American Wealth Fuels Luxury Golf Resorts and Hotel Takeover in New Zealand

At the close of 2023, Rosewood, a Hong-Kong-based luxury hotel operator, took over the operation of three of New Zealand’s most celebrated resorts—Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers and Matakauri—each anchored by world-class golf courses. The trio was originally transformed in the early 2000s by the late American hedge-fund billionaire Julian Robertson, whose family still owns the assets. Since New Zealand loosened its Active Investor Plus (golden-visa) program, about 700 overseas investors, predominantly Americans, have purchased residency rights, prompting a wave of high-end tourism investment.

Rosewood is repositioning the sites to appeal to affluent travelers beyond the golf crowd, adding Maori-led cultural tours, farm-hand experiences, adventure outings such as ATVs and jet-boat rides, and upscale dining and spa facilities. Guests now pay between $1,500 and $18,000 per night for a blend of sport, wilderness and luxury. The move marks the first entry of a global hotel brand into a market previously dominated by family-run lodges and underscores the growing influence of U.S. capital on New Zealand’s tourism sector.