Mike's Minute: Sir Michael Hill will be missed

One of the more memorable days of my life was spent at Michael Hill's house at Lake Hayes in Central Otago. 

He showed me his art. There was a lot of it and it was eclectic. 

He had his own nine-hole golf course, and it was all par 3s. This was in the days before The Hills, which in many respects was what Michael was all about – vision. 

He took his par 3s and then turned it into one of the best golf courses in the country. Watching the New Zealand Open each year is worth it just for the views of his course. 

When I was there, the charity event he ran started at Millbrook just across the way. Millbrook was new then and you wondered whether it was one of those investments that would grow to be the success it has or turn out like Formosa or Gulf Harbour. 

I had won the pro-am that day. He presented me with a ticket to Australia, a few thousand dollars, and various bits and pieces from his jewellery business, that I ironically couldn't accept, given I wasn’t a pro, and amateurs were banned from winning stuff. 

But I had beaten Sean Fitzpatrick, Andrew Mehrtens, Peter O'Malley, and Greg Turner, so what did I need prizes for? 

Michael never forgot the day and reminded me each time I talked to him that I should give golf a go again and to come and play at his place anytime I liked. 

I first interviewed him in the 80's. He was newish then. The story of the Whangarei shop, the fire, setting up his own business, it became New Zealand business folklore. 

I did one of those motivational events with him, where I hosted. He and other success stories told paying guests how they did it, what the tips were, and how to never give up. 

He was big into classical music and was a philanthropist in that area. 

His company became a household name, expanding into Australia, Canada, and the US. 

The advertising was genius. 

He revelled in the personality thing. He was a health nut, doing a lot of juicing, probably before his time in that sense. 

Like most success stories, he had a magnetism about him. He was very likeable, had good stories and was funny with it. 

He was in many respects the quintessential New Zealand success story – hard working, self-made, and deprecating. 

He was a memorable, inspiring Kiwi. He will be missed. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's one of the more memorable days of my life.

(00:02):
Was spent at Michael Hill's house at Lake Hayes and
Central Otago. He showed me his art. There was a
lot of it and it was eclectic. He had his
own nine whole golf course. It was all par threes.
This was in the days before the Hills, which in
many respects was what Michael was all about vision. He
took his path threes and then turned it into one
of the best golf courses in the country and watching
the New Zealand open these days is worth it just

(00:23):
for the views of his course. While I was there,
the charity event he ran started at Millbrook just across
the way. Millbrook was new then and you wondered whether
it was one of those investments that would grow into
the success it has or turn out like Formosa or
Gold Harbor. I'd won the pro am that day. He
presented me with a ticket to Australia, a few thousand
dollars and various bits and pieces from his jewelry business

(00:44):
that ironically I couldn't accept them, given I wasn't a
professional and amateurs were banned from winning stuff. But I
had beaten on that day shown Fitzpatrick, Andrew Mertens, Peter
o'melly and Greg Turner. So what did I need prizes for?
Michael never forgot that day, and he reminded me each
time we talked that I should give golfer go again
and come and play at his place any time iliked.
I first interviewed him in the eighties. He was Newish

(01:06):
then and the story of the Fungerray shop, the fire
setting up his own business it became New Zealand business folklore.
I did one of those motivational events that were a
thing for a while with him. I was hosting he
and other success stories told paying guests how they did
at what the tips were, how to never give up.
He was big into music classical. He was a philanthropist
in that particular area. His company a household name of course,

(01:28):
expanding into Australia and Canada. In the States, the advertising
was genius. He reveled in the personality thing. He was
a health nut, lot of juicing, probably before his time
in that sense, and like most success stories, he had
a magnetism about him, very likable, good stories and funny
with it. He was, in many respects the quintessential New
Zealand success story, hard working, self made, deprecating a memorable,

(01:52):
inspiring Kiwi Michael Hill, he will be missed. For more
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from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio