Fantasy Island for Rich and Famous

John Hawkesby loves it so much you'd have to drag him "kicking and screaming" back to the city. Mad Butcher Peter Leitch calls it "paradise" and Mainfreight founder Bruce Plested adores the laidback lifestyle.

The trio are among the many Rich Listers and celebrities to live or own a holiday home on Waiheke, an increasingly exclusive bolthole just 18km from downtown Auckland.

Settled by Maori about 1000 years ago, Waiheke - meaning cascading waters - has a permanent population of about 8000. A large majority live in the western half, where picture-postcard homes nestle in native bush near hidden bays.

Former TV presenter Hawkesby couldn't get much further west. His long, bungalow-style homestead - with swimming pool and uninterrupted views of the gulf and Auckland skyline - is above Church Bay, near the ferry terminal at Matiatia.

He told the Herald on Sunday Waiheke reminded him of New Zealand in the 1950s - no malls, no KFC and a real sense of community.

To read the full NZ Herald story click here

Posted: 29 Dec 2008

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