Global interest in millionaire’s ‘paradise’
A multi-millionaire’s quest to find people to come and live at his luxury coastal estate has attracted international interest.
Karl Reipen, who is from Germany and made his millions selling canned iced coffee, is looking for 10 people, aged up to 70, to live at his Awakino Estate on the west coast in southern Waikato.
The advert, which was published twice in a national newspaper this past week, is headed up ‘‘Living in Paradise’’, and offers people after ‘‘a new life’’ a homestead with its own winery, indoor equestrian centre and stables.
Since the story of Reipen’s hunt for housemates was published on Wednesday, it has piqued the interest of people, and other media, including Guardian, from across the world.
Stuff has fielded messages from men and women, including a married couple in their 60s, living in places like Russia, Turkey, the United States, Canada, along with a Kiwi living in Europe, who have wanted help to get in touch with Reipen.
Among those reaching out in the wake of the story was a Los Angelesbased film-maker who said he wanted to get in touch with the multi-millionaire to see if he would be agreeable to being involved in a documentary about his search to find people to live on the estate.
Along with the luxury amenities on offer at the coastal retreat, Reipen also outlined the types of activities on offer to pass the days.
‘‘You can enjoy walking, fishing, shopping, kayaking, bird watching, swimming or looking at the nice animals,’’ the advertisement said. In 2003, Reipen told the Taranaki Daily News it had been his boyhood dream to own a farm and turn it into a five-star operation.
A further attempt to contact him yesterday was unsuccessful.