Jewellery entrepreneur Sir Michael Hill dies

Sir Michael Hill has died.

The founder of the well-known chain of jewellery stores was 86.

Sir Michael died on Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the business he founded to the New Zealand and Australian stock exchanges.

Born in Whangarei, Sir Michael worked as a young man for his uncle, Arthur Fisher, at the family jewellery store.

In 1979 he opened his own store nearby, and over the next 45 years the chain expanded to nearly 300 (281 in April 2023) stores in Australia and Canada as well as New Zealand.

The company, now based in Brisbane, is currently chaired by Rob Fyfe.

Sir Michael's daughter, Emma, is a non-independent, non-executive director, after being executive chair between 2015 to 2021.

In 2001 Sir Michael's lifelong love of violin music led him to found the biennial Michael Hill International Violin Competition for 'emerging young violinists'.

He was knighted in 2011.

A private memorial to celebrate the life of Sir Michael will be held in Arrowtown.

'It's hard to imagine life without Michael'

Fyfe told RNZ news of Sir Michael's death was "hard to come to terms with".

The pair had known each other for two decades, since Sir Michael rang wanting to learn more about Fyfe's success at the helm of Air New Zealand.

"Michael has been, well for me personally, you know he's been an inspiration - a mentor for the last 20 years and you know he's an example of how to live life," Fyfe said.

"I don't have a better example in my life," he said.

"One of the most creative, driven innovative people that I've ever met and you know what I love so much about Michael is just how he could touch anyone," Fyfe said from Canada.

"From the youngest kid to, you know, the super successful businessman, he just had a way of sort of challenging, of wanting you to make you want to do better with your life."

Fyfe said Sir Michael became an entrepreneur in his 40s and only ever saw opportunity.

"He'd come across a challenge, many people would turn their back on that challenge because it looked insurmountable," Fyfe said.

"Michael just loved finding ways to solve problems and create solutions. His legacy is going to live on a lot longer than him for sure."

Fyfe said even though Sir Michael had been fighting cancer, the news of his death still came as a shock.

"Emotionally I wasn't prepared for it, he's been an integral part of my life... he's been such a key part in so many lives and he's touched so many people."

"I just feel this overwhelming sense of loss," Fyfe said.

'We've lost an enormously valuable member of our community'

Former Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult said he was devastated to hear the news.

"My heart goes out to Lady Christine and the wider Hill family, Emma and Mark and their children and their families. I'm just terribly sorry for them at the present time. But from a Queenstown Lakes District point of view, we've lost an enormously valuable member of our community," he said.

Boult said Hill's name was synonymous with golf - having built The Hills, a championship course near Arrowtown that went on to host the New Zealand Open - and with the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, a prestigious biennial event he founded in 2001 that drew young talent from around the world to Queenstown.

"Something that a lot of people forget is that he was a very accomplished violinist himself. And on his boat with my wife and Lady Christine, and listened to many solo performances by Michael. And they're always wonderful. I'll miss them," Boult said.

Boult said Hill had been a friend for many years.

"He was always positive, always thinking about the greater good of the community," he said.

"He was full of energy. He was highly intelligent person.... just a great bloke."

'Inspired generations of Kiwi entrepreneurs'

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon took to social media to say that Michael Hill has inspired generations of Kiwi entrepreneurs.

"Sir Michael Hill's aspiration, grit, and determination to succeed not only built a globally recognised brand, but also inspired generations of Kiwi entrepreneurs to dream big," he said in a post on X.

He built a brand from scratch and gave back to the country that he loved, Luxon said.

"May he rest in peace."

MPs also paid tribute to Sir Michael as they made their way into the House for Question Time this afternoon.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said he was lucky to have met the well-known businessman in person.

"He was incredibly kind. He even sent me personalised cartoons of encouragement when I was having a dark or difficult day.

"Just a wonderful man, may he rest in peace, he's gone, but he's not forgotten."

Seymour said Sir Michael's success in business was admirable.

"The fact that he started his career as an entrepreneur in his 40s shows it's never too late. He's one of the few business people who's succeeded in Australia and in Canada big time.

"A lot of people struggle, after succeeding in New Zealand, to translate that success overseas. Sir Michael Hill did that. He was just a fabulously decent human being."

Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith said Sir Michael had contributed to both business and the arts.

"It's obviously very sad. He was a phenomenally successful businessperson but also a real patron of the arts, most famously with his violin competition. A very sad day."

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he had not met Sir Michael but remembered seeing him on television advertisements growing up.

"He had a very, very distinctive voice. I think you've made it in New Zealand when you can speak on the radio without saying you name and everybody knows who's speaking.

"He clearly contributed a lot to New Zealand, very successful businessperson but I understand quite the philanthropist as well, involving in giving to charity and so on."

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