Sir Michael Hill has passed away, leaving an inspirational legacy from his decades-long career in the jewellery and retail industries.
Jewellery pioneer and retail executive Sir Michael Hill has died at the age of 86. He is survived by his wife, Lady Christine, and his two children.
The news was announced in a statement by Michael Hill International.
The statement said that Hill was a celebrated jeweller, entrepreneur, philanthropist and committed father and husband who founded and grew Michael Hill from its humble beginnings in Whangārei to a global retail jewellery brand with locations in Australia and Canada as well.
Chairman of Michael Hill, Rob Fyfe, said he was an inspirational leader and advocate for the industry throughout his entire career.
“To every endeavour he pursued, Michael brought a deep sense of purpose, an enduring curiosity, open-mindedness and creativity that challenged all of us to embrace ever more lofty goals and be unconstrained in our thinking, a legacy that will continue to inspire us,” said Fyfe.
Hill’s first love was music and, as a young man, he dreamed of becoming a concert violinist. Forced to reconsider his future after being told he was too old to reach the pinnacle of his craft, Hill turned his attention to the world of jewellery, joining his uncle’s family-owned store in New Zealand.
“Sir Michael had a natural gift for storytelling, a keen eye for visual merchandising, an instinct for attracting customers and a gift for selling. He won international awards for his window displays and revolutionised the store’s advertising with bold, unconventional campaigns.”
His first store opened in 1979, and a decade later, he had stores up and down New Zealand. By 2020, the company had 306 stores across its international portfolio.
His legacy has spread further than jewellery. He founded the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, one of the most respected violin contests in the world, created The Hills, one of New Zealand’s most iconic golf courses and inspired generations of New Zealanders through his books.
It was reported in April that Hill took a leave of absence to undergo cancer treatment.
A private memorial will be held in Arrowtown.
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