The Kotzikas family appears to have most bases covered over the future ownership and control of its Christchurch fishing empire.
As the patriarch, Kypros Kotzikas still owns 51% of United Fisheries and has a seat on the board. However, the 73-year-old has left the day-to-day running to his four sons, Andre, Demetrios, Emelios and Kyriakos, who have the remaining 49% divided equally between them.
One of New Zealand's top 10 seafood companies, United Fisheries employs 200 people and owns deep sea and inshore quota as well as several mussel farms, oyster licences and crayfish quota. With exports rising 12% in 2016, United's annual turnover of about $70 million is bound to have increased.
In addition to company-owned and operated fishing vessels, United operates a fleet of refrigerated trucks, which distribute product from a state-of-the art processing facility in Christchurch. According to the consulting engineers, the design brief included the use of environmentally friendly ammonia for refrigerants and on-site effluent processing to reduce local authority charges. They were also instructed to create a Greek influence like the Parthenon – so the facade consists of huge Doric columns and friezes of chariot races.
Having emigrated from the Cypriot village of Palaichori in 1962, 18-year-old Kypros initially worked in his brother's Aranui fish shop before venturing into the wholesale fishing industry in 1968. Kotzikas retired in 2014 and devotes his time to his passion of harness racing, which is run from Lavros Lodge, his 33ha property on the outskirts of Christchurch.
Earlier this year, he put his financial support behind opposition to a quarry expansion at Yaldhurst, 2km from his home.