Young man in a hurry arrives

Greg Goodman was just 23 when he left New Zealand and began specialising in buying Australian industrial real estate.

Such was his enthusiasm to get into business that, at 42, he still has to complete his property and business degree at Massey University

"I've still got one computer course to complete," he confessed on a trip to Auckland this week.

But not quite finishing his studies has never held him back.

Goodman is the son of former Nelson baker and industrialist Sir Pat Goodman. Along with brothers Craig and Patrick, he now runs the ASX-listed Macquarie Goodman Group, which has a market capitalisation of $5.3 billion and manages funds of $6.4 billion in Australia, here and Singapore.

The Sydney-based industrial property entity includes real estate, funds management, property development, project and development management and property services.

Now Goodman has his eye on Hong Kong, where the group is spreading its wings.

The way he recalls it, his move across the Tasman was prompted by his father's involvement with Australasian food conglomerate Goodman Fielder Group.

He said the larger scale of Sydney's property sector and the opportunities it offered were much greater than those available here.

This week, he and John Dakin of Macquarie Goodman Property Trust announced a restructuring of the business, a deal that will see the group increase its stake in the trust from 17 per cent to more than 30 per cent.

"It's been very satisfying to see the growth of the trust," he said. That expansion involves the group selling the trust $304 million worth of real estate but retaining substantial development projects in Auckland.

Goodman lives in Mosman and has three sons: Joshua 9, Sam, 7, and Harry, 5.

He still feels a close affinity with New Zealand and often visits his parents, who live near Golden Bay. About every three weeks, he visits Auckland and still regards himself as a New Zealander.

"I support the Crusaders," Goodman confessed, partly because of the Super 12 team's success but mainly because its region spans north to his former home in Nelson. Goodman, whose office staff include former Wallabies, is renowned for hanging an All Black jersey on his office wall.

But his Auckland sidekick has other ideas when it comes to who he supports in Super 12 rugby. And what side could that possibly be? Dakin flicks out a reply faster than a Steve Devine pass: "The right answer is the Blues." 

Portfolio shift

What finished properties Macquarie Goodman Property Trust will fully own after buying out Macquarie Goodman Group's half-share:

Fletcher head office at Penrose, Central Park Corporate Centre at Greenlane, The Gate Industry Park at Penrose, Millennium Centre at Greenlane, Penrose Industrial Estate, HP House in the Viaduct Basin, HSBC Centre at Albany, IBM Centre in Auckland's CBD, Auckland Distribution Centre at Wiri, Vector House in Newmarket, BTI House in Newmarket, Kodak Building and Ricoh Building in Parnell, Nestle Building at Wiri, Windsor Court in Parnell and the EDS Building in Mt Wellington.

Total: $226.5 million

Assets under development the trust is buying:

Parts of Central Park at Penrose, parts of an industrial park at Westney Rd near Auckland International Airport, parts of Savill Link at Otahuhu and parts of The Gate at Penrose.

Total: $71.5 million

What the Australian group keeps - all development land where tenants have not yet been secured:

Part of the Savill Link site in Otahuhu and part of Westney Industry Park near Auckland International Airport.

Total: $6.3 million