Society Insider: Chef Al Brown dating businesswoman Wendy Francis-Ching; The Carlin hotel’s transformation; former St Kent’s student’s Ivy League dreams

Francis-Ching is the former wife of wealthy businessman Mark Ching, renowned for his work in the shipping industry.

The couple told Society Insider that although Brown had a public profile, they prefer to keep their relationship private.

Sources close to the couple say the pair, who both have adult children and have been married previously, complement each other perfectly.

“Al’s wit and humour are a perfect match for Wendy; they both match each other with their strong personalities in social situations,” says a source.

The pair’s entrepreneurial similarities and get-up-and-go attitude are said to have ignited sparks.

After living in and decorating several fabulous homes in the eastern suburbs, Francis-Ching – formerly a sales executive at TVNZ – used her love of decor to start the successful upmarket business Consignment Furniture in 2016.

The business sold high-end designer brands, including Antonio Citterio, B&B Italia, Minotti, Philippe Starck, and Armani Casa, and was a huge hit with buyers and well-to-do sellers.

Late last year, after a tough few years of trading in Newmarket, Francis-Ching closed Consignment Furniture.

There is talk about town that Francis-Ching, a doyenne of the eastern suburbs, may even buy a house with Brown on his side of town, Ponsonby. It is understood that if the pair buy real estate together, they will harness their creative sides on a great design project.

Brown has based himself in Ponsonby and its surrounds since he made the move from Wellington to Auckland 15 years ago, when he took on the city’s hospitality scene by opening Depot Eatery and Oyster Bar as part of SkyCity’s redevelopment of Federal St in 2011.

As well as Depot, his businesses now include Federal Delicatessen, Best Ugly Bagels, and a range of products including coffee, olive oil, mustards, and ketchups.

After becoming a household name with several television shows, Brown joined the MasterChef world in 2015 in TV3’s version of the hit show, alongside Michelin star chef Josh Emett and restaurateur Mark Wallbank.

Francis-Ching and Wallbank have been friends since Wallbank’s days running Parnell restaurant Cibo in the 1990s.

Brown’s down-to-earth approach to cooking, appealing to everyday Kiwis, has seen him write five popular books spanning cooking, fishing and even the Kiwi bach.

Last summer, Brown is said to have shown Francis-Ching some of his favourite fishing spots in Northland.

Throughout the past five years, Brown has become the unofficial cheerleader of the hospitality scene as it fights for survival.

Friends of the pair say they admire each other’s tenacity, and Francis-Ching has been impressed by Brown’s philanthropy.

For nearly 10 years, Brown has been an ambassador for Garden to Table, helping schools nationwide teach children about good nutrition.

In 2021, Brown launched Tipping Point, a wine range with Constellation Wines, which supports New Zealand charities while celebrating the country’s regions.

That journey turned into a six-part video series celebrating regions and entrepreneurs.

After the devastation caused by Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, Brown teamed up with the Restaurant Association and held New Zealand’s biggest dinner party, with various restaurants joining in to raise money for the mayoral funds.

Over the past few years, Brown has become a dab hand with content creation on social media. Hyundai is among the brands Brown works with, and last year he teamed up with his daughter Constance, one of Brown’s two daughters with his former wife, Lizzie Lang.

Constance is an influencer and co-hosts the podcast Everyday Solitude.

The father and daughter worked together for a campaign with the Australian brand R.M. Williams, wearing the brand’s iconic footwear.

Brown seems to have helped Francis-Ching with her content creation. In her one and only Instagram post last November, Francis-Ching posted some gardening gloves from a break in Northland. Brown was quick to copy and post one of her hashtags, #ladygardener, in support.

Award-winning boutique luxury Queenstown hotel to get new life after owner’s death

When it opened, exclusive Queenstown boutique hotel The Carlin was described as “beyond guests’ six-star dreams”.

But after its owner, United States property developer Kevin Carlin, died suddenly aged 69 of hypertensive heart disease, the hotel was placed into receivership.

Now, it is set to be given a new future, relaunched as a private residence collective – with high-net-worth buyers given the chance to invest in the property in a co-ownership model.

The $30 million hotel, with views over Lake Wakatipu, was the retirement project of Queenstown-based Carlin. Stays could cost more than $6000 a night, and it was rumoured to be attracting several big-name celebrity guests.

As well as having eight suites and an award-winning restaurant, it was Carlin’s private retreat.

The Californian native had a singing career and worked as a chef to Hollywood celebrities before patenting mobile kitchens used on movie sets and by the US Army.

In the 1990s, he sold his US business and moved to Queenstown, where he made a name for himself as a property developer. Among his projects were New Zealand’s first gated community, the 41-section Lakeside Estates, as well as the Waterfront Hotel in Queenstown.

But less than a year after opening his dream property, Carlin died.

BDO Christchurch, appointed to settle Carlin’s estate, found debt of $45 million and some substantial assets.

Stepping in to reinvigorate Carlin’s dream is NZ’s Duchamp Collective, which is partnering with US global co-ownership expert Elite Alliance to relaunch the hotel as The Carlin Residence Club.

Elite has created 120 residence club properties in more than 20 countries; its first was in Deer Valley in Utah in 2001.

After visiting Elite’s residences at Deer Valley, Duchamp Collective’s veteran South Island developer Richmond Paynter says he saw an opportunity to transform the iconic Queenstown property.

Eight private residences are available for co-ownership, which include six two-bedroom suites, a penthouse and a presidential residence.

The suites are being sold for between $5.5m and $8.95m, with up to 10 shares available in each, meaning investors can spend between $550k and $895k per co-ownership share.

Co-owners will get a certain number of nights to spend in the property per year, with it being available to rent out when not in use. Rental returns are expected to be between $3000 to $9000 per night.

Other benefits for co-owners include being able to exchange nights in their Carlin suite for ones in other Elite Alliance properties in destinations including the US, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

“For decades, we’ve seen how residence clubs empower travellers to own remarkable holiday homes – without the burden of full-time management,” says Elite Alliance president Rob Goodyear.

“The Carlin Residences Club is a perfect fit for our network, and we’re thrilled to bring this model to New Zealand for the first time.”

Paynter says the Elite model is “elegant, sustainable, and responsive to how today’s luxury buyers want to travel: flexibly, globally, and with everything taken care of”.

Elite describes its co-owners as high-net-worth individuals, second-home investors, or seasoned global travellers who enjoy luxury hotel facilities, complete with concierge and airport transfers.

Duchamp’s interior designers, Susie and Teassa Paynter, are planning refurbishments as part of the transition from a luxury hotel to a private residence club.

Included will be enhancements to internal spaces and the addition of new amenities such as a private owners’ lounge and upgraded fitness facilities.

After it completes The Carlin Residence Club, Elite says it is considering other opportunities in high-value resort and holiday destinations in New Zealand and Australia.

Kiwi Ivy League student running for NZ

Aucklander Peyton Leigh achieved her dream of attending American Ivy League college Princeton University. But the 21-year-old says she is most proud of her latest achievement, qualifying to compete for New Zealand at next month’s Fisu (International University Sports Federation) World University Games in Germany.

The former St Kent’s student is on summer break from her second year of study at Princeton, but isn’t resting on her laurels. Leigh is training hard before she travels to the Rhine-Ruhr region in West Germany in mid-July, where 8500 student athletes from more than 150 countries will compete.

“The games are one of the largest international multi-sport events for student athletes who are currently at university,” Leigh tells Society Insider.

“I’m incredibly proud to have qualified for the 5000m and to represent my country on this world stage, it means the world to me.”

Leigh’s Ōrākei-based parents are Auckland property investors Melanie and Duncan Leigh. Melanie is a former media advertising executive, and Duncan made his mark as an industrial chemist and a director of Chemiplas, one of Australia’s leading suppliers of raw materials.

The world’s third-wealthiest man, Jeff Bezos, attended Princeton. His eldest son, Preston, reportedly recently attended too. There are whispers around campus that one of his younger children is now also attending, but such things are kept very private.

Athletics New Zealand has a 19-strong World University Games team attending Fisu this year. Also competing in the 5000m is University of Otago student Eva Pringle.

The Fisu World University Games will be the first time the Leighs will see their daughter compete for her country. Leigh first competed for New Zealand at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in 2023. She took out silver in the 1500m but unfortunately her parents were unable to be there.

“Seeing Peyton compete for her country for the first time will be a proud moment for Duncan and me,” says Melanie.

“She has trained, worked hard and made many sacrifices to be able to compete in Germany.”

Leigh is balancing being a student athlete at Princeton while majoring in neuroscience. She had originally planned to study geophysics, as did her father, who got his master’s in geoscience at Waikato University.

“An amazing thing about Princeton is, it takes you out of your comfort zone by requiring you to study a set of liberal arts such as literature, history, languages and sciences,” says Leigh.

“It was studying the sciences that set me on the new path of neuroscience.”

Leigh began running competitively at age 14 and quickly fell in love with the sport. She knew she wanted to study in the US, where she could pursue both athletics and academics at a high level.

Leigh says her goal shaped many of her decisions during her high school years at St Kentigern College, where she chose to study the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum instead of NCEA.

“It was a tough programme, and mixed with training and competing, there were moments I doubted whether I’d made the right choice.

“It challenged me in all the right ways and prepared me well for the academic rigour at Princeton.”

For anyone wanting to follow in her footsteps and study in the US, Leigh says her best advice is to “be persistent”.

“The road isn’t linear, and it definitely takes sacrifice, but the work you put in now will open doors you may not even know exist yet.”

Leigh describes the 278-year-old institution in the town of Princeton, New Jersey, as her favourite place on Earth.

“The history, the Gothic-style campus, my friends, teammates, coaches, and professors make the experience so special.”

Leigh, who has ADHD, says balancing everything has its challenges. Most days involve one to two training sessions, classes, and hours of studying, which can leave her little time for anything else.

“This year, I’ve been proud of how I’ve managed my time, and it’s allowed me to enjoy a bit of downtime in the evenings and on weekends.”

One of her most exciting moments was being part of the team that won the Ivy League Triple Crown, taking home the championship titles in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track.

“Individually, I contributed points in several events,” Leigh says.

With the 5000m discipline now among her achievements, a friend encouraged her to apply for the Fisu games a couple of months ago.

“When I got the call that I’d made the team, I was shocked and so grateful,” she says. “Wearing the national singlet again, especially at such a prestigious global event, is something I’ll never take for granted.”

Party People of the Week

2025 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards

More than 700 guests packed into Auckland’s SkyCity Theatre last Thursday evening for the annual 2025 NZ Radio & Podcast Awards, followed by an after-party at Sweat Shop Brewed Kitchen.

Awards guests included Labour Party broadcasting and media spokesman Reuben Davidson, Radio Broadcasting Association chair Jana Rangooni and CEO Al Jamison, NZME chief executive Michael Boggs and NZME chief audio officer Jason Winstanley.

NZME’s radio host favourites were also suited and booted for the evening, including Newstalk ZB breakfast host Mike Hosking, who stepped out in his now-famous shoes he wore for King Charles’ coronation, a perfect fit for his 11th win as best talk presenter breakfast/drive.

Newstalk ZB Drive presenter Heather du-Plessis Allan missed the ceremony due to her show being on air while the awards were being handed out, but attended the after-party after winning the coveted Paul Holmes Broadcaster of the Year.

Other NZME stars there included ZM’s Carl Fletcher, Vaughan Smith, Hayley Sproull, Georgia Burt, Clint Roberts and Bree Tomasel, The Hits Jono Pryor, Ben Boyce, Megan Papas, Matty McLean, PJ Harding, Matilda Green, and Coast’s Toni Street, Sam Wallace, Jason Reeves and Lorna Riley.

SO/ Auckland hosts Rooftop Caviar Celebration

SO/ Auckland hotel’s HI-SO Rooftop was abuzz on Friday, celebrating New Zealand’s alpine salmon caviar season celebration.

More than 180 guests enjoyed a fresh sashimi station and yakitori, alongside salmon-centric canapes, including caviar tartlets, grilled salmon wings and a rich salmon risotto. Drinks included Zenkuro Sake cocktails and Perrier-Jouet champagne.

Among huge ice sculptures, guests bumped various types of Mt Cook caviar, including Ikura and Malossal, and were the first to taste a new pink gin infusion that won’t hit shelves until next year.

The standout was a roving caviar, pringle and creme-fraiche belt by Mt Cook’s Michael Sprague.

Guests included Herald NOW host Ryan Bridge, Cuisine Magazine editor Kelli Brett, wine writer Mary Blair, Tanné Snowden, the founder of Tronque, author and artist Clare Lambert-Grove, real estate star Aman Gulia, content creator and creative Jess Molina, MasterChef winner Sam Low, food reviewer Jasmine Kim and sake and wine educator Meg Abbott.

Conversation for a Cure at Flockhill Lodge

Eighty guests gathered in the majestic Craigieburn Valley last weekend for Conversation for a Cure, an intimate fundraising event by Breast Cancer Cure at luxury lodge Flockhill.

Two long-time BCC ambassadors, fashion designer Karen Walker and broadcaster Petra Bagust, guided the day’s conversations, with guests including fashion stylist Lou Heller, broadcaster Wilhelmina Shrimpton, and artist Carrie Broomhall.

Set on a 14,568-hectare working sheep station, which The Robb Report recently named one of the top three “greatest luxury hotels on Earth”, the event was made possible thanks to Flockhill managers Andrew and Sandra Cullen and their team.

The afternoon began with a progressive long lunch at the lodge’s restaurant, Sugarloaf, led by executive chef Taylor Cullen and with ingredients sourced almost entirely from the land around them.

Throughout the day, guests bid on exclusive live and silent auction items, raising more than $72,000 – vital funds to support breast cancer research in Aotearoa.

Ricardo Simich has been with the Herald since 2008 where he contributed to The Business Insider. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider. The weekly column gives a glimpse into the worlds of the rich and famous.