There’s another JK in town... and he’s a ‘performing artist’
HE’S a knight of the realm, chairman of New Zealand’s biggest bank and one of the country’s most successful politicians, and now Sir John Key has laid claim to being a ‘‘performing artist’’.
Key seems to be broadening his post-politics horizons on a weekly basis, and most recently has set up a new company Thirty Eight JK to manage his public speaking engagements.
The company describes itself as a ‘‘performing artist operation’’ on the Companies Office.
Thirty Eight JK is a reference to his former job as the 38th prime minister of New Zealand – and might come as a bit of a surprise to the countless New Zealanders who see the initials JK as the prime domain of another knight: Sir John Kirwan.
And its logo looks suspiciously similar to the reject from Key’s illfated 2016 flag referendum, albeit with a tinge more Tory blue.
Key reportedly earns as much as $40,000 per speech, and he appears to be in high demand.
His touted topics of expertise include ‘‘putting China in perspective’’ and ‘‘Asia: Opportunities and Obstacles’’.
On Monday, he spoke at a breakfast fundraiser for the Sweet Louise charity in Auckland, before opening a financial trading simulation room at University of Canterbury’s Business School later that day.
Key, 56, has wasted no time in adding to his estimated $65 million fortune since resigning as Prime Minister last December. He’s taken up a directorship on the board of Air New Zealand, works as an ambassador for Japanese billionaire philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, and this week announced as the Chairman for the ANZ Bank.
He can’t claim to being the only artist in the family. Son Max Key reportedly has aspirations to ‘‘hit the Billboard top 100 one day’’ as a DJ and recording musician, while daughter Stephie Key releases stylised self portraits and makes films under her artist moniker Cherry Lazar.
Key did not respond to requests for comment. Key is listed as the sole director of the Thirty Eight JK company and both he and wife Bronagh own 1 per cent each of the company. His former lawyer and trust expert Ken Whitney and Ian Nugent own the other 98 per cent.