Remembering Sir Michael Hill and his maritime legacy

The New Zealand boating community has lost one of its most passionate advocates with the passing of Sir Michael Hill on July 29, 2025, at age 86. While most Kiwis knew him as the jewellery entrepreneur behind the iconic "Hello, Michael Hill" jingle, those in yachting circles remember him as an owner whose vessels consistently raised the bar for design excellence and New Zealand's maritime reputation on the world stage.

Sir Michael's journey from humble beginnings in Whangārei to owning internationally acclaimed superyachts perfectly encapsulated his lifelong philosophy of thinking bigger and never settling for ordinary.

From clinker boats to world champions

"I have always loved the sea," Sir Michael once told Boat International, describing his childhood days rowing a simple clinker dinghy out from Whangārei to catch snapper. It was a modest beginning that would evolve into a remarkable maritime journey. "From that rowing dinghy, the boats just got bigger and better," he said, and indeed they did.

His passion for the water remained constant throughout his business success, but it wasn't until later in life that he made the bold decision to commission a superyacht. Despite having never set foot on a superyacht before, Sir Michael took what he admitted was "a bit crazy" leap from owning a 17-metre sport fisher to commissioning a world-class 34-metre vessel.

VvS1: Setting the gold standard

In 2007, Sir Michael launched VvS1, a 34.2-metre expedition yacht that would redefine excellence in its class. Built by Auckland's prestigious Alloy Yachts to a design by Canadian naval architect Gregory C Marshall, the yacht was named after the VvS1 diamond grade – a near-flawless classification that perfectly suited a jeweller's vessel.

What set VvS1 apart wasn't just her elegant lines or technical specifications, but the unprecedented level of personal involvement from her owners. As reported by the Otago Daily Times, Sir Michael and Lady Christine Hill were so instrumental in the yacht's design that they received official credit as co-designers – a rare acknowledgment in the superyacht world.

Their vision paid off spectacularly. At the 2008 World Superyacht Awards in Venice, VvS1 claimed the title of Best Motoryacht Under 40 Metres. But the accolades didn't stop there. Later that year at the World Yacht Awards in Cannes, she achieved an unprecedented hat-trick, winning Best Motor Yacht, Best Interior, and Best Functionality – three awards that recognised both her aesthetic appeal and practical excellence.

The yacht's standout features included an innovative galley positioned aft for social cooking, reflecting Sir Michael's love of entertaining friends while preparing fresh catches, and interior design that departed from traditional superyacht aesthetics in favour of the owners' contemporary vision.

The Beast: Expedition excellence redefined

Never one to rest on his laurels, Sir Michael sold VvS1 in the early 2010s and embarked on an even more ambitious project. The result was The Beast, a 39.2-metre expedition catamaran that launched in 2019 and immediately turned heads with her distinctive military camouflage paint scheme.

Built by Profab Central Engineering in Palmerston North – a choice that demonstrated Sir Michael's commitment to supporting New Zealand's marine industry – The Beast was unlike any superyacht before her. Designed by naval architects LOMOcean Design, she embodied Sir Michael's vision of "an expedition-style boat that could go anywhere, that was seriously stable."

The yacht's most remarkable feature was her ability to carry a 19-tonne, 13-metre custom game fishing boat dubbed the "Baby Beast" on her aft deck. This capability meant the Hills could access remote fishing grounds previously unreachable by conventional superyachts.

At 493 gross tonnes with a 12-metre beam, The Beast offered the volume of a 50-metre-plus yacht while maintaining exceptional fuel efficiency and stability. Her success was recognised in 2020 when she won the World Superyacht Award for Best Displacement Motor Yacht under 499GRT.

A New Zealand maritime ambassador

Throughout his yachting journey, Sir Michael remained a proud advocate for New Zealand's waters and marine industry. Despite cruising thousands of nautical miles to exotic South Pacific destinations, he consistently maintained to Boat International that "there is nowhere as beautiful as New Zealand. Nowhere rivals New Zealand for scenery and variety."

His commitment to the local industry extended beyond his own vessels. Both VvS1 and The Beast were built in New Zealand using local expertise, providing significant economic benefits to communities from Auckland to Palmerston North to Whangārei – his hometown, where it all began.

Sir Michael Hill's maritime legacy extends far beyond the impressive specifications and award tallies of his yachts. He demonstrated that New Zealand could build world-beating vessels, that owners could be true partners in the design process, and that success should be used to support local communities and industries.

His passing marks the end of an era, but his influence on New Zealand's superyacht industry and his vessels' continued operations ensure that Sir Michael Hill's maritime legacy will endure for years to come.

Sources: Information compiled from Boat International, NZ Herald, Otago Daily Times, and RNZ