A date with Richard Branson

Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson is to host a "celebrities" lunch in Auckland that will include fashion designer Karen Walker and businessman Eric Watson.

Branson flies into Christchurch tomorrow to help to celebrate the three-year anniversary of Virgin Blue flying the transtasman route.

A spokeswoman said his time would be largely spent meeting staff and media in Christchurch and Auckland. A grand entrance to the lunch on Monday would depend on the weather. The man whose net worth is estimated at $8 billion last year launched the Canadian Virgin Music Festival by abseiling from a helicopter through an open roof.