Elias Nakhle arrived in New Zealand from Lebanon in 1969.
He initially worked in a factory to learn English before becoming a builder’s labourer. Having worked day and night to build his own home in Manurewa, Nakhle then formed a building company and set about constructing hundreds of spec houses.
Fast forward almost 50 years and the family is still developing residential property on a grand scale. Its biggest project has been “The Gardens” estate adjacent to the Auckland Botanic Gardens, where hundreds of building sites have been subdivided and sold over the past two decades.
Now aged 83, Nakhle senior has left the running of most family companies to his son Daniel (pictured with his wife Sybelle), who is heading myriad projects, including the Clarks Beach Waterfront Estate. The 50ha property has rateable value of $31m.
Waiting for development is 15ha of vacant industrial land near Auckland Airport with a rateable value of $39m.
In addition to property development, the Nakhles own the popular Volare Italian restaurant at The Gardens and they also operate three early childhood education centres in the area.
The family also has a passion for breeding and racing thoroughbreds and has developed Byerley Park at Karaka, a state-of-the art 77ha complex that provides a variety of training facilities. The $8m property is jointly owned by Elias and Daniel.
Over the years the Nakhles have given back to their community, gifting land for South Auckland’s Totara Hospice and building The Gardens community hall. Appointed as Lebanon’s first honorary consul to New Zealand in late 2017, family matriarch Henriette Nakhle was recognised with a Queen’s Service Medal for community service.
Photo: NewsPixNZ
2018: $200 million