Designing for change
In a world of profit-driven corporates, Jenny Williams of Jumbo Design is helping create a different picture – one of compassion and community.
In a world of profit-driven corporates, Jenny Williams of Jumbo Design is helping create a different picture – one of compassion and community.
WORDS Hayley Barnett | PHOTOS Salina Galvan
Amove from Auckland to the Bay two years ago was a way for Jenny Williams to really sink her teeth into something a bit more bite sized. Having been immersed in the corporate world for years, Jenny and husband David had recently had a taste of what it was like to give back to their community and decided purpose-driven business suited them much more than the corporate world.
“Really, it’s small businesses and charities that are keeping our country ticking over at the minute,” says Jenny, co-owner of Jumbo Design, the name of which was her nickname as a toddler. “I take it as a term of endearment!”
Together with David, Jenny has created a business that specialises in branding and design for small businesses and charities, and charge differing fees based on the client.
Jenny, David and dog Lexi have made Te Puke their home and work base.
Striving for integrity became a key factor for the couple when they started working with a charity called Steps For Life Foundation, focused on supporting youth in the fight against childhood obesity.
“It started pretty randomly,” explains Jenny. “I was at the gym and finishing a workout when one of the guys who worked at the gym came and plonked himself next to me and asked, ‘do you reckon you could help my sister and I out with a website?’ So began 10 years of working with the Steps for Life Foundation.”
Sadly, the charity had to stop work over Covid lockdowns and hasn’t had the funds to start up again since. But it was Steps For Life that was the catalyst for Jenny to realise she had a way of helping other charities and not-for-profits through her design work.
“I finally realised that art and compassion had a way to work together,” she says. “I had the power to invoke change through art.”
Today, from her home in Te Puke, she markets her skills towards charities and small businesses as a way of giving back. “David and I are at a point in our careers where we have the ability to help others,” explains Jenny. “There are so many businesses out there doing good that don’t have the budgets big corporations do, and there’s also a lot of cowboys offering services for extortionate amounts of money. We don’t think that’s fair.
We negotiate a price that is equitable to the client.”
Of course, they still work for large companies, but Jenny hopes to get to more clients who are helping to make a difference in the community.
Known as “the Geek” by family and friends, David is a full-stack developer who also specialises in SEO and Google Analytics. Jenny’s strengths and passion lie in designing and crafting brands that make businesses and charities shine in a competitive market. But the best part, she says, is meeting and connecting with people.
“It’s fun helping those small guys, seeing the satisfaction they get from the work you do for them,” says Jenny. “And I love going for coffee catch ups, even if it’s just for a chat around future plans.”
Ripples of change
The Women’s Fund is a group creating a community dedicated to empowering other women and whānau in the Western Bay of Plenty. Co-founder Hayley Nelson talks to UNO about how it came to be, and how being empowered as a child by the strongest woman she knew led her to where she is today.
The Women’s Fund is a group creating a community dedicated to empowering other women and whānau in the Western Bay of Plenty. Co-founder Hayley Nelson talks to UNO about how it came to be, and how being empowered as a child by the strongest woman she knew led her to where she is today.
WORDS Hayley Barnett
PHOTOS Giselle Brosnahan + Salina Galvan
Clockwise from top left: Hayley Nelson, Avah Smith, Christie McGregor, Anne Pankhurst and Keryn Jarvis.
On the eve of Mother’s Day earlier this year, Hayley Nelson stepped up to the podium to speak at the Western Bay of Plenty Women’s Fund breakfast held in Tauranga. She stunned everyone with her own mother’s tragic story in which she battled mental illness, before succumbing to it by taking her own life.
Hayley became her mother’s primary caregiver at the age of 13, after a car accident left her injured – something Hayley understood as a cry for help. She learned to take care of not just her ill and injured mother, who suffered from bipolar affective disorder and post-natal depression, but also her three brothers and their home, all while attending high school.
Somehow, amidst the chaos of her life, Hayley managed to travel the world at just 16 years old, before returning to study and work for a number of major banks in client-facing and leadership roles. Tragically, her mother committed suicide when Hayley was 24 years old. But despite this, her own resilience, Hayley says, is down to being raised by this “superhero mum” who did all she could with the limited resources she had to hand, while struggling to maintain her mental health.
Today Hayley is the general manager of Craigs Investment Partners in Tauranga, and the co-founder of the WBOP Women’s Fund, made up of influential local women looking to give back to their community by helping other women in need.
“When I think about why I wanted to give back, I reflect on that 13-year-old,” says Hayley. “I wondered how we could look after those children in similar situations, with mothers suffering from something they know nothing about. I think of my brothers, of the trauma they’ve been through, and I feel for the seven-year-old, or that 10-year-old, or that 19-year-old who later lost his mum and didn’t even understand her illness. Kids any age can be really confused by people’s actions.”
It’s a situation that far too many families face, but today the amount of resources and information available is far greater than it was when Hayley was growing up. Her aim is to tap into that and become a connector between charities and those who want to help.
Together with her long-time friend Keryn Jarvis, she started building the Women’s Network as a way to access philanthropic groups and businesses, to raise funds and then give those funds to charities that help women, girls and whānau in need.
“In the beginning, a Giving Circle felt like a good way of achieving that,” explains Hayley. “But then we thought, actually, let’s go bigger. There’s lots of different people doing amazing work and we know that it’s hard to raise funds at the moment. So we thought, hey, let’s utilise our work, our contacts, and boost other organisations in the process. That’s really what it’s about – just helping people to help others.”
Hayley was inspired by the likes of the late Chloe Wright, who built the Bethlehem Birthing Centre and Kids Start. “Something I remember hearing from her was around the importance of maternal wellbeing in mothers,” says Hayley. “She knew something needed to be done and she was trying to do all she could to help in that space. It’s like all these things have been pointing me towards this path, saying, this is something you need to do to give back in some way, whether it’s financial or inspirational.”
It turns out it was both. Hayley and Keryn began talking with the Acorn Foundation, who at the time was represented by Emily Golding. Frances Mole has since taken her position.
“And then I thought, right, anything that happens in this town Anne Pankhurst knows about or wants to be involved in. So I reached out to the Tauranga Business Chamber, who Anne was with at the time.
“Then Anne was keen to have a lawyer on board,” Hayley continues. “Both of us knew Christie McGregor from Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers quite well and we knew she was involved with the Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support, which focuses on sexual assault awareness. And I wanted to get a youth voice in there as well, which is really important. So I reached out to Priority One, and Avah Smith put her hand up. She was one of the young female leaders in their INSTEP programme. She’s been a delight. It’s such a good group.”
Together the group helps to organise fundraisers through their member’s businesses, as well as getting the word out through their respective contacts and organising their own events throughout the year. Next Mother’s Day, the WBOP Women’s Fund will announce the charities their members have nominated, voted for and donated to. “But we don’t want to become an events company,” cautions Hayley. “Our focus is on connection.”
So how did she come to be such a master connector herself, I ask. “I think my background has something to do with it,” she says. “Changing schools and moving towns, I had to learn to meet people. Now I’m not afraid to talk to anybody, or introduce people because if you don’t, you don’t get to meet anybody and you end up sitting in the corner on your own.”
It seems to be Hayley’s tenacity and resilience which has led her down this path – something she knows she’s lucky to have. But she also knows it takes more than resilience to get through tough times. It also takes support from others. “I remember in the 1980s my grandmother took me to the Schizophrenia Fellowship – it was the only place to get information on mental health and wellbeing – so that I could understand a little bit around what was happening with my mum. That was all that Nana knew she could do. But it was a really helpful thing for me. I became more curious, more compassionate and understanding.”
That’s what Hayley hopes to do for these charities through the Women’s Fund – reach out and do the best she can.
Moving mountains
Globally, on average, one man dies by suicide every minute, and in New Zealand, the number of suspected self-inflicted deaths for males is 2.5 times that of women. Ahead of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month this November, UNO spoke to four Bay of Plenty locals, leading mental health initiatives to challenge the status quo of men’s health and help Kiwi men live longer, healthier lives.
Globally, on average, one man dies by suicide every minute, and in New Zealand, the number of suspected self-inflicted deaths for males is 2.5 times that of women. Ahead of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month this November, UNO spoke to four Bay of Plenty locals, leading mental health initiatives to challenge the status quo of men’s health and help Kiwi men live longer, healthier lives.
WORDS Karen Clarkson
Rob Dunne, Movember country manager.
In 2004, while living in London, Robert Dunne was introduced to Justin Couglan, one of the original ‘Mo’ Bro’s’ from Movember – the international movement changing the face of men’s health. He grew a moustache and ran Europe’s first event for the leading men’s health charity. Twenty moustaches later, Robert lives in Whakamarāma and works as the country manager helping the organisation tackle the three largest health issues affecting men; mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
“Over the past 21 years, Movember has definitely put men’s health on the map,” explains Robert. “Globally, we fund 1,300 men’s health projects and have attracted seven million supporters since we began.”
Josh Darby, Movember project manager; Russell Wood, FENZ deputy chief executive; Robert Dunne, Movember country manager.
Across the motu, Robert and his team work alongside organisations like the Mental Health Foundation, Fire Emergency New Zealand (FENZ), NZ Rugby, and Māori health providers, funding health programmes to transform health outcomes for Kiwi men. He says in his 14 years as country manager, the most significant shift he has seen is the acknowledgement of suicide and poor mental health as a major health issue.
“Mental health doesn’t discriminate. From teenagers to grandparents,
Pakeha to Pasifika – I have met CEOs, celebrities, athletes and All Blacks all struggling with their mental health. Just like our physical health, we need to prioritise our mental health – and with the right knowledge and support, we can influence the outcomes.”
Of the 45 men’s health partners Movember supports locally, 16 of these are dedicated to improving men’s mental health and suicide prevention. “Navigating the nuances of mental health is difficult, and getting the
right information and support to the right person at the right time is a balance that I don’t believe New Zealand invests enough resources in. While there is an increasing number of programmes available, it is important to note that we’re just at the start of the journey to moving the needle on our statistics.”
He says one important step is to effectively report mental health and suicide, including measuring and linking incidences of depression. In partnership with Otago University, Movember is funding a national men’s health report (to be released in 2025) – a milestone initiative which will present data to showcase the real face of men’s health in Aotearoa and aims to affect change nationally, including within government.
“We need to fully understand why men are struggling, how to support them to overcome their personal challenges, and how government, non-government organisations, iwi and community can work together. The encouraging part is that while we have issues to overcome, there are many wonderful people doing incredible work to create change within our communities.”
Kōrero and cardio
One such organisation is Men Making Miles – a Tauranga men’s mental health support group dedicated to improving mental wellbeing by combining physical activity and meaningful conversations.
Founded in 2021 by Duncan Woonton and Eru Piwari, the not-for-profit
was inspired by Duncan’s martial arts sessions with Eru – a professional mixed martial art (MMA) athlete and combat trainer. As Duncan and Eru both faced their own mental health challenges, including anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction, their training sessions soon turned into a form of counselling.
Duncan Woonton and Eru Piwari from Men Making Miles.
“Like most New Zealand men, we kept our personal challenges to ourselves, but we realised talking and training turned out to be incredibly supportive,” says Duncan. “This sparked the conversation about the benefits of combining cardio and conversation, creating a supportive space for men to connect, share and train together.”
Men Making Miles runs free fortnightly sessions for men from Eru’s gym, Unleashed Training Academy. Sessions begin with group discussion, where participants take turns discussing their mental health challenges and discuss strategies to incorporate into their daily life. “Then we do a martial arts workout together catered to all shapes, sizes and skill levels,” says Duncan.
The group has attracted men from all backgrounds, most of whom are struggling with depression or anxiety, without the knowledge to tackle it and feeling too ashamed to talk about it. “Creating an environment where other men share helps others open up too. Many Kiwi men were raised with the ‘harden up bro’ attitude, bottling up our feelings and resorting to destructive habits to feel better. We are determined to break the mindset that it’s weak to speak up,” explains Duncan.
Duncan says the response from the community has been incredible. “It gives us the confidence to continue with our goals to work alongside regional counselling services, launch a community outreach programme and ultimately launch Men Making Miles nationwide.”
A boxing class at Men Making Miles.
Creating calm in the chaos
Kristin Borchardt, experienced yoga teacher and owner of the Nook Yoga
and Pilates studio, says in the past 18 years, while building a yoga community in Mount Maunganui, she is encouraged by the increasing number of men seeking out the therapeutic benefits of yoga to support their mental health and wellbeing.
Specialising in stress management, Kristin says living in a fast-paced world operating from a place of stress where our adrenal system suffers, yoga can provide a beautiful way of supporting our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
Nook Yoga and Pilates
“Each asana (pose) compresses our muscles and joints, improving circulation and providing a deep internal massage. Returning to our breath and finding stillness offers us the chance to rewire the nervous system, nourish our adrenals and shift us from a state of stress to calm,” says Kristin.
Kristin, who runs yoga retreats in New Zealand and Bali for men and women, and has worked with a number of organisations teaching yoga to
male employees, says the biggest shift alongside the rise in men arriving on the mat is the move away from dynamic practices to slower modalities.
“Slow Flow and Yin are now the first classes to book out on our schedule. These slower practices, where we hold the pose for longer, supported by blankets and props, cultivate a stronger energy flow towards vital organs, where deeper therapeutic benefits can be felt.”
Kristin says for many yoga has changed their life and provides a toolbox to manage stress. “We often live so far out of ourselves, the practice of coming in to feel, to step away from the demands of life, and sense how we really are, is so powerful and so needed for all of us.”
Recreating the village
Choiwee Moon is on a mission to turn around New Zealand’s youth
mental health and suicide statistics. “New Zealand is in a mental health crisis, especially among young tāne,” explains the educator and trauma-informed wellness coach, who has recently launched a rites of passage programme for teenage boys.
Mātua Rautia – The Warrior’s Village is a six-month programme open to young men aged 13-18, with a mission to inspire boys to believe in themselves while gifting them life-long skills designed to enhance their mental, emotional and physical growth.
The Warriors Village team from left: Paul Anthony, Choiwee Moon, Jethro Campbell and Glen Callahan.
With a background in prevention work that has a focus on mental health, suicide, depression, and domestic violence, Choiwee says the stigma and shame around mental health, particularly men’s mental health, is still widespread.
“Many men feel misunderstood, isolated, lonely and unsure even how to get the help they need. We need to go upstream and recreate the sense of tribe that our young men are missing,” she says.
Participants in Mātua Rautia – The Warrior’s Village build and learn resilience, purpose, emotional regulation, and communication skills, while undergoing four rites of passage over six months – breathwork, cold water immersion, a hikoi and a sweat lodge initiation. By facing discomfort in a supportive environment, they develop personally and bond with their peers.
The team of male facilitators or ‘pou’ are all strong, resilient, compassionate, knowledgeable men from different backgrounds, and through their own life experiences, inspire the boys to see potential in their own lives, says Choiwee.
“Every boy is already a fierce, powerful young man. Our job is to provide a space to express themselves, to be fully accepted and support them to develop into well-adjusted, conscientious, grounded men, able to navigate all of life’s challenges.”
Suicide and depression
To get help, phone Lifeline 0800 543 354 or text 4357.
A day of empowerment
This year’s Tauranga Business Chamber BWN Speaker Series was a dynamic gathering of inspirational women who really brought their A game.
This year’s Tauranga Business Chamber BWN Speaker Series was a dynamic gathering of inspirational women who really brought their A game.
PHOTOS Salina Galvan
Chelsea Winter.
There’s something about a room full of talented, like-minded women that can only be described as electric. This past May, Baycourt Theatre was charged with that very energy as nearly 400 attendees gathered for the Business Women’s Network (BWN) Speaker Series, themed ‘Bring Your A Game’.
This year’s event didn’t just meet expectations – it shattered them. From the moment the first speaker took the stage, it was clear that this was no ordinary day of networking and presentations. It was a day of genuine connection, raw honesty, and, above all, empowerment.
Each speaker brought her unique perspective and expertise, touching on topics that resonate deeply with women at every stage of life and career. Niki Bezzant opened up the conversation on menopause with a refreshing candour, providing invaluable insights that were both relatable and practical. Kylie Wilson didn’t just talk about resilience; she had the audience on their feet, proving that mental toughness is just as crucial as physical strength. Chelsea Winter, a beloved figure in the New Zealand culinary world, shared her journey from home cook to national icon, offering a blend of humour and hard-earned wisdom.
But it wasn’t just the speakers who made the day unforgettable. The event’s success was also thanks to the support of its sponsors: Principal sponsors, Craigs Investment Partners and Cooney Lees Morgan, as well as Premier sponsors, YRW, KingSt, and Mediaworks. Partner sponsors, including Port of Tauranga, Kale Print, Pillar Consulting, Westpac, and Toi Ohomai, played a crucial role in ensuring the day was one for the books.
As the day came to a close, attendees were ready to bring their A game
to every aspect of their lives. The anticipation for next year’s event is already building, promising another chapter of inspiration, growth and connection.
Shop the Avenue
Tauranga's Eleventh Avenue sells an eclectic mix of fashion, food and fabulous finds for any occasion.
Tauranga's Eleventh Avenue sells an eclectic mix of fashion, food and fabulous finds for any occasion.
M.M Linen
Wake up rested and inspired with M.M Linen’s Spring/Summer 24/25 Collection. The Botanica Poplar Bedspread Set, pictured here, offers understated style. Blend plain and patterned layers for a versatile, enduring style.
mmlinen.com | IG mmlinen
Wendys Boutique
In the bustling heart of the plaza, you’ll discover Wendys Boutique, a designer clothing store where women of all ages can truly find their style. With an impressive selection of top brands from New Zealand and beyond, including Zoe Kratzmann, Trelise Cooper, Lolly’s Laundry, and Juliette Hogan, it’s a fashion haven waiting for you to explore.
The Luxe Club
The Luxe Club is a family-owned boutique offering bespoke jewellery and accessories. Established by Carmen and daughter Hannah, it features high-quality, handpicked pieces from New Zealand brands like Saben, Status Anxiety and more. Customers are welcome to browse and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Popular services include custom designs for weddings and events alongside jewellery repairs.
Synergy Vitality Spa
Synergy Vitality Spa has been established at Eleventh Avenue for well over 20 years. Offering clients a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the spa’s professional therapists are devoted to their jobs and strive for perfection in all their treatments. These include advanced skin treatments such as IPL for pigmentation and red veins, Black & White permanent hair reduction, as well as anti-aging rejuvenation and PCA peels.
HairStyle
Meet Nic Apaapa and the expert team at HairStyle, Tauranga’s hub for beautiful, healthy hair. With experience at Fashion Weeks, VMAs, and international stages, Nic invites you to elevate your hair journey, offering personalised consultations and professional expertise.
Blanc Flowers & Gifts
Tauranga’s premier florist brings you the finest selection of fresh and dried flowers, elegant bouquets and arrangements. The store also features a range of gifts, from wines and chocolates to candles, puzzles and books, and offer same-day delivery for orders placed by noon to Tauranga, Ōmokoroa, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa.
blanc.co.nz | FB blancflorist | IG _blancflorist
Delicacy and Juz Catering
Delicacy Café has been delighting food lovers since 1998, serving up beautifully crafted dishes and exceptional coffee. With a talented team creating fresh, flavourful meals daily, and their cabinet selection is a feast for the senses – from gourmet pies to delectable slices, there’s something for everyone. Plus, Juz Catering offers home-cooked meals and catering for any occasion.
juzcatering.co.nz | FB juzcatering.co.nz | IG delicacy_juzcatering
Tauranga Knitting Centre
For over 30 years, Tauranga Knitting Centre has been a hub for knitting and crochet enthusiasts. Offering a wide range of quality yarns, needles, patterns, and accessories, the shop caters to all skill levels. With friendly, knowledgeable staff and a warm atmosphere, it’s the ideal spot to find inspiration and supplies for your next creative project.
taurangaknitting.co.nz | FB TgaKnitting | IG taurangaknitting
Designing digital safety
Partnering with Samsung, Tauranga local Rory Birkbeck has built world-first technology to keep our kids safe online.
Partnering with Samsung, Tauranga local Rory Birkbeck has built world-first technology to keep our kids safe online.
WORDS Hanna Balemi | PHOTO Amy Bailey
Rory Birkbeck isn’t someone you’ll find on a pedestal, raging against the injustices of the world. The millennial dad and long-time Tauranga resident can often be found checking emails at a local cafe after dropping his two children at primary school. But behind the scenes, Birkbeck is building world-class technology to tackle one of the most critical global issues of our day: keeping children safe online.
In June, Safe Surfer, the social enterprise Birkbeck founded in 2016, partnered with tech giant Samsung to release a world-first: the Kid-Safe Smartphone and Tablet, designed with kids’ safety at the core. It is the result of nearly a decade of work at Safe Surfer, developing and refining software that monitors and safeguards internet use, and a collaboration that allows safe tech to be built into Samsung Galaxy devices and tablets. “For the first time, parents can choose robust, innovative products designed to meet the highest standards of safety and performance. These smartphones and tablets are built with safety by design.”
Birkbeck’s passion for online safety began when he started out in IT in the early 2000s, around the dawn of social media. As the platforms evolved around him, his concern grew — tech development was out-pacing safeguards, and he worried that the most vulnerable would pay the price. “There’s so much potential for good with technology. Opening
up free learning and discovery to groups who’ve been excluded is so exciting.”
Birkbeck is passionate about giving young people a chance to harness their creativity and the technological abilities they pick up by osmosis, and has taught coding to Tauranga teens and mentored young developers.
Through growing Safe Surfer, Birkbeck noticed the increasing gap between product design and development and the after-market products required to make them safer. “I grew more convinced that to build a future where kids are truly safe online, we were going to have to be working at the design level. Safety couldn’t be an afterthought anymore.”
Guided by this principle, Birkbeck and his team worked with Samsung to build Safe Surfer filtering technology into the phones and tablets, allowing parents to monitor every feature via a remote app. That means the camera can detect and block nudity, messaging features and apps are scanned for bullying, violence and grooming, and web browsers filter millions of harmful URLs. The Kid-Safe Smartphone and Tablets offer tiered levels of access, so they can grow alongside kids’ needs and maturity, while never compromising safe practices.
The Kid-Safe Smartphones and Tablets are available now in Australasian markets, but Birkbeck has a global vision. “We’re seeing a shift. Parents everywhere are passionate about online safety, because these are our kids. They deserve the best of the best and not basic-level compliance where safety is concerned. As developers, the onus is on us to think about our audience and take responsibility for the potential harms that software and platforms can cause.”
Birkbeck believes the entire market will be challenged to respond to this new innovation. “Our mission is to build technology that honours our kids, protects their attention and educates them. We see this all the time in the ‘real’ world — kids know that the concept of ‘swimming between the flags’ is there to protect them, and that’s what we want to bring to the online world. I feel proud to be part of this, and excited to see where it will go.”
Dodging dodgy content: A parent’s guide
Parenting Place educator Holly-Jean Brooker helps us navigate dangerous content across the vast digital landscape.
Parenting Place educator Holly-Jean Brooker helps us navigate dangerous content across the vast digital landscape.
In today’s digital age, the internet is like the Wild West — full of fascinating discoveries but also some dangerous territories. Whether it’s explicit material, violent imagery or inappropriate language, dodgy encounters are almost inevitable.
So how can we equip young people to handle these encounters?
Set up good filtering
First things first, the internet is designed for adults. Start by installing really good filtering on all devices and wifi.
Engage in conversation
Begin by talking to your kids about the internet before they start using devices. Explain that while the internet is full of amazing resources and entertainment, it also has some content that can be disturbing or inappropriate. Reassure them that they can always come to you if they see something that makes them uncomfortable and it won’t be their fault.
Many kids fear devices being confiscated so make it clear that your priority is to help them understand and process what they’ve seen, not to punish them or take away their devices. Creating a sense of trust and openness will make it easier for them to approach you when they need support.
Shush and listen
When your child wants to talk about something they’ve seen online, give them your full attention. It’s upsetting when we hear our kids have seen something dodgy, but try to stay calm and avoid jumping to conclusions or reacting with anger or fear. Instead, be curious, ask open-ended questions to help them express their feelings and thoughts.
Your role is to be there for them, offering reassurance and guidance and empathy.
Use real-life examples
Kids can relate better to conversations grounded in reality. Share age-appropriate examples of dodgy content they might encounter, such as inappropriate comments on social media or disturbing images in a game. Ask them questions, like ‘What would you do if you saw something upsetting that made you feel weird’? And ‘Why do you think people might create or share this content’? Reassure them it’s okay to feel confused or upset by it.
Discussing real-life examples helps demystify the concept of dodgy content and gives kids the tools to identify and respond to it appropriately.
Set clear boundaries
Establishing guidelines for device use can help mitigate exposure to inappropriate content. Set time limits with parental controls and keep devices in shared family spaces to monitor what your child is accessing. Remember that no filter or rule can completely block out all dodgy content.
Focus on building self-control and good judgment, as these are the best tools your child can have in navigating the digital world. Reinforce that your door is always open for discussions about anything they find online.
Reaffirm your support
Above all, make sure your child knows you’re there for them, no matter what. Reaffirm your support and trust regularly, and remind them that they can talk to you about anything, whether it’s something they’ve seen online or a question about their favourite movie.
By keeping the lines of communication open, you help your child develop resilience and confidence in handling whatever they encounter online. Together, you can navigate the challenges of the digital age with understanding and support.
Careering through life
UNO talks to Bay experts about shaking it up in the workplace.
UNO talks to Bay experts about shaking it up in the workplace.
words Nicky Adams
Like most anecdotes it seems there’s more than a little truth behind the old expression ‘a change is as good as a rest.’ When it comes to a career choice, we’re living longer, legal retirement ages are rising, and we’re staying in the workforce for greater periods of time. Consequently, a decision we made at 18 may not still suit where we are or who we have become at 45. The good news is that evidence points towards the fact that switching it up can be a positive. A recent report conducted by the OECD (a global collaboration between 37 governments to promote economic growth) entitled ‘Promoting Better Career Choices For Longer Working Lives – Stepping Up Not Stepping Out’ indicates that change, in multiple aspects of your life is actually good for you.
Older workers undoubtedly play an important role in the labour market and are increasingly engaged in developments in digital technologies as well as cultural change. Nevertheless, many find that careers they may have considered were to be for life, may now have morphed beyond recognition, meaning for job longevity mobility might be the key word. Considering a career change is a daunting prospect, and sometimes transitioning means considering restrictions of age and ability. But a little poking around will show there are more resources to hand to help with this process than you might suspect.
Miriam O’Connor from Career Solutions is an expert in the field of mid-life moves. With a business based around helping people of all ages find career pathways through job search coaching, CV writing and careers advice, she has assisted many transitions, helping people who may want to navigate change.
Miriam O’Connor
I wonder if she has seen an increasing uplift in the desire for career shifts: “I think in these times change is a constant thing that people need to be ready for; to be adaptable and prepared to take different opportunities at different times. We’re seeing now with the (downturn in) economy, organisations are restructuring or altering the way they do things. Some jobs, for example, are overtaken by technology.” The key is to embrace advancements as much as you can. “My advice to people is to keep upskilling, keep up to date, keep looking at your own skillset and where you might be able to move if you feel like you need, or have to make a change – in general it’s good practice to be ready for shifts.”
The job landscape, as we know has changed dramatically post pandemic. Miriam agrees: “Covid changed a lot of things – but opened opportunities. People are considering lifestyle; they can work remotely – be a digital nomad.” Whilst there have been more opportunities for job fluidity, the job market itself has altered. “There’s also changes with different sectors in terms of the growth. I’m seeing people all the time that need to think about things differently and put themselves in an alternative mindset to get into another type of work – take their skills into a different industry.” I wonder how common it is to just want change. According to Miriam, “It’s much rarer now to see people on a linear career path, because a career is longer – other opportunities come up.”
Equally the job search itself is dependent on the economy. “A couple of years ago there were jobs left, right and centre. Now it’s really competitive. I’m seeing a real uptake in enquiries from people who want a career change but getting no response. How people present themselves in that process is important, on paper, in interviews.” I question how much AI is affecting this. “AI is evolving fast so it’s a case of getting on board, learning some skills and seeing what you do better. Keep up with change.”
Discovering what you might like to do is very much the start point of change – and proactively seeking resources to help is part of that process. In early August Tauranga will host the Canvas Careers Expo, which offers representation from a combination of over 70 tertiary providers, local businesses representing their industry, and large companies coming to actively solicit for staff. Event organiser, Sue Boyne, is passionate about introducing both students and jobseekers to the spectrum of career options that are out there. Relating to every age group, the expo is all about planting the seed, igniting the spark, making connections and exploring new opportunities and ideas.
Sue points out that the difference between a job and a career is something we often don’t make a distinction between, which is one of the reasons she’s so driven to get as many industries represented as she can. She firmly believes in the importance of being informed.
Partnered with Priority One, who recognise the benefit of this event, many of the companies get onboard to support the Priority One initiative, and together they help showcase the types of industries and organisations that we have in the Bay of Plenty. In addition to the businesses, there is representation from universities and tertiary educators who can answer questions not just about courses but also about the system itself. Attracting local students and their parents, as well as opening up possibilities to the kids who need incentivising to stay in education, importantly the event is also aimed at those looking for a change of career. “A lot of people have been forced into a direction they don’t want to go in. They want something different, or even want further education that their current employer can’t offer them.”
Sue has seen an uptake in mid-life change before: “When the economy is unstable people are looking for new options and ideas, and that’s when people question whether they’re in the right industry, if they’re doing the right job for their skillset, or if there’s another direction they should be going in. The whole outcome might be that they’re OK where they are… But for those questioning, ‘am I doing what I thought I’d be doing at 45?’, the exhibitors want to educate you, help you and give you information. If you’re changing direction, there’s nothing but admiration for people, and your age is irrelevant.”
What can attendees expect, I ask. Sue is animated as she lays it out: “They can expect to have questions answered and discover if their idea of potential careers exist. Come with an open mind to explore the possibilities, and to talk to people.”
Onwards and upwards
Vicky had worked as a flight attendant for 17 years, but redundancy post COVID led her to explore other career options. Having really enjoyed shiftwork, and with a supportive partner behind her, Vicky landed on nursing as her next step; as soon as she started training she felt fulfilled. “Straight away I knew this is what I should be doing.” It had been a long time since she’d been a student, and a six-month study and career prep course was mandatory, which, Vicky reflected was worth its weight in gold. Once the course began, Vicky quickly realised, “I was a much better student with maturity – you realise you need to stick at it, and I did my studies with extra motivation to get it done.” Feeling well supported through Toi Ohomai helped. The guidance, she says is fantastic. Excited by her new chapter, she notes, “When you’re in a job for a long time you can go on autopilot – it’s really refreshing to learn new skills.”
Having moved from Auckland to Tauranga, television line producer Angela Burgess initially planned to continue in her field by combining working remotely and commuting back to Auckland. Eight years later she has retrained and is now with KPMG Accounting. “I went to see a Career Psychologist which was really fascinating – she really focused on not so much what jobs you want to do, but what you value in the workplace, what makes you excited to go to work. I realised it was a lot about the people around me, and working in a corporate structure was something that interested me. I knew that I liked numbers… so I started looking at options and came across the Masters of Professional Accounting at the University of Waikato.” Study was full on and the financial burden was hard. Although the costs of studying had been factored in, Angela is honest about the fact that she and her husband hadn’t considered how long it would take to build back up to her previous earning level. The pros of undertaking a change with maturity are multiple. “What really did help when I started at KPMG as a grad was that I was immediately able to pick up the phone and call a client, or hold a meeting or write an email…General business skills have been really helpful, and being able to manage stress and learning how to prioritise – that’s all transferable. Just working feels like you’re learning every day.” The prospect of career progression within the company and a stable future has, for Angela, paid dividends: “KPMG has excellent values in terms of work-life balance and wellbeing, which as a working mum starting from scratch again has made things a whole lot easier.”
On brand
A good brand doesn’t just look pretty; it’s an HR asset, a reputation and a must, says brand expert Jamie Bell of Paulownia Design Studio.
A good brand doesn’t just look pretty; it’s an HR asset, a reputation and a must, says brand expert Jamie Bell of Paulownia Design Studio.
Good branding gives businesses an unfair advantage to really make their mark in their industry. It's not just about having a visually appealing logo or an eye-catching website; branding is about crafting an identity that resonates with your audience, sets you apart in a sea of sameness, and ultimately drives business opportunity.
At its core, branding is about creating an emotional connection with your people. It's about conveying who you are, what you stand for, and why you matter. In the overwhelm of the 21st Century, a strong brand gives businesses the upper hand – it's the secret sauce that propels them to outperform their competition and make them undeniable to those they want to connect with.
But what exactly does good branding entail? It's about crafting a cohesive identity that permeates every aspect of your business. It's about the visual elements – the colours, fonts, and imagery – that make up your brand's aesthetic. But it's also about the intangible aspects – the personality of your brand, the tone of voice you use, the key messages you communicate, and the impact statement that defines your higher purpose.
Take, for example, brands like Kowtow. Beyond just selling clothes, Kowtow has embraced activism as a core tenet of its brand. They exist not just to push profits but to make the world a better place. By aligning their brand with a higher purpose, they've cultivated a loyal following of customers who share their values and want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.
But branding isn't just for the big players. Whether you're a solopreneur or a multinational corporation, the principles of branding remain the same. It's about authenticity, consistency, and connecting with the right people.
It's about telling your story in a way that makes your business unforgettable. The power of branding lies in transcending trends (not just following them) and delivering a potent, simple message that ignites connection.
As the economy faces uncertainty, rebranding can offer incredible leverage to transform your business and drive your measure of success. So if your branding needs an up level, now is the time. Because having a good brand isn't just an advantage – it's an absolute game-changer.
Pioneering pathways
A Tauranga businesswoman and leadership coach has undergone a transformative journey from teenage mum to commercial lawyer and now an award-winning speaker.
A Tauranga businesswoman and leadership coach has undergone a transformative journey from teenage mum to commercial lawyer and now an award-winning speaker.
words Karen Clarkson
When Stacey Mareroa-Roberts (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Awa, Whakatohea, and Te Rarawa) reflects on her journey from a young law student to globally revered inspirational speaker and workshop leader, she stops to acknowledge the character and grit it took to overcome the barriers she faced. “I wasn’t thinking about failure, or what happens if I don’t. I had this clear awareness of what the world could look like if things were different. I was also a teenage mother studying full-time and working part-time trying to make ends meet, so it was needs must,” she recalls.
Her unwavering determination coupled with an inquiring mind was highlighted at age 14, when Stacey was taught a version of local history at school that wasn’t resonating. She reached out to her marae historian at Whakamarama, Te Puna, who shared some unique family treasures and local records.
“I was like a kid in a candy store, poring over court transcripts, archives, and records, interviewing our kaumatua about the treasures I explored. We wrote our own version of local history that reflected stories of our people and our community,” explains Stacey.
From there, the seed was planted to forge a path to create and share a more inclusive history and stories, she says. The ambitious 18-year old moved to Hamilton to start a double degree in law and social science – the first person from her family to attend university. Halfway through that year, she discovered she was pregnant, expecting a baby boy.
“I wanted to come home to raise my son, so I completed my first year of study and moved back to Tauranga.” At the time, there was no law degree offered in Tauranga, so Stacey pioneered one.
“The University of Waikato said they needed a dozen people to join the course to justify a programme here. So I went door-knocking,” she laughs. “And found enough people to study with me.”
From there, Stacey embarked on a challenging journey as a young mother and student, juggling night classes, assessments and work to support herself. She soon realised the lack of support for Māori women like her striving for change. Graduating as the only woman among her peers with a double degree, both achieving international honours, she also received the Top Scholar Prize for History and financial aid of scholarships, acknowledging the crucial role of community and family support.
“As I walked up to receive my degrees, my nan proudly represented my entire family, who were standing close by. It truly takes a village,” she explains.
Stacey with her son at her graduation from The University of Waikato.
After achieving a Master of Laws with top honours in Māori governance, Stacey quicky emerged as a local icon, a dynamic wāhine Māori lawyer driven by purpose in the Bay of Plenty. Specialising in post-treaty settlement business and leadership structuring, she provided invaluable advice to various Māori organisations ranging from informal groups seeking incorporation to multi-level joint ventures balancing commercial goals with their vital role in managing people and stewardship of land resources for the future.
It was during this time that her foray into professional public speaking quickly gained momentum. Within a few years, a passionate side hustle evolved into a part-time career as an inspirational speaker and workshop leader traveling abroad and hosting online workshops. “While sharing my knowledge and experiences at business conferences, universities and professional development events, I realised that, as I was going through my own transformation, I had the opportunity to inspire others to embrace their gifts and leadership too,” she reflects.
Stacey has now empowered more than 15,000 people through speaking engagements, business development workshops and leadership courses.
Last year, Stacey was named in the Top 100 Global Transformational Coaches Dominating 2023. Her most recent accolade was her selection from nearly 100 applicants across Aotearoa to join the Coralus 2024 Venture cohort – the first recipient from the Bay of Plenty in the organisation’s history. Launched in Canada in 2015, Coralus (formerly SheEO) is a global community of women dedicated to ticking off the world’s to-do list. As a collective, they contribute to a fund that provides vital support and interest-free loans to women-led businesses, like Stacey’s, striving to address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“Our mahi has always been centred on inclusive leadership and high-value enterprise education for social and economic prosperity,” Stacey says. “This alignment with Coralus enables us to champion representation of indigenous people even further and create a sustainable pathway for Māori, especially women, to step into their leadership.”
The 2022 Wāhine Summit and Celebration in Tauranga.
While Stacey has rubbed shoulders with motivational coaches and speakers including Eric Thomas, Lisa Nichols, and Trent Shelton and worked with clients like Dr Michelle Dickinson (Nanogirl) and Alexia Hibertidou (GirlBoss), she says her heart lies in the roots of her community, developing business leaders at home.
“I reflected ‘Where could I have the most impact?’. And it’s here, supporting women, who are already doing incredible work, to step into their leadership and be given the tools and confidence to ignite their passion and talent.”
Stacey believes we have a real opportunity with initiatives like Coralus to shift the needle permanently. “One day I hope we won’t have strategies to promote and retain women in power, or say we are talking about wāhine leadership, we will just say leadership. There’s room for everybody and I want to help create a pathway for women to prosper in leadership roles and our rangatahi to see themselves within those leaders; exactly what I was missing as that wide-eyed teenager from Te Puna, hoping to change the world.”
Disruptive design
An outside-the-box creative uses recycled plastic to 3D print aesthetic objects for home
An outside-the-box creative uses recycled plastic to 3D print aesthetic objects for home.
Words Casey Vassallo
Founder Matt Watkins.
Based in Tauranga, Special Studio is a design and production studio that fashions intriguing objects from recycled plastics using 3D printers. Located on Durham Street, the space acts as both the workshop and showroom, where each piece comes to life.
It kicked off with the Lulu bin in 2021, named after friend and designer Lulu Jackson (of Lulu Jackson Bridal), who suggested adding a twist to the prototype, literally. “The idea was to make a rubbish bin out of rubbish,” says founder Matt Watkins.
The first sale came through Instagram, and Mount Maunganui’s beloved Paper Plane became their first retailer. The business has since snowballed, and today, it can’t keep up with demand despite making around 100 pieces a week.
The distinct and popular Lulu form has gone on to become a display bowl, funky planter and stool, which remains their bestseller and takes up to 14 hours to print. More recently, they’ve added a bulbous Bubble side table to the repertoire, a stone-looking Monolithic side table, and a collection of mini Lulu stools for the little ones. There’s also a new rock collection, where no two objects turn out the same, and a range of lighting is in production.
Other designs have been born from collaboration, like the Twist side table by designers Daniel Vi Le (who works for the likes of Cult Gaia) and Tanil Raif (ex-Yeezy design architect), and can be found in the Orange County Museum of Art’s Please Do Not Enter concept store as Special Studio’s first international stockist. Matt has also worked with Warren and Mahoney Architects to engineer an e-waste recycling bin for One NZ’s stores nationwide, featuring the Noise design’s rippled texture and embossed with “recycled devices”.
Matt puts Special Studio’s success down to the unison between the designs and materials, similar to Tesla’s recipe. “Our products could look this great, but if they weren’t made from recycled plastic, they wouldn’t sell as well,” he explains. “If they were all made from recycled plastic, but they didn’t look this good, we wouldn’t sell them.”
Back when Matt bought his first 3D printer in 2018, it didn’t start with what to make, but how. More specifically, mass production’s unsustainable nature spurred him to create his own circularity model.
“The goal for starting the company was to figure out the best way to make stuff, period,” Matt says. “You need to make on demand, and that’s what led to get into additive manufacturing and 3D printing.” That is, 100 machines making 100 objects are more reliable and adaptable than one machine making 100 objects.
Running close to 24/7, Special Studio has a host of small Delta 3D printers and a few custom-made large-format printers of their creation. “We make what we sell, which is incredibly rare,” Matt says.
“And because we make the machines that make the products, we have total control over the production process.”
It’s also Matt’s way of looking at a global issue – plastic waste – and how he can spin it into a solution. “The problem with plastic is behavioural. We have to stop using plastics for single-use applications, but we shouldn't demonise plastic,” he says. “It’s easier to recycle, easier to process, you can mould plastic, and it requires low energy.”
In its raw form, recycled plastic filament looks like fishing wire. Matt sources the colourful matte material from Netherlands company Reflow, and KiwiFil supply the clear, white, black and amber materials. Computer-operated, the 3D printer draws each design in fine layers using the filament. “The best way to explain it is a hot glue gun on the end of a robot,” Matt says. Close up, you can see the moulded lines that give each piece a textural look.
This isn’t Matt’s first successful venture, either. Off the back of DJing around town, he co-founded SoundSwitch in 2011, a software and hardware system used to synchronise lighting and music performances. He built the business from zero, raised capital, and learned the manufacturing game before selling to American enterprise inMusic in 2018.
Special Studio is soon looking to scale and set up 3D printers overseas (like the US and Australia) to make objects closer to their destination, but the Bay of Plenty will remain home. “If we had a machine in every major market, we could send the print files, and overnight it could be released globally,” Matt says.
Matt has always had a bigger picture in mind, though. “The long-term goal, whether that’s with Special Studio or a secondary company, is to move into functional architecture components,” he says of staircases, boats and homes. “For me it’s about design – being able to create something totally unique and new. That’s the exciting part.”
Boost your business success
Roz Irwin explains how to unlock the full potential of your business with Tauranga Business Chamber's resources and support.
Roz Irwin explains how to unlock the full potential of your business with Tauranga Business Chamber's resources and support.
Photo Salina Galvan
There are many support resources available for businesses, but they’re spread across government agencies and non-government organisations. Plus, they keep changing; it’s hard to keep up.
It would be great if there was a local hub where people could understand where all the resources and support for businesses are available.
Great news, there is!
Tauranga Business Chamber has a dedicated, independent contracts team whose job is to know what resources and support channels are available for businesses and get them connected to the services that best suit their needs.
Whether you’re well-established and looking to innovate or train your leaders, or you have a business idea and are unsure where to start, the Tauranga Business Chamber is the hub of business resources and support that can help all stages of business.
Each year, we help hundreds of business leaders and entrepreneurs start their business, access free resources, gain Government support, and connect with local experts.
No matter the stage in the economic cycle, there are always opportunities for business owners to offer new solutions to customers’ obstacles and challenges.
Our services range from a free one-hour session with a business advisor, support to boost your capability, or resources to leverage your innovation and R&D.
Our advisors are independent and impartial. They are driven to help businesses succeed and reach their potential.
Anyone can access our business support services; you don’t need to be a member of the Tauranga Business Chamber.
Times are tough right now, but as another saying goes: “We’re all in this together.” If you’re seeking some extra support, reach out to our team and see how we can help. It’s free, it’s independent, and it’s impartial.
Made in the Mount
Meet the women paving the way for a new tech scene in Mount Maunganui.
Meet the women paving the way for a new tech scene in Mount Maunganui.
Words Lucy Bleakley | Photos Katie Charlotte
What do a chemical engineer, graphic designer and teacher have in common? Apart from above-average smarts and creativity, they are part of a burgeoning, female-founded tech scene coming to life from kitchen tables across Mount Maunganui.
Bonnet, Kept and euulo are three locally made apps developed by women who’ve created beautifully designed, “Why didn’t I think of that?” tech. All from home and with small children in tow.
Each app is impressively thoughtful, and perhaps unsurprisingly, they all have one more thing in common – easing the mental load for their users.
Deftly solving specific consumer problems to make everyday life, and in euulo’s case, life’s harder moments easier.
Bonnet, founded by Steph Kennard, houses vehicle admin in one place when over 50 percent of Kiwis are driving on our roads without a WOF or rego. Kept, created by Nic Winslade and Katie Hunter, is a new marketplace for cleaners, allowing users to book a trusted, peer reviewed cleaner and giving cleaners greater independence in an industry rife with unfair wages and hours.
And Kerriden Edmondson, Renaya Lloyd and Sheree van den Broek have developed euulo, a SaaS product for the funeral industry. euulo is image-gathering technology designed to replace the clunky process of curating funeral photo tributes.
“With backgrounds in fashion, design and engineering, the looks on people’s faces when we explain our technology is not lost on us,” muses Renaya Lloyd, co-founder of euulo.
“But, if you’ve been in the difficult position of organising a photo tribute, you will understand the arduous process and we know we can make a real difference. We’ve spent a lot of time speaking to funeral directors and validating our solution to ensure our technology is easing the burden from all sides,” explains Renaya.
Nic Winslade’s career has been all about bringing ideas to life for clients and Kept was an opportunity to explore an idea sparked from managing the mental load of family life.
“The Mount was the perfect place to launch Kept, with so many busy, self-employed households wanting flexibility. And the focus on quality of life here is also the breeding ground for our innovation. Making life easier, better, and more rewarding for independent cleaning professionals as well as busy local homes,” says Nic.
Like euulo and Kept founders, Steph saw an obvious gap in the market and a way to ease life’s admin overload.
“I’ve worked in the car industry and seen time and time again the barriers to keeping up with car admin for families, heavy vehicle operators and fleet managers – many are still using spreadsheets to manage hundreds of car regos and WOFs. There had to be a better way, and after years of development, Bonnet was launched earlier this year,” says Steph.
Steph says it’s amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it from the Mount.
“Research, development and design have all been done from our home office. With remote working taking off, a Zoom with a web developer or writing pitch decks from home with a walk up the Mount in between is completely doable,” says Steph.
The gumption to do something different has paid off for these tech founders. Bonnet launched as the number one app on Google and in just a few months, over 50,000 cars are being monitored by the app. Kept has launched here in Tauranga, and in new markets across Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Christchurch, with thousands of cleans booked and several independent cleaning businesses thriving thanks to Kept’s marketplace model.
euulo, the baby of the three start-ups, has recently launched to a waiting list of funeral directors representing almost a third of New Zealand funeral homes, and already have plans to launch in Australia and the UK.
Mount Maunganui has always been a creative haven, but these founders are driving a new type of tech scene forward. One built on empathy, flexibility and bloody hard work.
Steph Kennard, Bonnet
Steph is a digital native through and through, developing Bonnet after working in the car industry with the likes of Jeep and Volkswagen.
Bonnet houses all vehicle management in one place and gives reminders for regos, warrant of fitness, and diesel RUC, using Waka Kotahi data to create seamless reminders. Less than half of New Zealanders remember to do their WOF and registration in time, creating potentially unsafe cars on our roads, and Bonnet aims to change this with a brilliantly simple solution.
Nic Winslade and Katie Hunter, Kept
A housekeeping app that helps local customers find cleaners they trust with an instant booking system.
Cleaners can create their own free online booking platform through Kept, setting their own hourly rates and availability, in a safe, supportive space.
It also changes the game when finding a cleaner for your home. The app enables you to book for your specific needs and offers exit cleans, one-off cleans or regular cleaning. You can also specify which rooms you want cleaned. The booking and payment are completed through the app, so cleaners are guaranteed payment, and peer reviews help regulate the marketplace, encouraging a high-quality service.
Renaya Lloyd, Sheree van den Broek and Kerriden Edmondson, euulo
euulo is a SaaS solution developed to alleviate some of the pressure associated with creating a photo tribute for grieving families and funeral directors. The app features in-built scanning, social media integration, and image editing, giving families the opportunity to gather their photos in their own time and space. For funeral directors, the software gives visibility over the process and specific tools to create beautiful photo tributes with ease.
Technology for the funeral industry is not something any of the euulo team could have foreseen in their future, but here they are, passionately designing a thoughtful way to ease the load for grieving families.
Golden touch
This multi-purpose complex has created an amazing community packed full of dining, entertainment, health and retail options for Pāpāmoa East.
This multi-purpose complex has created an amazing community packed full of dining, entertainment, health and retail options for Pāpāmoa East
The ever-growing area that is Golden Sands, in Pāpāmoa East, has fast become a destination for visitors and locals looking for quality stores and services. This is thanks mainly to the Excelsa Centre, the community hub offering a wide range of dining, entertainment, health and retail options.
Situated on the corner of Golden Sands Drive and Pāpāmoa Beach Road, the main area houses everything from a luxury cinema, to a reformer pilates studio and the now-famous contemporary restaurant and bar,
Papa Mo’s. Across the road sits the famous Henry and Ted Café, catering to all ages but especially to families and their extended furry friends.
Read on to discover just what eachone has to offer.
Reform Pilates
Recognised throughout New Zealand as synonymous with high-quality studios, incredible trainers and killer reformer pilates classes, the Reform brand’s mission is to turn traditional pilates on its head. Creating a more upbeat, dynamic and results-driven experience, this studio strives to provide an exciting, unique exercise programme that delivers fast results in a safe and carefully controlled environment. Classes are challenging with options offered to suit all fitness levels and abilities.
Papa Mo’s
Serving up quality food and drink with a focus on local produce, Papa Mo’s has become the place to be in Golden Sands. With live music every Friday and Sunday, along with the Tuesday pub quiz and Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm seven days a week, it’s the perfect locale to meet up with friends and family. Special meal and drinks deals happen on the daily and the menu covers something for everyone.
Henry and Ted Cafe
The suburban eatery that prides itself on catering for everyone just keeps getting better. With a brand new menu, brunch is tastier than ever. Dishes like Sourdough Crumpets with honey-roasted pear, thyme, and housemade lemon ricotta, are impressing foodie diners, while others, such as the Philly Cheese Steak Sammy, are providing comfort food year round. For caffeine addicts, the Nitro Cold Brew is back on tap and events are always being planned. Keep an eye on their social pages for tickets.
Luxe Cinemas
This luxurious, upmarket cinema is not your average picture theatre. Housing three cinemas showcasing a wide selection of films, the family-run business caters to a range of people, from families to seniors. It's the perfect place for a quiet catch up, and you don’t even have to watch a movie. They offer coffee, wine and snacks and the space is also available to rent for functions, fundraisers and birthday parties. Luxe Cinemas Pāpāmoa is open seven days a week.
Blended family
Together Mackenzie Elvin and Tompkins Wake signify people, places and professionalism.
Together Mackenzie Elvin and Tompkins Wake signify people, places and professionalism.
Words Nicky Adams | Photos Salina Galvan
If it feels as though Tauranga already has access to some of the best legal representation in the country, then the recent merging of Mackenzie Elvin law firm, a family founded Tauranga-based practice, and Tompkins Wake, one of the largest national New Zealand law firms, has certainly upped the ante.
For Fiona Mackenzie, one of the founding partners of Mackenzie Elvin, the merger was part of a progression plan. Growth was inevitably on the cards, and Tompkins Wake presented at the perfect time. “We are a multi-generational firm and, in considering our future strategy, there were a number of options including continuing to grow as a mid-tier firm with all the pressures and complexities of modern legal practice, or we could look at developing alignments with practices that we respected and who operated according to values that mirrored ours. Tompkins Wake stood out,” says Fiona.
“It’s been an interesting year, an exciting year – we remain in our lovely iconic villa, which is part of our brand, but we are now Tompkins Wake. I view it a little bit like a marriage where you may change your name, but you don’t lose your identity; instead, you become something more than you were before.”
Jon Calder, Tompkins Wake chief executive, agrees that the synergy between the two companies is serendipitous. “We’ve had a presence in Tauranga since 2018 and have always been looking for opportunities to grow – the right, rather than any, opportunity – it became clear very quickly that the two firms had a strong alignment in terms of values,” Jon says.
There was more to the attraction than just culture – within Mackenzie Elvin, Jon identified “Ambition. The company was definitely ambitious to grow and offer a broader range of services to their clients. With the size and scale of Tompkins Wake, that’s something that we’re able to do.”
Indeed, the capacity of the united law firm is now enormous. Together Tompkins Wake is one of the top 10 law firms within New Zealand in terms of size and reputation. Across the board there are 35 partners, 125 lawyers and over 200 staff, with offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and Tauranga.
The Family Law team is one close to the hearts of both firms. Fiona considers the practice intrinsic to the identity of the firm, and with the merger Fiona is confident at the breadth offered by the partners that include herself, Stephanie Ambler, Zandra Wackenier and Kate Sullivan. Each of them has not just extensive knowledge and experience, but also offers particular areas of expertise. As Fiona reflects, “Law is always developing and the practitioners I’m now working with are at the cutting edge.”
Fiona Mackenzie
The merger allows Fiona to move into her own space of mediation. “I take difficult relationship property situations, difficult blended family estate situations, and work with them in a mediation setting to explore resolution in a less adversarial but perhaps more enduring way.” With the addition of the other Family Law partners, “that now frees me up to develop mediation as a brand offering for the firm,” Fiona explains.
Stephanie Ambler
Stephanie, who operates from the Hamilton office, is head of Tompkins Wake’s family practice and was part of the inception of Family Law within Tompkins Wake. When Stephanie joined Tompkins Wake it was a different landscape. “I was the first family lawyer at Tompkins Wake. Ten years ago they didn’t have a family law practice when I joined, so it’s pretty phenomenal to see the growth of the family law team and it being embraced by a commercial firm.”
The opportunity to work alongside Fiona and her team is an exciting one, says Stephanie. “I first had dealings with Fiona Mackenzie about 20 years ago when she was on the other side of a file of mine when I was working in Auckland, and she was an impressive woman, so I was quite in awe and intimidated!”
Relationship property, Stephanie says, has been a huge growth area, so from her perspective the opportunity to expand Tompkins Wake’s presence in the Bay of Plenty with the acquisition of Mackenzie Elvin was golden. “It’s been a great fit for us – there was an existing team headed by Fiona, who has a fabulous reputation, and our values and cultures align very closely.”
Zandra Wackenier
Zandra, who is based in the Auckland office, acknowledges the footprint in Tauranga is advantageous. “To have people on the ground with a longstanding history and connection to the area is incredible,” she says. “From a family law perspective, it has grown our team and given us more highly experienced lawyers. It’s great having those different skills and personalities in the team.”
All striving to be experts in the field, the two firms are absolutely on the same page. With an additional unique area of expertise in reproductive law, Zandra gives access to a particularly niche and specialised aspect of family law. Indeed Fiona, Steph and Zandra are all recommended lawyers by the Doyle’s Guide, so referrals come through this way as well as word-of-mouth. However, Zandra explains that there is always careful consideration as to where a client is best suited, dependent on availability, complexity of the case, and capacity – because of the breadth of skill available, from junior solicitors to partners, there’s the ability to allocate clients appropriately.
Kate Sullivan
Kate, who works from Rotorua, echoes both Zandra and Stephanie when she notes that the local, client and market insight that comes from Mackenzie Elvin is essential, and the depth of this and strength of relationships with the community is invaluable. “The clients we have in Tauranga we now have a greater ability to look after because we’ve got the expertise and the local knowledge of Mackenzie Elvin people,” she says. “The partners really know their clients, they have a broad client base, and they know the market so well.”
Under the “family” umbrella there is a separate sub team, which is the estate and litigation team (rather than relationship property and family law), which Kate heads up and is expanding, particularly in the Bay of Plenty region. Kate sees this as a huge growth area across New Zealand: “There are lots of exciting changes happening in that space in the higher courts, lots of interesting decisions coming out, so it’s a great arena to work in and it’s changing, so it’s quite exciting.”
The scale of what is offered by the acquisition is impressive. As Jon Calder reflects, “We’ve got a deep expertise across all areas of practice, meaning we step up to another level. With the size of the firm, and the specialisations our people have, we rarely encounter a situation or a complex problem for a client that we haven’t seen before.” Crucially, “there’s an opportunity to bridge the gap for clients who are seeking expertise they perceive is not provided in the city, so rather than having to leave town it can be dealt with here in Tauranga.”
Moreover, the mechanics in place in terms of systems and technology are also reflective of a business of size – benefits that have not gone unnoticed by Fiona Mackenzie. “The ‘backroom heft’, as I call it, is extraordinary and offers huge benefits to our local community in terms of the quality and capacity of the legal services now available locally.”
Community and commerce collide
Tauranga Crossing has become known as a real retail oasis. But Catherine Sylvester discovers it’s more than just a mall.
Tauranga Crossing has become known as a real retail oasis.
But Catherine Sylvester discovers it’s more than just a mall.
It would be fair to assume that most Bay of Plenty residents would, if asked, say that Tauriko is a traditional te reo Māori placename. The truth, however, is not so straight forward and there’s a little bit more to the story. Long before this suburb was identified predominantly with the region’s newest shopping centre, Tauranga Crossing, it was well-known for the family-owned sawmill that prospered in the area. Not sporting the catchiest of monikers, the Tauranga Rimu Timber Company was shortened to the more euphonic sounding Taurico. And with one small tweak, the word became compatible with the local language, and the rest, as they say, is history.
History holds great significance for the owners of The Crossing, as it’s affectionately known. Throughout the centre you’ll find more than a perfunctory nod to the past. Woven throughout the fibre of its ethos is the pioneering spirit of its predecessors, as the centre’s mission to be “the heart of the community” informs everything they do. From the architecture and design of the centre to the special moments and initiatives offered, Tauranga Crossing aims to stand out from the average mall. In all they do, they aspire to be the place where every part of a guests’ life intersects.
The Millyard dining precinct and the Millwalk opened in late 2016. Strolling through this outdoor area amongst shops and eateries, you’ll discover numerous timber bollards with the history of the suburb etched onto them. Throughout the indoor centre, opened in 2019, the salute to the past continues in the artwork depicted on the walls.
“The owners constantly ensure we’re reminded of our history and why we’re here,” says centre manager, Janet Vincent. “Everything has been curated with such care.”
A deeper offering
Driving past the centre heading towards the Kaimai Ranges, you cannot fail to notice the bright coral kinetic tree sculptures. Nestled amongst a cosy play area for children, the artwork named 'The Fernery' is designed by artist Phil Price. An indoor play park for those rainy days means littlies are entertained while caregivers can take a pause amid exploring the offerings of over 100 stores. A beautiful parent’s room with private feeding areas, TV, toddlers play area and bottle warmers provides a small oasis from the hustle and bustle of the day.
“We always think about how people feel when they shop with us,” explains marketing manager, Lana Stretton. “We want everyone to have an enjoyable experience, and we actively find ways to surprise and delight them throughout the year.”
During Matariki, management arranged to drop small star cutouts from the top level of the centre. Attached to each star was a gift card.
The centre ensures a Justice of the Peace is available, free of charge to offer advice and services for customers once a week, and the generous Local Legends initiative, that was born out of covid when people were struggling continues with the gifting of $5000 four times yearly to a worthy cause that is voted on by the public.
Even the centre security guards receive positive feedback on their welcoming presence, and in addition to keeping the site safe, function almost as ambassadors for the centre.
Both Janet and Lana feel lucky to work for New Zealand owners who care deeply for their staff, their centre, and their customers. “It’s so important to them that we are connecting with the community and they’re incredibly good to our retailers, too,” says Janet.
With Christmas on our doorstep, thoughts turn to Santa and presents and fun. Tauranga Crossing curates a beautiful space for photos and chats with the man in red himself.
“During the Christmas season, we like to lurk in the stores then pop up when a customer is about to pay for their goods,” smiles Janet. “It’s always amazing to see their reactions when we offer to cover the costs for them.”
With activities for the kids, like cookie decorating classes, kaleidoscope making and scavenger hunts, and everything you’d ever need for the festive season in one place, Tauranga Crossing may just well be at the top of your “nice” list this December and for the entire summer holidays.
Happily ever after
Wedded bliss starts well before the walk down the aisle. Get ready for your big day with these stress-saving wedding planning tips.
Wedded bliss starts well before the walk down the aisle. Get ready for your big day with these stress-saving wedding planning tips
The best day of your life shouldn’t also be the most stressful. But that’s often the case when couples find themselves out of their depth and out of pocket before the event has even taken place.
Here are some top tips for putting together a memorable wedding that everyone can enjoy, especially the bride and groom.
Start planning early
While some couples can plan a wedding in just a few weeks, it’s highly recommended you allow yourself plenty of time. There can be a lot more to do than first anticipated. Research your ceremony and reception locations early, as these can get booked out months, even years, in advance. Also look at booking a photographer, florist, cake, band, and hair and makeup artists. Invites can be sent just a few months prior to the wedding, but sending “save the date” cards will help guests get themselves sorted with accommodation and travel arrangements. There are also websites like withjoy.com which you can use to send “save the date” emails – a great way to save money on printing.
Set a budget and stick to it
In New Zealand, the average cost of a wedding is said to be around $35,000 these days, but can often cost far more. It’s important to decide what your budget is before doing your research, to avoid any disappointment or overspending.
While you’re researching, work out what you’d prefer to splurge on and what you’re okay cutting back. Remember, a wedding doesn’t need to be expensive to be perfect for you.
A backyard bash can save tonnes of money on venue hireage, or consider a cocktails-and-cake ceremony and reception rather than a sit-down meal.
Renting anything over purchasing can also be a good way to save dollars. Wedding rentals are big business, with couples renting everything from bridal gowns to signage.
A destination wedding can be a good economical option, too, with many island resorts offering cheap packages – and it doubles as the honeymoon!
Don’t be afraid to delegate
The bridal party might end up doing most of the extra work, but that doesn’t mean you only have a small group to rely on.
If you’re sticking to a set budget, enlist the help of friends and family who might have specific talents. For example, take note of an ace cake maker, a creative type to do the flowers or design invitations, or a keen sewer to help make the bridesmaid dresses.
In cases where the budget allows, consider a wedding planner, who will help coordinate everything and everyone in the lead-up, and who can also stay for the wedding day to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Stay organised
Create a timetable for the day, as well as a spreadsheet that includes all the vendors and their contact details. Give these to everyone involved in the running of the day. It can be handy for each vendor to know who they’re working alongside and they can contact each other if need be, in your absence. It’s also a good way for the bridal party to pick up anything that needs doing in the lead-up or on the day.
Get to know some of the best in the business that Tauranga has to offer.
Classic charm
These retro and rustic caravans will take your event to a whole new level.
It was in the midst of planning their own wedding that Nadia and Marcel Stannard came across a cute little caravan named Miss Tea. With their combined creative flair and passion for service, transforming Miss Tea into a mobile bar has been a dream come true for the pair. Since then they’ve gone on to refurbish their second caravan, the 1959 Gipsy.
Fast-forward to today and Mount Vintage Bar is a full-time gig, with the aim to provide everything you need in a wedding bar, without worrying about the set-up or pack-down.
Offering bespoke packages to suit any size, budget and event, they offer a fully-equipped caravan bar with industry-standard beer fridges inclusive of bar staff and glassware.
The BYO service is set up to save you money by buying your choice of drinks direct, then Mount Vintage Bar does the rest.
There are two options to choose from. Miss Tea is a rustic caravan bar catering to 80-120 people, while Gipsy is a 1959 retro caravan catering for larger events.
They supply all power connections to plug into the household supply
or, should you need to host remotely, can plug into a generator.
Each package is designed to suit different occasions and they only require a 10 percent deposit upon booking.
Desiree Osterman Makeup
Having trained under the guidance of makeup artist Bobbi Brown and Mr Uemura (Shu Uemura Cosmetics) in London, Desiree provides
professional makeup, producing beauty that's your own, only skilfully enhanced using current up-to-the-minute makeup products and techniques. Also a freelance hair stylist, Desiree offers a complete
package for both hair and makeup for the entire bridal party, including a team for larger wedding parties.
In New Zealand, Desiree’s freelance work has included fashion shows for Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester, Trelise Cooper and magazine editorial work
for Oyster, Next, UNO Magazine, Women's Weekly and Woman’s Day, Glassons, Coke and Levis.
Desiree travels throughout New Zealand and afar.
White Silk Bridal
White Silk Bridal Couture specialises in creating luxurious custom bridal gowns from design through to the final fitting, ensuring a beautiful journey that brides will have to treasure for a lifetime.
Using the finest fabrics and techniques, each gown is carefully handcrafted with meticulous attention to detail, to bring visions to life. With more than 15 years of experience creating for local and international brides, White Silk Bridal commits to turning dream gowns into realities.
White Silk Bridal will alter gowns purchased elsewhere to ensure every bride is confident and aisle ready.
Hand-Picked Flowers
Florist Kelly Scawin believes that her business is about the beauty of nature, a sense of home and the sharing of her love of flowers with others. She works closely with couples to advise and guide you while you navigate your way through your wedding journey.
From bouquets and buttonholes to ceremony and reception displays, her goal is to create floral designs and installations to enhance your space and create an atmosphere that represents couples and impacts guests.
Kelly works closely with an amazing selection of local growers and wholesalers throughout New Zealand and prides herself on sourcing unique flowers and foliage. She’s experienced, passionate and focused on making your wedding day your best day.
Meredith Lord Photography
Recently featured in British Vogue, Meredith Lord creates images that are stunningly editorial, with an aesthetic that is modern, fresh and fun.
Her friendly and relaxed approach to photography (clients can expect to have plenty of laughs when she is around) has an uncanny ability to make her couples feel at ease. This enables her to capture the magic in the little moments – the ones where no one is watching, but that evoke the emotion of the experience – and weave together the story of her couple's day in an incredibly beautiful and elevated way. Meredith loves to work closely with couples who like to have a bit of fun, creating captivating and unforgettable memories that will last a lifetime.
She works throughout New Zealand, as well as in Europe and the United Kingdom, capturing timeless love stories for modern romantics.
Your true north
If you could work out what really drives you as a person, what change could you make in the world? We meet Catie Noble from Upward, who does exactly that for her clients
If you could work out what really drives you as a person,
what change could you make in the world? We meet Catie Noble
from Upward, who does exactly that for her clients.
Words Jenny Rudd | Photos Jeremy Bright – Grabb
Imagine you’re giving a speech to announce the closing down of your business because you’ve achieved everything you set out to do. Catie Noble, owner of Upward, would sound something like this.
“Thanks to our mahi, everyone now knows what impact they’d like to have on the world, and they have a plan to make it happen. Our world is getting better, because every person is doing what they care about, and they are doing it well.”
Based in Taupō but with clients in Tauranga and further afield, this is one of the many tools Catie uses in her workshops, regular coaching and activity sessions to help businesses and ambitious individuals do better.
There’s some noise in the background during our interview, so I ask where she is. Wellington airport, en route to Climate Action Marlborough. Over this week, Catie has: Problem-solved a global go-to-market strategy for a New Zealand beauty startup, brought together teams in a large corporate to help them uncover the “stinky fish” that was creating a business-limiting culture (and gave them tools to resolve it), and met with one of her regular clients, a high-end interior designer. And that’s all before immersing herself into climate solutions in the South Island.
“I’ve spent the last 20 years listening to people and extracting the core issues holding them back. I take their stories and experiences, distil what’s happening for them, and help them get clear and take action. And like any business owner, I’ve made a bunch of mistakes, faced tough challenges and had to come up with novel ways to solve them, and brought my team along for the ride.” Clearly she’s good at it.
It’s a modest description of the last two decades. Catie has built and sold successful health businesses, and was awarded the Supreme Business of the Year and Excellence in Business Leadership at the BNZ Taupō Business Awards. As president and chairperson of Taupō’s Business Chamber she led them through a huge transformation, then sat on the board of the region’s economic development agency. Recently Catie was an advisor on Electrify, an accelerator for female-founded startups, and the business she mentored, Vince, completed a successful capital raise during that time.
Not one to sit still, she’s a voracious learner. COVID-19 lockdowns provided the opportunity to do a post-grad certificate in leading Change
for Good, designed by education visionary Francis Valentine, CEO of Mind Lab.
Catie says that the business owners, senior executive teams or high performers that she works with often come to her knowing there’s a problem, but can’t articulate what it is. It’s when the task ahead seems messy and woolly that Catie really adds value.
“People who want to push themselves are well-suited to working with me. They know they can do more but in our overloaded world they might struggle with decisions or get overwhelmed with what needs to be done. I straighten out their thinking and get them cranking. I've worked with tech startups, founders, heavy industry, tradies, national utilities in New Zealand (Catie’s a geothermal enthusiast), and everything in between. I want to work with interesting people on interesting problems. If you want to make the effort, then I'm ready to jump in.”
Superpowered seaweed
Humble and ubiquitous, seaweed has been around since before the dinosaurs, and an enterprising Paeroa family has harnessed its natural benefits for the agricultural industry and beyond.
Humble and ubiquitous, seaweed has been around since before the dinosaurs, and an enterprising Paeroa family has harnessed its natural benefits for the agricultural industry and beyond.
Words Catherine Sylvester
Paeroa, nestled at the base of the Coromandel Peninsula towards the northeast of the Waikato; unofficial antiques capital of the country, geographical originator of the quintessentially Kiwi soft drink L&P, and home to the whānau-founded, owned and operated Agrisea, which specialises in the manufacture and innovation of high-nutrition seaweed products.
If you’ve found yourself traversing north on State Highway 2, emerging from the Karangahake Gorge, you may have spied their factory to the left and wondered exactly what one does with seaweed aside from wrapping sushi rolls with it. The answer, it turns out, is quite a lot.
Tane and Clare Bradley are second generation kaitiaki, or caretakers, of the family business. It was Tane’s parents, Jill and Keith, who saw the potential the marine algae has to make a positive impact on the nutritional and environmental aspects of the food we grow and eat. Almost 30 years ago, a summer spent working on organic farms saw the couple witness firsthand the benefits seaweed nutrients could have on land and crops. Having complete confidence in their discovery, they packed up their family and moved from Tāmaki Makaurau to the more affordable Paeroa to realise their dream of creating organic products to support the home gardener.
“All us kids thought it was just a hobby till they called a family meeting, sold the house, and off we went,” laughs Tane. “We thought they were nuts!”
From humble beginnings selling Ocean Organics seaweed products from the store they rented and lived behind, the business flourished and in 2004 rebranded to become Agrisea, with an expanded focus to include the horticultural and farming climate of the industries the company found itself on the doorstep of.
Clare explains that the Agrisea products are biostimulants, rather than fertilisers.
“Fertilisers work by supplying nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which in overuse have a negative effect on the farm system and environment,” says the company’s CEO. “Biostimulants stimulate natural processes within the plant and soil to enhance growth, efficiency and health. It’s the plant equivalent of the difference between running a well-serviced car, rather than just putting more oil and gas in it.”
The couple met 18 years ago when Clare was forced to return to New Zealand due to a flesh-eating disease she’d picked up while living and volunteering in the Amazon rainforest. They laugh when retelling this story, which is typical of the pair’s positive view on life.
“Tane makes friends wherever he goes,” Clare explains. “That’s how we’ve started some of our latest collaborations.”
Innovation and forward-thinking are keys to the company’s success. As well as three core agricultural products, they’ve found exciting and interesting ways to incorporate seaweed into new offerings as diverse as alcoholic beverages, kombucha and bee nutrition.
“We’ve partnered with Dominion Salt to make New Zealand seaweed and salt blocks for animals, and Roa Kombucha to make a delicious new drink,” elaborates Tane. “We’ve partnered with others to make a seaweed stout, vodka and gin!”
Apiarists and bees alike have fallen in love with the company’s Bee Nutrition that provides the essential amino acids, trace elements and minerals bees need to grow and reproduce, and the company has gone global with the product.
The apple hasn’t fallen far from the proverbial tree with the Bradleys, as they’ve inherited Jill and Keith’s original care and concern for others and the environment.
“Mum always used to say, ‘We’re not here to buy baches, boats and BMWs’,” Tane says. “'We’re here to make a difference.'”
This care comes in the form of research into the potential seaweed has to remove toxins from our coastal waters. Their pilot programme has seen great success with the next step being to figure out how to replicate this on a larger scale.
They’ve also partnered with Our Land and Water to research ways the mana and mauri of soil can be respected, and how a combination of matauranga Māori farming practices and science can create positive change.
So next time you find yourself in Paeroa and spot the Agrisea hub, take a moment to marvel at the wonder and potential of this humble gift from the sea, and all the superpowers seaweed has to offer.
Wrapped in aroha
These Māori-designed organic cotton baby blankets and throws blend traditional elements, modern style, and timeless quality.
These Māori-designed organic
cotton baby blankets and throws
blend traditional elements,
modern style, and timeless quality.
Photos Ria rawiri
Tasmyn Roach's idea for organic cotton paraikete (blankets) came from her love of making baby blankets for close friends and whānau. But as she learned more about her own culture and heritage, a passion for te ao Māori blossomed into a fusion of creativity and entrepreneurship – and Awhi was born.
Working alongside her sister Shenaye, partner Lance, and son Kahika, Tasmyn founded Awhi Company – the word “awhi” means “embrace” or “cuddle” – selling unique Māori-designed baby blankets, muslin wraps, and throw blankets that feature traditional Māori designs, patterns, colours, and themes. “I want to normalise Māori culture for the next generation,” Tasmyn says. “Each blanket is designed with an element of te reo Māori or Mātauranga Māori to ensure our pēpi stand strong in their identity from the moment they enter this world.”
With a degree in fashion design, Tasmyn is inspired by her journey learning te reo Māori, by the strength of her Māori heritage, and by a desire to celebrate and treasure Māoritanga. “Awhi encompasses everything I am about – values, focussing on te reo Māori, developing products for pēpi, and normalising te reo from birth,” Tasmyn explains. Here, she tells UNO more about Awhi.
How did Awhi Company come about?
Awhi Company came about from my love for babies. I would make baby blankets for gifts for friends and whānau. My niece was the reason it turned into a business. She was born in Perth and I wanted to make some extra money to visit her. I started selling them on Facebook, auctioning one a night with the highest bidder at 7pm the following night winning the blanket. From there the demand grew, and so did my business. My partner and I eventually took a trip to China to check out manufacturers and ensure they had the same values as us and could create beautiful organic cotton blankets.
What do you love most about it?
I think our pēpi are the most important thing in the world, and it’s our job to nurture and protect them. I feel so grateful that our blankets can play such an important part in their lives, help them settle, feel loved, warm and protected for many years. My niece is six and still has her Awhi Blanket!
What is your career background?
In 2012 I moved to Tauranga Moana and completed a degree in fashion design. I even took a couple of collections to NZ Fashion Week through Miromoda, which was an amazing experience. I then went on to work with our at-risk rangatahi, supporting them with education, employment and helping to remove barriers. On the side I was hard at work growing
Awhi Company organically.
What inspires you?
At the moment I am inspired by the change that is happening around the motu. Te Reo Māori and Māori designs are becoming standardised in everyday situations. I love that we can play a small part of that by creating Māori-designed baby blankets and throws for the whare. What an exciting future for our tamariki here in Aotearoa!
What is most important to you – in work and in life?
When you have a business you are so passionate about, the lines get blurred. Learning te reo Māori, travelling, and spending time with my whānau are important to me. Helping ensure our babies are wrapped in their culture and language from birth. My son is 18 months old now and I feel so lucky to be learning te reo Māori alongside him and for him.
What's been the highlight of your business journey?
We have recently opened a shop at the Historic Village in Tauranga! Before then we were operating out of home. This was such a big moment for us as it opened a door and has enabled us to connect with our customers and community. We get to meet Māmā and pēpi and genuinely check in with people. As a māmā I know how hard the first year can be so creating a safe space for Māmā to come in is really important to us. We have a change table in store and a safe place to feed baby.
What's next for Awhi Company?
Normalising Māori designs is only one part of our business. We are working hard to create intimate te reo Māori play groups for Māmā and pēpi. Helping Māmā on their journey of reclaiming their language for the next generation. We are so lucky and grateful for where we are and look forward to what else we can offer for our people.