The Dunedin born-and-bred businessman owns Rob Rosa Station and Heartland Station in the Cardrona Valley. Last month he added the Wanaka franchise of David Reid Homes to his portfolio of interests, with a view to returning to New Zealand to live within five years.
Mr Hocking's company, Central Otago Building Ltd, bought the outfit from Richard Fairbairn, who is no longer involved in the business but remains in Wanaka.
Mr Hocking said while confidence was returning to Wanaka's real estate and construction industry, people remained cautious in the wake of the global credit crisis and Canterbury earthquakes.
"It has been a tough time for everyone but I believe things will improve. I am seeing the seeds of things moving again.
"But it is still a buyer's market. People are fussy, are doing more due diligence and expect value for money," Mr Hocking said.
Mr Hocking studied commerce and law at the University of Otago, graduating in 1995, before heading overseas to work for 11 years with Deutsche Bank in London, Sydney and Tokyo.
In 2007, he went to Hong Kong for Citi Group, one of the largest investment banks in the world. There, he runs a group of traders based in four countries, covering derivatives trading in 19 countries.
As a child, Mr Hocking always had holidays in Wanaka. He returns from Hong Kong frequently with his Chinese wife Xiao and their two daughters Vaali (2) and Coco (9 months).
Over the past year, resource consents have been obtained for improvements at Rob Rosa Station and construction of a homestead and a farm manager's residence. He is going through an appeal process for consents for a building platform at Heartland Station.
He also enjoys fishing, the outdoors, and Wanaka's people.
"I do genuinely believe in the New Zealand story, and also the Central Otago story. I think the prospects here are pretty good and it is a nice place to do business.
"Ultimately, we will relocate here. I need something to do. The farms and David Reid Homes are all part of having things to do and making a living," he said.
Mr Hocking has appointed the Cromwell-based husband-and-wife team of Paul and Leigh-Anne Fox to manage the business. Mr Fox has been a builder for 25 years and the former Dunedin couple have lived in Central Otago for 12 years.
The company employs two gangs of builders and will open a new show home in Peninsula Bay in November.
