BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

Karl Puschmann puts the new Lexus flagship SUV, the RZ 550e F Sport, to the test on an overnight roadtrip through the winding Waikato. But, is the car a refined, luxury cruiser or a performance powerhouse? As it turns out, it’s both.

PHOTOS JAHL MARSHALL

A trip to Cambridge seemed the perfect excuse to test drive the new flagship EV SUV from Lexus. But really, it was the other way round. The sleek RZ 550e F Sport provided a compelling reason to drop the kids at Nana’s and hit the open road.

As the crown jewel of their EV range, the F Sport is brimming with high-end tech and all the creature comforts Lexus is renowned for. The package is topped off with a stylish, head-turning design and bleeding- edge performance that practically demands to be taken out of the congested city streets and let loose. I was happy to oblige.

As you’d expect, tackling the mountainous Kaimai Range proved no challenge. With a hefty 402-horsepower on tap, we thundered up its steep, winding slope and had more than enough juice to safely pass the lumbering trucks that pulled into the slow vehicle bays on the short corners of the decline.

From there, State Highway 29 is a mostly straightforward journey to Cambridge, which allowed me to get some real-world testing of the car’s driver features. These are bundled under the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 umbrella and include Lane Tracing Assist, which helps keep the car centred in its lane when adaptive cruise control is engaged, All-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which automatically adjusts acceleration and braking to maintain a safe following distance, and Curve Speed Management, which can reduce speed through bends when cruise control is active.

I found that letting the driver-assist systems shoulder much of the steering, acceleration and braking reduced fatigue, although this would likely be more noticeable on longer trips, with Cambridge only a little over an hour away. With these features engaged, the car can briefly track the lane on its own, though it quickly prompts you to keep your hands on the wheel if it senses you’ve let go.

Setting your speed and engaging the systems is as easy as pressing one of the touch-sensitive buttons on the steering yoke (yes, steering yoke, not steering wheel) once you reach your desired cruising speed. The yoke is the F Sport’s marquee feature, and we’ll get to it in a moment.

From there, you can run adaptive cruise control on its own, or add lane tracing assist for steering support, with the option to have both working together. Their status appears in the heads-up display, projected onto the windscreen directly in the driver’s line of sight.

This may be the sport model, but the ride inside was never anything less than comfortable and whisper-quiet, even on the plentiful stretches of chipseal road. The silence provided the perfect canvas for the impressive 13-speaker Mark Levinson sound system to shine, while the Ultrasuede-trimmed sports seats, with their blue- stitch detailing, proved both comfortable and supportive.

With my phone sitting on the charging pad, it was simple to navigate Apple CarPlay through the Infotainment system’s crisp and bright 14-inch touchscreen display. It was too nice a day to use the heated seats or steering yoke, but pressing a button to switch the Dynamic Sky panoramic roof from opaque to transparent flooded the cabin with natural light and

blue sky, making the spacious interior feel even airier. Much like the seats, the position of the steering yoke can be electronically adjusted for reach and height, with memory settings allowing multiple drivers to quickly return to their preferred seat, steering and mirror positions.

This is a good time to talk about the synthetic leather–clad steering yoke, which replaces the traditional wheel and looks like it’s been transplanted from an F1 car, complete with what Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson dubbed “flappy paddles.” The RZ 550e also ditches the mechanical steering column in favour of a full steer-by- wire system, replacing traditional mechanical linkages with digital precision. It’s easy to oversteer at first, but I quickly acclimated to its responsiveness, with the smallest turn of the wrist producing surgical maneuvers.

Not that I was too worried about precision or scratching the 20-inch alloy wheels, or their aerodynamic resin covers, when I pulled up outside the newly renovated, historic Clements Hotel, our lodgings for the night in the heart of Cambridge. Instead, I happily pushed a button and let the Advanced Park system navigate us into the space. Lexus EVs have had this feature for a couple of years, but it still feels like magic every time, and there’s a satisfying moment seeing the car parked perfectly in the middle of even the tightest spot.

We’d left Tauranga on a full charge and were still sitting above 60 percent on arrival, which was impressive, considering I’d been fiddling with every button I could reach, had the Climate Concierge cranking, and had really been putting the car through its paces.

We cruised all around Cambridge and ventured out to the Sculpture Park at Waitakaruru Arboretum, roughly 20 minutes from town, as well as the Takapoto Estate Winery, which was another 20 minutes in the opposite direction, before bidding farewell to The Clements, packing our two suitcases into the F Sport’s spacious boot, and heading home the next day.

There was one feature I’d purposefully saved for the return trip: the 550e F Sport’s exclusive Manual Mode. This uses the flappy paddles on the yoke to physically simulate an 8-speed manual gearbox, essentially transforming the car from an automatic into a rocket-powered manual, although it must be stressed that in auto, the car is no slouch, capable of throwing you back against your seat as it rockets to 100km/h in a mere 4.4 seconds.

Taking manual control of all that power was a thrill, seeing the rev counter race up to the red and hearing the engine roar as I planted my foot down. But, you may be thinking, this is an EV - I shouldn’t have been hearing any roaring whatsoever out of its battery- powered motor. And you’re right, I shouldn’t have been. But Lexus has very cleverly equipped the F Sport with what they call Active Sound Control, which simulates the sound of a high-performance engine, roaring, rising and falling in perfect sync with every flappy paddle gear shift. It makes for a visceral experience and one that is a heck of a lot of fun.

With an advertised 437 km range on a single charge, I had no battery anxiety at all on our trip, even with how much time we spent in the car and my enthusiastic pushing of the vehicle. In fact, I didn’t charge it at all until we got back to Tauranga, where I gave the car a quick blat from one of the Quick Charge stations at The Crossing while we grabbed a bite to eat.

With its sharp style, racy split rear spoiler, blacked out trim and aerodynamic body kit, the 550e F Sport leaves no doubt that it means business, while the sophistication of its design reinforces its premium luxury roots. This is reflected in its driving experience.

You can cruise in supreme comfort or harness the thrills of its power. Whichever you choose,it doesn’t disappoint.

LEXUS.CO.NZ/EN/DEALERS/TAURANGA

GUIDING THE FUTURE

From graduate to partner, Natalie Berkett’s journey at KPMG Tauranga is one of mentorship, opportunity and building a career full of challenges and rewards.

WORDS MONIQUE BALVERT-O’CONNOR PHOTOS DEBORAH DE GRAAF

She may have recently become a KPMG partner, yet those early days as a graduate are front of mind for Tauranga’s Natalie Berkett.

It’s 20 years since she attended grad camp with a freshly minted double degree (Bachelor of Commerce and Law) under her belt, and early this year she was back.

In what she describes as “a career journey coming full circle” Natalie was back at this year’s camp for new graduates; there to answer questions, join in activities, connect with the graduates, and share her experience. In short, she was ready to mentor the next generation, as is the KPMG way.

Immediately after grad camp, she was back at work to welcome the four new university graduates who have joined the KPMG Tauranga team. Also welcomed were a similar number of students straight from local colleges, who will be supported to study professional or tertiary qualifications part-time. At KPMG, learning is embedded in day-to-day work, not treated as an add-on - as an “exciting and significant” milestone last year highlighted, when 10 of the KPMG Tauranga team achieved chartered accountant status.

Natalie’s workplace journey reflects not only her firm’s long-term investment in people and its commitment to learning at every stage, but its culture of continuity and belonging.

Natalie recalls the time when, upon farewelling her Otago University days, she had the choice of four impressive graduate programmes.

She’d done her homework, choosing KPMG for its reputation of walking the talk when it came to putting people first. Twenty years on and she says she’s never seriously looked at working anywhere else.

KPMG’s Wellington office is where she cut her teeth and during her six years of tenure there she rose to the position of manager. A promotion to senior manager came with her move to Tauranga and then about seven years later she became a director. Natalie’s promotion to partner marks the latest milestone in her career and reinforces the growth of KPMG’s tax practice.

KPMG and tax have been Natalie’s career constants.

“But it doesn’t feel like I’ve had the same job, as I’ve had lots of opportunities to switch things out. Before children, I took a career break and travelled for four months with my husband; I had a short three-month secondment to KPMG Beijing; had two maternity leave stints; and changed office, so there was lots of variety and opportunity and I never feel as if there isn’t another challenge,” Natalie tells.

There was also the opportunity, had she wanted it, to focus on other areas of the business, given KPMG is a fully integrated firm bringing tax, audit and advisory together to support businesses as they grow and evolve. And given KPMG is a global enterprise, the option of further secondments (to places such as The Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, Australia and the United Kingdom) is also possible.

“You don’t just start at KPMG; you can grow up here and thrive,” says Natalie, who admires the firm’s culture of progression and the fact it is a “long term talent incubator” (to quote a colleague, Tracy Preston-Lett).

Natalie says there’s plenty to keep her with KPMG.

She enjoys the firm’s diverse client base that ranges from start-ups and entrepreneurs through to large, complex organisations - at her workplace the full spectrum of business is supported. All, regardless of size and stage, get to benefit from the KPMG team’s deep understanding of what it takes to scale, adapt and stay resilient.

Irrespective of needs, KPMG has a valuable service to offer, Natalie explains. The KPMG team can be there from a business’ conceptual, right through to celebratory, stage. KPMG can be a constant in terms of audit and compliance, or it can offer a dipping in and out service - being there as a sounding board and advisory service during a business’ life cycle as its strategies unfold.

Natalie values the people at KPMG. There’s a wide skills base of people always willing to give their time and share their wisdom and knowledge. They work hard and have fun as a team, she says. And Natalie says she feels valued too.

She’s happy to report that “people focus” she identified 20 years ago, when entering the work force, was on the mark. The firm’s purpose of “fuelling prosperity for New Zealand, for all New Zealanders” fits well with her value base.

“Take the grad camp, for example,” she says, citing a fresh-to-mind experience.

“Two days of it were held in Auckland, three at Northland’s Te Aroha Marae. We were intentionally connecting with grass roots New Zealand. We were encouraging our people to think about our KPMG ‘prosperity for all’ purpose. We’re here for all New Zealanders and really do focus on our people, in terms of both staff and clients.”

People, capability and confidence are all key words when it comes to KPMG’s role as trusted advisor to many, says Natalie’s co-worker and private enterprise partner Tracy Preston-Lett.

Like Natalie, Tracy’s carved out a long-standing (just shy of 30 years) career at KPMG and thrives on being part of a multi-generational office. There’s much to be gained from having 17-year-olds on board, through to one valued team member in their early seventies.

“We’re a place where people can start early, stay long, and go far. The different life stages and perspectives are seen not as a challenge, but a strength. Consider things like digital confidence, experience, fresh thinking and institutional memory and you can understand howknowledge transfer works both ways.

“We think our workplace reflects the real world. It’s multigenerational, diverse and is home to people constantly learning,” Tracy says.

It’s also a workplace heavily embedded in the local business ecosystem, developing people, supporting growth, and contributing positively to the region. The latter involves strong examples of pro bono professional assistance over the years to organisations such as Waipuna Hospice, ACORN Foundation, and choosing Merivale Primary School as a partner school.

“When we talk about prosperity for New Zealanders, we are talking business and community too,” Tracy says. Speaking as managing partner of the Tauranga office, Tracy says KPMG Tauranga, with its strong local roots and team of almost 100, can indisputably claim to play a key role in its region’s success stories. After all, well-supported people and well-advised businesses are key to regional prosperity.

“I feel really strongly about this region. It has a bright future. You only have to look at the infrastructure, work in progress, changes emerging and possibilities that are coming to life, albeit sometimes slower than people like.

“We are business advisors to a range of clients and get to see their strategic plans and hear their aspirations around what they intend to do or are contemplating. This really fuels optimism around regional growth. I strongly believe we are building a really great city that we can be incredibly proud of, to work and thrive in.”

She enthuses over the big anchor projects that are starting to reach key milestones in Tauranga’s city centre. There’s plenty to get excited about between now and a 10-year horizon.

“Within our KPMG Private Enterprise team, we have a tag line around ‘make possible happen’ and I like that because if you line up how we can work with people to make their possible happen, then that’s an exciting future.”

KPMG.COM/NZ

ON THE MOVE

Innovative Digital Solutions is in the midst of big changes with new acquisitions, new headquarters and a fresh chapter for the Bay.

PHOTOS KATIE COX

In Tauranga, if a business needs its printers to work, its digital workflows to run smoothly or its office tech to just behave, there’s a good chance Innovative Digital Solutions (IDS) is behind it. For more than 20 years, the company has become a backbone for businesses across the BOP, Coromandel and South Waikato, evolving alongside technology and local business needs.

Every story has a beginning, and IDS’s is modest. In 2005, co-founders Jim Tavendale and Dan Martin opened their first office with “just our name on the door and a phone number,” Jim recalls. With one technician, one office staffer and no clients, their mission was simply to listen and solve problems. That hands-on, practical approach became the company’s guiding principle.

The early days demanded improvisation and a willingness to tackle whatever came through the door.

As the company grew, its systems and team grew too. Continuous improvement became a steady foundation that would allow IDS to expand without losing its personal touch.

But IDS didn’t just stick with printers. As workplaces evolved, so did the company. Today, it offers everything from print management and advanced scanning, to digital signage, workflow automation and interactive smart screens for schools and businesses.

“We’re not selling machines, we’re helping businesses work smarter,” says Dan. “Whether it’s scanning documents efficiently or reducing unnecessary printing, it’s about making processes simpler and more sustainable.”

Despite expanding its services, IDS has remained staunchly local. Operating from Tauranga with a dedicated Rotorua office, the company ensures clients always talk to someone who knows their business and their challenges, not a call centre on the other side of the world.

Recent years have seen IDS grow through the onboarding of new clients and carefully considered acquisitions. In 2025, the company purchased Insite Technology, a BOP print supply business, adding a number of new clients. Then, in early 2026, IDS acquired Bay Copy, an exclusive Canon authorised partner with 16 years of local presence, further increasing the IDS customer base. Together, these acquisitions have strengthened two established local businesses, forming a powerful, community-based organisation. Alongside experienced staff and specialist expertise, they have enhanced the company’s local footprint and expanded its range of solutions.

To accommodate growth, IDS moved into a purpose-built headquarters a year ago. The space is modern and collaborative, a reflection of the company itself, which is practical and designed for people first.

But the company’s biggest strength is its team. Some employees have been with IDS since day one, and many long-term staff are approaching a decade of service.

Others take opportunities abroad and return with new perspectives, creating a blend of experience and fresh thinking. It’s a culture built on respect and a shared commitment to the local business community.

Two decades on, IDS is now a local story of growth and connection. And with a solid foundation, a new modern headquarters and a team that values people as much as technology, the next chapter looks just as promising.

IDS.NET.NZ

INTO UNCHARTED WATERS

While making Aotearoa’s coastline and seabeds safer for all, Discovery Marine has also taken a novel and highly commendable approach to encouraging young people into the industry. Company CEO Declan Stubbing explains all to UNO.

PHOTOS KATIE COX + SUPPLIED

CEO Declan Stubbing and CCO Kevin Smith.

It’s hard to believe, but as a species, we’ve mapped the surfaces of the moon and Mars in higher resolution than much of our own seafloor. It’s estimated that around 75 percent of the world’s seabed remains a mystery.

But that is changing. Discovery Marine (DML), a company based in Mount Maunganui, is charting and surveying the seabed not just in Aotearoa, but also in Australia and the Pacific, in great detail, using high-definition 3D technology.

“There are a few uncharted areas remaining on the New Zealand coastline,” Declan Subbing says. “The Wairarapa coast is one area that is largely unsurveyed, and we currently have a team down in Moeraki, near Otago mapping an uncharted area.”

Declan is the CEO of DML, whose core business is hydrographic surveying and mapping the seafloor. To perform this technical and demanding work, their boats are equipped with state-of-the-art sonar systems that produce 3D data. This data accurately paints a picture of the seafloor, right down to the pebble.

“It essentially visualises the whole seabed,” Declan explains. “We’re able to make sure we’ve got every rock, every pebble, positioned and that everything is mapped accurately.”

This is important information for a range of industries. Part of their work is updating the nautical charts for the New Zealand Hydrographic Authority at Land Information New Zealand. These charts are relied upon by various seafaring businesses. There are some areas that were surveyed over 50 years ago using equipment that Declan describes as “similar to a fish finder”.

The team deploying hydrographic equipment in Western Australia.

“We’re tasked with surveying the high-risk areas where there's a lot of shipping traffic, using our modern 3D multi-beam echo sounders to update those charts,” Declan says. “There are changes to the coastline and rocks or other hazards that might have been missed. That does happen occasionally around New Zealand’s coastline.”

DML is also busy in and around our ports, monitoring the impact of dredging, tracking sandwaves which migrate up and down the harbour, and providing data that ensures critical clearance levels for the massive container ships that visit are maintained.

DML's work gives the ports more confidence on where and when it’s safe to navigate ships.

Sand waves mapped using 3D technology.

“We survey the harbour seabed in 3D, which gets turned into navigation products for pilots,” he adds.

Declan studied hydrography, the name given to the science of underwater surveying at University of Otago.

Shortly before graduating, Greg Cox, the founder of DML, got in touch with the School of Surveying to see if anyone there was interested in a job in hydrography. Declan was keen and became the company’s very first employee. The team now comprises 16.

Excavator lost at sea mapped using 3D technology.

DML faces a number of challenges when recruiting, because of the specialist skills required and graduates being lured overseas. Declan says they identified this as a “risk to the business growing” five years ago. To tackle the problem, they came up with an innovative solution.

“We thought ‘How are we going to be able to encourage people into hydrography?’” He says. “That’s how we came up with the concept of offering a scholarship at the School of Surveying at Otago University.”

With many of their current staff having attended the university, it was a solution that held great appeal.

“We’ve got a really strong connection there,” Declan smiles. “I really like the idea of being able to give back to the institution that gave me a lot.”

Their scholarship covers full course fees for a final year surveying student who is undertaking research connected to hydrography. It also offers them support with their research, an internship at DML, exposure to the industry and opportunities to attend conferences with the DML team. A true kick start into the industry.

Their commitment doesn’t stop there. Employees at DML are encouraged to continue developing and gain certification within the industry.

Early morning hydrographic survey operations.

“We really push the certification angle within our business. We like the idea that you’re always working towards something. It keeps people motivated and it’s great when someone’s awarded a new certification. It’s a real reason to celebrate because it's a recognition of the hard work they’ve put in.”

Just across the ditch, demand for certified hydrographic surveyors is exploding with the Government committing to a 10-year programme of nautical charting work, to which DML was appointed to a panel of suppliers.

He says it’s “enormously satisfying” work, and would encourage people to consider it as a career. “You see where your effort has gone. At the end of the day, you know you’ve contributed to improving coastal navigation and making our coastal communities safer.”

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Hydrographic surveying is Kate’s ticket to the world

SEA OF POSSIBILITIES

Kate Downes, senior hydrographic surveyor at DML, swaps land for ocean depths and discovers a world of adventure.

With her interest in maths and geography, Kate Downes had been drawn to surveying as a career. But when she learned about hydrographic surveying, her plans quickly changed.

“I went along to an open day at Otago University, where they talked about surveying and explained it. I was like, ‘Yep, this is definitely what I want to do’. Then they talked about hydrographic surveying specifically, which hadn’t been well-advertised, and my ears pricked up. It sounded exciting. My family had a boat, so I was familiar with the water. It was right up my alley.”

Realising hydrographic surveying could be a ticket to see the world, Kate dived in. Upon graduating, she moved to Perth to work for one of the biggest survey companies in the world. During her five-year stint, she learned as much as she could from those she worked with and “doubled down on travelling”. She’d be rostered offshore for six weeks at a time, and then have six weeks off to do whatever she wanted. Which was seeing the world.

Eventually, she decided she wanted to come back home and be closer to family.

Since joining DML, she has excelled and is one of only six women across Australasia to earn the highest level of certification in hydrography. Now, as a senior member of the DML team, she leads their major nautical charting projects for the New Zealand and Australian Governments.

“It’s always been about seeing new places. That’s one of the draw cards,” she smiles. “We’re in remote places, seeing cool things. We see whales offshore all the time. Stuff like that I’m really interested in.”

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Georgia is chasing her dreams without compromising her lifestyle.

MAKING WAVES

Charting hidden coastlines, Georgia Pendred, graduate hydrographic surveyor at DML, discovers adventure and a strong sense of purpose.

It’s a rare day off the boat for Georgia Pendred when UNO calls.

“At the moment, I’m in Dunedin, Moeraki specifically, for a big three-month-ish, maybe longer job we're doing,” she says. “We towed one of our biggest boats down from the Mount, and each day we head out and do our survey.”

It’s not a bad way to spend a summer’s day. Even today, the weather is “a bit stinky”, meaning the team is staying on land. The team rotates out every two weeks, so she’ll be on the water for another week before returning to the office for two weeks, creating the perfect field to office balance.

“Travelling is a big perk, and it’s really fun,” she enthuses. “You get to see some cool locations and remote spots that not many other people would see. Parts of the Moeraki coastline, for example, hasn't been charted before.”

A Tauranga native, Georgia grew up around the water. Her family had a little boat, and they’d go out to Matakana Island for a BBQ or go biscuiting on the lakes. Even still, she didn’t realise her career would see her oceanbound. Instead, her focus was on land.

“I wanted to do environmental management. I love the sustainability side of things and protecting our earth. That's what led me to a Bachelor of Surveying at Otago University,” she explains. “Hydrographic surveying popped up as a paper that you could take as an elective. The lecturer, Emily Tidey, an industry role model, was so passionate about it and really sold it to me. I realised it was still the environment and still looking after our planet. Only on water, not land.”

She took the paper and “fell in love” with the subject. After that, she focused all her energy on hydrographic surveying.

She says it’s an ideal career for people who love the outdoors, because “you’re doing fieldwork all the time.” It would also suit people who enjoy problem-solving, as things pop up every day that need troubleshooting.

As for surveying being a math-heavy career? Georgia is happy to bust that myth.

“I suck at math,” she laughs. “I dropped out in year 11. I love literacy, history, classics and all that stuff. When deciding to do surveying, I knew math was going to be a challenge.”

She says that while the degree does get math-heavy, if you’re determined, you can get through it.

“I put my mind to it, and put my head down. I asked a lot of questions, and because we’re a tight-knit group at the School of Surveying, I had a lot of support from my lecturers and classmates. If you’re motivated, definitely give it a go,” she says. “Don’t be afraid of surveying or scared off because everyone says that it’s math-heavy.

I managed to get through it, and actually came out the other end with the math papers being my highest subjects!”

While at university, Georgia was awarded the DML scholarship for her final year where she completed an Honors research project. This enabled her to gain insight into the industry and complete an internship before accepting a graduate role at DML.

She’s already taking advantage of the opportunities to progress towards certification. “I’m starting to chip away at that,” she says.

Talking with her, it’s clear how passionate she is about her work, and the impact it has on the environment. She’d love to see more women taking it up.

“There aren’t many women in surveying in general, and then it gets even more niche when you go into hydro,” she says. “But it’s definitely changing, and DML is representing that really well. It's really cool to know we’re part of a new generation that's changing things. I'd like to keep that going. DMLSURVEYS.CO.NZ

TAKING THE REINS

At just 34, Kelly Van Dyk is taking on the male-dominated horse racing industry, and winning. She tells Karl Puschmann all about Prima Park, the world-class facility she heads and the challenges she’s faced to get to the front of the pack. PHOTOS CHRISTINE CORNEGÉ + SUPPLIED

Kelly Van Dyk at Prima Park in Matamata, where she leads the next generation of thoroughbreds.

In the world of horse racing, everyone knows that bloodline is key. A horse’s pedigree reliably indicates what racing traits it will inherit and, most importantly, its champion potential. But, it turns out, you can extrapolate the bloodline theory out to the world of horse training as well.

Kelly Van Dyk is a third-generation horsewoman, a former champion equestrian and New Zealand representative, and now the head of Prima Park, the prominent, family-run thoroughbred farm and equine facility located in Matamata, the heart of New Zealand's racing country.

“My grandfather Brian trained racehorses as a hobby,” Kelly explains. “He’d take my mother, Louise, and her sister for riding lessons and decided he was going to try and train and breed racehorses himself. He was quite successful in doing that, and mum was a very successful rider herself, competing in events at a high level.”

When Kelly came along, Brian wasted no time in introducing his granddaughter to the sport.

“He bought me a pony when I was really young. I rode from when I could walk,” she says.

Brian’s plan worked. “I caught the bug,” she laughs. But, so had her whole family.

Her dad, Leighton, retired from the family business, the popular furniture chain Van Dyks Furniture, in 2010 to focus on the fillies. He bought two weanlings, foals that are six months old, intending to resell them. There was, however, a big problem.

“I was at the height of my dressage career riding in Germany, when dad rang me up and said, ‘I’ve bought these two horses. I don't really know what to do with them. You’d better come home.’”

So, she did. Kelly and her dad took those weanlings to the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale, sold them for a profit and then did it again. And again. And again. Eventually, she was able to leave the job she’d taken at Waikato Stud, where she’d been studiously learning the “tricks of the trade”, to work on Prima Park full time.

With Kelly’s sole focus on the business, things started to take off. They outgrew the family farm in Putararu, where they’d been since 1992, and moved to a bigger property in Mystery Creek in 2016. They wouldn’t be there long.

In 2022, Kelly took the reins, so to speak, to head the company. She expanded both Prima Park’s offerings and its premises, moving the company to its world-class 50ha facility in Matamata.

“Mum and dad were getting older and wanted to take a step back. It’s a demanding job, very physical, hands-on work,” Kelly explains. “I felt like I was just getting started. I had that hunger and drive to really sink my teeth into it. I could see the opportunity.”

Prima Park’s business expanded to include the services it offers today, including breaking-in, pre-training, and agistment, all supported by its purpose-built equine facility, which even includes an 800-meter training track allowing specialised preparation for the yearling and Ready to Run bloodstock sales.

The success has been notable. Prima Park has graduated multiple top-tier racehorses, including Beat The Clock, a four-time Group 1 winner and Hong Kong Sprinter of the Year, and Warmonger, the 2024 Group 1 Queensland Derby winner. They’ve also won strong market recognition by consistently producing highvalue sales in the yearlings and Ready-to-Run sales. As well as the local market, Prima Park’s horses are also sold into Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. At last year’s New Zealand Bloodstock sale, they sold 18 of their 19 horses, making them the second leading vendor by aggregate, a new milestone for the facility, and selling the second highest horse of the sale for a whopping $775,000.

What makes it all the more impressive is that Kelly is the only woman in Australasia running a facility of this scale. Something that she says hasn’t always been easy.

“It’s been hard because I’m dealing with males 24-7 in the industry,” she admits. “But I wanted to prove that women could do this and that we can do anything. I have my own goals of what I want to achieve, and just because I’m a woman, it doesn’t mean that I can’t do it.

It’s just choosing a path you want to go down and sticking to it, really.”

Another challenge is balancing her love of horses with the commercial realities of needing to sell them on. She spends months with these animals and gets to know them and their personalities intimately.

“You’ve got to separate your emotions because you form a bond with them, you love the horse, but we do need to sell them. I wouldn’t say it gets easier. It’s just part of it. But there’s satisfaction in knowing that you’ve installed a lot of groundwork that then becomes results on the track.”

“Ultimately, we want to prepare horses to go on and do great things,” she says. “That’s what we keep our focus on. It’s getting better and better every year. We’ve got some big goals, and we want to keep building and producing quality horses that win big races.”

Then, smiling, she adds, “This is just the beginning.”

PRIMAPARK.CO.NZ

SEA CHANGE

A Tauranga seaweed farm is turning local waters into a hub for climate and coastal innovation.

WORDS ALISON SMITH PHOTOS PAUL ROSS JONES + SUPPLIED

Huna Hough of Greenwave Aotearoa at the Tauranga hatchery.

When healthy, New Zealand’s reef ecosystem is a rich and beautiful tapestry of fish species navigating golden hued kelp forests, pink paint and coralline seaweeds against a backdrop of teal green sea and bubbling tide.

This underwater world is underexplored and underappreciated by many, with spearfishers and snorkellers the most common admirers of its charms. Yet seaweed holds huge potential not only as an ecosystem in its own right, but as a climate hero for its ability to absorb carbon, filter water and provide a source of nutrients to humans and animals.

At the University of Waikato Marine Station in Sulphur Point Tauranga, a small and dedicated team lives and breathes seaweed. Greenwave Aotearoa began as a pilot project funded in part by the Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund (SFFF) administered by the Ministry of Primary Industries.

Led by Auckland-based venture developer EnviroStrat, Greenwave Aotearoa is building capacity for a network of regenerative ocean farmers to farm seaweed nationwide.

Māori have used seaweed for centuries — as a food source and for storage. As Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand explains: “with its long coastline and abundant seaweed resources, New Zealand has the potential for a thriving seaweed industry.

However, the labour-intensive nature of harvesting and aquaculture has prevented the country from competing against bigger producers in Asia.

Lucas Evans, Premium Seas, with Peter Randrup and Ryan Marchington, both Greenwave Aotearoa.

Greenwave Aotearoa has been working to turn this around.

“Our oceans hold vast potential for sustainable innovation and seaweed is one of the most promising solutions,” believes founder Dr Nigel Bradly. “By farming seaweed and creating high value uses for the harvested biomass we can create a future that supports our needs while protecting the environment.”

Getting to this point has taken a great deal of learning. The project began in the Hauraki Gulf at a seaweed trial adapted from mussel farm infrastructure off the Coromandel coast. It faced challenges — including skeleton shrimp eating early-stage growth, a marine heatwave, and adapting gear to grow something never farmed here before.

Here, mussel farmer Dave Blyth — who says he keeps meaning to retire — has had his retirement sailing trips disrupted by helping grow a new seaweed industry in New Zealand alongside the Greenwave team.

The process begins with collecting seaweed under permit from the wild. The team works with the seaweed to induce spores in a Sulphur Point hatchery, where it’s nurtured under red lights using techniques refined over three years.

Microscopic baby seaweed (sporophytes) is grown on spools. The Tauranga-based team led by Peter Randrup had to determine exactly what was needed for it to thrive in an artificial environment so seedlings could be produced at scale for planting on farms. This is where farmer Dave Blyth comes in.

Dave is showing the ropes to scientists including Greenwave aquaculture lead Ryan Marchington, who brings his seaweed farming experience from Europe. Seaweed farming is new in New Zealand, and the team had been using systems designed for mussels, not seaweed.

With Ryan sharing knowledge from overseas, the team has now optimised on-water operations using custom systems.

“It’s been a big learning process. You can grow seaweed in a hatchery but it doesn’t automatically follow that they’ll keep growing in the water,” says Dave. “I enjoy the innovating — designing the gear and coming up with new ways of doing things and working with the young people from Greenwave Aotearoa and the University of Waikato. Peter and Ryan and all the guys are good; no-one has got all the answers. You don’t curtail their enthusiasm but it’s good to inject how to do things out on the water in a way that will make it easier and more efficient.”

This collaboration between a seasoned mussel farmer and international techniques was a crucial turning point. Growing seaweed closer to the surface, as farmers do in Scotland, allowed the young sporophytes to photosynthesise more efficiently and outcompete fouling.

“Our hatcheries were producing good-quality spools. The issue was the farming system design,” explains Ryan. “Once we changed that, we saw the difference.”

Greenwave Aotearoa is now expanding to the South Island and is successfully growing Ryan’s favourite product innovation is key to the success of the industry, to enable full utilisation of New Zealand’s precious seaweed resources with benefits to seaweed farmers in coastal communities, product innovators and consumers. All without taking away the underwater forest upon which so many marine species rely.

GREENWAVE.NZ

HOME TRUTH BOMBS

Out of the mouths of babes (and clueless husbands!), Hayley Bath hilariously shares the mortifying truths only family can deliver.

Few things humble and embarrass you in life quite like a truthful child. I grew up knowing this well.

My older sister has never lived down the time she humiliated our mum when she was heavily pregnant with me. I can still picture it now — Mum waddling down the main street, my three-year-old sister holding her hand. They pass a rather rotund, rough-looking, patched-up gang member. My sister stops dead in her tracks, looks him up and down, and shouts ‘Look at that big fat man, Mum!’ Mum’s never waddled away faster in her life.

A little later, my sister spots another large-bellied man at the supermarket and asks, “Have you got a baby in your stomach, too?” The man went bright red with embarrassment. So, she doubles down: “Well, it sure looks like it!”

You’d think growing up with that story would have made me cautious. But no, I was lulled into a false sense of security by my sweet, articulate, well-behaved two-year-old. Then, when I was in the final throes of a twin pregnancy, and after sprinting to stop my toddler from running into the road, I damaged the cartilage between my pubic bones. The most painful thing I’ve ever had. And remember, I’ve given birth to twins.

Two weeks of bed rest followed, during which I had to wheat-pack my groin. When I finally made it back to daycare pick-up, the centre manager gently pulled me aside. With a polite but strained smile, she informed me that despite their best efforts to stop her, my daughter had spent an entire week standing at the front gate, loudly greeting arriving parents with: “Mummy’s vagina’s broken!” On repeat. Every. Single. Day.

I’d like to again clarify it was an injury to my pubic bone cartilage. Not what she said. Suddenly, the sympathetic smile from another mum made perfect sense.

But why is it that dads seem to get off so much lighter? My husband was pretty chuffed when one of our boys took to loudly exclaiming to anyone who would listen in public places that “Dad’s got a big penis!”.

I also learned the hard way that husbands can embarrass us just as well as children can. Last week I walked into the lounge just in time to overhear my husband telling his mother we have chlamydia. I nearly spat my tea across the room. “Yeah,” he was saying casually, “We’ve got hydrangeas over there, a weeping cherry tree too… Oh, and we also have chlamydia.” “Excuse me!?” I loudly exclaimed. It took me a beat to realise what he’d meant. “Camellias! We have camellias in the garden!” I screeched out to my blanched mother in law. No chlamydia. Just a hubby taking rookie punts at plant names.

So here I am, still recovering from my child loudly announcing my broken body parts and my husband enthusiastically spreading STD rumours to his mother.

One of these days the ground will kindly swallow me up. Until then I’ll quietly plan my revenge for their 21st and 50th birthday parties.

Catch Hayley on The Hits 95FM weekdays 9am to 3pm.

DRIVING CHANGE

Ebbett is driving into the future with an unusual new high-profile location. It’s a first for the family-owned car dealership, and one which could change the way cars are sold here in New Zealand.

We usually head to the mall for a spot of shopping, a visit to the Food Court or to catch the latest blockbuster movie. But how about picking out your new car before popping in to browse the latest fashions or meeting your friends for coffee?

In Hamilton, you can now do exactly that as the Waikato’s longstanding, family-owned car business Ebbett has opened a new dealership at popular shopping spot, The Base.

“Opening a dealership at a shopping mall is not something we've done before,” store manager Ben van den Engel enthuses. “It’s a whole new concept. It’s exciting and scary at the same time.”

It’s a bold and innovative venture for Ebbett Group, which has long been recognised for its commitment to customer service and the local communities that are home to its dealerships.

Instead of the traditional car yard, Ebbett The Base offers a premium and high-end experience.

“It’s less intimidating for people,” Ben says. “You're not going to this big, shiny showroom with thousands of cars and lots of salespeople waiting to pounce. It’s more intimate and more approachable.”

While a mall-based dealership is a new concept in Aotearoa, Ebbett director Richard van den Engel explains that while the high-profile location attracts foot traffic, the customer experience must remain seamless.

To that end, shoppers can explore vehicles in a premium, transparent environment with glass walls, couch seating and refreshments. For anyone wanting an immediate test drive, the demo vehicles are parked right outside the door. “It’s got the best of both worlds,” Richard smiles.

While it may look and operate differently from traditional car dealerships, all the expected aspects of the buying process can be handled in-store. Trade ins are appraised immediately, financing and insurance are handled in-house and mechanical services are coordinated with Ebbett’s workshop, conveniently located only a minute’s drive away. Simply drop your car off at the mall and they’ll handle the rest.

And unlike traditional dealerships, where customers encounter multiple staff members for sales, finance and aftercare, Ebbett takes a more personal approach.

“You’re dealing with the same person for all of those experiences all the way through,” Ben says. “It’s much more personal. And what Ebbett is all about.”

Another exciting development for Ebbett is the addition of the luxurious and technologically cutting-edge brands Zeekr and Geely range to their stock line-up.

“Zeekr is a premium Chinese brand that is looking to compete with Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes,” Ben says. “It’s got all the gizmos and fit and finish that you’d expect of a European car.”

When you consider Zeekr’s heritage, this isn’t surprising. The EV brand is part of the larger Geely family, the ninth largest seller of motor vehicles in the world. Its upmarket siblings include the elite sports car manufacturer Lotus, the European luxury brand Volvo and performance brand Polestar.

Ben explains that the Zeekr range consists of premium, sporty, cutting-edge vehicles, while the Geely range offers premium tech at a price point that's accessible to everyday Kiwis.

“Geely and Zeekr might be new brands in New Zealand, but they’re not small players,” he says. “Chinese manufacturers are often at the forefront of technology and innovation, and both of these brands deliver premium comfort, cutting-edge features, and competitive performance. I had a customer the other day get out of a Porsche Macan to test drive the Geely Starray, and he was blown away with how well it drove and the comfort and finish on the interior.”

Like the store itself, these two flagship brands challenge traditional market expectations. Zeekr, for example, offers high-performance vehicles that rival established European models. Their 7X model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds, delivering thrilling performance without compromising on comfort.

The community response to Ebbett’s new shopping mall location has been enthusiastic, with shoppers embracing the new format, testing vehicles, engaging with staff and sharing their impressions.

For both Ben and Richard, the most rewarding aspect has been the alignment of their values with daily operations.

“We try to do things differently at Ebbett. Our values are integrity, care, excellence and respect. And we actually strive to live that each and every day,” Ben says. “We want to give you such a great experience that you come back to buy a second car and tell your friends and family. Our vision is customers for life. That culture permeates through everything we do. It’s a buzz to be a part of.”

EBBETT.CO.NZ/DEALERSHIP/EBBETT-THE-BASE

THE RATE ESCAPE

With rates easing, Brooke Reynolds from Rapson Loans and Finance explains how to make every dollar work harder for your home goals.

As a mortgage adviser, I’m often the first to hear the collective sigh of relief when interest rates start to fall. Suddenly, those repayments feel a little less suffocating and the financial horizon looks a touch brighter. But while lower rates are welcome news, there is actually a lot more to think about than a slightly smaller weekly or fortnightly repayment.

If you’re already a homeowner, it’s tempting to let those savings slip quietly back into everyday life. Though there’s nothing wrong with a few extra dinners out and more room in the budget, if you can, consider keeping your repayments where they are. It’s one of the most effective, low-effort ways to get ahead.

By paying the same amount while your rate is lower, you’ll chip away at your principal faster and save thousands in interest over the life of your loan. Future-you will be very grateful.

A rate drop is also a good reminder to review your mortgage structure. Should you fix now? Should you split your loan? Locking in a lower rate can offer certainty, but there’s real value in maintaining flexibility as the market continues to shift. This is where personalised advice matters. The right structure isn’t one-size-fits-all, and small tweaks can make a meaningful difference over time.

For buyers, falling rates can feel like a golden ticket. Yes, your borrowing power usually increases, but so does everyone else’s. More buyers step into the market, competition ramps up, and the home that felt comfortably within reach last month may suddenly attract hotter interest. The best thing to do is to get your pre-approval sorted early, understand your true limit and don’t let cheaper money nudge you into paying more than a property is worth to you.

Lower rates also affect your savings behaviour. With less interest being earned on money sitting in the bank, it’s a good moment to check whether your savings accounts are still working for you. And if you’re building a deposit, make a habit of reviewing your KiwiSaver regularly. You want to ensure your fund choice and contribution strategy are supporting your home-buying goals, not quietly undermining them.

Falling interest rates are an opportunity, not a guarantee. They can open doors, but only if you walk through the right ones. Before you make a move, make sure you think about your strategy. In a shifting market, a plan is everything.

RAPSONLOANS.CO.NZ

FORKIN’ GOOD DRESSING

Kate Fenwick explains why DIY might just save your fridge – and the planet.

Simon and Kate on the set of their podcast, Forkin' Good.

If you’d told me last year that co-hosting a podcast with celebrity chef Simon Gault would turn me into a homemade salad dressing evangelist, I would have laughed and pointed to the 14 half-used condiments permanently living in my fridge door. Yet here we are.

The Forkin’ Good Podcast, for me, was meant to be about mainstreaming waste education, but it has also become my unofficial weekly cooking lesson, complete with gourmet wisdom and the occasional joke aimed at my "creative" kitchen habits.

One of Simon’s greatest gifts so far is teaching me the world’s simplest, most versatile salad dressing: 1 tsp creamy mustard, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and any amount of balsamic vinegar you like. Whisk it. Then pretend you’re a culinary genius. It tastes incredible.

More importantly, it solves a huge part of the waste problem sitting in your fridge. New Zealand households throw away over 100,000 tonnes of food waste every year, much of it because we overbuy, underuse and forget what is lurking in the back of the fridge. Add to that the estimated 1.76 billion single-use plastic containers we send to landfill annually, and suddenly that innocent-looking bottle of sesame-lime dressing becomes part of a much bigger issue.

Store-bought dressings are classic "use once, abandon forever" items. You try a new flavour, use two tablespoons, then it becomes a long-term fridge tenant until the expiry date finally forces you to confront your choices. That is food waste and plastic waste in one sad bottle.

Making your own dressing means: using ingredients you already have, so there is less waste and fewer forgotten bottles; avoiding preservatives and fillers, which is better for you and better for the planet; cutting back on plastic, because you can reuse the same jar over and over; and actually finishing what you make (wild concept, I know). And the best part is that you become more connected to your food again.

It is a tiny step back toward the DIY kitchen culture our grandparents lived by, where food was simple and nothing went to waste because resources were respected. That is the heart of the Forkin’ Good Podcast: learning simple shifts and rediscovering the joy of doing things yourself.

So tune in if you want practical tips and the occasional roasting of my cooking skills. We are pretty much on every platform you can find, including YouTube if you want to actually see what we are up to. Your fridge, and the planet, will thank you.

WASTEDKATE.CO.NZ

A NEW ERA

With more stores, more experiences and more reasons to visit, Tauranga Crossing continues to grow with its community.
WORDS JO-MARIE BAKER

Tauranga Crossing is a shopping centre that has always had one eye on the future, and those dreams are now coming to fruition. With around 4,000 homes soon to be built in Tauriko West, and the suburb’s industrial estate continuing to expand, Tauranga Crossing is at the heart of one of our biggest growth areas.

“There is further development to come,” promises centre manager Janet Vincent. “Geographically, we’re right in the middle of the Golden Triangle and overseas retailers see that. With our new Farmers extension, we now have one of the largest retail footprints of any mall in the Bay of Plenty and we have plenty of room to expand. Plans are already underway.”

An additional 8,100m² of space at the north-east end of the mall opened in October, anchored by a two-storied flagship Farmers store alongside an expansive Toyworld, Stirling Sports, Stirling Women and Farmer Autovillage showroom. More retailers, including JB Hi-Fi, will be arriving in 2026.

“The Farmers extension is a huge milestone for us,” Janet says. “It’s a lovely, uplifting anchor to that end of the mall. It’s definitely the next generation of Farmers stores with beautiful details and finishings throughout — everything from the tiling to the lights, the dressing room décor and the shop-floor displays have been thoughtfully done and look incredible.”

Just as much care has gone into sustainable planning and design, with 714 solar panels installed on the walls and roof above a hedge that wraps around the extension’s exterior. It will generate enough clean energy to offset the same amount of carbon as growing 1,800+ trees annually or avoiding nearly 170,000km of car travel (four times around the earth).

ChargeNet has also installed the largest collection of EV charging stations in New Zealand in the carpark — 10 fast charging points, including one campervan and one car and trailer.

Janet says Tauranga Crossing is designed to be a place where people feel welcome. And that’s never more apparent than at Christmas. “We really embrace Christmas. Being a shopping centre, there’s obviously a commercial side to it, but we want to celebrate the community side too and make it a magical space to come and visit and really immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit and excitement.

“Christmas is such an important time for retail but we’re also mindful that this can be a pressured time for people. Which is why we also provide opportunities for our community to help each other and show some Christmas generosity.”

Tauranga Crossing is hosting its second annual Trees for Charity campaign in partnership with Tauranga Community Foodbank. The public help to decorate 30 Christmas trees which will be on display throughout the centre before being donated to a family in need across the region, along with a $500 PAK’nSAVE gift card.

“We’re also collecting Foodbank donations to help bring joy and provide the essentials for everyone to enjoy a happy Christmas,” Janet says. “It’s really lovely to see how much comes in and how much the community want to be involved. It’s very special.”

With over 120 stores now spread over 50,000m² of retail space and more development on the horizon, there’s no doubt Tauranga Crossing is a significant player in our regional economy.

“We’re always listening to what customers want, and what brands they want to see here, and we’re excited for what’s to come. We still have significant development opportunities ahead including a Lifestyle Centre and Stage 4 expansion where we are actively in discussions with household-name tenants.

“But our intent is to create a space where you can experience a thriving community hub where everyone feels welcome.”

TAURANGACROSSING.CO.NZ

Keeping Christmas alive

More than a Christmas shop, Angela Thomson’s magical Te Puke store

reflects her lifelong mission to create lasting joy for others.

WORDS Hayley Barnett | PHOTOS Alan Gibson

In the heart of Te Puke sits a little pocket of wonder, a tiny store in which every corner whispers nostalgia. Christmas Magic Makers is one woman’s mission to bring joy and magic back into people’s lives. Angela Thomson, a mother of nine, a grandmother and a woman who has poured every inch of her spirit (and savings) into keeping the magic alive, admits her love affair with Christmas is ingrained.

“My parents split when we were young,” she says. “But Mum always made sure Christmas was magical. We’d wake up to presents and stockings, and then go to be with my grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Everyone was there. We’d pick peas and corn from the garden for Christmas lunch. It was that perfect kind of chaos.”

That sense of magic became something Angela couldn’t let go of, and nor did she want to. With nine children and now five grandchildren of her own, she’s been recreating that spirit every year, passing it on through Christmas rituals.

“Most of the kids say, ‘That’s just Mum’s thing,’” she laughs. “Though one of my daughters has started doing her own version. It’s toned down now, but I can see her growing into it.”

But what many don’t see behind the tinsel is the personal cost. After a failed marriage, and dealing with the challenges of raising a son with severe cerebral palsy, Angela faced depression and health complications. Her rare blood vessel disease, coeliac disease and iron intolerance mean regular infusions that leave her depleted for days.

“Some infusions wipe me out for up to six days,” she says. “I’ll be stuck in bed, aching, puffy-eyed, unable to think straight.”

She opened the shop in 2017 and still runs it alone. “There’s no staff. Just me.”

Despite the physical toll, she presses on. Her second husband, Phil, and one of her older sons, Matthew, who lives on their property in a tiny home, step in to help care for Sam, her son with cerebral palsy.

“Sam can’t walk, talk or eat on his own,” she explains. “Matthew is amazing. He’s said he’ll care for Sam for life. When he walks into the room, Sam just lights up. Their bond is beautiful.”

In many ways, Christmas Magic Makers is Angela’s 10th child, something she nurtures. But times are hard. Last Christmas was her worst sales season yet, and this year she’s using her own retirement savings to keep the lights on. “It panicked me,” she admits. “I’ve got zero in the business account, but I love what I do. If I stopped, what would I be doing?”

She’s not interested in turning the store into a moneymaker. “It was never about money. It’s about making memories.” And she does that, not just through décor and retail, but through unexpected acts of kindness. Like the little boy who walked in last year and fell in love with a toy train. Angela gave it to him. “He was just so happy. It was sitting unused in the back anyway.”

Still, she’s trying to evolve the business to survive. She’s begun stocking general giftware, especially for kids, that can be bought for birthdays, not just Christmas. “I’m making Lucky Dip boxes now,” she says, referring to surprise boxes filled with small treasures. “Kids love them, and it doesn’t take much.”

But the reality of running a seasonal shop in a small town is tough. “Te Puke’s rent is high, and I can’t just move somewhere else. The whole shop is built into this space. If I had to pull it apart, I wouldn’t do it again.

“I know they say not to tell people you’re struggling, but I think people need to know. Once this place is gone, it’s gone. There’s nothing else like it.”

Her store might be filled with toys, but its foundation is built on grit. Angela started her working life in the Air Force, and later found herself raising children with special needs and battling serious health issues. It seems Angela has never chosen the easy path. During this time she even earned a PhD in law, a move she now admits was about trying to please her mother. “But that wasn’t me. I never even practised. I just wanted to make her proud.”

Now, finally, Angela is doing something just for herself. Christmas Magic Makers is her passion project and her gift to the community. Whether it survives past the next lease renewal (in August next year) depends largely on whether the community embraces it.

“People think, ‘Oh, it’s just a Christmas shop,’” she says. “But it’s more than that. It’s a place where kids make memories and where families can come together.”

As we wrap up, Angela’s eyes water. “I’ve spent my life doing what others expected. This shop is for me. I’m not ready to give it up.”

If you’re ever near Te Puke, step inside Christmas Magic Makers. You might walk out with a stocking filler, but more than that, you’ll carry a little piece of the magic Angela’s been creating her whole life.

CHRISTMASMAGICMAKERS.CO.NZ

Blooms with heart

Melissa Cox has opened her lush Pāpāmoa garden, to provide local brides with budget-friendly blooms that are all grown with love.

WORDS JO-MARIE BAKER | PHOTOS KATIE COX

Flowers add a glorious touch to weddings and other special occasions but can often set you back thousands of dollars.

That’s why avid gardener Melissa Cox is now offering an affordable alternative by launching a new business called Pāpāmoa Pick Your Own Flowers. Here you can help yourself to as many blooms and as much greenery as you can carry for just $100.

Dubbed ‘the little garden with a big heart’, Melissa wants to help those who cannot afford traditional florist services.

“I love florists but I remember how stressful it was to not only plan a wedding, but to pay for it. I’m filling a niche for people who don’t have the money in this economy but still want pretty flowers for their wedding, baby shower, birthday, tangi or corporate event.

“I firmly believe in community and helping each other out. I’m already growing flowers in my garden, so if you need them, take them.”

Melissa also goes the extra mile to make flower picking a special experience by playing relaxing music and serving cold drinks and biscuits. “People just need to bring their own buckets. I’ll provide scissors and garden gloves,” she smiles.

Only two bookings per week are available between October and April, to ensure there’s enough flowers to go around. Brides-to-be can bring up to three helpers with them, and have a maxiumum of one hour to pick whatever they like from Melissa’s home garden.

“My favourite are lilies because they’re just like starbursts of happiness. Calla lilies were my wedding flower, and royal lilies are incredibly fragrant. I really love ferns too, so I have several kinds growing here. I love everything that looks whimsical.”

The scent of lavender greets everyone who visits this standard residential-sized garden. But in spring and summer it’s bursting with dahlias, hydrangeas, carpet and long-stemmed roses, gerberas, gladioli, statice (sea lavender), African daisies, flowering herbs and every shade of green foliage imaginable. “I have lots of random wildflowers everywhere too. I never know where they’re going to pop up!”

People are welcome to visit in autumn and winter also, where for a discounted price of $75, they can pick any greenery they like along with long-stem lavender, African daisies, pink camellias and flowering jade.

While most people are happy to assemble their own bouquets, vases or table arrangements at home, Melissa can whip up a bridal bouquet for $50 or a bridesmaid bouquet for $25 if floral arranging isn’t your forte.

“My mum was an interior decorator and a dried flower arranger who ran her own gift shop. On the side she also did fresh flower bouquets to order, so she taught me how to do a good job of arranging a bouquet.”

Melissa can also source affordable supplementary blooms or specific colours that people might require from other local growers. “There is a wonderful dahlia grower in Tauriko who I partner with. For $25 I can have a bunch of high-end dahlias waiting here for you in whatever size or colour you want, depending on the season.”

Melissa developed her garden from scratch during Covid lockdowns after buying her Pāpāmoa home in 2020.

“I garden for therapy. It’s proven to be good for you. Serotonin, your happy hormone, increases when you’re in the sun, in the dirt, and connecting with nature.”

Melissa’s secret is to water regularly and feed the garden heavily with fertiliser. She never uses pesticides, instead spraying plants with neem oil and apple cider vinegar to keep bugs and diseases at bay.

“Unless it’s a drought, things will flower. Because when you cut them back, they want to flower more. I grow a lot from seed and from cuttings from friends. I’m installing new flower beds at the moment because of the interest in this business. I’m planning to put in more hydrangea -really cute little ones that are white. And more wildflowers because they reseed themselves.”

Melissa’s goal isn’t to make money from her new business. “The only reason I charge is to help pay for my fertiliser. I hope this garden can help a lot of people.”

PAPAMOA.FLOWERS

A legend lives on

Sir Gordon Tietjens is busy creating a new legacy off the field.

WORDS NICKY ADAMS | PHOTOS ALAN GIBSON

“I built my teams based on traditional values, honesty, respect, humility... all the qualities you need in an individual. Then you had to create the culture. You want to pick players that are prepared to roll their sleeves up and work hard. Because that’s the Sevens game.”

While Sir Gordon Tietjens is clearly discussing the attributes needed in an elite sportsperson, there’s a direct alignment with the qualities needed to build a solid business. After an exceptional career spanning 22 years of coaching the All Black Sevens team (while simultaneously working at Bay Engineering Supplies), Sir Gordon left a legacy in this field that most New Zealanders would agree has been unparalleled. He has, however, more recently found his niche in another sports related arena. In 2019 he was approached to become brand ambassador for Legend Sportswear; he jumped at the challenge of this new opportunity but quickly realised that it was something to which he could add not just gravitas, but also his expertise. As with everything he does, rather than being a figure head, this is a ‘boots and all’ role.

Player from Rotorua Primary School wearing Legend Sportswear.

The Legend Sportswear brand had only recently established itself in apparel when Sir Gordon came on board. It had already been successfully operating in garment manufacture since 2004 from its dedicated factory in Shanghai. When Mandy Qi and Looi Tan, the Australian owners, decided to move into sportswear, they first targeted the Pacific market, quickly making firm inroads into the sports circles of Australia and Fiji, securing the apparel supply for the Newcastle Jets in Australia and the Fiji rugby league team to go to the World Cup. Coming on as brand ambassador, Sir Gordon straight away immersed himself in the role — representing, speaking and promoting the brand. However, it wasn’t long before he saw that here was a gap in the New Zealand market, and one that Legend Sportswear could fill.

Australian owners of Legend Sportswear Mandy Qi & Looi Tan.

“I saw a real opportunity to build and grow our brand,” says Sir Gordon. “Two of us started up, my current office manager Amelia Tagica and myself, and straight away we contracted three sports clubs in the Bay of Plenty. It’s just grown from there. We’ve now got an office here, three graphic designers and three administrators.”

Initially concentrating on sportswear, Legend is now the choice for adults and children across multiple sports disciplines, plus school sports and even school uniforms.

For a person with a public persona, becoming the name - and face - of a brand is layered. Of course, the exposure is there from the offset, however, there is a definite responsibility to the public that the product lives up to the endorsement. There is no question in Sir Gordon’s mind that Legend Sportswear is more than worthy of having his name behind it. He knows that Legend’s core values align with his own - trustworthy, affordable, high-quality and exceptional customer service.

“I see more than anything that you need to build relationships, and within that relationship you build trust. That to me is the real key,” he explains. “That’s what it’s all about. If you want to build the brand you build it around being professional and being right up there and competing with the best... Being a new brand we’ve got to prove ourselves. That’s what we’ve been doing, and we’ve seen the growth.”

The quality is, of course, important. Without doubt there are aspects to the construction process that Sir Gordon is very proud - sublimation (a technique where design is transferred onto the fabric) being one. Another is their ability to be flexible and make changes to the stock design, plus a high level of sustainability; something the company stands behind.

Of huge importance too is the process itself. “One of the real benefits is that we provide the opportunity for our customers to come in and sit with our graphics team to do their own designs... You might spend a couple of hours, but your designs are approved and set and away you go.”

Add to this the efficient rollout: “A big positive for us is the delivery. Our times are really good,” he adds. “We’re looking at four weeks, sometimes three, from the confirmation of the artwork being approved and the order being placed.”

I wonder how Sir Gordon’s background and expertise plays into the whole process. “I suppose because I’ve been immersed in sport, coaching the All Black Sevens for 22 years, and I’ve been involved in the different apparel companies. I know the expectations of what an athlete wants and what’s good and what’s not. And I’m putting my name next to a product that excites an athlete, that they really want to wear and

that’s good quality.”

As a home-grown Bay of Plenty native, Sir Gordon holds his authenticity and the value of personal service dear, which is why when the product arrives, it’s in a van being delivered by Sir Gordon himself.

LEGENDSPORTSWEAR.CO.NZ

Two paths, one purpose

How one Tauranga school is helping students thrive in their own way.

PHOTO ALAN GIBSON

ACG students Carl Huppmann and Ruby Jones.

There’s a saying that excellence doesn’t come in one shape. At ACG Tauranga, it’s nurtured in many forms. Just ask Ruby Jones and Carl Huppmann. From early mornings in the pool to international academic accolades, the two senior students have carved very different paths, and yet, their journeys are rooted in the same thing: a fiercely supportive school environment.

For Ruby, sport was always in the picture, having been a competitive swimmer since childhood. But it was ACG that introduced her to the team side of things.

“I wasn’t into netball at all before coming here,” she admits. “But we were such a small school back then, they needed more players. I gave it a go and ended up loving it.”

Today, she juggles netball, volleyball and art, along with her school work, and leads by example.

“Leadership for me is about including everyone. Making sure people feel seen, like they belong.”

Whether it’s younger students running up to say hello or teammates bonding during games, her influence is felt widely. But she’s also candid about her journey not always being smooth.

“I’ve never been an overachiever,” she says. “When I started here, I struggled, especially with the academics. I had to learn how to manage my time, ask for help and actually study.”

She speaks openly about the pressure of juggling schoolwork, training and her creative passions. “I put a lot of time into art. It’s something I’m really proud of.”

Carl’s story is slightly different. A self-proclaimed non- athlete when he first moved from Germany, he found his stride at ACG through the freedom to explore.

“I wasn’t into sport until I came here, but we had PE all the time, and I just gave things a try. One day I walked into the sports office and asked if I could join the hockey team and that was how I got started.”

Since then, Carl’s achievements have soared, topping the world in IGCSE PE and mentoring students through coaching and leadership roles. But he’s quick to credit the culture around him.

“Here, every teacher knows your name. They know how to help you grow.”

That close-knit feel is something both students agree on. Teachers are accessible and students are encouraged to take risks, whether in sport, the arts or academics. “It’s a school that doesn’t box you in,” says Ruby. “They support your passions, whatever they are.”

And for students just starting their ACG journey? “Don’t stress the small stuff,” Ruby says with a smile. “You’re here to learn, and everyone’s got your back.” Carl agrees: “Take every opportunity, because in a place like this, they’re everywhere.”

TAURANGA.ACGEDU.COM

Future served

Young Kiwis are flipping expectations while quietly growing into tomorrow’s leaders.

Jaun Odendaal

Walk into any McDonald’s across the country and you’ll find something remarkable happening behind the counter. Teenagers and young adults are managing teams, solving problems on the fly, training others, and picking up life skills they’ll carry long after they leave.

As one of Aotearoa’s largest youth employers, McDonald’s employs more than 10,000 people across the country, with around 70 percent of them being under 25. While it’s often seen as just a stepping stone, what’s becoming increasingly clear is that Macca’s can be the launchpad for something much bigger.

Seventeen-year-old Hamish Lawes, from McDonald’s Fenton Street Rotorua, is proof of just how far a young person can go when given the tools and encouragement to grow. Having joined the crew a year ago, the John Paul College student and avid musical performer, was drawn to the flexibility Macca’s offered.

“I liked the hours and the team,” he explains. “When I started, I thought I’d come and get the job done, but the more I learned, the more I realised how much opportunity there actually is.”

He’s now assistant shift manager, preparing to take on the shift manager role, and will soon be attending McDonald’s Advancing Your Leadership course.

“I love that no two days are the same,” he adds. “Teaching others different stations keeps things fresh, and the problem-solving skills I’ve gained are things I’ll use forever.”

Hamish Lawes.

Down in Taupō, Jaun Odendaal has had a similar experience. At 23, he’s been at McDonald’s for four years.

“I started while I was still in school, just to make some money,” he says. “I enjoyed the job so much I decided to stay and work up the ranks.”

Now a crew trainer with a hand in kitchen operations and maintenance, Jaun is aiming for a management role.

“It’s not just about flipping burgers,” he says. “For me, being a crew trainer is about understanding people. I like figuring out how they learn and adapting the way I train.” Looking ahead, Jaun adds, “I want to be the best manager I can be for my crew.”

There’s still a tendency to underestimate jobs like these. But, in many ways, what young people learn at Macca’s, including valuable skills like communication, time management and teamwork under pressure, are the same skills that carry them forward in life, no matter what they choose to do.

For Hamish, Jaun and many others, it’s not just a job. It’s where they learned to back themselves.

MCDONALDS.CO.NZ/LEARN/CAREERS

Unstoppable Women

The BWN Speaker Series 2025 lit up Tauranga with some big names, bold stories and infectious energy.

WORDS CARRIE BROWN

Robyn Malcolm.

When actor Robyn Malcolm, global thought leader Cassie Roma, broadcaster Toni Street and fashion designer Kiri Nathan are all on one stage you know something special is about to happen.

This year’s Business Women’s Network (BWN) Speaker Series brought together an extraordinary lineup of inspiring women, each sharing stories of resilience, leadership, creativity and confidence. Held at Baycourt Theatre in Tauranga, the 2025 event was the largest and most dynamic BWN event to date, drawing 450 attendees for a day of insight, empowerment and connection.

Toni Street.

Toni Street opened the programme with a raw and heartfelt talk on navigating personal hardship, and how sharing your story can foster deep human connection. Kiri Nathan followed with her journey of cultural identity and purpose, offering a moving reflection on what it means to lead with authenticity.

Then came the laughs. Robyn Malcolm delivered a sharp, witty and candid talk that had the audience in stitches while also reflecting deeply on the power of living truthfully at every stage of life. Rounding out the speaker sessions, Cassie Roma brought electric energy to the stage with her call for women to lead with kindness and back themselves unapologetically.

Kiri Nathan.

The event theme ‘Unstoppable: Owning Your Story’ pulsed through every talk. Throughout the day, MCs Jase Reeves and Sam Wallace from Coast FM’s Morning Show kept the energy high and the atmosphere light, weaving fun and warmth through the entire experience.

Guests were welcomed with drinks and canapés before exploring the upstairs Connect and Nourish Hub, where a fresh, vibrant lunch was served alongside sponsor activations and tastings from local vendors.

Downstairs in the Style and Sip Lounge, the focus was on fashion, flair and indulgence.

Guests browsed Kiri Nathan’s garments and pounamu designs, enjoyed makeup touch-ups, sipped coffee and wine, and soaked up the relaxed, elegant atmosphere.

This year’s Speaker Series was more than just an event - it was a celebration of women showing up, owning their stories and lifting each other up.

Cassie Roma.

Tauranga Business Chamber offers a heartfelt thank you to the sponsors who made it all possible: principal partners Cooney Lees Morgan and Craigs Investment Partners, alongside partners Coast FM, KingSt Design, Hatch Consulting, Kale Print, Port of Tauranga, Rentlink Property Management, Toi Ohomai and Westpac. And to the hundreds of women who attended: thank you for being part of it.

The Business Women’s Network is a part of the Tauranga Business Chamber.

TAURANGA.ORG.NZ

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

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

Kind, firm, calm

Could the secret to great parenting be KFC?

Ever find yourself second-guessing the decisions you make as a parent? Wondering if you're being too strict, too soft, too harsh, too lenient?

Good news – there is a simple balance that offers an easy-to-remember parenting posture. It combines warmth and affection, is held in place with gentle leadership, and is delivered calmly knowing that children thrive when the atmosphere is peaceful.

I like to call this KFC – kind, firm, calm. Keeping a balance of these three things is the key to parenting.

Be kind

When we’re communicating with our kids, our tone of voice really matters. We need to stay kind and pleasant. If we are mean, sarcastic or shouty, our children will feel like they need to defend themselves and the issue will get lost in a fight.

Listen to your children and offer them empathy and support. Convey warmth, interest and love so they feel seen and heard by you. A stern look or raised eyebrows can communicate our impatience and irritation. On the other hand, gazing lovingly at your children and showing you are pleased to see them offers a deep feeling of safety and being loved.

Be firm

Children need us to be firm, even though they will do their best to get us to fold. Work out what you’re prepared to stand by and stay the course. Children will be relentless if they find they can sway us, and our job will be much harder. A great motto is, “Say it, mean it, do it.” Remember that children feel safe, loved and protected when the big people set boundaries and stick to them.

Be calm

We need to be a constant source of calm in our families – as if we are set on a thermostat. The weather may change, but we don’t. When storms threaten, instead of losing our cool, yelling and reminding our kids about stuff they already know – we stay calm. Our confidence is conveyed by speaking quietly and bringing our voice down at the end of a sentence. Avoid fighting words that invite a challenge. For example, “There will be no biscuits until you have unpacked your school bag” works better with an invitation to cooperate instead.

“You may have a biscuit as soon as you have unpacked your school bag.” If you find yourself flooded with emotion, find a way to regain your composure. Press pause. Take some deep breaths and a few steps back. Make a cup of tea or go outside and reflect on what just happened.

When you keep your composure, your children look at you and see how it’s done. They see that the big person in their life is not thrown or overwhelmed by their behaviour and it helps them relax and begin their own process of self-regulating.

PARENTINGPLACE.NZ

Extracted from Kind, Firm, Calm – Simple strategies to transform your parenting, by Jenny Hale.