It’s a beautiful day down on the viaduct in Auckland harbour where I’ve arranged to meet Simon, a self-made multi-millionaire in his early forties. I’m fully expecting that he suggested we meet here so he can take me out on one of his yachts, drink champagne and talk money, darling. But no, Simon, turns up on a vintage Vespa in board shorts , an old t-shirt and jandals and suggests we head to his favourite café, a slightly truck stop-like institution with no sea view.
The thing about New Zealanders is that tall poppy syndrome is ingrained in us.
In Auckland particularly, as soon as somebody starts doing something a little bit exciting, a little bit original, and starts to become a little bit successful, people feel the need to cut them down. By walking around the shops, looking at who is eating and drinking in which restaurants and where money is being spent, it is impossible to see how, where and when the economic down turn has affected the high society. But it has.
Within minutes of meeting Simon and before our coffees have arrived, we are deep into his reveal about how much more prudent with money he is having to be. Crucial words here being having to be. Common sense disappears out of the window he tells me during the glory days and you are left with the consequences when the dust has settled.
He has stock exchange investments, a rarity for a New Zealander as we mostly prefer to sink our money into real estate, and has been fairly badly hit by the recent ‘economic world war III’ as he refers to it. To take pressure off his investments he is cutting his spending and so this year he will not be replacing his car (one of two his and hers Audi’s), they are refurbishing not buying another house for themselves and after sacking his stock broker and hiring err, himself, he is being far more picky about his investments.
There is categorically no way he would buy another property as an investment in this market - another change in mind set for him as in the last recession, he came out 4 houses richer.
Whilst media are reporting the worst in New Zealand is over, the sleepless nights are not. “The thing about being rich that most people do not understand is that just because you have money does not stop you from wanting more. I’m just trying to hold on through the tough times”
I pick up the tab and as he climbs on his scooter to head home, he offers me a single piece of advice, “If you want to make money, be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.”
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