{"id":54789,"date":"2025-10-01T19:35:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/54789\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T19:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T19:35:09","slug":"society-insider-baby-boom-for-nzs-rich-famous-and-influential-cathy-horton-shares-northern-club-insider-secrets-and-plans-for-new-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/54789\/","title":{"rendered":"Society Insider: Baby boom for NZ\u2019s rich, famous and influential; Cathy Horton shares Northern Club insider secrets and plans for new business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Horton, 59, was events manager for the prestigious Northern Club<\/a> for eight years. She tells Society Insider that during her time there she transformed the club\u2019s calendar for its 2500 members, staging more than 1000 events, including theatre, opera, live music, French markets, gin festivals and a raft of high-profile speakers.<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Horton at a Melbourne Cup event at The Northern Club.<\/p>\n

Horton has been a businesswoman for 25 years. She first made her mark in publishing, founding and editing Style magazine<\/a>, a luxury lifestyle title she ran for seven years.<\/p>\n

It was there she began building her famous little black book of connections and connectors, a network she still draws on today.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Northern Club was the perfect training ground for my new business,\u201d she says. \u201cI had to deliver for a very discerning audience, which pushed me to keep raising the bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Horton with the late Sir Michael Hill and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour at an event at The Northern Club.<\/p>\n

She says she also became the go-to girl when the hottest acts hit town, securing near-impossible VIP tickets for concerts like Adele<\/a> and Elton John<\/a>. She turned them into full-scale occasions with pre-show parties at the ivy-clad club, which were so good, she says, guests had to be coaxed out the door to make it to the concerts in time.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther highlights include staging a singles\u2019 night that sparked two lasting relationships, and the now-legendary margarita masterclass where top KCs abandoned the bench for blenders,\u201d says Horton.<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Horton at a Malfy Gin event at the Northern Club.<\/p>\n

Horton was also given a last-minute request to throw a surprise birthday party for pop star Robbie Williams<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very tame event,\u201d she says. \u201cI was most nervous about selecting the music for him; he ended up singing himself Happy Birthday.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked for the scandal from the club filled with New Zealand\u2019s wealthiest people<\/a>, Horton says the rule has always been that what happens at the club, stays at the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, looking at my whole career, I can say that at some of the media and society parties that I have organised, they occasionally ended like a wild night at a pub.<\/p>\n

\u201cBathroom doors get locked, people pass out, handbags go missing, and there are always huge messes to clean up; it\u2019s all part of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Northern Club was the place for her 2021 party to celebrate her engagement to her second husband, finance and mortgage broker Mike Hallwright.<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Horton and Mike Hallwright at their engagement party at the Northern Club.<\/p>\n

The pair rescheduled their wedding three times because of Covid, eventually holding it at Tokoriki Island, Fiji<\/a>, in December 2022 with their families.<\/p>\n

\u201cTrue to form, I didn\u2019t make it simple \u2013 I flew in 17 suitcases of linen, crystal, candles and flowers, complete with stylists and florists,\u201d says Horton.<\/p>\n

The Remuera-based couple have a blended family of five children. Horton has two daughters from her first marriage to Peter Horton: Charlotte, 27, who is a doctor in London, and Tiffany, 24, who runs a food artisan collective in Byron Bay, New South Wales.<\/p>\n

\"CathyCathy Horton and daughters Charlotte and Tiffany at her wedding on Tokoriki Island, Fiji.<\/p>\n

Since leaving the Northern Club last year, Horton has been inundated with requests to put her Midas touch on events.<\/p>\n

In May, she helped her good friend Louise Wallace throw what could be called an unapologetic Rich List fundraiser at Wallace\u2019s home on Paritai Drive for her theatre company Tadpole Productions, which raised $40,000 in under an hour before the guests partied the night away.<\/p>\n

Horton decided to formalise things and created The Wow Events.<\/p>\n

\u201cI make sure an event delivers real results, whether that\u2019s raising funds, selling product, connecting people, or putting a brand firmly in the spotlight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Recent standout successes for The Wow Events include The Power of a Wish fashion lunch for the Make-A-Wish foundation at Mantell\u2019s Tamaki Drive, and Artful Minds, an exclusive art fundraiser for Dementia NZ with Deloitte, which took place on the 20th floor of the finance company\u2019s downtown offices.<\/p>\n

\"AngelaAngela Clatworthy, Cathy Horton, and Jillian Friedlander at The Make a Wish event at Mantells.<\/p>\n

Next on Horton\u2019s calendar is racing season, with a Melbourne Cup<\/a> lunch for Generate, best known for their hugely successful KiwiSaver Scheme and managed funds. The event will help celebrate the launch of Generate\u2019s new private wealth arm, and Horton is believed to have been given a high budget.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne hundred and fifty well-heeled Aucklanders will be treated to flowing bubbles, all-day grazing on gourmet dishes, Fashions in the Field, live entertainment and even a racing tips expert to get the betting started,\u201d Horton says.<\/p>\n

The Christmas party season will follow, and Horton says events have evolved from \u201cthe boozy blowouts of a decade ago\u201d to curated, thoughtful parties where every element has a purpose \u2013 the cocktails, the styling, even the music \u2013 all telling the story of the host or the brand.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuests still want to see luxury, but they don\u2019t want to see blatant wastage or single-use anything,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Next year, Horton is dipping into the lucrative wellness industry by launching Reset.Revive.Thrive<\/a>. \u2013 a series of one-day women\u2019s health and wellbeing retreats.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a passion project inspired by iconic retreats like Gwinganna and Aro H\u0101, but designed for women who can\u2019t spare a week or a luxury price tag,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Through it all, Horton credits the late philanthropist Dame Rosie Horton<\/a>, related through her former husband, as a close mentor, friend and guiding influence.<\/p>\n

\u201cRosie taught me not to be afraid to ask,\u201d Horton says.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot for myself, but for the good of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baby boom for NZ\u2019s rich, famous and influential<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something in the water in Kiwi society and celebrity circles, with an influx of new babies for everyone from Shortland Street stars and fashion designers to high-profile real estate agents, property developers and foodies.<\/p>\n

Rich Listers Simon and Paula Herbert<\/a> of Empire Capital<\/a> welcomed a baby girl to their family last month. After reporting on their Monaco baby shower in a recent column, Society Insider is told the pair have named their daughter Sienna, and they are over the moon with her arrival. It\u2019s their first child together; Simon has four adult children from a previous marriage.<\/p>\n

\"SimonSimon and Paula Herbert.<\/p>\n

In the same week, racing fashionista Carena West<\/a> and her husband, businessman and polo player Rob Worker, welcomed their second child, Henry, a little brother to their 5-year-old daughter, Emily.<\/p>\n

\"CarenaCarena West and Rob Worker.<\/p>\n

West, who has previously won awards and placed at the World of Wearable Art<\/a> awards, says she gave birth two days after competing in this year\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very tired and also very happy,\u201d West tells Society Insider.<\/p>\n

Ollie Wall<\/a>, a real estate agent to the uber wealthy and his wife, Someday Studios founder Milly Hewat-Wall<\/a>, recently welcomed their second child.<\/p>\n

\"MillyMilly Hewat-Wall and Ollie Wall.<\/p>\n

Ollie\u2019s father, Graham Wall, tells Society Insider the couple are thrilled to have given their 4-year-old daughter Coco a little sister, whom they have named Zahria.<\/p>\n

In two weeks, high-flying Christchurch-based property developer Matthew Horncastle<\/a> of Williams Corporation will welcome his first child with Hannah Bungay, a boy they will name Alexander.<\/p>\n

And while their on screen workplace is dealing with the threat of an airborne virus, off-screen three Shortland Street stars<\/a> have been supporting each other through their pregnancies.<\/p>\n

Ngahuia Piripi<\/a> (who plays Esther Samuels), Rebekah Randell<\/a> (Dawn Robinson) and Courtenay Louise<\/a> (Monique Srutter) all have impending arrivals.<\/p>\n

Louise, 31, and her husband, Chris Read<\/a>, are expecting their first child, and she soaked up all she could from Piripi, 35 and Randell, 32, who are already parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was funny having so many of us pregnant at work at the same time,\u201d Piripiri tells Society Insider.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a club going where we could celebrate the highs and moan about the lows together.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RebekahRebekah Randell and Courtenay Louise at her baby shower.<\/p>\n

Filming for Shortland Street for 2025 finished in July, and resumed this week to begin shooting the 2026 storylines.<\/p>\n

Randell announced last week that she and husband Bevan, a builder, are expecting a child this summer. Randell has been off Shorty the past couple of years to be a full-time mum to the couple\u2019s first daughter, Isla<\/a>, who was born in late 2023. She will be back on screens in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n

\"RebekahRebekah and Bevan Randell and their daughter Isla.<\/p>\n

In 2022, the couple suffered a devastating miscarriage<\/a>, finding out at eight weeks that they had lost their already much-loved baby.<\/p>\n

When she announced her news, Randell said she will never take for granted how precious the time is, and for those still waiting for their little miracle, the couple know the road is not linear.<\/p>\n

Randell\u2019s co-star Piripi is due to have her fourth child \u2013 her third with her partner and actor Teone Kahu \u2013 this month.<\/p>\n

\"NgahuiaNgahuia Piripi and Rebekah Randell.<\/p>\n

Piripi says the couple\u2019s son, Niau, 4, and daughter, Aewa, 3, are looking forward to welcoming their baby sister soon.<\/p>\n

Her daughter, Owairea, 16, and Kahu\u2019s daughter Neila, 13, are also excited to have another addition to the family.<\/p>\n

\"TeoneTeone Kahu and Ngahuia Piripi with Niau and Aewa, now 4 and 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe youngest two get along so well, it\u2019s going to be interesting seeing what throwing a third little one in the mix will be like,\u201d says Piripiri.<\/p>\n

She has spent the past few weeks nesting at home, rearranging, organising, and setting up.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, I get it done before I pop,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

It will be a busy time for the family. Kahu, who previously starred on Shorty, has started Te Agency, a M\u0101ori-owned and operated talent agency.<\/p>\n

Courtney Louise is the third Shorty star preparing for her new arrival, with her baby also due this spring.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been a busy time for Louise since she married Chris Read last year at Mahurangi\u2019s Tu Nguta Villa, north of Auckland.<\/p>\n

The couple enjoyed a three-week European honeymoon and started trying for a baby last Christmas.<\/p>\n

In August, the couple moved into a new home, where they held their baby shower a few weeks later.<\/p>\n

\"ChrisChris Read and Courtenay Louise at their baby shower.<\/p>\n

After juggling filming with heavy morning sickness in her first trimester, Louise says she has been lucky to have Read, who is the CFO of nutrition company The Pure Food Co, cook all of their meals.<\/p>\n

Like her friend and co-star Randell, Louise is opting not to find out the sex of her baby until delivery.<\/p>\n

Other recent baby arrivals include Charlie, the first son for fashion designer Caitlin Crisp<\/a> and her husband, construction development manager Andrew Vincent.<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Vincent, Caitlin Crisp and baby Charlie in Queenstown.<\/p>\n

Crisp, 29, tells Society Insider that two months into parenting, the couple are absolutely loving it.<\/p>\n

\u201cCharlie is the coolest wee guy. At least once a day, we say to each other, \u2018Can you believe we made him?\u2019\u201d says Crisp.<\/p>\n

She says they have been inundated with love, messages of support and care packages since Charlie was born in July.<\/p>\n

\u201cAndrew and I have continued to work, which does make it quite the juggle.<\/p>\n

\u201cLuckily, my parents have been around a lot to help out, and my staff at work often come over to our house, which works better for us than having to pack up the car and drive in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crisp explains she is not working every day, just enough to stay in touch, and her team have been doing an incredible job.<\/p>\n

\u201cEventually, I\u2019m sure we\u2019ll get a nanny to help during the week, but we\u2019re doing our best with family help in these early days.\u201d<\/p>\n

At not quite 3 months old, Charlie is already the size of a 5- to 6-month-old and is growing out of his baby clothes very quickly.<\/p>\n

\"CaitlinCaitlin Crisp and baby Charlie.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a good sleeper and generally very chill and happy in nature with lots of smiling,\u201d she says. \u201cHe comes everywhere with us. He loves Water Boy in St Heliers and Bianca in Ellerslie.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family have already been to T\u016bt\u016bk\u0101k\u0101, Christchurch and Queenstown, where Charlie even had his first flight in a helicopter.<\/p>\n

Celebrity foodie Polly Markus<\/a> and her long-term partner, Matt Gordon, associate director of sales and leasing at Bayley\u2019s Real Estate<\/a>, welcomed their first child, Dali Rose, at the end of August.<\/p>\n

\"MattMatt Gordon and Polly Markus before the birth of their daughter Dali Rose.<\/p>\n

The pair, who spent a babymoon in Europe in May while Markus researched her next cookbook, say their world is complete and their love for Dali is like no other.<\/p>\n

Also born in August was Mila, the daughter of fashion stylist to the rich and famous Sarah Stuart and her long-term partner, architectural designer Luiz Serrano.<\/p>\n

Stuart has styled famous international names like Mick Jagger, Little Mix and Rove McManus, and local stars Temuera Morrison, Paul Henry, Samantha Hayes and Mike McRoberts.<\/p>\n

\"LuizLuiz Serrano, Sarah Stuart and baby Mila.<\/p>\n

\u201cMila\u2019s amazing, such a healthy, happy little one,\u201d Stuart tells Society Insider.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s just started smiling and engaging with us and already knows exactly how to charm her parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing new parents is a learning curve, and we\u2019ve enjoyed picking and choosing the advice that works for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Serrano usually splits his time between his business in Auckland and Fiji, but Stuart says he has been a hands-on dad, working from home.<\/p>\n

Stuart is gradually getting back into work mode herself, this week slowly putting together her next fashion shoot.<\/p>\n

Mila has already been to Ponsonby\u2019s long-time hospo hotspot Prego with her parents, which Stuart says \u201cwent surprisingly well\u201d.<\/p>\n

Serrano and Mila have been FaceTiming daily with his family in Brazil, and Stuart says they hope to travel over to his home country soon.<\/p>\n

And in the sports arena, former Black Cap Adam Parore<\/a> and partner Libby Price, a property manager, haven\u2019t let the arrival of twins stop them travelling the world.<\/p>\n

\"AdamAdam Parore and Libby Price in Bali with their twins, Heidi and Elliott.<\/p>\n

The couple told Society Insider at the end of last year that their new twins would quickly need passports.<\/p>\n

Heidi and Elliott were born in January and have already holidayed at Parore and Price\u2019s chateau in Bordeaux, France, and more recently, their investment property in Bali\u2019s trendy beach town Canggu.<\/p>\n

Party people of the week \u2026<\/p>\n

Jillian Friedlander\u2019s Endless Lunch<\/p>\n

Billionaire philanthropist Jillian Friedlander<\/a> hosted a women\u2019s afternoon last week called Endless Lunch in the Princess Room at the Northern Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Billed as a toolbox for health, wealth and passion, MC Renee Wright<\/a> led a dynamic Q&A session with Friedlander and speaking guests who included Kenneth Brummel from Auckland Art Gallery<\/a>, Dr Ula Heywood, the co-founder of Autonomy Health, P\u00e3ua Wealth Management founder and CEO Donna Nicolof, and Orsini Jewellery\u2019s Sarah Hutchings.<\/p>\n

\"KennethKenneth Brummel, Donna Nicolof, Ula Hayward, Renee Wright and Jillian Friedlander at the Endless Lunch at the Northern Club. Photo \/ AZ Photography <\/p>\n

Guests enjoyed a bespoke three-course lunch, paired with an exclusive wine selection curated by Will Brunel-Morvan of Maison Vauron<\/a>, focusing on female winemakers.<\/p>\n

Throughout the event, guests indulged in a selection of luxury encounters, including the art of fragrance with the Christian Dior house and fashion with Georgette Pollock-Johnston, an international stylist and colour consultant.<\/p>\n

Former Real Housewives Anne Batley Burton and Gilda Kirkpatrick were there, as were architect Kathryn Carter, media director Jane Hitchfield, Bayley\u2019s Remuera Jo Johnstone and The Following Hair Co\u2019s founder, Sandi Larkin.<\/p>\n

\"VanessaVanessa Neal and Kamini Reddy at the Endless Lunch at the Northern Club. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"SandiSandi Larkin, Jillian Friedlander and Kayla Driver at the Endless Lunch at the Northern Club. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"ReneeRenee Wright and Jillian Friedlander at the Endless Lunch at the Northern Club. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"CathyCathy Horton, Samantha Scarlett and Angela Clatworthy. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"MargotMargot Leigh, Susan Taylor, Anne Batley Burton, Jane Hitchfield, Margaret Hawker and Deb Haworth. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"KathrynKathryn Carter and Jo Johnstone. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"LaniLani Fogelberg and Rebecca Schweder. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"JacquiJacqui Ansin, Joanna Chaplin, Caitlin Wright and Marlene Dale. Photo \/ AZ Photography \"GeorgetteGeorgette Pollock-Johnstone and Jillian Friedlander. Photo \/ AZ Photography<\/p>\n

Golf and Italian food combine <\/p>\n

A stylish crowd gathered in Auckland\u2019s Britomart<\/a> last Thursday to toast the launch of Flush Urban Golf Range and Bar Ziti, two new additions to the city\u2019s hospitality and entertainment scene from Savor Group<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The dual-concept venue, situated off Roukai Lane in Britomart, was unveiled at a launch event hosted by Savor Group CEO Lucien Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Designed by award-winning Izzard Design<\/a>, the adjoining spaces combine cutting-edge indoor golf with contemporary Italian dining.<\/p>\n

Guests sipped Peroni and margaritas and sampled canapes from both menus as they explored the new setup.<\/p>\n

The Flush team say they have New Zealand\u2019s most advanced indoor golf venue, which wowed attendees with its state-of-the-art Trackman golfing simulators.<\/p>\n

Throughout the evening, guests took turns trying their hand at virtual holes from golf courses worldwide. <\/p>\n

Attendees included Izzard Design founder Paul Izzard, Longform founder Des Rusk, Lumo Digital co-founders Kent Harrison and Phil Clemas, food stylist Fiona Hugues, Liquid Lightning owner Maddi Hill-Lovett and socialite Kham Phomsouvanh.<\/p>\n

\"FionaFiona and Vincent Hughes at the launch of Flush Urban Golf Range and Bar Ziti. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"BradleyBradley Jacobs, Scott Woolright, Admir Mullaaliu and Elias Palacio. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"JackJack Plowright and Dylan Hardie. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery\"NathanNathan Cooper and Josh Findlay Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery\"KhamKham Phomsouvanh and Amelia Jones. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"OliviaOlivia Follett, Tim Peat and Luci Wang. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"PhilPhil Clemas, Kent Harrison and Ben Boyne. Photo \/ Norrie Montgomery \"MaddiMaddi Hill-Lovett and Ben Boyne. 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":"Horton, 59, was events manager for the prestigious Northern Club for eight years. She tells Society Insider that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":54790,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1443,46327,95,46328,51,22059,6794,11154,6326,16424,1038,138,46324,6928,3623,18836,46326,156,3685,1017,1444,1866,2082,2740,46325,46323,2936,93,117,111,139,7977,69,3272,2171,2952,8830,13843,180,2953,2935,544,4504,1961,2951,12806,686],"class_list":["post-54789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-about","tag-abundance","tag-and","tag-arrivals","tag-auckland","tag-babies","tag-baby","tag-begins","tag-biggest","tag-boom","tag-brings","tag-business","tag-cathy","tag-celebrating","tag-celebrity","tag-club","tag-clubs","tag-entertainment","tag-events","tag-exclusive","tag-famous","tag-find","tag-for","tag-former","tag-horton","tag-influential","tag-insider","tag-manager","tag-new","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-northern","tag-nz","tag-nzs","tag-plans","tag-ricardo","tag-rich","tag-secrets","tag-shares","tag-simich","tag-society","tag-some","tag-theres","tag-this","tag-town","tag-venture","tag-week"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54789","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=54789"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54789\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54790"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}