Grounded and growing

Five years on, BCH Law continues to deliver trusted, down-to-earth legal support with a team clients know and rely on.

WORDS JO-MARIE BAKER | PHOTOS QUINN O’CONNELL

From left to right: Jude Spicer, Holly Hawkins, Tom Castle, Nikki Burley and Brittany Ivil.

Walking into a lawyer’s office can often feel daunting. But for many who step out of Burley Castle Hawkins Law in Tauranga or Te Puke, there’s a noticeable sense of relief.

The team at BCH Law are known not just for their legal expertise, but for their calm, grounded approach to often complex and stressful situations. With decades of experience between them, they’ve built a reputation for solving tricky legal problems without losing sight of the human side.

“We are grounded, normal people who live grounded, normal lives,” explains director Nikki Burley. “We want our clients to know everything is under control and they’ve got someone on their side.”

Nikki is one of the most highly-respected and longest- serving lawyers in the Bay, and has been involved in several partnership arrangements during her 35-year career. But her dream was to own a firm that was bigger than just the name on the door.

“I wanted to run a law practice that wasn’t about any one person – a firm that had a good reputation and solid systems in place so every team member can provide excellent service to clients whenever they need help.”

Senior lawyers Tom Castle and Holly Hawkins shared that vision, and went into partnership with Nikki in 2020, followed by senior lawyer Jude Spicer in 2024. BCH is now celebrating its fifth anniversary, and while five years have zipped by, the firm has many decades of legal experience to draw on.

Several of BCH’s 34 staff members have worked together for over 25 years. The firm’s outstanding team of lawyers, legal executives, and support staff, handle business, family, property, trust and estate law along with litigation and mediation. “Our assurance to clients is ‘life is a journey – with you all the way.’ Whether you’re a first home buyer, a property developer, or someone who is in the midst of a complicated employment dispute or messy relationship breakdown, we’re here to support you.”

The four directors, whose ages span four different decades, each specialise in different areas of law and have a close working relationship. They are ably supported by senior associate Brittany Ivil and practice manager Deborah Palmer. “It’s wonderful having such diverse ages and opinions, and collective shared responsibility,” Nikki says. “I feel very lucky to work alongside such wonderful people and to see them grow wise and flourish in their own legal careers.”

While most staff are based in BCH’s Tauranga office in Monmouth Street, the firm also has a Te Puke office in Jellicoe Street. In 2018 Nikki's former partnership bought long-standing Te Puke law firm Manning Gibbs Brown, which now trades under BCH. “We are Te Puke’s only full service law firm and cater for everyone from elderly clients wanting to update a will, to clients needing to be represented in court matters, to multi-million dollar kiwifruit and farming operations,” she says.

“The thing I love most is that every single day is different. Every person and problem is different. You can learn so much from your clients and your staff. Law makes you think objectively and ethically, and many of my

clients have become good friends.”

BCH’s five-year milestone is also an opportunity for Nikki and her colleagues to reflect on where the firm is heading next.

Fellow director Holly Hawkins says stability and longevity are shared goals, and the firm is proud to offer such a wide and diverse range of legal services. “What I love is that we don’t pigeonhole ourselves. Every file is so different.”

It’s also significant that the majority of BCH’s leadership team is female. “There are lots of excellent female lawyers, but not many make partnership. We’ve got three female directors and we genuinely care about our staff and our clients. We provide a lot more flexibility than other law firms do.”

Community connections are also a priority at BCH, with all four directors actively involved in school boards, trusts, sports coaching and many other good causes. Nikki also holds a voluntary position with the NZ Law Society.

While she isn’t retiring anytime soon, BCH will be in good hands when the time is right for Nikki to step back from directorship. “She is well-respected and such a hard worker,” Holly reflects. “She set out to create a firm that serves clients well, where great staff can flourish.” She’s definitely succeeded in that, and we are all proud of the firm BCH has become.”

BCHLAW.CO.NZ

Good eggs

High in the Kaimai Ranges, a small farm puts chickens first, and lets the eggs speak for themselves.

Photos Alan Gibson

It’s a riddle as old as time and one that has left the greatest minds in history scratching their heads. But ask Karlene McGirr what came first, the chicken or the egg, and her answer is immediate.

“The chicken has to come first because that's our priority,” she smiles. “If you look after the chicken, you get a good egg.”

This philosophy drives Kaimai Eggs, the family-owned egg farm situated in the tranquil Kaimai Ranges that was started by Karlene's parents, Otto and Vicki McGirr, in 2011. Now Karlene and husband Jim are continuing to grow the family business, along with all Otto and Vicki's daughters, who are involved in aspects of the farm. The health and well-being of their chickens is something that has been paramount to the whole family since the beginning. 

Karlene and Jim Brown.

“Dad's been asked ‘What makes a good egg?’ a few times over the years, and it’s simple: a good chicken makes a good egg,” Karlene explains. “There’s no other way around it.”

“You've got to have a healthy, well-fed, well-watered chicken in a good environment with good people looking after it and all the other stuff kind of just happens,” Jim adds. “Which makes sense. Of course, a happy bird is going to produce better eggs.”

Their farm, which produces free-range and barn eggs, is situated in the tranquil Kaimai Ranges, where the chooks enjoy a view of the hills that’s so stunning it’s printed on the egg carton. But spectacular views aren’t the only thing that sets Kamai Eggs apart. 

Otto McGirr.

Unlike most egg producers, they look after their whole supply chain, getting baby chicks at just one day old and rearing them right up until they’re ready to begin laying eggs. From there, they’ll be moved into one of the farm’s laying sheds, where they’ll be able to run free, indoors and out, with the flock. The eggs that are produced are then packed by hand on the farm before going onto their “little truck” that leaves every morning, to deliver them fresh to supermarkets and cafés around the region. Their team even stacks the supermarket shelves themselves to ensure there’s no accidental breakage that goes unnoticed and could leave a bad taste in a consumer’s mouth.

“We’re only as good as the last carton that goes out. We believe, and it’s
true, that every carton is an individual customer,” Jim says, explaining why in this age of automation they remain hands-on. “If you have a bad experience with our eggs, you're not going to want to buy them again.”

The family don’t just talk the talk, they also walk the walk, out on the farm each morning checking on their chickens and jumping on the line to pack eggs. 

“We have a great team who supports making this happen seven days a week,” Jim says, proudly.

Keeping the birds happy and healthy is a constant challenge, especially with free-range farming. The trick is finding the balance between quality of living for the bird versus the cost, so an affordable product is waiting on supermarket shelves.

“We’ve invested in some really high-tech monitoring systems for the animals and for people to spend time with the animals,” Karlene says. “And because we rear our own birds, we get to control those that are incoming. Birds never leave the farm. They come in at one day old, and they stay on the farm.”

“It's a low-stress environment,” Jim says. “Because we're not moving the chicken far. It just goes from that shed there when they’re chicks to that shed there when they’re ready to lay. You see in other animals, when they move long distances, they come under a lot of stress.”

The farm has philosophically and financially invested in ensuring their chickens' lives are as stress-free as possible. The chickens live in a big shed where they have 24/7 access to a grassy paddock. 

“They can come and go as they please,” Jim says. “But typically they hang around the shed in the mornings.”

The birds are early risers, up at 4am for breakfast, before they start laying eggs at 5am. Around 8am is when the animal welfare team comes in to do their checks and make sure everything is hunky dory, and by 9am, the chooks' work is done for the day and they head outside to enjoy their day.

“The chickens are awake for 16 hours a day. And they get up to stuff,” Karlene says. “They break a lot, scratching and pecking and tapping away.”

“It can be chicken anarchy,” Jim laughs.

Rounding them up in the evening and herding them back into the shed before dark is a surprisingly easy task.

“They're scared of the dark, so they all come in willingly at night,” Jim laughs. “It's like a switch. All of a sudden, they all just start running for home. It's bloody amazing! They all come in, eat and roost, and hopefully give us an egg the next morning.”

Kaimai Eggs' slogan is ‘Your Local Farm’ and that’s something they take to heart. They support local schools in the area, as well as Bay of Plenty Rugby and local food banks and charities. 

“We take our social responsibility very seriously,” Jim says. “It's our job to support quite a few organisations.”

“Words are cheap. We want to walk the walk,” Karlene says. “Dad is a big pusher of that, especially with supporting kids in sports and the local schools. It's not optional, it's just what we do. It's all good to go out there and tell everyone that we're local, but you’ve also got to put your money where your mouth is and support local organisations.”

“It's cool,” Jim smiles. “You get to meet quite a few local people doing good stuff in the community. It's rewarding to help organisations in the community. It makes you feel good.”

There’s only one last question for the egg farmers, and it could be the hardest of the lot; how do they like their eggs?

“That's the big question for the egg producers,” Jim laughs. “We've got loads in the shed and we always forget to take them home!”

“And we only get to take the ones that aren’t perfect,” Karlene adds. 

“To be honest, it's quite nice to come to the cafés that use our eggs and get them to cook them for us,” Jim smiles, before Karlene jokes, “We're terrible at cooking them!”

KAIMAIEGGS.CO.NZ

A different kind of calling

A teacher, a doctor, a pilot, a movie star... Becoming a funeral director probably isn’t on many childhood wish lists. But for funeral director, Fergus Keith, it’s his most rewarding job yet.

photo MARK FRUISH @ MATCHING BLACK

With a calm presence and a passion for helping others navigate grief, Fergus Keith shares his insights into the surprising realities of his role, what makes the work so meaningful, and why it’s time we all started talking more openly about death – and life while we’re at it.

UNO: What did you want to be when you grew up?

Fergus: Honestly, a funeral director wasn’t on my radar. Like most people, I didn’t leave school thinking, ‘I’m going to work in the death care industry’. It’s a vocation that found me later in life.

Tell us a little about your work history prior to Legacy Funerals?

Before coming to Legacy Funerals, I spent time working as an ambulance officer and a church pastor, and I’m also a volunteer firefighter. Those roles have given me a deep understanding of how to relate to a wide range of people, especially during crisis and grief. My own personal experiences with loss as a teenager also helped me become more comfortable in that space.

What does a typical day look like for you?

We’re not just dealing with the deceased – we’re working closely with the living. There is a lot of variety within the role, from behind-the-scenes work planning funerals, organising logistics and working with celebrants, to supporting grieving families. It's a careful balance between organisation and event planning, and ceremony, ritual and empathy.

What surprises people most about your job?

It’s not all sad and sombre. There are lighter moments and laughter with families as we work alongside them to keep the stories of their loved ones alive. Funerals are about more than saying goodbye, they are a vital part of the healing process – not because someone has died, but because they have lived. And they’re not just for the front row of mourners. Friends, colleagues and community members also need that moment to reflect and grieve.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

It’s deeply fulfilling to know that by taking the time to craft the funeral experience just right, it helps people grieve well. Helping families feel supported at their darkest moments is a privilege that feels more like a vocation of service rather than a job. Also, Legacy Funerals is owned by a charitable trust, so profits go back into our community.Being part of something bigger adds another layer of meaning to what we do.

Do you have any advice for those considering a career in this field?

In my role I am a guide, a storyteller and above all a listener. There is a certain level of maturity and life experience needed for the job. There is also on-call work – sometimes you're answering the phone at 2am when someone’s world has just fallen apart. But being that trusted person in those moments is incredibly humbling.

Any final thoughts?

As New Zealanders, we often rush grief and avoid talking about the inevitable. I encourage people to talk more openly about death, plan ahead and think about what their family will need when their time comes. At Legacy, we help people pre-plan funerals, not just to make things easier logistically, but to ensure the final farewell is a meaningful experience that enables their loved ones left behind to grieve and heal. After all, funerals aren’t just about death, they’re about taking the time to celebrate and honour life.

LEGACYFUNERALS.CO.NZ

Progressive positioning

Coombes Johnston welcomes customers into a new era.

words NICKY ADAMS | photos JAHL MARSHALL

As Coombes Johnston marks 30 years representing the BMW brand in Tauranga, the timing feels fitting for a major transformation. The dealership has just completed a major showroom upgrade, designed to modernise not just the look, but the experience of buying a vehicle. The result is a space that feels less like a traditional showroom and more like an extension of the brand’s identity.

The second location in New Zealand to have undergone the international ‘Retail.Next’ initiative, the new showroom is overarchingly aspirational while reflecting the brand’s emphasis on customer centricity. “We have always had outstanding customer service,” says manager Kevin Pead. “We always had the DNA for that. Now we’ve lifted up the environment to match the level of service that we’ve been offering to our customers in the Bay of Plenty for 30 years.”

BMW has an undisputed reputation as a premium European luxury brand. The freshly renovated showroom, with its stylish interior and multi-functional spaces, is testament to this positioning. As I walk through the doors, the receptionist beams a sunny smile, radiating warmth on a wet winter’s day. Leading me to the inviting seated area, fresh coffee on the table, the feeling is less showroom and more lounge area. Glancing around I notice the stunning feature lights. These, Kevin explains, he initially thought may be overkill, but when they were installed, all was revealed. Without doubt purposeful, the pendants glisten over the seated area where they serve to create a cosy, intimate environment; meanwhile my eyes are drawn to the M wall where a feature white and red longline ceiling element is suspended over the latest highperformance luxury M3 model, the light showcasing the sleek contours of this beautiful vehicle.

The seating, while perfect for meetings, faces a screen which boasts the very latest in technology. The EVE – Emotional Virtual Experience – is an immersive experience that allows customers to digitally design and watch as their dream car comes to life. Even the more old-school customers are on board with this technology, as it helps to bring a real sense of confidence to decision making. “There are so many different makes and models we can’t stock all of them, so if someone wants to bespoke a car this allows them to see what the finished product would look like from the comfort of a lounge type environment.”

The brand concept behind the Retail.Next upgrade is, says Kevin, “to create a warm, embracing, relaxed atmosphere.” The days of the hard sell are long gone. Today’s experience of looking for a new car involves a more consultative approach. BMW considers itself a market leader in more than just its innovative car design and production. After all, Kevin points out, “BMW doesn’t follow, it sets the standard”. The ‘shop floor’ is obviously a part of this. From the moment someone arrives, “You want them to feel as though they want to buy a car; and whether it’s the latest and greatest or it’s an older model, the level of service is the same.” The split for new versus used vehicles is roughly fifty-fifty, but rule of thumb is that “used car buyers will one day become new car buyers.” I question why this is, and Kevin looks amused. “It’s a natural progression – it’s a great audition, isn’t it!”

Car enthusiasts will already be aware that BMW is considered the ultimate driving machine, and Kevin is excited about what’s coming, with product launches for 2025 set to defy expectations further – what’s on the horizon is “younger, fresher, more exciting; and our technology advances with each new model.”

We circle back to the fact that the customer journey is a key focus here at Coombes Johnston. This explains how, for two years running, BMW Tauranga were awarded Excellence in Customer Service nationally from BMW New Zealand. Kevin firmly believes that you have one shot at making a first impression. “The people that come have generally done their homework and are making a comparison. We are here to identify their needs and make sure they find the right vehicle.” Of course, he continues, “people want more from buying a car – they want, and deserve, a premium five-star experience.”

The service is wrapped up in so much more than excellent product knowledge. When dealing with uber high-tech models, to help bring a purchaser up to speed with the technology can often, Kevin says, involve up to five post-sale sessions. His customer handover includes happily giving his mobile number to each client as part of the aftercare. This is indicative of the way these relationships are cultivated and valued. The ability to form firm relationships is something, Kevin says, that is lost when people shop further afield. There is often a belief that if you go to a bigger city, you’ll get a better deal – not the case, Kevin assures me. “As soon as you’re out of the door, you’re just another number – here you will always be a valued customer.” And one which will be looked after as part of the Coombes Johnston family.

The team of 13 share the same passion – Kevin has been with BMW for 10 years, and Simon, the service manager is soon to celebrate 20 years with the company. Longevity relates not just to staff relations but also to customers, with, says Kevin, many of their customers holding longstanding relations. Indeed, when I speak to owner Richard Johnston, he tells me anecdotally that he has been selling to one customer since 1987, starting the relationship when he was a junior salesman. The new look of the premises, he believes, does justice to the BMW brand. “Over the years the showroom has evolved, but this is a massive change – a quantum leap to something truly spectacular for 2025.”

As for being a BMW ambassador, Richard is clearly as passionate as ever about the Group. “They strive for excellence, and they measure us on excellence. There is an understanding at all levels of our team that the execution is at a very high level. The design, innovation, BMW’s ability to pivot quickly – there’s a very strong focus on drivability and the passion and emotional experience that comes with being behind the wheel of one of these cars. That in itself, in my opinion, sets us apart – and as a small family run business it’s a real privilege to represent the brand.”

COOMBESJOHNSTONBMWTAURANGA.CO.NZ

The talented tī lady

In another life, Amy Tihema-Madden would've been an expert winemaker but the Hamilton mother of four has spent the past five years perfecting the art of fermenting tea, and we are all better for it, as UNO columnist JESS EASTON writes.

Amy Tihema-Madden never set out to create an award-winning, life-giving drink of deliciousness. All she wanted to do was to make herself better.

With post-natal depression, grief and anxiety darkening her horizon, soon after the birth of her fourth child and just before Covid-19, forming a company and learning the intricacies of running a business was the last thing on her mind.

Thanks to her kindly Chinese GP, who convinced her to go back to her people and find traditional Māori practices to heal, Amy (Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Te Whānau a Kai, Ngati Kohuru) found herself on a vastly different path.

Soon, she was deep in the forest, learning about rongoā and how nature's energy could heal.

Copious tears soaked fertile soil and Waikirikau fermented tea was born.

Booze-free is big business these days. For various health and social reasons, many people are looking for food-matched flavours and boutique brews that don't have the age-old after-effects. Non-alcoholic shrubs and tonics are becoming ever-more popular, while kombucha and other fermented offerings are flourishing.

Amy soon found that the more she learned about the healing power of native plants, the more intuitive she became at combining them with herbs, leaves, fruits, barks and flowers. Fermenting them was a way to preserve their potency and bring probiotic benefits into play.

We've been using Waikirikau brews at our Kitchen Takeover events for the past couple of years and the likes of Hā Raumati – manuka-infused with cucumber, lime and juniper additions – pair fabulously with so many of our delicious courses. The spectacular ruby-coloured Ngā Taonga ā Papatūānuku is indeed a treasure, while Horopito Chai and Kawakawa Kaha are more recent offerings. But what we love most is that Amy hand-picks all her ingredients, using maramataka principles, and then caresses the flavours out of her produce in a small commercial kitchen in her Hamilton backyard.

Her small personal passion has indeed become a successful business, albeit one that is still boutique and hand-crafted.

And the most important ingredient in her arsenal remains her aroha, the care and the nurturing, which shines through in every mouthful.

Jess Easton is a director and owner of Kitchen Takeover and Saint Wine Bar, complementing her career as a Tauranga-based lawyer.

From Tauranga to the top

In just four short years, Tauranga’s hip hop dance studio Space has made a big splash on the international scene. Founders Summer Tyson and Cameron Smith tell us they’re just getting started.

words KARL PUSCHMANN | photos NINAG PHOTOGRAPHY

Space Dance Studios may have only opened its doors five years ago, but time is running out. They only have 12 months left on the clock to hit their goal, Cameron Smith tells UNO. The goal is a simple one: become the best hip hop dance studio in the world.

Easy, right?

“There’s a Tall Poppy Syndrome in New Zealand, where it sounds super outrageous to say we want to be the best in the world,” Cameron says, before smiling and adding, “We’re currently third.”

After speaking with Cameron and partner Summer Tyson, their wildly ambitious target seems not just doable, but entirely feasible. They are determined and focused, they are putting the work in and then putting in some more work, and they are achingly close to hitting it. “We’re proud, but not satisfied,” Cameron says. “There’s a deadline. It’s really important for us to cram and work hard to make things happen.”

Opening their own dance studio was their dream. When that became a reality, they simply added to the dream.

“It was like a script to a movie. Just boom! Let’s make this happen. We always say that it not working wasn’t an option,” Cameron says. “Failure was not an option. It’s the only thing in life that we do. It’s the only thing in life that we’re good at. It had to work. There was no way it couldn’t work.”

The pair worked hard to ensure Space launched successfully. They offered anybody who wanted to dance, regardless of skill or ability, free classes for an entire term, and worked seven days a week in the studio.

“When you’re building something from the ground up, it’s important,” Cameron says. “Summer and I love it. We weren’t looking at the clock or time watching, like, ‘Oh, it’s five o’clock, I’m off now’. We were doing it from a place of passion and a place of fire.”

Their arrival didn’t go unnoticed. Their unorthodox approach influenced every decision. While everyone was zigging, they zagged.

“Everybody else’s studio was white, so we said, ‘let’s paint ours black’. Everybody else was doing exam work, we said, ‘let’s not do exam work, and run open classes’. Everybody was competing locally, we said, ‘No, we’re going to compete internationally’. We tried to do something that didn't follow that formula. It was either going to work or it wasn’t. But we were going to make sure it did.”

And it has. Last year’s third place at the World of Dance Competition was the greatest endorsement of their unique methods. Which also extends to their teaching.

“We do treat our dancers like athletes. From what they eat, to how they sleep, to their training regime. Some of these dancers are sometimes training up to 14 to 16 hours a day,” Cameron says. “It is unbelievable for dancers who are sometimes aged 11 and 12. We’re super fortunate to have an incredible community of parents who support these kids. Their parents are the grounding and the roots of what makes these kids successful. It is very normal for Space to train until sometimes 2am. The next morning, they go to school at 9am, so it is a wild, wild, wild world that Space lives in.”

And while it is extremely full on, competition for one of the 40 spots on the Space Pro Team is fierce, with people flying from all over Aotearoa to audition. Needless to say, even getting into the team is gruelling.

“It’s a relentless audition. They come in and they train for a weekend, and we select the top 40 dancers.

This kind of training regime is simply what it takes to reach the international standard. At the Worlds, which can be considered the Olympics of dance, there are 53 countries, with over 100 teams and 500 dancers all competing in brutal knockout rounds. Just the document that tells you what the judges are looking for runs 200 pages. This provides the necessary context for their approach.

“We consider dancing a sport,” Summer says. “Someone’s got to win at the event and someone’s going to lose.”

“Our job is to pour gasoline on the fire,” Cameron adds. “These kids come in with this raw fire, and our job is to make it go crazy.”

The pair are straight-up in saying a place on the Pro Team isn’t for everyone. They tell hopefuls what’s in store and the physical and mental pressure involved. “If people can survive a year in Space, they can survive a year anywhere,” Cameron grins. “We try to create an environment that pushes life skills, learning and that work ethic. We feel so grateful that people believe in what we do and trust us with their kids and with their growth. It’s a big responsibility to not just train good dancers but to train good humans as well. Dance is purely the form that we use to teach life skills.”

“We always say hard work always pays off, and that luck doesn’t exist to us. The hardest-working team will win.”

With only 12 months remaining for the pair to achieve their goal of winning the World’s, their international rivals better be working bloody hard. Because Summer and Cameron certainly are. And they have every intention of making sure the competition has their work cut out for them.

SPACESTUDIOS.CO.NZ

Rebranding the Bay

What makes a place truly unforgettable? Is it the golden beaches, the rolling hills, or the vibrant urban buzz? For Our Tauranga Region, the answer is something deeper. It’s in the stories of the people who live and work there. Now, in a bold move to express the essence of Tauranga and the Western Bay, the team is turning to the community to help define the region’s next big identity.

words HAYLEY BARNETT

After years of watching Tauranga and the Western Bay grow in size and diversity, Our Tauranga Region has embarked on a journey to develop a new brand. In fact, it will be the first brand the region has ever adopted, and they want to make sure it’s one that genuinely reflects the spirit of those who call the Bay home.

“We’ve got this beautiful region, but the way we talk about it hasn’t caught up with who we are now,” explains Haydn Marriner, project lead at Our Tauranga Region. “We didn’t want to slap a logo on a postcard and call it a brand. It has to be a reflection of the people – our mana and values.”

Rather than relying solely on marketers or consultants, Our Tauranga Region is crowdsourcing the heart of the brand from its own community. They’re meeting with iwi, local businesses, artists, and residents to uncover what truly defines the region and its people. Nothing has been decided yet; even the term 'Our Tauranga Region' is a temporary white label identity that will be retired once the new place brand has been delivered.

“Branding is no longer a top-down process,” says Marriner. “It’s about co-creation. We’re not just building something for the community. We’re building it with them.”

One of the key principles guiding the project is authenticity. Our Tauranga Region is working closely with tangata whenua to ensure the brand is grounded in te ao Māori and the unique cultural fabric of the region. As Marriner puts it, “You can’t tell the story of this place without starting with the people who have been here the longest.”

While culture and heritage are central, the brand also aims to represent the region’s evolving identity and its entrepreneurial energy, creative spirit, and laid-back lifestyle.

The process has been anything but conventional. From community hui to online submissions, the brand development has become a dialogue, not a monologue. And it’s working.

“What’s been amazing is how much people care,” Marriner says. “There’s a sense of pride and ownership coming through in every conversation. Whether someone’s been here five minutes or five generations, they’ve got something to say about what makes this place special.”

The branding project is set to roll out over the next few months, with a visual identity and messaging platform expected later this year. But for Our Tauranga Region, the journey has already delivered its own reward, which is a stronger connection between the people and the place they call home.

“If we get this right, if we create something true to us, it'll resonate with locals, with visitors, with businesses – with everyone!” Marriner says. “Because it’s real.”

Have your say at: OURTAURANGAREGION.COM

Plenty under twenty

In part two of Plenty Under Twenty, Stacey Jones hunts out the best cheap eats under $20 that the Tauranga region has to offer.

words STACEY JONES

Rikarika

I put the call out to the local community recently, asking for their favourite meals under $20, and the response was meatier than a pie from Patrick’s Pies — hundreds of recommendations flooded in.

So, after a fair bit of eating (it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it), here’s my pick of the best cheap eats in the Bay of Plenty this month. From dumplings to falafel, sushi to curry, these are the top spots serving up serious flavour without breaking the bank.

The Rising Tide

Weekday wins

If you’re happy to dine out earlier in the week, you’re onto a winner-winner dumpling dinner. Let’s start with a ridiculously good deal over at The Rising Tide on a Monday in Mount Maunganui – and now at their new spot in Ōmokoroa.

For just $15, you can treat yourself to five mouthwatering dumplings paired with a pint of craft beer. I’d recommend the mushroom dumplings, but they’ve also been branching out with limited-edition flavours like lemongrass and lamb. Yum.

East of the middle

Next up is one of my all-time favourites: Falafel Metro. They serve up the crispest falafel known to humankind, wrapped in a house-made pita softer than a fluffy white cloud for just $17. Total steal. Even the most die-hard carnivores won’t miss the meat here.

Japanese feasts

If Japanese is your vibe, Chidori Ramen might just take the crown for the best meal under $20 in the BOP. I’ve been going there since the day they opened, and my go-to is the patina ramen with extra chashu and a ramen egg — it never lets me down. Pro tip: their set meals are a great deal too, and the chicken karaage is a personal favourite.

Happy Fryday

Right next door is Chicken Fryday, a fried chicken lover’s dream. Half a Korean-style fried chicken sneaks in at $19.50. Slather it in wasabi mayo for a flavour punch, or, if you’re feeling brave, go for the hot and spicy sauce — it’s hotter than Satan’s breath and will leave you sweating like you’ve just run a marathon.

Rikarika

Sushi secret

Still in the Japanese lane, pop into Rikarika — the new spot where Falafel Metro once stood. Their sushi is arguably the best in the Bay, thanks to husband-and-wife team Brian and Rika, who take a near-religious approach to perfecting their rice. Grab a sushi set for just $15, or if you’re after something lighter, a mini rice bowl for $12. I’d recommend the tofu teriyaki. Plus, the owners are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet.

Bananarama

Just a hop, skip and jump from Rikarika is the wildly underrated Banana Blossom Café, serving up Malaysian Cheesy Chilli Fried Eggs for $18.50 — a fusion combo of absolute yum. And if your wallet can stretch just a smidge over a crisp $20, their laksa at $29.50 is all manners of “fork yeah”.

Best of the rest as voted by locals

• For the locals in Matua, Head Loco got plenty of shout-outs for its Japanese grubs.

• Kebab lovers, Kebab Istanblue in Mount Maunganui is a go-to.

• Early risers, Pronto Burger does a $9 breakfast combo, including coffee – absolute steal.

• Curry cravings? House of Spice in Fraser Cove serves up generous portions, and all their curries are under $20.

• Vietnamese food enthusiasts, Pho Vina (just off Wharf Street) dishes up authentic, soul-warming goodness for under $20.

The secret’s out — I’ve taken over @bop.eats, and I’m officially dedicating my life (and my stomach) to uncovering the best eats in the Bay. That means I’ll be diving even deeper into the best eats across the region, starting with another round of budget-friendly bites that prove you don’t need to spend big to eat well.

A bold return

Always underpinned by excellence, the Sandersons are redefining
luxury retirement living with a project set to impress.

words NICKY ADAMS | photo ALAN GIBSON

Fraser and Donna Sanderson.

With a life’s work spanning 38 years developing in the luxury retirement and care home facility sector, Fraser Sanderson made front page news in 2019 when he sold off three of his retirement villages, at the time quoted as saying he was going to ‘give retirement a go’. Clearly ticky-touring about in his campervan didn’t cut the mustard because roll on a few years and Fraser has returned, and returned with style. The project that has brought him back to the fray is the most exciting and prestigious one of his career, The Pitau in Mount Maunganui.

As the face of the Sanderson Group – family owned and operated nationwide with a portfolio of diverse developments under its umbrella – Fraser is well known to be an astute businessman, but one who holds the values of honesty, loyalty and family at the heart of it all. His children all have exciting ventures underway themselves in the retirement and development sectors and are excited by this latest turn of events; wife Donna is equally supportive, understanding that The Pitau is very much Fraser’s passion project. A concept too compelling to resist, the luxury and magnitude make it groundbreaking in New Zealand, and even on an international scale it would be considered trailblazing.

Fraser is no mere figurehead. His involvement has always, and continues to be, more than just in name only; a driving force from the ground upwards, he notoriously dives into every single aspect of a development. From overseeing the selection of the Travetine cladding of The Pitau or obsessing over the correct placement of the cabling in the building’s basement, Fraser prides himself on being a part of every feasible decision. He is lauded for his meticulous attention to detail, as well as the speed with which he ensures everything is executed. A friend of mine once sat next to Mick Jagger at a cricket game, and said she could feel the energy fizzing from him for every second of the match. Fraser has the same kind of sizzle – always on the move, it’s hard to even get him to sit down for an interview.

When Fraser does sit down, he is reluctant to wax lyrical about his achievements, but it’s hard to deny his significant impact on, and shaping of, the luxury retirement sector. I wonder which aspect of his legacy he is most proud of, to which he replies: “For me, it’s having been instrumental in raising the bar for luxury retirement living, and creating spaces where people can enjoy the highest standards of comfort, service and lifestyle. It’s all been about giving people the freedom to truly live well.” I comment he already has such a peg in the ground, so it’s intriguing as to what exactly it was about the concept of The Pitau that tempted him out of his brief retirement. He tells me: “It was really the opportunity to push the boundaries of what a luxury retirement village can be. I knew it would be something extraordinary in both design and lifestyle.”

Was it, I wonder, an idea that had been bubbling away for years, or was it simply circumstantial as the location presented itself? “I’ve always believed that people who have worked hard their whole lives deserve something truly exceptional. When this prime location became available, it was the perfect opportunity to create something that sets a new benchmark for luxury and excellence. Now, people who never would have considered a traditional retirement village are considering The Pitau”.

While The Pitau is an ambitious and prestigious venture, it is not out of character for Fraser to be ‘thinking big’. His visionary approach was apparent from the start when he embarked upon his first retirement village in Ōmokoroa, bucking the trend of the time when it was believed that retirement living needed to be centrally located. Conversely, when he did go into the city, he initiated industry change by developing at height in the Avenues. Taking his ‘out-of-the-box’ approach to Queenstown, he spearheaded development on Ladies Mile where he established a country club and built a hospital. Fraser’s trademark is rolling out projects that present with challenges. Over the years his undertakings have been diverse – from retirement villages and residential subdivisions, to specialist medical facilities, and hospitality to retail – however, the common thread is the uncompromising commitment to quality that remains steadfast. Fraser firmly believes that quality pays dividends in the long-term, and for him there is no budging on delivering the highest calibre product.

There seems to be a genuine passion for helping people in the retirement space. A question Fraser says he asks himself about every undertaking is, “Is this somewhere we want to spend our twilight years, or, is this a place we want our children to spend their formative years?” It’s clear an impetus for Fraser is creating an environment where people who have worked hard their whole lives can relax and enjoy the next phase.

With retirement villages now offering resort-like facilities, I imagine the concept is very different from how it was 40 years ago. Has there been a shift, I wonder, on when people feel ready to move to the ‘golden years’ of relaxation? “Absolutely. It’s no longer about slowing down – it’s about upgrading your lifestyle. People are moving in earlier, not because they have to, but because they want to enjoy everything a luxury community has to offer while they’re active and independent. It’s a shift from necessity to choice.”

Despite the allure of the wonderful quality of surroundings, luxurious facilities and stunning landscaping that all make up the core of any project under the Sanderson Group, Fraser still must come across many people who just aren’t sure if this next step is the right one for them. What, I wonder, would he say to people who are teetering on the edge of the unknown next stage? “I’d say, don’t wait until you have to move - move while you can truly enjoy it. This isn’t about giving anything up; it’s about gaining more – more freedom, more connection and more time to focus on what really matters. The sooner you step into this next phase, the more rewarding it becomes.” And with that, it’s beginning to feel as though there’s no such thing as too soon.

Introducing

The Pitau

Mount Maunganui’s five-star lifestyle retirement
offering promises uncompromising luxury.

words NICKY ADAMS | photos SUPPLIED

A welcoming and cosy guest lobby space.

When Fraser backtracked on his well-deserved retirement plan, it was because he couldn’t pass on the opportunity to create something totally unique. The Pitau was born of a desire to take luxury to new heights – quite literally.

A unique multi-level triple tower design, the outlook across the mesmerising beauty of the twinkling Pacific Ocean naturally is spectacular. But plonking an architectural wonder in a stunning location and simply signing off is not Fraser’s style. For him the devil is in the detail; the layout of the building has been designed to maximise both sunlight and views, the high room stud, thoughtful indoor/outdoor flow and optimised privacy all tie together seamlessly. The architectural mastery is apparent; curved edges and the neutral palette leans to an elevated aesthetic combining form and function. Investing in exceptional landscaping is part of the charm of Sanderson Group developments, so it’s no surprise to see the balcony edges are green planted – softening the form of the building and factoring in the need for foliage.

While the architecture is exceptional, both the exterior (which incidentally is clad in beautiful Travertine tiles imported from Turkey) and interiors are a work of art. It’s obvious that no expense has been spared to create homes that Fraser and Donna would want to – and be proud to - live in themselves; so it stands to reason that they have already earmarked an apartment for their own ‘golden years’. The apartments themselves vary in size and configuration, and the inclusion of a dedicated care facility with Memory Care and hospital-level care suites ensure that future additional medical needs can be met. It's hard not to get excited when you look through the spec – which in many ways feels more as though you’re flicking through the details of the most exclusive five-star-plus resort. Tasteful opulence at every turn you might say.

Then there are the lifestyle opportunities. If you’ve ever been through a Sanderson Group retirement village, you’ll be aware that the facilities are the lynchpin of luxury living, and The Pitau takes this premise to a whole new level. The facilities alone will make most people – myself included – stop in their tracks. There is, frankly, what feels like acres of premium amenity space; all created with the understanding that, firstly, the residents will be in their prime ‘post work’ years, and secondly, life within the building as a whole should feel like a continuation of the luxury of their apartment living. A massive swimming pool, expansive high-tech gym, yoga studio, sauna and spa will all be part of the active offerings.

Luxurious penthouse bedroom in the Rockpools interior scheme.

If you want time out, then there is a boutique cinema and library; if you feel like pampering, then head to the salon. If a billiards room sounds appealing, then take a breath and visit the Wine and Whisky Bar; oh and of course there are multiple café and restaurant areas.

This is not a traditional retirement plan, instead it is a five-star lifestyle offering – and it is here that The Pitau is elevated into a league of its own. Managing to be swanky without crossing the line to ostentatious, there is a huge main lobby area that opens into an internal courtyard, complete with water feature and reflection pond for just the right amount of Zen. A resident concierge service is available, because this really is a time of life when you deserve to delegate your life admin, and even better, there’s a chauffeur service on hand to whizz guests to the Golf Course, the airport or just to run errands. Those that like a little more independence can dip into the complimentary fleet of e-vehicles or borrow an e-bike if they have had one too many at the Whisky Bar.

A striking architectural view from Pitau Road.

Operating at a unique level unseen in New Zealand, The Pitau brings an international flavour. Many aspects were the result of endless research into what was missing from the premium retirement sector, not just in New Zealand, but globally. It’s fair to say that this concept will be market leading on completion. There really couldn’t be a more perfect location than the Mount. As Kiwis, we flock here, and it’s well known internationally as an incredible coastal location.

Naturally this level of living comes at a price, and with this, intended residents are putting a huge amount of trust into the Sanderson Group. A proven track record goes a long way, and additional reassurance is provided by the way the Group operates. Unusually for this type of development, the Sanderson Group controls all the main aspects of the build, with an internal team in place for everything from the architects to the civil earthworks and internal joinery. By acting as the main contractor, Fraser and his team are afforded greater control over quality and delivery.

This really does back up the realisation that nothing is accidental with Fraser. The Sanderson Group is based around the premise of delivering on the promise of uncompromising luxury, quality and good living.

Every single aspect of any development undertaken has been considered in micro detail, so the perception of unparalleled comfort is not just an illusion, the evidence is there to back it up. As Fraser said, when it comes to this type of lifestyle change “People are moving in, not because they have to, but because they want to.”

Completion dates:

Tower 1 – December 2026

Tower 2 – December 2028

Tower 3 (Care) – December 2029

To view, visit:

227 Maunganui Road

Mount Maunganui

Bay of Plenty

THEPITAU.CO.NZ

More than skin deep

Anna Hayes from Skinvae might be new in town, but she’s an expert in her field – and knows how to build a successful business from the ground up.

words DEBBIE GRIFFITHS | photos KATIE COX

Anna Hayes.

It’s common knowledge that the sun causes skin damage, but did you know modern phones also contribute to premature aging? Anna Hayes does – and with 18 years specialising in skincare, pearls of wisdom like that are common when chatting with the founder of successful brand, Skinvae.

“I’ve been in beauty since I was fresh out of school,” she says. “I grew up in Te Kuiti, studied in Hamilton when I was 18, and by 19 I had opened my first business. Before that, I worked for one other business for six months and that was Mount Skin and Body.”

It’s a full circle moment, with Anna recently adding that clinic to her string of businesses alongside Taupo and Cambridge. Recently she took over SELF_ in Mount Maunganui and rebranded it as Skinvae.

“It was a little nerve-wracking taking over the Mount clinic,” she admits. “My other two I started from scratch and picked my teams, but this was established and already doing well. When I told the girls what was happening it was great because they’d heard of my brand and were super excited to get our technology into their clinic. We put an emphasis on training, so the girls are upskilling weekly, which adds to their already huge knowledge.”

To say Anna has grit and determination is putting it lightly. A mum of two and Crossfit enthusiast, the 37-year-old entrepreneur rarely has downtime and loves it that way.

“I’ve grown up very driven in sport, representing New Zealand in triathlon for a few years, so I trained hard and worked hard. I had two jobs from the age of 14. My dad and my sister both had their own businesses, so could see that’s what I wanted to do too. I also like to call the shots; to be able to provide the treatments I want and to make sure I’m ahead of the game when it comes to trends and machinery.”

Skinvae in Mount Maunganui.

Anna makes no apology for focussing on skin – in fact, she takes great pride in being the ‘go-to skin clinic’ for her clients.

“We launched the Skinvae brand in Cambridge 11 years ago and that’s when we started specialising in skin. I love to see results and to take clients on a skin journey, particularly for people looking for non-surgical, non-injectable options,” she says. “We use DMK, Nimue and Pure Fiji, which have some amazing treatments. With skin, it’s never a one-session fix – especially with acne and pigmentation which can look worse before they get better – so we recommend clients sign up for a six-month plan to see real change.”

It’s more than skin, though, it’s the sense of connection, calm and confidence that’s infused during treatments.

“We have a lot of mums who come for the experience and it’s almost as though great skin is just an added bonus,” laughs Anna. “We like to educate about the importance of home care. Mums are often running around like headless chickens after everyone else, so their own ritual in the morning and night allows them to take a moment for themselves.”

Skinvae is at the forefront of innovation, attracting clients looking for cutting-edge solutions. Anna describes a new stem cell treatment from DMK, Stemzyme, as ‘revolutionary’ and says there’s been a big demand recently for body sculpting and tightening options.

“They call HIFU (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) the non-surgical facelift,” she explains. “As we age, we lose fat in our cheeks and our face drops. HIFU is a great alternative to Botox or fillers on either the brow or jawline, and you can use it on any part of your body – loose skin on your tummy, arms, or legs. It uses ultrasound energy to penetrate deep into the skin to tighten. It doesn’t get rid of fat, but it does work on the muscle and to stimulate collagen and elastin. You see instant results, but it takes three months to see the full effect.”

Anna urges teenagers, in particular, not to take advice from social media, which may result in them using products like Retinol that are too strong and could eat away at their skin barrier.

And her number one skincare tip?

“Use sunblock,” she says, without hesitating. “Our sun is horrific. If you’re going to buy one product, get a good SPF and make it one that also protects against blue light from phones and computer screens. We see a lot of people with more pigmentation and crepey skin on the side of their face they hold their phone up to. Even if you work in an office, wear sunscreen every day.”

After almost two decades in the industry, Anna knows that 80 percent of skincare results come from what people do at home and their professional treatments simply provide the extra 20 percent that push it further. With that in mind, her vision is to expand her chain of beauty clinics.

“We’re ready to be the number one brand for skin in New Zealand, but all I can say right now is watch this space.”

SKINVAE.CO.NZ

It’s all Goode in the hood

Auckland’s popular gastropub Goode Brothers has left the nest to land in Bethlehem. UNO pops in to see what makes it so special.

Goode Brothers has always been about family. It’s right there in the name. Across its four locations in Auckland, the popular gastropub has been a place where you can be equally comfortable having a meal with your loved ones or a night out with your family or friends.

This is why UNO was excited to hear that Goode Brothers had not only welcomed a new addition to their family but that it had also left the Auckland nest.

“We’re super excited to be part of the Bethlehem community,” Jamie Freeman, Goode Brothers’ head of operations enthuses from the freshly opened venue. “We believe Goode Brothers “There’s space for everyone here,” Jamie smiles.

The spot, which was once just a glint in the eye of Goode Brothers’ expansion plans, certainly makes a lasting impression. So much so that it’s already proving itself a welcome addition to the local community’s dining scene.

“It’s really great here,” Jamie continues. “The location is prime, right in the hub of Bethlehem, and this area has so much potential. We believe it aligns perfectly with what we do.”

It’s a busy Saturday afternoon and the buzz is palpable. The bar staff are working the impressive selection of tap beers, which offers both premium and craft, and the sizzle from the open has the potential to become a local favourite, and we're already seeing how the community vibe is shaping up.”

Situated on a prime corner spot in Bethlehem Town Centre, Goode Brothers is hard to miss and ready to welcome you in with open arms. Once inside, it’s spacious and inviting. Like its Auckland siblings, the space has been carefully designed into subtle sections that allow for versatility. You can make yourself at home hosting a family celebration in one of the large booths, enjoy a meal out at one of the stylish dining tables (that along with traditional condiments also comes complete with a pot of fresh basil) or just pop in for a casual drink and a catch-up at one of the high-top areas.

“There’s space for everyone here,” Jamie smiles. The spot, which was once just a glint in the eye of Goode Brothers’ expansion plans, certainly makes a lasting impression. So much so that it’s already proving itself a welcome addition to the local community’s dining scene.

“It’s really great here,” Jamie continues. “The location is prime, right in the hub of Bethlehem, and this area has so much potential. We believe it aligns perfectly with what we do.”

It’s a busy Saturday afternoon and the buzz is palpable. The bar staff are working the impressive selection of tap beers, which offers both premium and craft, and the sizzle from the open kitchen is sending out incredibly enticing aromas along with the fresh, Kiwi-Italian-inspired favourites that make up the menu.

Along with traditional favourites like pizzas, pasta, fish n’ chips and burgers, all freshly prepared from quality ingredients, Jamie is particularly proud of the fun elements that are woven into the dining experience.

“Our food is ideal for those seeking a casually elevated dining experience,” he says, citing their hero dishes like the Pork and Wagyu Brisket Meatballs. This showstopping dish offers a touch of drama by being lit with flames as it’s served. Another dish we’re dying to try is the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe, which is also served flaming, only not from a plate. Instead, it is served at your table from an absolute behemoth of a parmesan wheel.

But it’s not all about the theatrics. Goode Brothers prides itself on its fresh, handmade pasta.

“Everything here is handmade from scratch,” Jamie says. “We have a pasta machine on-site.”

You can even have a go at it yourself by attending one of their famous pasta-making classes. These are held in a private room with the adult classes offering a fun evening out, and you get to leave with your own little bundle of freshly made pasta, while the school holiday kids’ classes teach them how to make their own pizzas.

“It’s something different. You can come down with your partner, have a glass of wine or prosecco and enjoy that,” Jamie says. “I think people are looking for experiences as well as good food. We want our customers to have fun with food. It’s about fresh, modern, and exciting dining, yet still grounded in the Kiwi classics.”

The jewel in the crown of the new gastropub has to be its large outdoor area. Equipped with a playground to keep the kids busy, the large deck offers plenty of seating, perfect for sunny afternoons and evenings.

And on big sporting occasions there’s plenty of screens inside and out for catching the big game. The secret ingredient in the sauce is this flexibility. Goode Brothers want to bring people together, whether that’s an intimate couple on date night, family celebrating a milestone, mates popping in for an after work drink or a group of friends on a night out, they’ll all find a home at Goode Brothers.

“We’re trying to offer something for everyone here,” Jamie smiles. “It’s all about creating that sense of togetherness.”

GOODEBROTHERSBETHLEHEM.CO.NZ

Celebrate the Eastern Bay

If stunning scenery and sun-filled days aren’t enough to draw you to Whakatāne and Ōhope this autumn, event season certainly will – and there are plenty to choose from.

Flavours of Plenty events

Scales and Ale’s
Saturday, April 5

An evening of exceptional flavours at Fisherman’s Wharf. Indulge in a four-course dinner, each course paired with craft beers sourced from the region. Enjoy delicious, locally grown produce while taking in the stunning harbour views. This event is a must for beer lovers and foodies, offering a fusion of taste and ambiance. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable culinary experience, showcasing local brews and seasonal ingredients.

Tamariki Foodie Fair
Saturday, April 5

Treat your youngsters to a day of delight at the Tamariki Foodie Fair – the ultimate foodie event for children, offering fun, sensory experiences such as blind tasting, nut cracking, face painting, stilt walkers and food demonstrations for kids by kids. Food trucks will be there to serve kids’ favourite treats throughout the day at Wharfside overlooking Ōhiwa Harbour. Treat your Tamariki to a day of delight – the perfect day out for families. Free entry ensures everyone can join in, with delicious treats and selected activities for purchase.

Late Summer Farm Kitchen
Saturday, April 5

A unique farm-to-table experience celebrating the joy of cooking, sharing and savouring local produce. Set on a beautiful family farm with expansive gardens and a hand-built barn, this long summer lunch is part workshop, part cooking class, and part indulgent feast. Guests will enjoy a hands-on experience before sitting down to a long, leisurely lunch built around the best seasonal produce the farm has to offer. Whether a seasoned cook or a beginner, there’s the option to get involved or simply relax with a glass of wine and soak up the rural charm while enjoying great food, local wines, and warm hospitality.

Discover Wainui's Food Secrets Tour
Saturday, April 12

Join this exclusive food tour through Wainui, where you’ll explore the region’s best-kept edible secrets. It will take you to five carefully selected stops, each with its own remarkable story. From the oyster farms of Ōhiwa Harbour, where cultural significance meets sustainable farming, to the unlikely truffle success story, the journey unfolds as you meet local producers and taste their creations.

A Taste of Wainui Marketplace
Saturday, April 12

Celebrate the first-ever Wainui Producers Market, held in the picturesque Waingarara Valley. This free, family-friendly event showcases the region’s best food producers, offering fresh oysters and organic produce to truffles, olives, honey, macadamia nuts, berries, ice cream and wood-fired pizza. A licensed bar will be available for beer and wine purchases, while live entertainment adds to the fun atmosphere. Enjoy lunch, shop, and discover unique local produce in this scenic, community-focused event.

Cray Tails and Cocktails
Saturday, April 12

Enjoy four delicious crayfish dishes, each paired with a cocktail, all served in a laid-back atmosphere at Fisherman’s Wharf. With local produce, stunning waterfront views, and a relaxed vibe, this evening is all about indulging in tasty food and having fun. Whether you're a seafood fan or just looking for a casual night out, this event is one you won't want to miss.

To purchase tickets to any of these events, visit:

FLAVOURSOFPLENTYFESTIVAL.COM

Retail paradise

If you make a weekend of it, be sure to save time for some retail therapy. Whakatāne and Ōhope have a selection of beautiful boutiques, featuring well-loved national and international brands.

Whakatāne

Whakatāne’s CBD has come of age in recent years. The attractive and bustling town centre makes it easy to roam with a range of boutique shops. After some retail therapy, soak up the plentiful sunshine at one of the outdoor eateries. Veer off the main drag and you’ll also find a few hidden gems.

TOP PICKS

Him.Her

Tomorrow Store

Presentables

The Good Life

Tūī Aotearoa

Rosita's

Ōhope

Although it can be hard to drag yourself away from the waves of New Zealand’s most-loved beach, it’s worth taking a pit-stop at Ōhope Village to enjoy the laid-back shopping scene. Distinct and 4Artsake both offer beautiful giftware, art, clothing and accessories.

Make your bed

George Street Linen is one of those rare retail gems that is a delight to discover. Browse the ultimate selection of New Zealand-designed premium bed linen and bedding in a charming, light-filled store, abundantly stocked with inspirational textiles, home fragrances, and giftware. Their knowledgeable, friendly team prides themselves on hands-on service and passion for the brand.

110 The Strand
GEORGESTREETLINEN.COM

Style by design

Stocking top New Zealand and international labels – Deadly Ponies, Kathryn Wilson, NYNE, Elk, Lolly's Laundry, Zoe Kratzmann, Briarwood and POM Amsterdam among them – Capiz is centrally located in the heart of the shopping precinct. Its carefully curated range has made it Whakatāne’s boutique destination of choice for designer fashion, footwear, handbags and accessories.

156 The Strand
CAPIZ.CO.NZ

Other events

West End Wiggle 2025
Friday, April 11 – Sunday April 13

A traditional longboard festival presented by Salt Air Surf, this weekend includes lots of surf, art and music. This will be the event’s sixth year running.

Farming Like Grandad & Country Fair
Saturday, April 12

Experience farming as it used to be. Clydesdale horses, sheep shearing, farm animals, tractors, and farm machinery, food, music and much more for a fun day out for the whole family.

Ōhiwa Oyster Festival
Saturday, May 17

Don't miss out on this unforgettable celebration of oysters and local culture at Wharfside Ōhope. The opening ceremony will blend oyster appreciation with cultural celebration. Savour mouthwatering oysters, explore local food stalls, and groove to live entertainment from 12pm to 4pm.

Local roots to global rise

The Bay of Plenty is home to some incredible examples of entrepreneurs
who have backed themselves and taken a concept or product to global scale. We talk to three local businesses at different stages of their life cycle – one that has been established for nearly 19 years, one nine and one three. All prove without a doubt that the best way to do it is ‘to do it’.

words NICKY ADAMS | photography  GRAEME MURRAY
hair + make-up DESIREE OSTERMAN styling LILIA CASS

Lara Henderson from Pure Mama.

Great expectations

Lara Henderson, co-founder of Pure Mama, knew from the outset she wanted her brand to go global. Picking a name for her product that would resonate with customers internationally, and taking the plunge by paying over the odds for a .com domain name, the intent was always to take her Pure Mama brand to New Zealand and beyond.

With products that have taken the pregnancy world by storm since their inception three years ago, meeting Lara very quickly dispels any notion that this was an accidental success. I must admit I was curious how these beauty products had gained such traction. Within three short years they’ve gone from being packed in Lara’s front room to being launched in the holy grail of markets, the United States. 

In person Lara is warm, friendly and inspirational in a very matter of fact way. She can systematically break down her strategy, while giving kudos to her team and strong family support, and lets it be known that she is happy to share what she has learnt from her journey with others. Lara came from a corporate background, where after completing a marketing and commercial law degree she had forged a successful career in the advertising and marketing world. She fell pregnant in 2019 and during this time a germ of an idea sprouted. 

“I went down this journey of looking for new skincare because there’s a lot of things you need to change when you’re pregnant… I questioned why there wasn’t a product out there for the modern conscious consumer that values high integrity of products but still loves beautiful packaging and refined design.” 

The quest continued after the baby was born. “I was looking for something to support my breastfeeding journey – and I couldn’t find anything natural I could use on my skin. I had this idea for a range of products to support women on their pregnancy or post-partum journey. I started doing research and I ran an online survey of about 700 women. The further I dug into it the more I discovered there was an opportunity in the market.” 

Ten months post-partum she went for a meeting with an old colleague and mentor. He listened to her idea and saw the potential. “He really gave me the confidence to push go.”

Two years of product development and packaging design research followed before coming to the market in 2021 with three product lines (SKUs): Belly Oil, Bump Scrub and Nipple Butter, and a gift set. I noted it was intriguing how Lara had navigated the world of skincare, when it wasn’t an area she was familiar with. “I didn’t realise but there are amazing manufacturers in New Zealand that can produce skincare, so I pitched my concept to one of the leading laboratories here. For them to take you on as a client they have to believe in your potential as a business. I took my formulations on what I would like to have in it, which became my core ingredients. I’d researched every single ingredient and every single competitor product, and then worked with an advanced skincare chemist to bring a product to market that has stability for three years and with ingredients that all work together.”

The process of bringing the product to market was a learning curve; there was the science behind the product, as well as the slow and arduous task of getting everything absolutely perfect. Add to this the cost – estimated at about $120,000 to get to this stage, and, Lara points out, “I had to really believe in it.” Lara has a surety about her which gives her real gravitas. Despite her conviction in her product, launch day was, she says, “terrifying”. Here she had experience to draw on though. “Turning on the website was where my digital marketing came in – I understood the consumer journey.” 

Lara Henderson from Pure Mama.

Going live in May 2021, the minimum order to start manufacturing was around 2,000 units per SKU. Within three months the Belly Oil had sold out, with the other products also performing incredibly well. This, she says, “gave me a clear indication of proof of concept – there was a market need out there and the product was good enough to sell (we haven’t changed our formulation since day dot).”

The first 12 months in New Zealand were really promising, and, says Lara, “I’d looked at New Zealand, Australia, as well as the US and the competitive landscape across all of those markets. And I still felt strongly that we had a positioning in there – that was always my intention – but to get that proof of concept in a test market like New Zealand is amazing.”

With the success of the product followed a gradual expansion of the team, which now numbers at five. Maggie was first on board in October ‘21 to support with sales and partnerships, Lara’s sister Yasmin who had been integral since the offset during the company conception officially came on board as a partner and full time in September ‘23. With her came high-level expertise in corporate finance. The team are all in accord, with the ability to have honest, frank dialogue and respecting each other’s opinions. Lara believes, “One of our strengths as a team is that we adapt and change really quickly to help optimise us as a business.” 

While the original formulation hasn’t changed, the pursuit of perfection continues with constant tweaks to the packaging (which it is obvious Lara is passionate about), and the addition of gift sets and Magnesium Body Rub. Ten new launches are dropping in 2024/5, which the loyal Pure Mama community will all be waiting for expectantly. The social community of 48,000, Lara says, is something she really values, and she personally responds to the direct messages which fly around with questions about quality, performance and general queries. The connection with her people has been loyally rewarded – back in August 2023 word got out that Kourtney Kardashian was looking for recommendations for clean body care recommendations for pregnancy. Lara asked her community to support her, and they did. In addition, “we were able to get products to Kourtney through numerous different channels.” Lara waited in anticipation, but heard nothing. “Then Kourtney had her baby and an article came out around what she packed in her hospital bag, and our Nipple Butter was featured – and then another article came out about her pregnancy skincare regime and all three of our other products were there. What I love about Kourtney Kardashian is that she’s so conscious about her skincare. She looks at every ingredient, she checks with everybody about what she puts on her skin – so for all four products to be recommended by her is absolute gold for a business like ours.”

Despite the fleeting euphoria, Lara is a pragmatist. “It’s a moment in time, and you’ve got to take those wins and go ‘what am I doing next?’ I’m not particularly great at celebrating the achievements. I often look at opportunities it opens and then ask, ‘what's next?’”

It’s very clear though that the wins come down to strategy, rather than lucky breaks. Lara and the team have worked hard at not just producing a premium product, but at ensuring it has exposure to the right audience. Despite over two hundred requests from potential retailers in the first two years, from the outset she had her eyes set on MECCA, a premium beauty retailer with global recognition, and Pure Mama launched with them in July ‘23. Although it was put into a test category, the products have outperformed all expectations.

There are no current plans to vastly diversify, as Lara points out: “We’ve got a consumer for a limited amount of time – we’re very niche but our potential is huge. We want to be the best at what we do and we want to offer the safest highest grade products for the pregnancy and postpartum journey.”

With business booming Lara is amping up for the next challenge. For the last 12-18 months she has been working her way into the United States, where they’ve secured Macy’s, Nordstrom, Revolve and Erewhon (the cool kids’ upmarket store of choice in California). Manufacturing will continue in New Zealand, and Lara is confident in their ability to upscale. Nevertheless, it’s terrifying and exciting all at once; scale, logistics and funding all have to be considered – production is being upped at a vast rate, and myriad international rules and regulations will be navigated. 

Pure Mama’s New Zealand office and warehouse remain in Pāpāmoa, where packages continue to whizz out at lightning speed. They also now have warehousing in Melbourne and California to service international markets. As a final feather in the cap, the clinical trials have just finished in Europe, with amazing results, proving the products work – stretch marks disappear and the skin is deeply hydrated. I wonder again at Lara’s linear path and her unwavering belief in her product, which comes without a trace of arrogance or delusion. Apparently she listened to a lot of podcasts in her downtime. 

Says Lara: “When you start thinking about going global and accessing these networks, nothing is impossible and we’ve worked hard to build our business strategy around making sure all of that is within reach.”

Sam Kidd from LawVu.

Wonder Kidd

Under the careers opportunities section of the LawVu website, potential applicants are asked if they bring the WOO. What is woo, I wonder. But when I meet with co-founder Sam Kidd it becomes pretty clear what kind of WOO you need to join the team. 

Sam and co-founder Tim Boyne created LawVu; a software platform that was created to revolutionise the way that in-house legal teams in organisations run their systems. It is, Sam explains, “a productivity and management tool for corporate legal… For us, LawVu is built around how internal legal teams like corporates collaborate with each other, and also with the wider business and how they manage their work product.”

The software platform has made waves on a global scale, placing ninth in Deloitte’s Fast 50 Index of 2022, to date raising about NZ$55million and with a team of around 130 worldwide. Any pre-conceptions about the type of person behind a techy concept are quickly dispelled on meeting Sam, who is gregarious and engaging. Sam, who was born and raised in New Zealand before spending 25 years in Ireland, moved to Tauranga in 2013, where he became interested in the concept of creating something for what he saw as an open space. He had started digging around in the in-house legal arena mainly out of curiosity after having identified a lack of systems and processes. “It was trying to solve a gap, and one thing led to another… It wasn’t like we woke up and saw a massive hole in the market.” 

Sam was introduced to Tim via a work colleague. While Sam had a background in online project management, Tim was working in a law firm, but on the business operational side. “We worked solidly together for seven years (Tim moved onto new projects two years ago). The conversations that we had were very quickly aligned
on what we wanted to do and we both had the mindset of cracking on and getting stuff done – and it was a partnership that worked incredibly well.”

From inception, the plan was always to go global with the product. “It was a greenfields opportunity when we moved into it,” says Sam. “There were no real products doing what we did, which was both exciting and terrifying. We questioned whether it was just a really bad idea that no one wanted. At the start we were trying to sell the concept of doing things differently to a group of people (lawyers) who haven’t changed the process for 100 odd years. It’s been a journey to become an overnight success – we’re nine years in – the first three years were pretty lonely building the product with a handful of customers and early users. There were always things that kept us going but we didn’t hit the ground and just explode.”

Yet the pair never questioned their ambitions when it came to taking it overseas, with very much an all-in attitude from day one. I wondered why they hadn’t started with a more tentative approach. “If you build things for a New Zealand market thinking, ‘once we get this right, we can go global’, without realising it you can build nuances into your product that really only suit a smaller market. You need to get off the island as fast as possible. And you don’t need the same sort of war chest that you used to because before you had to have people on the ground – an office, a building − all of those sorts of barriers have been removed.”

Sam was undoubtedly forward thinking from the get-go, having previous experience of working remotely stood him in good stead. “When we started LawVu we were doing remote working before it became a thing. We’ve got customers through Australia, US, UK and Europe. Covid was an unlock – as horrible as that was for the world, I think it’s been a massive net positive for New Zealand-based companies because the whole idea of not having to be in market, or remote selling, has taken off. We were already building that muscle so when Covid hit it didn’t slow us down – it actually accelerated us because people weren’t comparing us to a sales team that could come in and meet them. I think it’s been such a good thing for Kiwi companies because we’ve got such great talent here and the world is getting smaller all the time. So, building product and building it with a global mindset from day one made a huge difference.”

Be under no illusion that the path was paved with gold from the outset – the sweat, toil and dollars were pumped in from the get-go. “A local investor seeded the first $100,000 in and I matched that, which got us going and then he and I funded it – I was five years with no salary. Then we kept putting money in. You don’t want to fail at that stage. I’ve always believed in never having a plan B. Plan A has to work. It keeps you motivated.”

Despite reservations initially that perhaps law was an unfamiliar space, Sam believes in some ways it helped him ask and solve different questions, in different ways. Another aspect of the business he has strived to change is to foster a sense of community and knowledge sharing among the lawyers working away in the corporates, through InView. This is both an online forum, and in magazine form where ‘unsung heroes’ are given space and elevated.

Ultimately, Sam points out, the shift in the very traditional industry of law was one that needed to happen. “The younger generation come in and they’re digital natives... so for them to step into an industry that doesn’t have a platform would be weird.” He emphasised that being a changemaker is not all glamour, in fact it’s very much grind, but the result is gratifying, and Sam intends to carry on growing, expanding and enjoying the satisfaction of making a difference and generally pushing forward. “It definitely feels surreal having LawVu folks representing at events all over the world – it’s humbling and exciting… and it’s hard to believe it started from here. It’s quite cool to see.”

Lisa Ebbing from HotMilk.

Hot stuff

Lisa Ebbing is very low key when it comes to her hold-on-to-your-seat success. Despite the phenomenal achievements of Hotmilk, the lingerie business she started in 2005 with her husband Roly and business partner at the time Ange Crosby, she is incredibly understated when talking about how far they’ve come. Achievements have been racked up on a global scale, including the dizzying heights of last year being taken on by American lingerie behemoth Victoria’s Secret. 

When Lisa and Roly moved to the Bay they had already made the decision to start a business: the product they landed on was almost obscure – indeed, a niche within a niche. Hotmilk is a lingerie line for pregnant, breast-feeding and post-partum women, but with a luxurious fashion-forward focus. The need for underwear that was more than simply functional was a gap in the market that the couple quickly identified after Lisa became pregnant with her first baby and couldn’t find nursing bras. Despite not having a directly relevant skillset, between them they had a solid background in photography, TV and film – and their business partner at the time had also been working in sales. “So we had the sales and marketing expertise to bring to it. We didn’t know anything about lingerie: my husband actually sewed the first few prototypes to see what was possible, so that was a steep learning curve.”

Navigating a totally unknown market meant a massive amount of research needed to be done. Lisa reflects on the drive of those early days. “We travelled, studied up on samples, went to China, worked with factories, saw products that we liked, and figured out how we could improve them.” The next step was rolling out the product itself, which meant finding the right people. “It took quite a while to get the expertise, to find the seamstresses that had the right equipment – then getting prototypes ready and then be big enough to go to China, which probably took a year. And then you really do have access to great technology. It is possible to make them in New Zealand but there are no machinests left here, so our only choice was to work with China, who are experts in lingerie. You can tap into amazing resources and work with some very skilled people… We would have loved to have kept
it in New Zealand but there’s not even the equipment to keep it here, sadly.”

Having landed on a product with a limited target market, it was always clear that a global market was going to be necessary, but self-belief gave them the confidence to propel forward, initially starting with four core products of bras and matching underwear. “We’d done research on the size of the New Zealand market and realised we needed to go overseas quickly. So, it was pretty much within the year we were in Australia and headed to the UK.” 

The factories themselves demanded large volume orders (2,000 bras in one colour), which also forced them offshore from the early stages. Luckily the rest of the world had also neglected this corner of the market, underestimating a demand for lovely lingerie during and post pregnancy, so Hot Milk found itself warmly welcomed in all corners of the globe. “There was no competition really. All the big companies had a token nursing bra on the side that they put very little effort into. That was the same globally – it was very beige and grandma’s bra.” Lisa pauses to reflect, and acknowledges, modestly, “I’m still very proud of that – we definitely changed the landscape for nursing lingerie. Now there’s lots of competitors, but we were the first, and we’ve changed the experience for women worldwide now.”

With New Zealand only taking about 10 percent of the market, and Australia around 40 percent, the other 50 percent is global. At one point peaking with as many as 800 retailers, Hot Milk is able to boast the crème de la crème of stores in which its lingerie can be found. From the undisputed underwear queen of Marks and Spencer in the UK, as well as the prestigious John Lewis, there is Bravissimo, David Jones in Australia and now Victoria’s Secret. With this American juggernaut comes a vast customer base: “They’ve sent emails with our product to 70 million people.” The relationship works both ways though. “Victoria’s Secret really understand what we’re trying to achieve, and the inclusivity and the diversity that our brand offers,” says Lisa. “It’s been really exciting to be chosen for that. While they do their own – they’re really good at a certain size range and style − we fill the gaps of their expertise.” 

Diversity is clearly something Lisa is passionate about, and certainly her faith in its value has been validated.

It hasn’t, however, all been smooth sailing. The GFC needed strategic navigation. “Our niche was that we were sexy and beautiful so very fashion forward, then when the GFC hit we realised what happens in a financial crisis is that women can’t afford nice underwear or feel like they shouldn’t treat themselves. But they do know they need the basics so they will buy a black or a nude plain T-shirt bra. We did have to adapt and bring in our essentials range, which is more staples as well, to sit alongside our fashion… You can see it post Covid where people are returning back to the basics. Black and nude and plain are what sells through a financial crisis and when things start to get better people start to treat themselves again.”

Already set up online, Covid wasn’t the disaster it could have been, so while competitors were scrambling, Hotmilk actually had some of its best financial years. Says Lisa: “We found we could adapt between different markets or online or wholesale.” At this time Lisa brought out her partner and has subsequently entered a refreshed phase, which has led to doubling her team. “Since Covid we’ve decided we’re going to stick with and focus on what we do well,” she continues. “It’s better for our brand to stay close to lingerie… We are still a small team competing against really major players. Nevertheless, we’ve got some exciting things we’re working on that will see us become a bigger player… We’ve definitely got a growth strategy but it’s in its infancy.”

Ultimately, it wasn’t just good fortune that led to this success – quality and the inclusivity factor, which had been hitherto largely forgotten, played a huge part.
On a final note, I ask what advice Lisa would offer to others. “In the Bay there are some amazing advisors who want to help − and I probably should have put my hand up earlier and asked for advice, because there’s a lot of trial and error.

“I always used to say − everyone has great business ideas but it’s the people who follow through that actually make it.” 

Cool, crisp & crafted

These fun festive cocktails are sure to impress guests this holiday season. Refreshing, delicious and light, they’ll be on rotation all summer long.

cocktails KIRKY DONNELLY | photos ILK PHOTOGRAPHY

Dark coconut mojito

Dark coconut mojito

Enjoy this crisp cocktail on a hot summer’s afternoon.

MAKES 2 cocktails

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp simple syrup

10+ fresh mint leaves (plus extra for garnish)

3-4 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

5 cucumber slices

60ml Millenhall Rum 

120ml coconut water

Soda water, to top

Garnishes

Fresh mint leaves

Lime wedges

Cucumber ribbons (use a vegetable peeler)

METHOD

Juice the lime, then cut the remaining lime halves into wedges. Set aside half for garnish and half for mixing.

Slice 5 cucumber rounds, and use a vegetable peeler to create thin ribbons of cucumber for garnish.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, fresh mint leaves, cucumber rounds, lime juice, and lime wedges. Gently muddle together to release the flavours.

Add ice to the shaker, then pour in the rum and coconut water. Secure the lid and shake well.

In two tall glasses, add ice, mint leaves, and the leftover lime wedges.

Use the cucumber ribbons to circle around the inside of each glass.

Strain the cocktail mixture into the prepared glasses, stirring gently to combine. Top off with soda water for a refreshing fizz.

Berry gin spritz

Berry gin spritz

This delightful berry-infused cocktail suits festive occasions,
but is also great year round.

MAKES 2 cocktails

INGREDIENTS

30ml simple syrup

10-12 fresh or frozen raspberries

1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

60ml Armada Premium Pink Gin

Tonic water, to top

Garnish

Fresh raspberries

Lime slices

METHOD

In a cocktail shaker, combine the simple syrup, raspberries, and lime juice. Muddle together to release the raspberry flavours.

Add the pink gin to the shaker, then fill with ice. Shake well.

If the mixture is too thick, remove the lid of the shaker and use a strainer to pour the cocktail into the glasses.

Create a beautiful gradient by pouring the mixture into two chilled glass flutes before adding the ice. Once the ice is in place, top with your choice of tonic water for a refreshing finish.

Garnish with fresh raspberries and a slice of lime.

Vanilla pear gin fizz

Liquid dessert, yes please! For a good-looking tipple, this sweet fizz
is super easy to put together.

MAKES 2 cocktails

INGREDIENTS

For the fresh pear juice

1 cup finely chopped ripe pear

⅔ cup cold water

1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves

2 tbsp lemon juice

Seeds from 2 vanilla pods

For the cocktail

120ml fresh pear juice

60ml Armada Premium Dry Gin 

30ml simple syrup

Prosecco, to top

Garnish

Fresh pear slices

Thyme sprigs

Leftover vanilla pods

METHOD

In a blender, combine the chopped pear, cold water, thyme leaves, lemon juice, and vanilla seeds. Blend until smooth.

Strain the pear purée through a fine mesh strainer to extract the juice. Chill the juice in the refrigerator until ready to use.

In a cocktail shaker, combine the chilled pear juice, simple syrup, and gin. Fill with ice and shake well.

In two glasses, add ice, a slice of pear, thyme sprigs, and your leftover vanilla pods for garnish. Divide the mixture evenly between the glasses and top off with Prosecco.

Sparkling cranberry Christmas

Cheers to Santa’s favourite festive drink.

MAKES 2 baubles

INGREDIENTS

1 cup cranberry juice

60ml Armada Premium Vodka

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

Prosecco, to top

Garnishes

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Frozen cranberries

METHOD

In a carafe filled with ice, combine the cranberry juice, vodka, and lime juice. Stir gently to mix the ingredients.

Using a funnel, pour the mixture into your Christmas baubles, filling them about three-quarters full, depending on the size.

In two glasses, add ice, a handful of frozen cranberries, and a sprig of rosemary for garnish.

When you’re ready to enjoy, pour the contents of the baubles into the prepared glasses and top with Prosecco for a festive fizz.

Follow @kirkymareedonnelly for more impressive cocktail recipes and inspiration.  

For whom the bell trolls

Tauranga’s surprising past and present connections to the ever-popular Troll Doll.

words KARL PUSCHMANN  |  photos ALAN GIBSON

Damian Sutton.

Once upon a time, Tauranga was filled with Trolls. Hundreds of thousands of them, in all shapes and sizes, with their outrageously coloured, spikey hair and perpetually cheerful grin. Trolls were everywhere. And then one day, they were not.

This is not a child’s fairytale. This is a cold hard fact. Because despite more than 50 years of sustained popularity, not a lot of people know that Troll Dolls used to be manufactured here in the Bay. 

“The New Zealand connection started down at Sulphur Point with the company K. Pasgaard Limited,” says Damian Sutton, Katikati local and one of Aotearoa’s biggest collectors of New Zealand manufactured Trolls. “Kristian Pasgaard, his wife and two children immigrated to New Zealand with their two sons in 1959. In 1960 they got the license from Trolls creator Thomas Dam in Denmark.”

The company was one of only four Troll Doll factories in the world. There was Dam’s original factory in Denmark, one each in America and the UK, and the factory in Tauranga. As well as fulfilling children’s Troll needs here, the company also sent them abroad. Sutton reckons around 80 per cent went to Australia, and there are news reports of shipments weighing two tonnes being shipped as far as Africa.

The ’60s and ’70s were a boom time for the company. But in the ’80s interest in the Trolls began to wane and the local factory pivoted their focus to things like tennis balls and sporting equipment and ending the Bay’s 30-year association with the beloved Trolls. 

Sutton says that amongst collectors, the Tauranga-made Trolls are prized. 

“There’s a whole lot of different things that New Zealand did that the other three factories didn’t,” he explains. “Due to vinyl shortages, we couldn’t always make the ‘normal’ ones, so that’s how the weird and wonderful colours came about. They made them in four colours. We’re the only factory in the world that did that. Also, because of our sheep’s wool we have these gingery colours that the rest of the factories around the world didn’t make.”

Another interesting tidbit is that we also didn’t discriminate. Both the male and the female Troll Dolls manufactured here used the exact same mould. The only way to tell them apart was due to the Troll’s clothing.

“We’re the only one in the world that has done that,” Damian says, explaining that the female moulds used elsewhere had more “feminine ears”. 

These weren’t our only innovations. We also created strange and unusual Trolls, which were produced in limited runs and only made here. Things like Yeti Trolls (available in four different colours), Cow, Elephant and Giraffe Trolls and even Trolls that doubled as piggy banks. These have all become hot collector items.

To illustrate, he holds up a Cow Troll from his personal collection of around 1500 Trolls and says, “There’s about 10 different New Zealand cows. One of these is now $2,000 a pop.” 

He puts it down, carefully, and continues. “The locally made Yeti Trolls are worth between $200-$600 depending on colour and condition. And if you ever find a little blue three-inch Troll, they’re worth $1400.”

These Trolls are so desirable because the factory didn’t make them all year round. Production was seasonal and mostly focused on the lead-up to Christmas. 

“The New Zealand Troll has now become the most rare in the world,” Damian says. “Sadly there is not a full set in New Zealand.”

This is something that he wants to fix.

“My mission,” he states with purpose, “is to bring the New Zealand trolls home. To have a full set of New Zealand trolls so that we can see what we had in New Zealand. These are our native trolls! And people can’t see them.”

It’s an admirable pursuit and one that’s seen him connect with Trolls fans and collectors around the globe as he hunts to reunite our long-lost Trolls. His story starts aged eight, when his aunt brought him his first Troll at a craft market in Pokono. 

“I still have that one,” he smiles. “Family just continued to buy them for me. They’d arrive for Christmas or birthdays. Now I’m probably one of the biggest collectors in New Zealand. But it’s only in the last few years that I found out about the Tauranga factory.”

Despite the Troll’s massive popularity, he says that Aotearoa’s collecting community is relatively small. It mainly centres around the Facebook group, Troll Collectors New Zealand, a welcoming community of fellow Trolls lovers where people come together to share stories, and photos and buy and sell Trolls. As well as being an admin of that group he also puts on the Te Puke Toy Fair with a fellow collector twice a year. 

These days, it’s the thrill of the hunt and his mission to reunite the local Trolls that keeps him interested in collecting. But what was it that first attracted him to the Trolls? These little Scandinavian creatures that are often lovingly referred to as “ugly-cute”?

“It was the smiley face and the hair for me,” he says, thinking back. “And the constant happiness of the Troll. That’s what really drew me.” 

Summer radiance

Adapt your self-care with the hottest new season essentials.

Real men moisturise

Men’s skin is typically a lot thicker, tougher and more oily than women’s, creating a need for specific skincare. The brand new range from Flint targets common skin concerns men face including sensitivity from shaving, uneven skin texture, and signs of ageing. With a focus on both effectiveness and affordability, it’s the perfect opportunity to dip your toe into self-care, guys. From RRP$35. FLINTSKINCARE.COM

Eye spy

Going beyond the call of duty is the new Lash Boost Tubing Mascara from xoBeauty. Infused with growth serum for longer, nourished lashes, this mascara offers a defined look by encapsulating each lash in tiny tubes. For even more reason to be excited, included is an adjustable wand to target different areas of your lashes more effectively. RRP$38.99.

XOBEAUTYSHOP.COM

Honey trap

As a natural extension to their stunning sculptural range, RAAIE's new Golden Nectar Mānuka Honey Enzyme Cleanser works harmoniously with their other products as the first, and most essential step, in your skincare routine. With smoothing fruit enzymes and nourishing Mānuka honey it also doubles as a treatment mask, meaning less waste and less packaging from this conscious-consumption brand. RRP$97.

RAAIE.CO.NZ

Blurred lines

Combining skincare, sun protection and makeup is Aleph’s latest clean beauty innovation: Smoothing Skin Tint SPF/20. Like a real life skin filter, plant-actives work behind the scenes to smooth, the sheer tint blurs the appearance of imperfections, and SPF protects. Apply between moisturising and foundation and ditch the need for additional serums and sunblock. RRP$92. ALEPHBEAUTY.COM

Neck minute

The neck can be overlooked when applying moisturiser, serums and sunblock, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the first places that signs of ageing appear. Target crepe-like, sagging skin with BOOST LAB’s award winning Edelweiss Neck Firming Serum that visibly improves skin elasticity and firmness, thanks to the potent benefits of Tef Seed Extract. RRP$44.95.

BOOSTLABCO.COM

All that glitters

Adorn yourself for the next special occasion or event with Question Beauty’s super fun makeup range. For a subtle look, apply a touch of sparkling mascara to lash ends, or wow them with holographic eyeshadow and adhesive gems. Getting glam just got exciting! From RRP$10.

QUESTIONBEAUTY.COM

Bold and beautiful

A lesson in using bold colour paired with a simple and refined style.

styling AMBER ARMITAGE @ MARIGOLD

photos WENDY FENWICK @ FLASH STUDIOS

wall colours RESENE PAINTS

Above

Main wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Bianca, left wall and cabinet in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Resolution Blue and dining room in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Coral Tree.

Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Trove Wrap occasional chair, Hayes side table, Hayes dining table 4 seater, Rye dining arm chairs, all from Soren Liv. 'Iris In Enamel Jug' by Neil Driver, available from Parnell Gallery.

Halo Raffia table lamp from Kayu Studio. Ceramic balloon bowl 05 in Raw White, Verso jug, Crystal soda glass, Otto bowls, ceramic basket, all from Slow Store. Safi rug from Baya.

Above

Wall painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Coral Tree, wall trim in SpaceCote Flat in Resene Prairie Sand.

'Seeing Rainbows' by Greer Clayton available from Parnell Gallery.

Fin bedside table by Ellison Studio, Kizu Kable lamp, crystal soda glass, from Slow Store.

Natural linen duvet cover from Foxtrot Home. Brick Linen Lodge pillowcases, Cabin wool blanket, Folio cushion cover, oversized carryall bag all from Citta.

Stylist’s tip

When using a bold statement wall colour keep your furniture and homeware selections aligned with the same aesthetic. Simple bold furniture shapes (such as the curves on the bedside and lamp) work well, as do oversized patterns and block colours that are a tint or tone of the wall colour.

Above

Back wallpainted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Resolution Blue, front wall and slats in SpaceCote Flat in Resene Bianca.

Floor finished in Resene Colorwood Breathe Easy. Seville tile side table from Soren Liv.

'Islands On The Edge' by Shona Mackenzie, available from Parnell Gallery.

Ceramic basket from Slow Store.

Above

Wall, shelf and cabinet painted in Resene SpaceCote Flat in Resene Resolution Blue.

Hayes side table and Rufus curve bookends from Soren Liv.

'Tide Times' by Greer Clayton available from Parnell Gallery.

Halo Raffia table lamp from Kayu Studio.

Muse 2 seater and Yoko capsule coffee table by Ellison Studio, bubble glass grape tray, ceramic basket, all from Slow Store.

Gene woven cushion from Citta. Safi rug from Baya.

Gold standard

Singer-songwriter Ayla Gold recently broke into the Bay’s indie music scene with her first EP Nuance. Her vintage rock style has been influenced by an eclectic mix of artists over the years. Here, she tells UNO about her artistic process and where she sees Tauranga’s music scene headed in the future.

Twenty-five-year-old acoustic engineer Ayla Gold was raised listening to everything from Hayley Westenra to Evermore. Kiwi music was always being played on Dad’s stereo or on the family car’s CD player – tapes in her pre-school years. And it’s still Kiwi artists who are her biggest inspiration. 

UNO: How did you get into music?
Ayla: I started piano and guitar lessons in primary school and loved to sing along to anything that was playing, and still do. You will often catch
me singing along or harmonising to whatever’s playing in the supermarket. The teachers I had right through school played a huge part in encouraging me to get up and sing on stage. The support from my high school music teacher, Matt Bodman at Ōtūmoetai College, was huge. He would get me involved with school assembly performances, songwriting competitions, Smoke-free Rockquest, and just playing and writing well in general. We’re still in contact today and he’s always quick to give great feedback on my releases.

How would you describe your music?
My vocals are always quite strong as I feel it’s the way I can truly express myself. I believe that what you listen to is what your own music becomes, so I would say my music is indie singer/songwriter, if I were to put it in a box. Hamish Berkers from Mish Studio based in Kirikiriroa is always enthusiastic when we are in the studio recording, as is my video director and producer Finn Lloyd (Mount Maunganui). Both of these lads are legends in their fields and push me to make my music and visuals the best it can be while keeping all my own flair.

What and who inspires you musically?
I love artists who aren’t afraid to be themselves and be genuine and vulnerable in their lyrics. This inspires me to write the way that I do. In terms of sound, I mostly listen to alternate/indie rock and more solo artists than bands. I love lots of washy guitar and drums and finger-picking style electric. I feel most inspired when my emotions or environments feel intense, good or bad. I’m definitely someone who can see through the pain in things and enjoy the creativity of art that flows when things are tough for someone, or how the skill of the artist can portray this. In terms of specific artists, this is always changing as I’m always discovering new music. I’m also someone who loves to be outside – open spaces help me to develop the ideas that come to mind.

In the last few years, my biggest influences have been Molly Payton, Julia Jacklyn, The Beths, Angie McMahon and Sam Fender. Again, these artists are not afraid to put their lyrics and sound into a raw form that transports you straight into their shoes, or you find their lyrics apply to some struggle of your own. A common theme in music I like is the greater hope that an artist can talk about, or almost talk you through, a form of empathising and knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel. They show you’re not the only one who has gone through whatever it is you are experiencing.

What instruments do you play and do you write your own lyrics?
I play rhythm electric and acoustic guitar as well as piano. I write all my own lyrics. All through school I wasn’t much of a reader so I found it hard to write songs. It wasn’t until late high school that my writing started and during my engineering degree, I got right into reading which took my writing to a whole new level. My notes app on my phone is often growing with lyrics or lines that pop into my head in everyday situations. I’ve actually found catching the bus is a great place to write for me.

How do you find the Bay music scene? How do you see it developing in the coming years?
The scene here is growing and there are a few people that have really invested in their music. The Jam Factory in the historic village and Palace Tavern at the Mount have been great to help support this. I would love to see more small-scale gig venues similar to what you find on Karangahape Road in Auckland, as it would really help to support up-and-coming artists and just bring more of a scene here. We need more of a culture that people can hook into, knowing there is always something on a particular night. I think Tauranga schools have a great arts scene, as well as churches, which are often the catalyst for producing great musicians.

What are your plans for the future?
I want to release more regularly and do a tour of New Zealand at some stage. I’ve had a job in acoustic engineering for three months now with Marshall Day Acoustics. Many of us are musicians, which encourages me to keep at my music and be inspired and supported. I love playing and recording with friends, and I’m excited to meet more people through my music, to see where it takes me. All the creative outlets involved have a chance to develop their skills through me bringing my projects to them and vice versa. 

 aylagoldmusic

Hormone hacker

UNO editor Hayley Barnett sits down with leading expert Dr Linda Dear to unpack menopause’s grey zone of symptoms, the buffet of options beyond HRT, and why midlife's uninvited guest is more frenemy than foe.

It’s 3am on a Thursday morning. I’ve been lying here for the past hour tossing and turning, trying desperately to get back to sleep. What better time than now, I think, to write about my perimenopause woes?

I’ve had the same problem every day for the past week and it’s probably linked to the amount of sugar and caffeine I’ve been consuming as a solution to stay awake during the day. It’s a vicious cycle and, if I’m being honest, has become more of a lifestyle linked to my own vicious cycle, of the menstrual kind.

But, according to Dr Linda Dear, it doesn’t have to be this way. About a year ago, UNO interviewed Linda about the issue of menopause, and women still talk to me about it one year on. Linda is one of the country’s leading menopause experts who just happens to reside in Tauranga and runs her business, Menodoctor, from the Bay. Women come to her from all over New Zealand begging for help with symptoms that are increasingly affecting their professional and personal lives. 

“Most women who come to me are having symptoms of perimenopause and it’s impacting them either at home or at work or both,” says Linda. “A lot of the time, I’m just confirming what they already know − that it’s hormone related. But it can be such a grey zone and nobody’s really sure, including sometimes their own GP. They want to know they're not going mad or that they’re not ill or sick.”

I sit down with Linda to discuss my symptoms and what might help. I had completed a questionnaire before arriving for our appointment. Hot flushes? No. Sleep problems. Yes. Frequent urination. Yes. Night sweats. Yes. It dawns on me that waking drenched in sweat during a five-degree winter’s night probably isn’t normal. 

All these symptoms, though ‘not normal’, are actually very normal for a woman my age and beyond − 40 plus. But again, says Linda, they don’t have to be.

In my case, the contraceptive pill would help with PMS problems, she says, but so would HRT – and actually HRT comes with a lower risk of blood clots and other side effects, as it uses body identical lower dose estrogen. It also helps with insomnia. Sold.

But Linda is quick to point out that HRT is not the only option – and not always the right answer for every woman. Though she sings HRT’s praises, Linda describes herself as more holistic than many doctors in this area. She’s not against HRT and says for some women it’s the only thing that will help. But she also likes to offer natural alternatives.

“There are many things you can try,” she explains. “I like to offer what I call ‘the menopause buffet’. Women should be introduced to the whole table of treatments, and there are many that you can mix and match − and others that you can’t. But everything is optional, even the buffet itself. You don’t need to do anything if you don’t feel like it. You can just sit and enjoy the show if you prefer.”

The options include everything, from herbal supplements, like St John’s Wort, through to the contraceptive pill and SSRIs (antidepressants). 

“Lifestyle changes like adding weights sessions to your workout routine make a huge difference for some people,” says Linda. “Or just increasing protein in the diet − that can completely change everything.”

After asking me to take a blood test, Linda prescribes me some HRT with detailed instructions for patches and progesterone pills and suggests buying some iron tablets and ashwagandha for my sleep. 

While I’m grateful for the help, I wonder about those who can’t pinpoint certain times in the month, but who have similar symptoms. How can you tell if it’s perimenopause and not just dealing with life’s demands, I ask? Let’s face it, our forties are a very demanding time. We’re often dealing with kids, mortgages, careers, relationships, not to mention the possibility of World War III, climate change, the government, that weird rash Google tells you is 

probably fatal? Surely, the doom scrolling has something to do with our highly anxious states and lack of sleep. 

“We do need to be careful about blaming perimenopause for everything,” says Linda. “That’s why I don’t want to become an HRT factory. I also don’t want to deny anyone of that either, since we’ve gone far too long without it. We have to go through the symptoms and come up with a plan together. It’s about trial and error, finding out what helps and what doesn’t.”

We talk about my sleep issues and how they’re much worse if I drink even just one glass of wine.

“She loves to ruin our fun,” says Linda, who talks about perimenopause in the third person, referring to this time in a woman’s life as a friend, or more so, a frenemy. ‘She’ apparently is not a fan of alcohol, and neither is Linda. She explains the dangers of alcohol and its link to many different illnesses, one of which is breast cancer. It’s ironic then that it was only a decade or so ago that women were fearful of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for its links to breast cancer.

“We think the breast cancer risk, which is very small – around an extra eight cases out of 10,000 women who take it – only starts after a woman has been taking HRT for at least five years. So taking HRT for less than five years likely carries no risk at all. But taking it for five years or longer means we do have to factor in a small risk of breast cancer. But this needs to balanced against the health benefits that HRT can bring, such as reducing heart disease, osteoporosis and diabetes. Research has also shown that when you start HRT before you turn 60, this leads to a longer lifespan. So these are pretty big benefits to think about.”

Despite there being a range of treatments, potions and lotions, and lifestyle suggestions, Linda is quick to point out that this time shouldn’t necessarily be looked upon as a negative.

“She’s not all bad,” Linda says. “Though there are some negative sides, we also need to see some good in this phase, as it’s a time of growth. A lot of women get through this and become a better version of themselves eventually − they feel more like themselves than they ever have. They can feel stronger and more empowered.”

As a woman, whether you decide to do something about perimenopause, or just ride the wave, there is definitely one thing to look forward to.

“Our periods stop!” smiles Linda. “We all have to admit the idea of that is quite nice.” 

Telltale signs you might be in perimenopause:

• Irregular or missed periods

• Hot flushes

• Sleep disturbances

• Memory and cognition issues

• Vaginal atrophy

• Mood swings

• Decreased sex drive

• Weight gain

• Hair, skin and nail changes

• Frequent urination

• Changing cholesterol levels

A course for change

Tauranga Living Without Violence is working to end domestic violence from within.

words Hayley Barnett  |  photos Alex Cairns

CEO of TLWV Dr Moana Tane.

Forty years ago, five men in Tauranga got together to fight domestic violence. They formed a group called Tauranga Living Without Violence (TLWV). If you haven’t heard of them, you’re not alone − and you’re lucky. 

It’s a not-for-profit organisation that works alongside other NGOs and government agencies to support perpetrators and victims of violence. Yes, you read that right – support perpetrators to get the help they need, and often want.

“The group who set this up agreed to a pay deduction to do work in this space,” says Dr Moana Tane, the new CEO of TLWV, who had been in the job for eight months when she sat down with UNO. “They really believed strongly that violence by men towards women was something they didn't want happening on their watch. They wanted to do something about it.” 

With the emphasis on men, Moana understands how that might come across to some, but the numbers don’t lie. Approximately 83 percent of violent crime offenders in New Zealand are male.

“There is a small percentage of women who use violence, but what we see is that they use violence very differently from men. And often it's a form of resistance to violence that has been perpetrated against them. For men, a lot of the time they exert coercive control over their partner.”

While the numbers do lean toward one gender, Moana says that’s where the stereotypes end. “When it comes to tackling this problem it's not about education, it's not about socio-economic status, it's not about ethnicity,” says Moana. “This is a problem for the whole of society.”

Unfortunately, domestic violence in New Zealand has only been getting worse over time. In the year to 2023, NZ Police recorded 177,452 family harm investigations − a 49 percent increase from 2017. And they estimate that roughly 80 percent of incidents go unreported, so in reality this number is much higher.

Part of the reason it’s been getting worse, says Moana, is that it’s becoming increasingly easier to exert control over others thanks to technology.

“What’s alarming is that many men are monitoring their wives with trackers on their cars and tracking apps on their phones. They’ve got access to emails, and even monitor them with cameras. This all sounds crazy but it’s happening in Tauranga. I’ve met women who’ve experienced it themselves and I don’t think a lot is happening about that.”

Sexual violence is also on the rise, something Moana believes has a strong correlation to violent online porn. 

“It’s so readily available,” she says. “We have these men who are consuming large amounts of this rubbish, and then they’re bringing that into their relationships.”

The solution, she says, isn’t to lay blame, but to go to the core of these problems and find out why these situations are happening, then help the perpetrators to recognise what is driving their own behaviour.

“Going into a perpetrator’s background, often there is trauma, there is PTSD, there are a whole range of things that have happened to men that have perhaps influenced their behaviour today in their relationship. And often it’s because of a completely dysfunctional childhood. Whatever harm they’ve experienced is being worked out now in the context of their marriage.”

From left: Chairman of the TLWV Board Nigel Waters, Dr Moana Tane and
resident psychologist Wol Hansen.

Though she hasn’t been in the job long, Moana is acutely aware of how these patterns play out. For 12 years she worked in Australia’s primary healthcare services while studying for her PhD on the denormalisation of smoking, and lived within very remote Aboriginal communities.

“Violence was all around me. There were no social services − we just patched them up as best we could and offered help. The scenario back then was, if a woman had married, often she'd married into the community, so the bloodlines were his. If he perpetrated violence, she really had nowhere to go. If things became bad, she could go into a refuge and stay there to recover and get treatment, but then she’d have to go home with the kids, he'd come back from jail, and the whole cycle would repeat itself.”

Really, says Moana, it was the husband who needed the help in the first place.

After years of feeling helpless, Moana decided she needed to get out. “I got to the point where I was starting to get a bit lala, living and working in very trying circumstances. It just wasn’t sustainable for me.”

After a few years of moving between jobs, from social work to positions in public health, she was eventually offered the job with TLWV here in the Bay. She says while the problems themselves aren’t getting any better, the way the community here works together is inspiring and offers hope in an otherwise bleak statistical nightmare.

TLWV works closely with the Family Court and Corrections, as well as Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support and Women’s Refuge to provide victim support. Their own programmes are designed for perpetrators of violence. Usually the people they help come directly from the court to undertake a mandated course in order to reunite with their family. But there are men who voluntarily take the courses too.

“There are many men who actually want help and want to be good men,” says Moana. “They want to be safe men for their families and often they don't even know what that looks like until they come here.”

TLWV has 17 staff, made up of counsellors and case workers with backgrounds in psychology, social work and education. Their Men’s Non-Violence Programme provides group facilitation and runs for 20 weeks, and their Safety Programme offers support for victims, or survivors. They also have individual programmes for those who feel they need extra help.

“Our Men’s Non-Violence Programme teaches people what a safe relationship looks like, what a safe man looks like, what are the green flags, as well as the red flags, in terms of having a safe relationship or moving into a new one. In society we see perceptions about violence and victim blaming occurs. People say they can’t understand why a woman would stay in a violent relationship. We understand that there may be love within the relationship, and women want the violence to stop, not that they want to leave their partner or the family. What we know is that for some men who may use violence or control in relationships, they are practised at wooing a woman, putting up a false front, pretending to be the man she admires. But over time, as control, demands and violence increase, the façade slips and women begin to realise they have been fooled. Our victim-survivors are all intelligent, and often educated women who have not gone out seeking violent men. For some men, having no awareness of how to regulate their own emotions or communicate (even from a place of hurt and pain), or who are adhering to masculinity that denies feeling, or self-awareness, violence can be the ‘go-to’ behaviour in conflict.”

With a wait list for their Men’s Non-Violence Programme, TLWV has their work cut out for them. But they’re also in the process of designing a maintenance programme, which will give perpetrators a social link with people who may have experienced similar challenges but have come out the other side. “It’s a proactive way to maintain resistance to the violence they've used in the past,” says Moana.

While the stats and figures aren’t showing a lot of hope in this space, Moana and the team remain positive. “We love men and we believe in them,” she smiles. “We all have brothers, fathers, and some of us have sons. There are lovely men out there, who are safe and who are kind to their families. And they have learned to be that way through experience and support from others. In our service, we seek to break down perceptions and barriers that contribute to the use of violence. In our teams, we encourage male counsellors to work with our female groups and we always have female facilitators in our male programmes, because we want those men to see what a safe, strong woman looks like. It’s about challenging misconceptions and trying to help people to understand some of the driving root causes of why men might use this violence while offering alternatives to them. And group work is so very important, because it helps men to be accountable to one another for their behaviour.”

Drawing on her background with tobacco control, Moana says the two issues − smoking and domestic violence − can be dealt with in similar ways.

“We were very successful in denormalising smoking over the years but we did that because we threw light on the harms of tobacco and the fact that everybody thought it was normal, but actually it was the most abnormal thing you could do. Some of that same thinking applies to violence. We need to show people not just how harmful it is but what some of the outcomes are going to be over time. With control and violence you’re chasing away this woman you love. But it’s not about blaming. It’s about shifting the focus to the perpetrator and saying, ‘Look
bro, we’re not going to judge you. You need help.” 

TLWV rely on government funding and donations in order to offer their services. To donate, visit their website. They also welcome self-referrals for victims and perpetrators via their website. There are options for hiding your visit and a large ‘quick exit’ button to exit the site immediately.

“These problems are happening all around us, more than we realise,” says Moana. “It’s important for everyone to speak up whether you’re involved or not. If you see something, say something. It will change people’s lives for the better.” 

tlwv.org.nz