Waikato’s Perry family has been one of the region’s wealthiest, and most generous, benefactors for over 60 years.
Founded by Brian Perry in the 1950s, the family’s Perry Group has a wide range of investments primarily in aggregates, metal protection, manufacturing and property development. They have also expanded into areas as diverse as manuka honey and food distribution.
Unfortunately, one of the group’s biggest projects has had something of a rocky year. The $1 billion Te Awa Lakes housing and recreation development was planned for a piece of land outside Hamilton, complete with recreational facilities and 1000-1500 homes, 400 of which were set to be affordable. After languishing with the government for nine months, the bid to create a Special Housing Area was rejected. The rejection caused confusion and consternation; Perry Group now says it will revert to its original path - to try and change the zone through a private plan change process.
The group’s Dairy Investment Fund continues to take a leading role in New Zealand’s dairy industry while the Three Peaks manuka honey business exports overseas to the lucrative Chinese market.
Company chairman Simon Perry is the son of founder Brian. He has a busy life, sitting on various boards and chairing the Brian Perry Charitable Trust. He has a range of personal investments, including Dunedin-based Aotea Electric and Boffo Sports, and was honoured at the highest level when he was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and philanthropy in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List.
The Brian Perry Charitable Trust was established in 1976 with a $100,000 donation from Brian and Peggy Perry. It donates heavily, particularly to interests in Waikato. Current projects include Cycle Cambridge, the Te Awa River Ride Charitable Trust, Parafed Waikato and Swimming Waikato.
Simon’s sister Tiffiney Perry is a trustee, shareholder and renowned athlete in her own right. She represented New Zealand in the Athens Paralympics in 2004, playing wheelchair tennis, while in 2016 she won the female handcycle category of the New York Marathon. Perry is married to Chris Harvey and has two children. This year she was appointed to the board of Life Unlimited Charitable Trust, which strives to meet the cultural needs of people with disabilities. She is also secretary of New Zealand Wheelchair Tennis. She is the current co-chair of Parafed Waikato, a not for profit organisation that promotes and provides sport and recreation opportunities for people with physical disabilities and visual impairments.
2018: $150 million