KEY POINTS:
It's far to say Cameron Brewer, the gregarious, likeable, self-appointed Mayor of Newmarket, has had free run of the well-heeled district since he moved in and put his feet up on the desk. The chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association is used to being the only sheriff
in town; used to, that is, until the country's most famous All Black moved in last night and stole the spotlight.
(Here's some sneak piccies from last night's glamorous launch party.)
Dan Carter and his business partners have extended their Gas clothing company empire by opening an Auckland outlet in the former Swanndri store on Newmarket's trendy Nuffield St. They celebrated the opening with a swanky launch party last night where a borrowed Ferrari (from neighbouring Continental Cars) made an impressive yet showy entrance. Carter and his partners also have Gas stores in Christchurch and central Wellington.
Brewer, who actively pitched to bring Gas into town, may have had second thoughts when at last night's launch all eyes were on Dan and not many recognised the bespectacled community business leader.
"I think Cameron's nose was a little bit out of joint," said a mystery brunette who asked to keep her name "hush hush" which suited us frankly because we didn't have the foggiest who she was. Turns out she's known His Worship for many years. "He [Brewer] joked earlier that he was going to have to wear his mayoral chains tonight so people would recognise him," she gushed, "but I think now [looking at the young, hip crowd] he may have wished that he did. Not that he has mayoral chains, of course. That's his joke."
If Brewer's nose was bent out of shape, his press release didn't bear any evidence which announced with gusto what a huge boost it was for Newmarket to have Carter and the Gas label in the shopping district. "Dan Carter is the biggest name in NZ sport and arguably the most stylish. We will be welcoming Dan and his business partners with open arms to Newmarket... "His arrival can be compared to the Beatles tour of 1964 - minus the screaming. There is a lot of interest at the moment, and that's good for the whole area," Brewer said.
Last night's opening party was a veritable who's-who list of cool, which tellingly didn't have any high-profile ABs in attendance. The gorgeous girls from Shorty St were there (Fleur Saville and Anna Julienne) showing off some killer heels; so too was Antonia Prebble who has a real knack for style; Madeleine Sami was there; as was Craig Parker, Harry McNaughton, Steve Dunstan, Hollie Smith, Clarke Gayford, Shavaughn Ruakere, Ricardo Simich, Zambesi's Neville Findlay, Dan's gorgeous agent Sara Tetro and her hubby Craig Innes; but it was Honor Dillon who stole the show looking glamorous in sexy silver. No wonder Dan confided to the NZ Herald that he hoped his long-time girlfriend would be able to join him in France between her Black Stick and work commitments.
Here's some sneak piccies from last night's glamorous launch party at the new Gas store in Newmarket, but for all the best piccies and the hot goss read Spy in the Herald on Sunday.
Rachel Glucina