Breakers basketball sale: Who are the Grice brothers?

Leon Grice was director of Rugby New Zealand 2011, the government body established for that year's World Cup. (Image: NZME)

Pattrick Smellie

Fri, 21 Mar 2025

Out of the blue, two Wellington-based, Christchurch-born brothers are said to have bought the Breakers basketball franchise.Leon Grice and his younger brother, Stephen, are well known in political and business circles, have deep connections to serious American money and have a track record of adventurous entrepreneurial dabbling, assisted by an unusual mix of skills and a deep fraternal bond.Leon’s affably confident strut and square-jawed crooner looks have been a fixture in the nexus between business and government since at least the mid...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Policy

Auckland’s Milldale housing project approved

The project is the third approved since applications opened in February.

Michael Neilson 6:15pm

Markets Market Close

Leaders, property sector helps drive NZ stocks higher

The S&P/NZX 50 Index was 62.33 points or 0.46% higher at 13,514.09.

Jamie Gray 6:10pm

Leaders, property sector helps drive NZ stocks higher

Infrastructure

Northport expansion gets green light, updated conditions

Shares in Port of Tauranga, which owns 50% of Northport, rose 2% after the news.

John Anthony 4:50pm

Northport expansion gets green light, updated conditions

Sponsored

Fiji’s exclusive side revealed

Private islands and 5-star luxury, closer than you think.

Tourism Fiji

Sponsored

The double edge of AI in cyber security

Artificial intelligence has the potential to become both a lifeline and a liability for modern organisations, as a revolutionary tool capable of spotting threats at lightning speed, but also the ultimate weapon in the hands of cybercriminals.

Spark