{"id":426128,"date":"2026-05-13T20:07:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:07:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/426128\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T20:07:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T20:07:14","slug":"society-insider-geeling-ching-on-finding-love-on-bumble-at-65-and-her-return-to-auckland-dining-institution-soul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/426128\/","title":{"rendered":"Society Insider: Geeling Ching on finding love on Bumble at 65 and her return to Auckland dining institution Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ching, formerly known as Geeling Ng<\/a>, is planning her wedding to fianc\u00e9, North Shore anaesthetist Dr James Woodfine. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt took me over 60 years to find my soulmate, but he\u2019s worth it,\u201d Ching tells Society Insider. <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching and her fianc\u00e9, Dr James Woodfine.<\/p>\n

Both have been married previously \u2013 Ching to her former Gloss co-star Mark Ferguson. <\/p>\n

She met Woodfine on Bumble four years ago. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was James\u2019s first date on Bumble<\/a>, and after several attempts with the dating app, he was very much going to be my last,\u201d says Ching. <\/p>\n

Ching says Woodfine loves how smart and sexy she is and the way she dances. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs for James, now that I have trained him to make the perfect Vesper martini, he\u2019s about as close to perfect as I\u2019m going to get.\u201d <\/p>\n

They got engaged last year in Auxerre, in France\u2019s Burgundy region, and will return there to get married when they both eventually retire. <\/p>\n

That could be a while away, however, as Ching is excited to start her new role as Soul\u2019s general manager, taking over from Liv Carter<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching with outgoing Soul GM Olivia Carter. <\/p>\n

Ching had been working as operations manager for Soul<\/a> since 2020, with her role expanding to include other venues when US billionaire Bill Foley\u2019s Foley Hospitality acquired the restaurant and its parent Nourish Group in 2022. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was exciting working across multiple venues [including Andiamo<\/a> and Jervois Steak House<\/a>],\u201d Ching says. \u201cI felt I had a lot to give to them – ideas, experience, leadership. [But] the move to Group Operations really took me away from Soul, and I felt the distance.\u201d <\/p>\n

Taking over from Carter is serendipitous \u2013 it was Ching who interviewed her for a waitressing job in 2009 and recognised her potential at the restaurant that has become an Auckland dining institution. <\/p>\n

\u201cGeeling is incredibly thoughtful and really cares about the team and spends a lot of time training staff in the Soul traditions,\u201d Carter says. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt really is a full-circle moment, I am so pleased it\u2019s Geeling who I am handing over to. The friendship shared by myself, Judith and Geeling is very special.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"FoleyFoley Hospitality group chef Gavin Doyle, Geeling Ching and Olivia Carter.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been nearly 40 years since Ching and Tabron\u2019s working relationship started. <\/p>\n

After starring in Bowie\u2019s video, Gloss and feature film Illustrious Energy, Ching joined Tabron at her first restaurant, Rameses in Newmarket. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was between another guy and me, and Jude\u2019s father, Gerald, advised her to choose me because I might bring a bit of extra publicity to her restaurant,\u201d Ching says. <\/p>\n

The pair went on to work together at SkyCity<\/a>, before going their separate ways professionally in the mid 90s. <\/p>\n

Ching worked as a studio manager for South Pacific Studios under the late John Barnett and says, \u201cI swore I would never work in hospitality again\u201d. <\/p>\n

In 2000, when Tabron was set to open Soul<\/a>, Ching said \u201cno way, I\u2019m not coming back to hospitality.\u201d But she did agree to have lunch with Tabron at the restaurant. <\/p>\n

\u201cBy the time lunch had finished, I had signed the contract,\u201d Ching says. \u201cJudith can be very persuasive.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ching says she and Tabron worked together creating the Soul culture, refining the product. <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching and Judith Tabron host a Veuve party at Soul in 2007. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an instant success \u2013 we worked really hard to make it become the icon it is today,\u201d Ching says. <\/p>\n

\u201cGeeling and I used to joke that our working relationship lasted longer than both of our first marriages combined,\u201d Tabron says. \u201cWe worked together across two restaurants over more than 20 years, and throughout that time she\u2019s always been an incredibly inspiring manager, trainer and leader.\u201d <\/p>\n

During her time at Soul, Ching dipped her foot back into acting, and in 2008 was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars in 2008.<\/p>\n

After 12 years with Tabron, Ching went on to open Huami at Sky City, Crew Club (now Lula Inn), and the ASB Waterfront Theatre, where she was director of visitor experience. <\/p>\n

She came back to Soul in 2020, almost by chance, thanks to a lockdown 60th birthday party Tabron threw for her. Carter was one of the guests for the small group gathering, and Ching mentioned she had seen the job ad for Soul\u2019s operations manager. Tabron had sold the restaurant two years earlier, and Carter had progressed to GM. <\/p>\n

\u201cI mentioned my interest in the role, and to my delight, Olivia said yes.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching, Judith Tabron and Olivia Carter at Soul\u2019s famous Melbourne Cup day last decade. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n

Six years later, with Ching working across the extended Foley Hospitality venues, she initially didn\u2019t think about taking over the GM role herself when Carter announced her departure. <\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, Soul is in my blood, and I couldn\u2019t let an opportunity like this go by.\u201d <\/p>\n

She says she now wants to build on Tabron and Carter\u2019s legacies and create something special that can be carried on by whoever steps into her shoes in the future. <\/p>\n

Carter was supposed to finish at Easter; however, with Ching handing over her group OM duties to Shar Fonseca and having a planned trip to New York, the official handover is this week.<\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching in 2012, before she left Soul as operations manager.<\/p>\n

Ching says there are exciting things to come for the waterfront institution, including a renovation \u201cin the not-too distant future\u201d, so she is on the lookout for an inspirational designer who \u201cgets Soul\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cSoul is a unique place, that has seen hundreds of thousands of guests and thousands of hospitality workers,\u201d Ching says. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like a really long-running soap opera \u2013 ever-changing, ever evolving, while still remaining reliable.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ching says Soul has been part of her life for decades, making her one of many \u201cSoul long-timers\u201d who are \u201cSoul through and through\u201d. <\/p>\n

She\u2019s well connected in Auckland, having lived in a city apartment for 20 years. <\/p>\n

\u201cI love the city, I have seen the heart of the city change from great to so-so, and I know its best is yet to come.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"GeelingGeeling Ching poses for Viva at her inner-city apartment in 2017. Photo \/ Babiche Martens<\/p>\n

Party People of the Week <\/p>\n

The Star Gala <\/p>\n

Starship Foundation\u2019s Star Gala took place at the Auckland Town Hall last Saturday night, raising $3.65m for Starship Child Health<\/a>. The money will go towards creating advanced cell and gene therapies for New Zealand children with cancer. <\/p>\n

CEO Joanna Simon worked with event producers janda Productions to bring a Surrealist Garden theme to life, with a four-course fine-dining menu created by Blue Duck Station\u2019s chef Jack Cashmore<\/a>. <\/p>\n

MCs Oscar Kightley and Teuila Blakely introduced a variety of entertainment, including dance performances by Identity Dance Company, music by Naomi Ferguson, Deborah Wai Kapohe, Troy Kingi and the Light Bringers, and Sir Dave Dobbyn, as well as a powerful monologue by Lord of the Rings\u2019 star Andy Serkis. <\/p>\n

\"TaikaTaika Waititi, Phoebe Gittins, Mel Booth, Andy Serkis, Janine Hedley, Philippa Boyens, Cliff Curtis, Arty Papageorgiou, James Friend and Lorraine Ashbourne at the Star Gala. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich <\/p>\n

Rich Lister guests included Graeme and Robyn Hart, Gretchen and Duncan Hawkesby, Sir Brendan and Lady Jo Lindsay, Ross and Josephine Green, Ross and Dallas Pendergrast, and Sharon Hunter and Tenby Powell. <\/p>\n

Others in attendance included Dame Helen Winkelmann, founder and director at Mount Capital, Tommy Seton and his wife Caroline, Property developer John Darby and his partner, interior designer Sally Ridge, and Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar. <\/p>\n

Andy Serkis, who is in New Zealand filming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, was joined by his wife Lorraine Ashbourne, screenwriter Philippa Boyens, and Kiwi stars Taika Waititi and Cliff Curtis. <\/p>\n

\"GraemeGraeme and Robyn Hart with Gretchen and Duncan Hawkesby at the Star Gala. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"DallasDallas and Ross Pendergrast. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich\"DameDame Helen Winkelmann and Martin Wiseman. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"TommyTommy and Caroline Seton, Josephine and Ross Green. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"JohnJohn Darby, Sally Ridge, Amelia Beder and Astin Parore. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich\"NikhilNikhil Ravishankar and Catherine Chakiath. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"TaikaTaika Waititi and Cliff Curtis. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"FionaFiona and Peter Thompson. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich\"StarshipStarship Foundation CEO Joanna Simon and Starship Clinical Director Dr John Beca. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich \"SharonSharon Hunter and Tenby Powell. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich\"Haydn,Haydn, George, Sharon, Freddie, Avie Skye and Jenn Bensch. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich <\/p>\n

Ricardo Simich<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ching, formerly known as Geeling Ng, is planning her wedding to fianc\u00e9, North Shore anaesthetist Dr James Woodfine.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":426129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[12467,203820,52249,1443,95,1975,51,1038,29533,2534,1061,218532,22503,156,2949,11424,56682,218531,1364,2944,2936,8790,194,2882,1132,111,139,69,90,26108,2081,1527,2952,2953,2935,4918,218533,62038,1361,1961,61,2951,686,102],"class_list":["post-426128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-12467","tag-60s","tag-52249","tag-about","tag-and","tag-at","tag-auckland","tag-brings","tag-bumble","tag-cancer","tag-children","tag-ching","tag-dining","tag-entertainment","tag-finding","tag-finds","tag-gala","tag-geeling","tag-her","tag-inside","tag-insider","tag-institution","tag-kiwi","tag-love","tag-million","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-on","tag-plus","tag-raised","tag-return","tag-ricardo","tag-simich","tag-society","tag-soul","tag-souls","tag-starstudded","tag-that","tag-this","tag-to","tag-town","tag-week","tag-with"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=426128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/426128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/426129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=426128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=426128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=426128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}