My Parihoa Journey: From Personal Sanctuary to a 2050 Vision
For quite some time, as the custodian of Parihoa, I have been imagining the possibilities of what it could be.
When I first bought the farm in 2013, I was immediately attracted to the striking, almost alien, black house. The combination of this incredible home overlooking the cliffs and the ocean, catching the sunsets, surrounded by the green pastures of a farm with animals roaming, was my version of heaven. I was drawn from my life in Singapore to live this new reality.
Once I got into it, it became an amazing balance to my global entrepreneurial life. I would come to New Zealand and focus on changing my formula as to who I was. Before, everything was done for me; it was very easy, and I was in a constant state of flow. I had put together a structure that really worked and allowed me to thrive. But at the same time, I could feel myself turning into a bit of a robot.
Parihoa, and New Zealand, created a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone. Things didn't necessarily work the first time. Things weren't always done for me. I really needed to think outside the box. It was so challenging, in fact, that I would sometimes just jump on a plane back to Singapore, leaving New Zealand behind because I found it too hard. But then I’d regain my strength in Singapore, return to New Zealand, and approach the challenges in a different way.
That was the journey of Parihoa for me.
Beyond the main house, new ideas for the different buildings on the property began to emerge. These ideas resulted in those buildings being improved and turned into new spaces. Today, in 2025, if you come to the farm, it looks nothing like it did when I first moved in. The journey of creation here has been centred around well-being, shaping the property into what it is today: a space to be enjoyed with my friends and my network.
A Vision for 2050
As I look to the future and the possibility of continuing my journey with Parihoa for the long term, I have a number of ideas I would love to pursue. I’ve always held a 2050 vision—a belief that humanity can be in a really good place if we focus on our well-being.
Some years ago, I worked with the architect Andrew Patterson to design a concept for the very end of the Parihoa property, a structure I called ‘2050’. This place was designed to look almost like a flying saucer that had crashed into the hill. The concept was for a building with a clear roof, allowing you to see the stars. This roof would pivot up from the ground, revealing a sunken pit inside—an entertaining space, a living space, and a true representation of what a home might look like in the year 2050. Andrew wanted to make it a real statement, and I completely agreed.
The Game: A Blueprint for Well-being
From this architectural concept, a larger idea emerged, which we called ‘The Game’. The idea was to use Parihoa as a holistic well-being retreat. Beyond the existing buildings, we envisioned luxury guest pods and adventure equipment dotted across the property. The ‘2050’ building would serve as a central gathering spot. The main house would be where meals were shared, and guests would be connected by walkie-talkies and transported to their pods in buggies.
The entire experience would allow people in our network to truly unplug, relax, and regenerate when they came to Parihoa. It would be about creating a peaceful energy of recovery.
The Next Chapter
Now, 12 years into my journey, it’s such a great place to use for that purpose. I can see the future for Parihoa, and whether that’s something I create myself or create with someone else, I’m now really open to the possibility.
My journey with Parihoa has been transformative. And while part of me would love to simplify my life and have just my one home in the south, I am deeply committed to ensuring Parihoa has a good future. I want to make sure that the next custodian, or custodians, get as much joy out of this property as I have.
It has truly made me into who I am today, and I am super proud of that journey.