{"id":448209,"date":"2026-05-27T19:14:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/448209\/"},"modified":"2026-05-27T19:14:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T19:14:09","slug":"society-insider-sally-ridge-and-john-darbys-fijian-escape-wayne-leachs-remuera-mansion-expected-to-sell-for-more-than-25m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/448209\/","title":{"rendered":"Society Insider: Sally Ridge and John Darby\u2019s Fijian escape; Wayne Leach\u2019s Remuera mansion expected to sell for more than $25m"},"content":{"rendered":"

The couple, who have been together for two years, were aboard the Awanui Blue, Darby\u2019s 50ft expedition motor yacht, with Ridge\u2019s eldest son, Boston<\/a> and his partner, graphic designer Tabitha Jessop<\/a>. They were joined by Ridge\u2019s good friends, celebrated artist Shane Cotton<\/a> and his wife, artist and architect Luanne Bond. <\/p>\n

\"LuanneLuanne Bond, John Darby, Sally and Boston Ridge with Tabitha Jessop and Shane Cotton onboard the Awanui Blue in Fiji. Photo \/ @Sallyridge\"SallySally Ridge and John Darby have been in Fiji on his 50ft expedition motor yacht. Photo \/ @Sallyridge<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a turbulent time for Darby recently, with Amisfield\u2019s world-renowned Kiwi celebrity chef, Vaughan Mabee, resigning<\/a> after a series of formal complaints of bullying and lewd comments and behaviour to female staffers. <\/p>\n

Amisfield is now closed for scheduled renovations, which are due to be finished in July. <\/p>\n

Darby, 68, and Ridge, 55, attended the Starship Foundation\u2019s Star Gala<\/a> at the Auckland Town Hall on the Saturday before leaving for Fiji, joining a guest list of Rich Listers and prominent celebrities who raised $3.65 million for the foundation. <\/p>\n

\"JohnJohn Darby, Sally Ridge, Amelia Beder and Astin Parore at the Star Gala. Photo \/ Alisha Lovrich<\/p>\n

The couple enjoyed the night with friends and family, including Ridge\u2019s youngest son, grocery entrepreneur Astin Parore, and his long-term girlfriend, Amelia Beder. <\/p>\n

The Fijian island cruise<\/a> saw Ridge, Darby and their group visit various onshore five-star luxury resorts, including Turtle Island, near the famous Blue Lagoon, and Paradise Cove Resort on Naukacuvu Island, both of which are amongst the picturesque Yasawa Islands northwest of Fiji\u2019s main island, Viti Levu. They also enjoyed the more vibrant scene at the Outrigger Castaway Island on Qalito Island in the Mamanuca Islands. <\/p>\n

\"JohnJohn Darby, Sally Ridge, Luanne Bond and Shane Cotton. Photo \/ @Sallyridge\"BostonBoston Ridge and Tabitha Jessop enjoy the beach in Fiji. Photo \/ @Tabitha_jessop<\/p>\n

While they were in Fiji, Cotton and Bond\u2019s daughters, New York-based top model Maia and her sister, Bay of Islands-based artist Mika, attended the Venice Biennale and then travelled to Cannes where Maia attended several events at The Cannes Film Festival<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"SistersSisters Mika and Maia Cotton in Cannes. Photo \/ @Mika Cotton<\/p>\n

Maia had her lavish wedding celebrations in Queenstown in January last year, with a pre-wedding function at Darby\u2019s Amisfield in the lead-up to her big day. <\/p>\n

As well as owning Amisfield and developing some of the country\u2019s best golfing resorts, including Millbrook and Tara Iti, Darby has a passion for boats. <\/p>\n

Queenstown-based, he was known to live on his boat at Westhaven Marina in the early days of the Tara Iti development north of Auckland more than a decade ago. <\/p>\n

The Awanui Blue is ideal for long-range cruising. A Nordhavn N51 long-range trawler, the boat boasts two staterooms with en-suites, a well-equipped contemporary galley and saloon, and a flybridge for outdoor lounging, dining and navigation. When new, these boats can cost $2.5 to $3.8m. <\/p>\n

It has a flexible cockpit with no fixed furniture, which configures for fishing, diving, water sports, or dockside entertaining, with Lazarette storage for dive gear, inflatable SUPs and fishing equipment. <\/p>\n

Darby and Ridge spent time on the Awanui in the Bay of Islands over the summer. <\/p>\n

The Fiji trip capped off a busy year of renovations for Ridge, who has been working on Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes property, which is now for sale<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Darby owns multiple properties and investments across New Zealand through his business, Darby Partners. <\/p>\n

The single-storey, four-bedroom stucco Lake Hayes home, set on 4000sq m, had been dated and rundown when Darby bought it in 2023. <\/p>\n

\"SallySally Ridge renovated her partner John Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes home. Photo \/ oneroof.com <\/p>\n

Purchasing it for $3.7 million, he is said to have budgeted more than $1m for Ridge\u2019s renovation. She completely gutted the home\u2019s interiors and transformed it into a lighter, more contemporary home. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s now back on the market for more than $5.32m. <\/p>\n

Cam Winter, the managing director of luxury real estate firm Oliver Road, is selling the house, and tells Society Insider that Ridge has given the 1998 M J Wyatt architectural pavilion home a serious 2026 glow-up. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the real estate equivalent of a 90s supermodel who found a miracle dermatologist – flawless original bone structure, but with fabulous, very expensive new skin,\u201d says Winter. <\/p>\n

Ridge included a bespoke Format kitchen in charcoal timber with Corian benchtops and one of her favourite lighting touches, a bird cage creation by Mathieu Challieres called Voliere Demi-Grande Pendant. The lights retail for $1510 at Auckland design store ECC. Ridge and Darby also have the light in their Herne Bay home. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe bird light at Sally Ridge\u2019s Herne Bay home. Photo \/ @sallyridge\"TheThe new kitchen at John Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes home. Photo \/ oneroof.com <\/p>\n

The Lake Hayes\u2019 home\u2019s new interiors, which were mostly finished by the end of last year, include HARO engineered oak flooring through the living wing, glass and steel doors that separate the living and bedrooms and a full suite of new bathrooms throughout. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe living room last year before Sally Ridge renovated John Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes home. Photo \/ @the_sally-ridge-reno\"TheThe new living area at John Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes home. Photo \/ oneroof.com <\/p>\n

Ridge added a 10m x 4m sprayed concrete pool to the front of the house, finished with glass and steel fencing, sandstone paving, and new planting that integrates with established trees and the existing fruit orchard, which looks out to The Remarkables and beyond. The back of the house looks out to Lake Hayes. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe new pool at John Darby\u2019s Lake Hayes home. Photo \/ oneroof.com <\/p>\n

Ridge has completed several other notable renovations, most recently at her home on Herne Bay\u2019s Hamilton Rd. After an extensive two years of work, Ridge is said to have doubled her property\u2019s value. <\/p>\n

Darby bought into the house in late 2024, after the pair had been dating for around six months. Ridge initially bought the house for nearly $5m with her former boyfriend, Scott Fitchett, the founder and managing director of AA Smartfuel, in late 2022. <\/p>\n

Ridge has announced she is starting a new project but did not respond to Society Insider\u2019s inquiry asking if she is involved in the current Amisfield renovation. <\/p>\n

The restaurant was designed by Warren and Mahoney in 2002, and is famous for its schist walls, and distinct stone and copper structure. <\/p>\n

Motoring Rich Lister\u2019s modernist mansion for sale <\/p>\n

Motoring Rich Lister Wayne Leach and his wife, Amanda, are selling their multimillion-dollar Remuera mansion<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"MotoringMotoring Rich Listers Wayne and Amanda Leach are selling their award-winning Remuera mansion. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach<\/p>\n

Wall Real Estate\u2019s Graham Wall is selling the award-winning<\/a>, six-bedroom, multi-living area modern architectural home and told Society Insider that, on this occasion, his clients had no comment. <\/p>\n

\"MotoringMotoring Rich Listers Wayne and Amanda Leach are selling their ultra-modern Remuera home. Photo \/ oneroof.com<\/p>\n

Society Insider\u2019s sources speculate the couple may be downsizing now that their three children are all adults. <\/p>\n

The Leachs bought the Arney Rd property in 2022 for $22m, and it\u2019s now expected to sell for more than $25m. <\/p>\n

Wayne has owned and operated Winger Group \u2013 one of the country\u2019s largest car dealer networks, with 17 dealerships nationwide \u2013 for more than 30 years. <\/p>\n

He is estimated to be worth more than $100m. <\/p>\n

\"MotoringMotoring Rich Listers Wayne and Amanda Leach at a Black Tie Partridge Jewellers Gala. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach<\/p>\n

Wall Real Estate describes the Arney Rd home \u201cas an opportunity for the next discerning custodian\u201d to buy \u201con one of Remuera\u2019s most valuable streets\u201d. <\/p>\n

Arney Rd<\/a> is home to numerous Rich Listers, including Samson Corporation billionaire Daniel Friedlander and his philanthropist wife, Jillian, and one of New Zealand\u2019s wealthiest women, Lynette Erceg, whose three properties cover more than 8000sq m and have an estimated combined RV of $47m. <\/p>\n

\"AmandaAmanda and Wayne Leach at a Partridge Jewellers event. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n

The Leachs\u2019 home was formerly owned by Monaco-based Kiwi Rich Lister Ben Cook, who sold the house in 2010 for $10m. <\/p>\n

Originally designed by Ron Sang in 1973, the house was later upgraded by Fearon Hay and recognised with the NZIA Supreme Award for Architecture 2007. <\/p>\n

As well as a four-car garage, the concrete and steel-framed 650sq m house is on a 2000sq m section, with architectural gardens, a pool and views over Remuera\u2019s northern slopes. <\/p>\n

\"TheThe Leachs’ Remuera home. Photo \/ oneroof.com \"TheThe dining area of Wayne and Amanda Leach\u2019s ultra-modern Remuera home. Photo \/ oneroof.com\"TheThe stunning pool and garden at the Leachs\u2019 home. Photo \/ oneroof.com <\/p>\n

The Leachs also own an adjoining $3m property and home, on parallel street Bell Rd. However, it has not been listed for sale. <\/p>\n

The couple has numerous property investments throughout New Zealand, including a bach in Whangamat\u0101 and a multimillion-dollar house in Queenstown. <\/p>\n

\"AmandaAmanda and Wayne Leach. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n

They previously owned one of Remuera\u2019s most glamorous homes, an expansive Victoria Ave mansion which was once the home of one of New Zealand\u2019s wealthiest men, the late Sir Douglas Myers. They sold it for $14m in 2015, also through Graham Wall. <\/p>\n

The Leachs are very good friends with fellow motoring Rich Lister Grant Baker<\/a> and his wife, Donna. <\/p>\n

Wayne and Grant share a love of Ferraris, with both owning large collections worth tens of millions of dollars. <\/p>\n

\"MotoringMotoring Rich Listers Amanda and Wayne Leach at The Ferrari Cavalcade in Europe. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach<\/p>\n

The couples travel to Europe together annually, where they take part in The Ferrari Cavalcade<\/a>, an official, highly exclusive invitation-only, factory-organised, multi-day rally. Driving day and night, the Cavalcade also features themed or black-tie parties. <\/p>\n

\"MotoringMotoring Rich Listers Wayne and Amanda Leach at The Ferrari Cavalcade in Europe. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach\"GrantGrant and Donna Baker with Wayne Leach at The Ferrari Cavalcade in Europe. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach<\/p>\n

Next month\u2019s rally starts at the canals of Venice, Italy, and concludes with a grand finale gala dinner in Athens, Greece. <\/p>\n

Wayne and Grant are also involved in F1<\/a>, with both Winger Group and Grant prominently sponsoring Kiwi race star Liam Lawson. <\/p>\n

\"AmandaAmanda Leach and Liam Lawson after doing some laps in Auckland earlier this year. Photo \/ @Amanda.leach<\/p>\n

Leach likes to race too; he has been known to compete in the annual GT New Zealand Championship, a GT4 Class race featuring globally renowned marques such as Porsche and Maserati. <\/p>\n

In 2019, Leach purchased a building in Auckland to house his fleet of Ferraris, as well as pieces from his art collection, which includes the likes of Max Gimblett and Dale Frank. <\/p>\n

Society Insider is told it would make a fabulous, modernist place to live. <\/p>\n

Built in 1963, it operated as a petrol station before it was converted into a classic car museum and caf\u00e9 in the 1990s. <\/p>\n

When the Leachs aren\u2019t travelling, they enjoy playing golf at some of New Zealand\u2019s best golf clubs, including Cape Kidnappers, Te Arai and Millbrook in Queenstown. <\/p>\n

\"AmandaAmanda and Wayne Leach at a fundraiser on Paritai Drive last year. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery<\/p>\n

Party people of the week <\/p>\n

Fashion Fiesta on the water <\/p>\n

Former New Zealand Fashion Week<\/a> brand manager Myken Stewart debuted her new event, Fashion Fiesta, last Wednesday at the soon-to-close Harbourside Ocean Bar Grill on Quay St. <\/p>\n

The afternoon of fashion and music included food, champagne and a runway event, as well as music from DJs Mia Kober and Miss B. <\/p>\n

The runway show featured in-store fashion from Trelise Cooper, Adrian Hailwood and Caitlin Crisp, modelled by Red11 models, including Lorraine Downes. <\/p>\n

\"LorraineLorraine Downes models at Fashion Fiesta. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery <\/p>\n

Guests included man about town Colin Mathura-Jeffree, electronic musician Ardon England, DJ Gabriella Gonzalez, Red11 Model Management owner Mandy Jacobson, and fashion stylists Lulu Wilcox and Michiko Hylands. <\/p>\n

The next Fashion Fiestas are being planned to take place at the Viaduct and Waiheke Island. <\/p>\n

\"AngeliqueAngelique Fris-Taylor, Mandy Jacobsen and Colin Mathura-Jeffree. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"TamaweraTamawera Owens and Lulu Wilcox. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery\"KarinKarin Horen, Carolyn Enting and Michiko Hylands. Photo \/Norrie Montgomery \"SamSam Elvy and Hannah Rose at Fashion Fiesta at Harbourside. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"RedRed 11 models Christie Campion, Sophie Lincoln and Amy Tomlinson. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"RowenaRowena Roberts and Donna Fyfe. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"LisaLisa Godwin and Hamish Klein. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery <\/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":"The couple, who have been together for two years, were aboard the Awanui Blue, Darby\u2019s 50ft expedition motor…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":448210,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[654,1443,10804,209016,95,1038,2037,213625,228357,156,22857,8231,5346,1438,2566,69651,2082,2740,2936,3096,5126,1739,228359,228358,37289,17358,130,37107,228360,111,139,69,2738,5502,23497,2952,8830,21713,1447,8909,13311,24035,2953,2935,6934,131,165,1961,61,2951,3542,686],"class_list":["post-448209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-25m","tag-about","tag-amanda","tag-amisfield","tag-and","tag-brings","tag-cruise","tag-darby","tag-darbys","tag-entertainment","tag-escape","tag-event","tag-expected","tag-fashion","tag-fiji","tag-fijian","tag-for","tag-former","tag-insider","tag-islands","tag-john","tag-launches","tag-leach","tag-leachs","tag-listers","tag-mansion","tag-more","tag-multimilliondollar","tag-myken","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-owner","tag-partner","tag-remuera","tag-ricardo","tag-rich","tag-ridge","tag-runway","tag-sally","tag-sell","tag-selling","tag-simich","tag-society","tag-stewart","tag-than","tag-their","tag-this","tag-to","tag-town","tag-wayne","tag-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448209","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=448209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/448209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/448210"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=448209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=448209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=448209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}