Regularly rubbing shoulders with the rich and powerful at Augusta National Golf Club, where he is one of a handful of overseas members, Craig Heatley qualifies as an unofficial New Zealand ambassador to the US.
No surprise then to see Mr Heatley joining Barack Obama and former prime minister John Key on a golfing trip during the former US president’s trip to New Zealand in March, shortly before this year’s Masters tournament at the exclusive Georgia venue.
Mr Heatley, a skilled golfer who has won tournaments as an amateur, has a regular gig as chairman of the media committee for the Augusta Masters tournament.
It’s a long way from Upper Hutt where Mr Heatley’s money-making career began with a newspaper round, aged 11.
His first business deal was a subdivision in Foxton a mere four years later, but it was mini golf in Taupo that set him on a path to wealth with Rainbow Corporation and onward to co-found Sky TV in 1987.
These days Mr Heatley keeps a low profile in New Zealand although his interests here include a string of companies and properties.
Mr Heatley, also a serious trader in foreign exchange, says equity and currency markets have been “very, very kind this year but I’m taking a much more cautious view now.”
He sees higher bond yields in the coming year, combined with more scarcity in share price gains.
“I’m cautious on the New Zealand dollar until we see more detail about the government’s spending plans. Its revenue forecasts are exceedingly optimistic I believe, so I favour the Kiwi dollar lower medium term.
“I’m still a big believer in transformational technology and continue to like companies such as Apple, Google, Amazon and Tencent and Alibaba.”
Among his investment interests is a stake in Sydney-based private equity firm Mercury Capital, where he serves on the board alongside Geoff Ricketts and Tom Sturgess.
Last September one of Mercury’s NZ units pocketed $A161 million from the sale of shares in Novotech Holdings, a major Asia Pacific contract research company. The buyer was private equity firm TPG Capital.
The property holdings include an eco-friendly subdivision at Parekura Bay in the Bay of Islands, development land at Port Whangarei, and homes in Takapuna, Hahangarua Bay in the Bay of Islands and a $US14.9 million home near Makena Bay in South Maui.
Architect Pete Bossley is designing a new home for Mr Heatley in Tapakuna.