<\/p>\n Now owned by Australia\u2019s Baillie Lodges, Huka Lodge<\/a> reopened in March. Fisher worked closely with the luxury group\u2019s founder James Baillie to conceive and implement the makeover.<\/p>\n International billionaires and luxury hospitality groups have lined up to have Fisher add her design touches to their lodges throughout her career. <\/p>\n She worked with the late US billionaire Julian Robertson on his three NZ properties, Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri \u2013 all now owned by Rosewood hotels; as well as US billionaire Bill Foley\u2019s Wharekauhau lodge in Wairarapa, and NZ Rich Lister John Sax\u2019s Kinloch Manor in Taup\u014d.<\/p>\n Fisher has also worked on Queenstown\u2019s Millbrook, and Australian tourism mogul Andrew Cox\u2019s Eichardt\u2019s Private Hotel and the Elms on Lake Hayes, where the Fishers are understood to own a villa.<\/p>\n Her work has also been linked to private homes including Closeburn House in Queenstown, which Kiwi billionaire Graham Hart bought in 2017, and the magnificent Saddle House in the Southern Alps.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the queen of the Auckland real estate scene, Megan Jaffe and her husband, renowned cardiologist Dr Warwick Jaffe, have sold both their Remuera homes for nearly $15m.<\/p>\n Society Insider reported last year that the Jaffes had purchased Waiheke\u2019s iconic Sculpture Park from arts philanthropists Jo and John Gow for an estimated $17.5m.<\/p>\n Sources tell Society Insider the Jaffes have had a busy year, taking ownership of the 13ha Cowes Rd property, which has a private bay that looks out to Ponui Island and the Coromandel.<\/p>\n \u201cOver nine months, Megan and Warwick have had the property, the waterfront main residence, and its several cottages, lovingly restored,\u201d says the source.<\/p>\n The Jaffes\u2019 two Seaview Rd properties were for sale last year, however, Megan told Society Insider one was likely to be kept as a bolthole in the city for the hard-working couple.<\/p>\n But both properties have since been sold \u2013 the main Mediterranean style residence for nearly $10m and the neighbouring townhouse for just over $4m.<\/p>\n Instead, the Jaffes have purchased a four-bedroom apartment, close to Megan\u2019s Ray White Remuera offices, which are located in the former Remuera Library.<\/p>\n Jaffe also has Ray White offices in \u014cr\u0101kei, Ponsonby and Greenlane. She and her teams cover more than 60 areas in Auckland.<\/p>\n On top of that, this year, Jaffe and her business partner Thomas Farmer opened MJRE Projects, which is part of Megan Jaffe Real Estate. <\/p>\n The business specialises in the sale and marketing of residential projects across Auckland, guiding developer clients from concept to completion.<\/p>\n Luxury Network NZ sold to ex-pro golfer<\/p>\n Former professional golfer Luke Nobilo has purchased The Luxury Network (TLN) NZ, the local arm of the global luxury marketing group.<\/p>\n By purchasing TLN, Nobilo has acquired its exclusive database of 2000 high net-worth private clients from the trio of former owners Sofia Ambler, Cecilia Lambie, and Scarlett Wood.<\/p>\n The company works with luxury jewellery, automotive, fashion, hospitality, and lodge brands<\/a>, creating a calendar of events and online digital campaigns from its members and affiliates.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always hard to take over something which has been done so well and try to improve it,\u201d Nobilo tells Society Insider.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, the future of The Luxury Network will depend on its ability to continue to deliver value to its partnering members, both new and current.\u201d<\/p>\n Former co-owner Wood, who is the Senior Director of International Business with high-end luxury real estate firm New Zealand Sotheby\u2019s International, will continue with TLN in an advisory capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Luxury Network has truly been our baby, built with dedication, care, and a deep commitment to our members\u2019 success,\u201d says Wood.<\/p>\n The sale comes as Ambler and Lambie have found themselves spending more time in their home country, Sweden, as their families get older. <\/p>\n Selling TLN to Nobilo means they can spend more time on their other NZ businesses.<\/p>\n Ambler, who took on TLN a decade ago, owns Heletranz and NZ Jet with her husband John. Lambie runs her own digital ecommerce platform, My Luxury Channel.<\/p>\n Ambler and Lambie\u2019s businesses will still be connected with TLN and Wood says they are invested in seeing the business flourish under Nobilo\u2019s ownership.<\/p>\n Nobilo, 47, who grew up in Auckland and attended Saint Kentigern\u2019s, is confident his experience and contacts will add to what he describes as a superb business.<\/p>\n Nobilo\u2019s pro golf career was predominantly across the Tasman on the El Troppo Pro-Am circuit that made its way north from Victoria, through New South Wales and up into Queensland, before a mini circuit through the Pacific Islands.<\/p>\n A single father of two boys, Nobilo has been based in Mount Maunganui since 2010, where he was a head teaching professional at the Mount Golf Club for six years. He then worked in luxury real estate and finished working with Sotheby\u2019s in 2023.<\/p>\n His famous family includes Kiwi golfing legend Frank Nobilo, who is his second cousin, and Nikola Nobilo, who started Nobilo Wines and is his grandfather\u2019s second cousin.<\/p>\n Nobilo says it will be an exciting new chapter for TLN\u2019s NZ members, creating new events and digital campaigns. He also intends to create larger events incorporating more than one brand at a time.<\/p>\nVirginia Fisher, left, who has designed the interiors for many of New Zealand’s top luxury lodges, is selling her $25m waterfront Herne Bay home; while successful real estate agent Megan Jaffe has completed sales on two of her own Remuera properties. Photo \/ Herald composite<\/p>\n
The entrance of Virginia and Stephen Fisher\u2019s magnificent Herne Bay waterfront home.
\nPhoto \/ OneRoofThe Fishers\u2019 master bedroom. Photo \/ OneRoof<\/p>\n
An aerial view of the Fisher mansion, right, and the former Ben Cook mansion, left.
\nPhoto \/ OneRoof<\/p>\nVirginia Fisher designed the interiors of the recently opened luxury hotel Roki Collection Queenstown.
Huka Lodge reopened in March after a full refurbishment. Photo \/ George Apostolidis<\/p>\n
Virginia Fisher and Karen Walker at a Huka Lodge book launch last decade. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n
Megan and Dr Warwick Jaffe are the owners of Waiheke’s Sculpture Park.
\nPhoto \/ Herald composite<\/p>\nThe former Remuera home of Megan and Warwick Jaffe. Photo \/ OneRoof
The Waiheke estate of Megan and Warwick Jaffe. Photo \/ OneRoof<\/p>\n
Luke Nobilo is the new owner of The Luxury Network.<\/p>\n
Former TLN owners Sofia Ambler, Cecila Lambie and Scarlett Wood.<\/p>\n
Luke Nobilo on the golf course. Photo \/ Joel Ford<\/p>\n
Luke Nobilo’s pro golf career was predominantly across the Tasman on the El Troppo Pro-Am circuit. <\/p>\n