The Wellington-based chartered accountant and property investor studied commerce at Victoria University and has lived in the capital for the past 15 years.
Charlie Zheng transacts most of his deals through Cornerstone Partners, which he jointly owns with Jack Barber and Andrew Cotterrell, who says Zheng "is a private man who prefers to keep himself and his family away from the public eye."
Major inner-city landmarks such as the $45 million Harbour City Centre and $47m Datacom House are part of a substantial commercial property portfolio estimated to be worth at least $200m.
“Our priority is to develop enduring landlord-tenant relationships based on mutual trust and respect,” Zheng says. “That includes meeting our tenants’ needs for safe and secure workplaces through undertaking comprehensive earthquake-strengthening programmes where possible.”
Passionate about building New Zealand’s trade relationships with China, Zheng is applying his knowledge of the two markets to facilitate export opportunities for Kiwi businesses and develop new markets for quality goods and services.
He is the owner of Martinborough's Murdoch James Estate winery, which has won gold medals for its Pinot Noir at international competitions.
A native of Xi'an, home of the terracotta warriors, he was instrumental in establishing a New Zealand hub there in 2016 as a base of operations for New Zealand businesses looking to access the central Chinese market. The pedestrian street alongside the New Zealand Hub has been named Wellington – Te Mārae o Poneke road, in honour of the project’s instigating city.
Xi'an is also the testing ground for Zheng's 70/30 Chinese joint venture with Mojo Coffee founder Steve Gianoutsos. Two cafés have so far been opened and Mojo's baristas have been educating local Chinese to sip their flat whites in smaller cups – at $7 a pop. "China is really exciting," Gianoutsos says, "and they'll surpass us here in New Zealand."
Photo: Stuff