David Richwhite, now 70, lives with his family in London.
He has not shown any signs of activity over the past year but the legacy of his and Sir Michael Fay’s business activities of the 1980s remains relevant.
He and Sir Michael share ownership of Great Mercury Island, which they acquired in 1978 in a deal shrouded in secrecy.
A project run by the University of Auckland and the Auckland War Memorial Museum on the island, in collaboration with local iwi Ngati Hei, has unearthed a historical treasure trove, including moa remains in the remnants of an ancient oven.
The Coralie Bay site may be one of the earliest in New Zealand’s human history, with settlement dating back an estimated 600 years.
He has four children and is an active fisherman, hunter and musician.
One of his children, Topher, is in a UK band and has been known to DJ at elite parties in the Spanish party town of Ibiza. Topher, now 32, is planning a global expedition with his partner Bridget Thackwray, the founder of Fashbae, over the next two years.