Sir Michael Hill remembered – and the tragedy that sparked a business empire

NZ Herald

4 days ago

Born in Whangārei in 1938, Hill was educated at Whangārei Boys High School before leaving at the age of 16 to become a concert violinist. When his musical ambitions didn't work out, Hill began working for his uncle at the family jewellery store.
'My parents and uncle demanded I give up this folly and get a real job,' said Hill.
Sir Michael Hill in 2019. Photo / Michael Craig
He took over the store's newspaper and radio advertising, where he began to draw attention to the business with what became his signature style.
That knack for advertising came in very handy when Hill launched his own store.
'Hello, Michael Hill – Jeweller,' his television advertisement would always begin – sparking imitation from viewers in living rooms across the nation.
Ambitiously, Hill aimed to open seven stores in his first seven years of business. By 1986 he'd opened eight. The following year he floated his company on the New Zealand Stock Exchange and drew enough capital to launch in Australia. The company now has over 200 stores across New Zealand, Australia and Canada – according to its website.
With him through every step of the way has been his wife, Christine. The pair had met at the family jewellery store.
Married in 1965, the couple recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have a son – Mark, and daughter - Emma. Emma Hill has long been part of the family business and remains a director – having been executive chair from 2015-2021.
Emma Hill followed in her father's footsteps and was executive chair of the business from 2015-2021. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Emma Hill spoke to the Herald earlier this year about her role in the family business and her parents' impact on her own career.
'I've always drawn great strength from Dad's boundless enthusiasm and positive outlook to business, and from my mother's incredibly pragmatic advice.'
Despite his overwhelming success – the bespectacled businessman also had his failures. In 1992 he launched his ill-fated footwear business, Michael Hill Shoes.
Hill bought out a small Christchurch chain of high-end, Italian footwear and launched the previous owner, who stayed on, into the quite different world of mid-range, fast-turnover footwear.
In his autobiography, Hill analysed what went wrong.
'[It] turned out to be a series of colossal mistakes,' he wrote. He'd put the jewellery chain manager in charge of the shoe operation, meaning he couldn't focus fully on either job. Nine shops opened across the country in quick succession instead of concentrating on getting one region right first. He also confused his customers by naming the stores Michael Hill Shoes and putting them next to the jewellery stores.
Hill pulled the plug on the faltering sideline early in 1994.
Michael Hill, golfer
'Michael Hill, golfer' was a far more successful enterprise.
The Hills golf course in Arrowtown opened in 2007 but it had been in the works for several decades before that. Michael and Christine 'fell in love with the Arrowtown area' during a holiday in the 1980's. They then purchased farmland on McEntyre's Hill to build their home. They continued to acquire surrounding farmland over the following three decades. Michael had a putting green built in his front garden and then expanded it with tees and bunkers to form several par three holes.
Now The Hills has 18 holes and the championship course has hosted the New Zealand Golf Open – and is among the most exclusive golf clubs in New Zealand. In typical Hill fashion the course is utterly unique, featuring large-scale sculptures on many holes – some created by Hill's son, Mark – an acclaimed artist.
Then Prime Minister John Key with Sir Michael Hill at the Hills Golf Course in Queenstown in 2010. Photo / file
'The Farm', an additional 9-hole par 3 course, opened in 2019 and winds its way close to the Hills' family home.
Last year, the Hills entered a partnership with US private equity investor Ric Kayne and business partner Jim Rohrstaff, the duo behind Tara Iti and Te Arai Links near Mangawhai, to redevelop The Hills.
'It took me 40 years and a house fire'
When Hill was knighted in 2010, he told the Herald it was 'a great responsibility' and that people would look to him 'as a role model'. He offered one piece of advice - to 'find a goal'. 'It's the most difficult thing to have. It took me 40 years and a house fire to do it,' said Hill.
'It makes an enormous difference. Once we start moving, everything starts to gravitate towards you. It's like a surfer struggling to get a wave, then you push yourself a little and you're moving.'
Hill will be remembered as a businessman who built a global brand from the ashes of his home and never lost aspiration.
'Here's another thing I have learned in life: nothing is perfect. That's what keeps you striving for more.'