About Us
Founded 2020
The AutoMuse Story
In late 2018, Matt met Liz at the launch of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV at Parihoa Farm in New Zealand. Matt and Liz struck up an immediate friendship.
Liz had Matt’s dream job of being a motoring writer. She would write about cars, get to test drive them, attend global vehicle launches and fly around the world to motor shows. Matt joked that despite all his international businesses, he should be her motoring cadet!
Now, in 2020, AutoMuse launches as a collaboration between Liz and Matt. For Matt, it’s the dream opportunity to drive as many vehicles as he possibly can and try his hand at motoring journalism. For Liz, she gets to work with Matt’s business brain and write the stories she loves.
Together, they want to create a lifestyle motoring website that isn’t just for petrol heads but for people who appreciate car design and beauty. All vehicles will be shot at Parihoa Farm, under the ever-changing colours of the ocean sunrises and sunsets.
About Liz Dobson
As one of Australasia’s leading motoring writers, Liz began reviewing cars more than 20 years ago after starting her journalism career as a sports reporter.
She was motoring editor for Sunday News, Next magazine and Fashion Quarterly, leading the way in motoring lifestyle content.
Nearly nine years ago, Liz was hired by Driven, the motoring magazine for the New Zealand Herald (then NZME), the largest media organisation in New Zealand. She worked her way to become editor of Driven, one of only a few women in the Southern Hemisphere to lead a motoring title.
For the past three years, Liz was motoring editor-at-large, the role involving travel to Europe and America for car launches on average every six weeks.
The best example of her job? How about flying 37 hours from New Zealand to Iceland in January (Iceland's winter). Landing in Helsinki, walking from the plane to a press conference in the airport, being given keys to a Land Rover Discovery Sport (plus a big jacket) and told to drive 1 1/2 hours to a ski resort. In the snow. On the "wrong" side of the road. And she loves every minute of it.
Liz is a single mum of two kids, Henry and Grace.
About Matt Chapman
Matt has always had a passion for cars. Since he was a young boy his dream was to be a motoring journalist, later he aspired to be the global head of a major car company; he wanted to see the manufacturing processes involved in constructing different car models.
Even at the age of 10,
he would spend his spare time writing to car distributors in his birth country of Australia, asking for pamphlets for every car model.
In his teenage years he dreamt of the day he could own luxury cars. He saved every motoring magazine from 1988-1998.
See his letter to Bentley/Rolls Royce at 15
Finally that day has arrived. Matt takes great pride in his car collection that includes a 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG G63, a 2019 Bentley Continental GT, a 1999 Mercedes SL280 convertible, and his recent purchase, a 1995 Range Rover Vogue SE Classic.
Outside of the car world, Matt founded the world’s largest HR search company: ChapmanCG. He also owns Chapman Ventures (ChapmanV), a global HR ecosystem of companies with various investments in HR technology companies. Matt is also part owner of the amazing Bawah Reserve near Singapore.
Matt, a Singapore Citizen and New Zealand permanent resident, is based in Singapore and when in New Zealand splits his time between his home at Kaiwhakamarumaru, near Wanaka, and Parihoa Farm, near Auckland which is also the spiritual home of AutoMuse!
Established 2019
Parihoa Car Farm
Meet one of the most iconic properties in New Zealand - Parihoa - situated just outside of the country's largest city, Auckland. The 600-acre farm hugs the coastline, whilst the house itself was designed by leading New Zealand architect, Andrew Patterson.
Demonstrate your new vehicle’s capabilities in this breathtaking, world-class location.
Give your clients a taste of the best with Chapman House and Parihoa Farm, all with helicopter access.
Chapman House
The Woolshed
Large, Flat Demonstration Area
600-acre Playground
Diverse Terrain
Helicopter Accessible
Easy Access
“Parihoa is the ultimate location, they made sure our launch was spectacular!”
— Rolls Royce NZ