Ricardo Simich
Society Insider editor
Ricardo Simich is the New Zealand Herald’s Society Insider editor, celebrating New Zealand's elite with an inside look at how the other half live.
Ricardo has been with the Herald since 2008 where he contributed to The Business Insider. In 2012 he took over Spy at the Herald on Sunday, which has since evolved into Society Insider. The weekly column gives a glimpse into the worlds of the rich and famous - A-listers and rich-listers of the moment, stars of movies, television, music, sport, politics, and more. Ricardo is still a Man About Town, although he says he is a lot more discerning than in the preceding manic decades and doesn’t quite attend all the openings of envelopes he once did. He still has his finger on the pulse with an enviable contact book. Ricardo is a self-confessed media junkie and loves the adrenaline of its ever-changing landscape of platforms. When he is not on the hunt for the latest Society Insider news, Ricardo gives advice to anyone who will listen at his Boutique Marketing firm One Agency.
Check out Ricardo’s latest content
Society Insider: Nash smooths Golden Visas for wealthy; Is Rod Drury the king of Qtown?; Lux weddings for Heatly, Crane
Plus, Amisfield owner and chef celebrate global award in Italy.
Society Insider: Property titan’s luxury car storage club; Eric Watson’s son's MDMA business
Plus, Beauden Barrett's new side hustle.
Society Insider: Chef Al Brown dating businesswoman; Buyers sought to co-own slice of $30m Queenstown hotel
Plus, meet the former St Kent's student fulfilling her Ivy League dreams.
Society Insider: Batley Burton accidentally hit by husband's car, Spencer family's winery; new rich-list couple
Plus, Sally Ridge's latest reno project.
Society Insider: Rich Lister’s milestone year; Kiwi Bondi Rescue star’s move to real estate; model and entrepreneur’s very modern family
Ricardo Simich has the latest society news.
Society Insider: Did Pitt stay at the Mowbray's? Huljich's new life; why rich hairstylist's moving on
Plus, chef Polly Markus announces her next life-changing project.
Society Insider: Rich list property developer and spa star to wed; inside Jaimee Lupton's US trip
Plus celeb stylist Gab Waller’s visit to NZ with The Luxury Network.
Society Insider: Revealing the rich listers behind a $56m property swap; are Smith & Caughey's and Faradays teaming up?
Plus, actor turns property development mogul, and celebrity stylist celebrates on Waiheke.
Society Insider: Former Black Cap's return to India; new power couple; True Bliss star on homophobic abuse
Plus, Nick Mowbray and Liam Lawson team up in California.
Society Insider: Ponsonby Road Bistro's new owners revealed; Sleepyhead heiress on her success secrets; Property guru pays it forward
Plus, the Kiwis living it up at Coachella.
'A good run': Ponsonby restaurant to close after nearly two decades
The owners say they're 'incredibly proud' but it's 'time for our next chapter'.
Society Insider: Pete Evans and Nicola Robinson’s next moves; Matthew Horncastle’s first baby
Plus, Dame Pieter Stewart’s granddaughter’s NYC fashion scholarship.
Society Insider: Beaver’s marriage split; Mowbray’s family cancer journey; Downes models at 60
Plus, Three’s Jenna Lynch pregnant with baby number two.
Society Insider: Buyers of $45m Qtown mansion revealed; Kiwi model at Beckham’s A-list 50th
And, how to make your first million, according to 'Boss Babe'; event maestro's hospo foray
Society Insider: MP takes on Kaye’s legacy; Golf pro, heir engaged; glam life of Kiwis in LA
Plus: the couple thriving in LA’s talent management scene.
Society Insider: Chemical titan’s $32m sell-up; Lawson’s inner circle; Vivace couple’s new gig
Vivace restaurant was put into liquidation by the IRD on Christmas Eve.
Society Insider: Beauden Barrett’s new side hustle; inside billionaire’s 40th bash
Plus, Thomasin McKenzie debuts boyfriend and Kiwi fashion designer with royal connection.
Society Insider: Pitt’s NZ hideaway; millionaire’s BFF turns flatmate; Pals founder’s superyacht proposal
Plus, Wilhelmina Shrimpton and Ben O'Keeffe celebrate their engagement.
Society Insider: Sir John Key’s new $6m chopper; NZ’s tallest hotel penthouse for sale at $16m
Plus, Jordan Rondel after selling mega-successful boxed baking kit business, The Caker.
Society Insider: How Sally Ridge’s 21yo son struck supermarket mega-deal; billionaire Jillian Friedlander on beating cancer
Plus, Queenstown's new luxury car show, and the $8 million Ferrari set to be on show.
Society Insider: First photos of revamped SPQR; heir’s hens' party eviction
Exclusive look at Jacuzzi, formerly SPQR, which has its launch party next week.
Society Insider: Seymour’s romantic beach proposal; Kiwi running billionaire’s empire
Plus, is NZ rich list heiress Ali Andrews married to her French-US billionaire boyfriend?
Society Insider: Kiwi sports stars’ summer of love; billionaires and rich listers break records at Karaka
Which rich Kiwi made a multimillion-dollar purchase at the Bloodstock sales?
Society Insider: David Shearer, Barry Soper dads again at 67 and 72; luxury yachts clash at SailGP
Plus, Phil Spencer on NZ: 'One of the world’s greatest playgrounds.'
Society Insider: Ridge flees LA before birth; Akl‘s royal visitor; rich flock to Coutts’ SailGP
Sally Ridge arrives in LA for new grandson's arrival, helps Jaime flee from the fires.
Society Insider: Snapchat founder’s megayacht arrives; Six60 star ties the knot
Plus, where have NZ's rich and famous been holidaying this summer?
Society Insider's 2025 people to watch: The PM's daughter's new designer gig; Hart's grandson working for Mowbrays
Others include Davida McKenzie, the Patridge brothers and Jessica McCormack.
Society Insider Awards 2024: The hook-ups, the scandals and the go-to place for the uber-wealthy
The Mowbrays, Jacinda and Clarke, Du Val scandal – the year has been big for NZ's elite.
Society Insider: Kiwi heiress dating Chanel heir; twins for cricket star; new TV couple
Ali Andrews has found love with Raph Wertheimer, heir to a multi-billion dollar fortune.
Society Insider: Banks and Lady Chambers - friends or something more? Former TV star’s dad's assisted dying wish
And which All Blacks joined the Mowbrays for a lads' golf getaway?
Society Insider: Boris' private dinner with Auckland elite; Ridge's new boyfriend buys into her home
Plus, Thanksgiving with Kiwi racing champs Lawson, Dixon and McLaughlin.
Society Insider: David Seymour's girlfriend; tech titan's lavish 50th; Mona Dotcom's new venture
Act leader and property guru said to have been dating for two years.
Society Insider: The Kiwi stars backing $100m surf park; real estate dynamo is new Waiheke sculpture park owner
Plus, multimillionaire Auckland twins share the secrets to their success.
Society Insider: Tenby Powell's cancer bucket list; property mogul Nigel McKenna's big year
A $100m hotel and spa and globe-trotting with rising hospo star partner.
Society Insider: Heir's $500k engagement ring; SPQR sisters on building an empire
Bronwyn and Jess Payne are becoming hospitality and fashion moguls.
Society Insider: Steal Amanda Luxon's look; Mona Dotcom's new man; Paul Henry's rich list party
NZ's first lady stunned in local designers on her trip with her Prime Minister husband.
Society Insider: Mowbrays to bowl $24m home after spooky party; Ridge dating rich lister
What to do with an old mansion? One of NZ’s richest men had a bash for 300 closest mates.
Society Insider: Sailor's new girlfriend; billionaire's Waiheke plans; Taika's health 'elitism'
Blair Tuke is off the market as his rich-list girlfriend joined his Barcelona cheer squad.
Society Insider: Kiwis and their yachts at Am Cup; Mowbray’s empire; the ultimate society 21st
This new weekly column pulls back the curtain to reveal how NZ's other half live.
Spy: PJ Harding wants to slow down the chaos of hustle culture
‘We are all wired differently.’
Spy: Vinnie Bennett set to bring Kiwi skate legend to the screen
NZ production kicking off with backing of Tony Hawk and Steve-O.
Chef Pete Evans and Kiwi wife Nicola Robinson trading in their 'coveted lifestyle'
After months on the market, the Evans' wellness retreat might have secured a buyer.
Inside a billionaire’s wedding: The venue, the dress, the star guest list
Wedding guests included Richie McCaw and Doug Howlett; Dan Carter was absent.
Kiwi star Manu Bennett showcases NZ’s beauty in new US reality show
Seeing the summit, he thought, ‘How is anybody going to do this?’
Spy: Made in Bondi’s Kiwi connections
Ricardo Simich catches up with the stars of Sydney’s glamorous new reality show.
Antony Starr’s dazzling Emmys date revealed as sister of Hollywood superstar
The Boys star presented an award, and walked the carpet with a US TV host.
Spy: Is All Black Damian McKenzie off the market?
The sports star is understood to be dating the daughter of racing royalty.
Two Kiwi sports A-listers both have babies on the way
A Supercars champ and an ice hockey star preparing for parenthood.
Spy: Off-screen bond for Shorty stars
Fictional flatmates and real-life BFFs Courtney, Jane and Peter discuss their friendship.
Spy: The rising stars of Waiata Anthems
Nikau Grace, Mohi, MĀ, Magic Pāora and Dillastrate set to shine at Auckland Museum.
Spy: How naughty will the revived Game of 2 Halves be?
Can its new captains outdo Ridge and Ellis?
Sporting VIPs set to open new Kingsland sports bar
The A-list sports stars expected at kick off.
Luxury NZ fashion brand ‘parked’ a year after glossy launch - without ever selling an item
Actor Jono Kenyon has severed ties with the brand, which is also linked to a fraudster.
'A new lease of life': Hospitality star sisters take over SPQR site
'Rest assured, the copper bar danced upon by so many over the years will remain.'
Spy: Stars forecast for huge Haka challenge
Can Che Fu and the Topp Twins help with the challenge to take on France?
Spy: What's Jason Momoa been up to and when is he coming back?
The Hollywood star revealed his ‘favourite place in Aotearoa’.
NZ’s tallest apartments: Agents head to London to sell ‘paused’ units to wealthy Kiwis
Despite a construction pause, Seascape's luxury apartments are still on the market.
Inside a billionaire’s wedding: The venue, the dress, the star guest list
Wedding guests included Richie McCaw and Doug Howlett; Dan Carter was absent.
Spy: Kiwis land plum roles in The Office Australia
Jackie van Beek and the Kiwi contingent involved in a new spin on the cult series.
Spy: Arrowtown musician makes America’s Got Talent semifinal
How Ciaran McMeeken went from couch surfing to country star.
Champagne production down - what it means for your summer bubbles
You might need to rethink your bubbles of choice this summer.
A-listers and an All Blacks cake: Inside Taika Waititi’s Ibiza birthday bash
Who were the Hollywood stars at the high-flying Kiwi’s soiree in Spain’s party isle?
Spy: Bree Tomasel has a new partner in crime on Celebrity Treasure Island
Watch: The surprising Kiwi star who will be sharing hosting duties.
Spy: Kiwi stars on the rise - the actresses shooting US shows
What’s next for Grace Palmer, Rose McIver, Jess Hong and Keisha Castle-Hughes?
Would you sink $7500 a day into a superyacht? Developer rents out boat after taking it off the market
Matthew Horncastle has changed up his lifestyle during the property downturn.
Spy: What’s Sir Sam Neill doing in Vancouver?
Beloved Kiwi actor gets a surprise at a St Vincent gig.
Why Chris Parker and Kura Forrester are doubling up (again)
Chris Parker says ‘Kura Forrester is the funniest person in New Zealand’
Behind the scenes of the Wheel Blacks' Paralympic dreams
Insiders describe the uphill battle for Kiwi athletes.
Spy: Wāhine Māori starring in two of 2024’s biggest blockbusters
Career highs for Kiwis Sasha Lane and Keala Settle.
Spy: Kiwi comedy star set to teach Aussies how to spell
Why is Guy Montgomery crossing the ditch a big deal?
These Kiwi women are mixing with London’s elite
They continue to stamp their name and brands loudly overseas.
Spy: Rising action star heading to New Zealand
Which Hollywood heavyweight is heading for Godzone?
Mona Dotcom and Luke Wainui call it quits
After seven years the pair are now living apart.
Spy: How Matty McLean will celebrate the inaugural Synthony Pride
‘Watch this space to see if I'm brave enough to rock a mesh top.’
Is Florence Pugh filming in New Zealand?
Auckland is buzzing with international filming productions.
Spy: A contingent of Kiwis starring Australia’s ‘hugely ambitious’ version of Yellowstone
‘There’s a few kiwis on this beast,’ insider tells Ricardo Simich.
Spy: Kiwi cinema set to shine at Toronto Film Festival
Canada’s prestigious film festival is a 'a fantastic launchpad' for our New Zealantalent.
Spy: Why the new Taskmaster NZ comedians are the best yet
Ricardo Simich reveals who, why and how they feel about it.
Spy: Which celebrities are embarrassing themselves for charity?
Why are they doing it and how do they hope to help Kiwis?