With a long history of investing in high-end commercial property in Auckland, Sir Michael Friedlander is one of the country’s richest businessmen, although his empire is now largely operated by his sons Jason and Daniel.
Considered one of the most influential businessmen in the city, the Auckland lawyer is one of a handful of people who have featured on the NBR Rich List every year since 1986.
Sir Michael Friedlander’s extensive business, property, farming and investment interests have enabled him to bring a wealth of commercial knowledge to his companies, Samson Corporation and Sterling Nominees.
He has led the way in the Auckland property market for many decades, forming Samson Corp in 1946. The company’s website says it “offers tenants valuable advice and recommendations based on specialised background of knowledge and experience.”
Now it has a leasing empire of office buildings, retail strips and industrial properties in the city’s heartland from Ponsonby to Parnell and out to Te Atatu, with a wide range of tenants.
The family business invests heavily in providing green star-rated buildings and makes a conscious effort to manage the environmental requirements of each property, believing they are not just buildings but also where people work and spend a lot of time, so the environment must be good.
The family also has a 2.31% shareholding in fishing company Sanford and ownership of a 3532ha farm in the Waikato valued at more than $20 million.
Sir Michael was knighted in 2016 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for his services to many local businesses and organisations through his Friedlander Foundation.
The foundation supports the biannual Harriet Friedlander Art Residency in New York (named after his late wife) and continues to be a major donor to the Auckland Art Gallery, Venice Biennale and Sculptor in the Park, Ponsonby.
Sir Michael has been a long-standing donor to the Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters (Hippy programme), Youthtown, Foundation for Youth Development and Outward Bound while the foundation has also funded research programmes for dyslexia as well as regenerative and stem cell medicine for children with severe conditions.
He has also been involved with the New Zealand Centre for Independent Studies for 20 years and contributed significantly to the Auckland Synagogue and the Kadimah School refurbishment programme.