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Hawke’s Bay
Unlikely as it seems, Josie Pagani’s gossip is true: Matthew Hooton and Laila Harre will be holidaying together – or at least at the same North American ski field following a friendly steer from the NBR columnist.
The hard right lobbyist and the far left Internet Mana leader are foes in the political arena.
But as Mr Hooton tells it, they have a shared love of skiing – particularly in Canada during New Zealand’s off-season.
An insider, who can’t be identified by NBR bar the fact his first name starts with M, tells NBR the Harre family usually skis at Canada’s upmarket Banff.
When talking with the former union leader recently, Mr Hooton pointed out that his family always went to another Canadian ski field, Whistler.
He let the Alliance veteran know that Whistler had been voted North America’s number one ski field by Ski Magazine.
“I told her, ‘We’re going to Whistler – you should come too,” Mr Hooton tells NBR.
The two families now have trips booked to Whistler in January.
“But just because you’re in the same place at the same time doesn’t mean you’re holidaying together,” the Exceltium principal says.
Both can afford the trip. Mr Hooton has a successful company. More surprisingly, Ms Harre is also not short of a buck.
She has independent wealth stemming from the fact her grandfather patented the jandal in 1957. Her family ran a successful operation making and selling the footwear for decades before it was sold.
Ms Harre’s husband Dr Barry Gribben runs a medical research company. The couple also own Awaroa Organic Winery, a vineyard on Waiheke but are best known in Auckland for bankrolling Italian restaurant O'Sarracino on Mt Eden Rd. While not in any way endorsing Ms Harre’s politics, NBR can confirm the Spaghetti Nero di Seppia ($33) or spaghetti with black squid ink is to die for.
Most recently, she has of course been known for fronting Kim Dotcom's party.
Where will she turn next?
Advice won't be in short supply at Whistler.
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Hooton and Harre holidaying together? Right-wing commentator comes clean
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