Power couple plans exit
BY: GILL ALCOCK
Relevant offers
A property for sale in the Waiheke Marketplace has signaled the end of a ten-year tenure for two island personalities.
Power couple Michelle Boag and Mervyn Bennett are moving back to Auckland after enjoying a ten year stay on Waiheke - seven and a half years as full time residents.
The reason for the return revolves around the industrious nature of Ms Boag. Heavily involved in the world of public relations, and committed to not-for-profit-organisations and charity work, Ms Boag admits the late night meetings and early starts are taking their toll.
"We've been thinking about moving for a few months and have decided to go to town for a while," she says.
Ms Boag says the enforced spare time on the ferry commuting to the city, however, did enable her to read the paper and take up crossword puzzles.
Now, with the couple set to reside in Parnell, crossword puzzles and the commute will be kept to a minimum.
As a former president of the NZ National Party Ms Boag keeps close ties with it, providing support for Auckland Central MP Nikki Kaye when she is on Waiheke. Now she says it will be good "to pass on the baton" to other National party supporters on the island.
And the move will not interfere with Ms Boag's involvement as a trustee with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust but should allow her more time to play golf.
"I am a member of the Remuera golf club so hopefully I will be able to play on Saturdays," she says.
Other half Mr Bennett who co-owned and published the Waiheke Week newspaper for several years has already secured a new boat for his preferred sport of fishing, says Ms Boag, and is in the process of selling his "Sealegs" - an amphibious boat popular with islanders.
The pair will retain close links with Waiheke and have secured a list of friends to stay with on visits back to the island. But with Ms Boag retorting, "Hell no," to the suggestion of eventual retirement, the chance of them retiring here is doubtful.
The couple's house on Korora Road is on the market through Kellands Real Estate. Interested buyers should contact Barry Hastings on 021 991 397 or Martin Dobson on 021 376 952.
- Waiheke Marketplace
