Independent Family Office Consulting for New Zealand’s Entrepreneurial Families
At Emmerson Hartswood, we help founders, investors, and multi-generational families build, protect, and transition wealth — with fully independent guidance, no conflicts of interest, and no hidden affiliations.
About
our company
Emmerson Hartswood was established in 2018 to serve a straightforward need: entrepreneurial families deserve independent advice that puts their interests first.
We work with founders navigating the shift from operator to investor, families preparing for generational transitions, and wealth owners seeking clarity across complex structures. Our perspective is shaped by decades of experience spanning London and New Zealand, and our advice is free from product ties, bank affiliations, or commission incentives.
How We Help
Explore our range of services designed to help you move forward with confidence, wherever you're headed next.
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We review, coordinate, and monitor your investment portfolio across managers and asset classes — ensuring your wealth is working in line with your goals, not your adviser’s.
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From trust structures to family constitutions, we help you build frameworks that protect assets, clarify decision-making, and reduce the risk of family conflict.
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Whether you’re preparing the next generation to take the reins or stepping back from a business you built, we guide the process with care, discretion, and practical planning.
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We act as an independent sounding board for significant financial decisions — property, philanthropy, business exits, and new ventures — always with your family’s long-term interests at the centre.
What is a family office?
The roots of family offices can be traced back to antiquity – to king’s stewards responsible for managing the regal wealth; who over time widened their stewardship to include the aristocracy.
The modern concept of a family office was developed in the 19th century by J.P. Morgan and the Rockefeller family who developed family-owned organisations to manage both their private wealth and family affairs. Over time, as experience and expertise grew, offices opened up their services to other non-related families, evolving from single-family offices into multi-family offices.
This is the definition we hold to be the truest form of a multi-family office – a very different proposition from a private bank or other financial organisation. Built to serve the unique needs of a family of wealth, then evolved over time to bring unfettered independence, real understanding, deep knowledge and first-hand experience to your family’s unique needs.
About Our Founder
Nick Emmerson
Founder/Director
For over 25 years I’ve been working with entrepreneurial individuals and families to help them navigate the financial, structural, and personal complexities that come with creating, managing, and preserving wealth. My career has spanned from London to New Zealand, giving me a truly global perspective on how wealth can be built, protected, and transitioned across generations.
I’ve worked alongside founders, investors, and multi-generational families — guiding them through the shift from hands-on business owner to strategic investor, and from first-generation success to confident next-generation leadership. Along the way, I’ve learned that every family’s story is different, and the best advice is never one-size-fits-all.
At Emmerson Hartswood my focus is on delivering independent, conflict-free guidance that aligns completely with my clients’ values and goals. Whether that means overseeing investments, refining structures, or planning for succession, my role is to ensure clarity, protect legacy, and create the conditions for long-term success.
Beyond the spreadsheets and strategy sessions, I’m a big believer in building genuine relationships. I see my work as more than managing assets — it’s about building trust, ensuring confidence, and helping families feel in control of their future.
Contact Us
Every family’s situation is different, and we’d welcome the chance to understand yours. Share a few details below and we’ll arrange an introductory conversation — with no obligation and complete confidentiality.