The former love boat of TV star Paul Henry and his wealthy paramour Diane Foreman sailed off literally into the sunset last week, under new and happier ownership.
Private Life, as the brand new boat was called, was meant to be a floating love-nest for the pair, financed by Foreman and skippered by Henry, Spy understands.
The elegant squillionaire with the blonde bouff showered her lover with expensive gifts while they were together, including first-class travel and lavish holidays.
Last June, Henry and Foreman were spotted at Auckland Airport before their flight to London - six days after Henry told one newspaper he was taking a holiday to "spend a bit more time with my children" and to take a break from the gruelling hours of his job. And the NBR had them soaking up the sun poolside at the Hilton in Fiji last July.
Foreman funded the 19m cruiser at a cost of $2 million, though rumours she bought him a Lamborghini are ridiculous, the TVNZ star told me. Last year, Henry was seen driving Foreman's 2004 Aston Martin DB9 sports car, which was still registered in her name, when she upgraded to a new one.
Money was no object and the Rich Lister spared no expense in fitting out the floating vessel. Flat screen TVs dominate the two queen-size staterooms and saloon. There is also sleeping space for crew, and living space forward, aft and on the fly bridge. Silk upholstery, fine glassware, and the best mattress money could buy are among the chattels. Henry's input, apparently, was limited to naming the tender, a high-speed runabout which is lowered into the sea by derrick. Rumour has it he took his cue from Private Life and named the little boat Private Parts, though Henry was quick to rubbish this suggestion, saying he "had no involvement with the boat whatsoever". New owners are planning to rename the boat, and Private Life no longer appears on the superstructure. But the polished wood table affixed to the stern deck retains a permanent reminder, with the name inlaid in large letters on the table top. The boat has now sailed away from New Zealand, undoubtedly much to Foreman's relief.
Perhaps Diane's romantic dream involved disappearing into the Pacific for several months on a luxurious, and very private, honeymoon - with Henry at the helm and far away from his Auckland-based girlfriend.
If so, the dream came to grief when the couple split and Paul returned to his radio producer girlfriend Linzi Dryburgh. This, I'm told, left Diane with a boat she wanted to quit as quickly as possible.
Foreman married multi-millionaire businessman Bill Foreman, 82, who made the bulk of his fortune in the 90s from the sale of his packaging company Trigon. The NBR's Rich List estimated his fortune last year at $145 million. Last year a housekeeper at Diane's Remuera mansion told the Herald on Sunday that Bill no longer lived at the address, and it's believed he may reside at the Mission Bay apartment the couple own.
Diane was linked romantically to then-National Party leader Don Brash. News of their alleged affair broke two months before Brash stepped down and separated from his second wife, Je Lan Brash. At the time, Diane told the Herald on Sunday that her marriage to Bill was "rock solid". After her relationship with Henry ended, her friendship with Brash reignited, though it is believed the couple are no longer an item but remain good friends.
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We went to the Fables Gallery on Monday night to hear who won the top foodie prize in the country - the supreme winner of Metro's best restaurant. I had an inkling who won, and I was right.
Michael Meredith scooped the big one for his wonderful eatery Merediths in Mt Eden. Other awards were given out on the night in various categories.
Click here to see photos of the event.
Rachel Glucina
Pictured Above: Diane Foreman. Photo / Herald on Sunday
