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.
Chef’s sanctuary
Celebrity chefs bring a familiarity into our kitchens that makes them feel like a personal friend. Followers of MasterChef winner and author Chelsea Winter will not only recognise the face, but probably this kitchen – one she considers an old friend yet is ready to leave, with her home up for sale.
Celebrity chefs bring a familiarity into our kitchens that makes them feel like a personal friend. Followers of MasterChef winner and author Chelsea Winter will not only recognise the face, but probably this kitchen – one she considers an old friend yet is ready to leave, with her home up for sale.
Words Jo Ferris
Chelsea Winter’s kitchen features in her book Supergood. Created and photographed in this idyllic country home, the book was a bestseller in 2020. If that’s not inspiration enough, spending time here certainly will.
Designed for a professional gourmet, the kitchen attracted Chelsea from the outset. Adapting it further to suit her style, the kitchen is certainly one of this home’s key features. Like any winning recipe, however, it’s but one ingredient in a home and garden layered with enchanting tastes.
Nestled in a hidden lifestyle ribbon within Western Bay of Plenty, the property is on the fringe of Tauranga city. Exquisite scenery embraces picturesque countryside down to Mount Maunganui, where Mauao stands majestically as the main star. It’s a view Chelsea marvels at every day – inspiration enough for any banquet.
The kitchen is the heart of this home. Its striking island is a drawcard – edgy corner shelving, barstool seating and a clean, solid oak surface.
Either preparing meals or catching up over coffee or drinks, it’s the centrepiece of a spacious kitchen that revolves around entertaining. Dual sink and work units either side with window views, a cook’s stove and farmhouse appeal that caters for crowds.
“There’s literally a place for everything,” says Chelsea. “The sky’s the limit, yet it’s still somehow cosy and inviting.”
That cosy invitation sums up the entire home. It exudes that country allure of graceful simplicity with a subtle nod to black-barn earthiness. Battened vaulted ceilings enhance the sense of space throughout. The white backdrop instils an ambience of fresh linen, while contrasting accents of aged wood grain, textured carpet and furnishings all nod to the heritage of country character. The timber effect of floor-to-ceiling tiling in both bathrooms is also outstanding. The rustic simplicity is punctuated beautifully by the chic finish of brass hardware and timber vanities. It’s a marriage of the old and new. Bespoke lighting also cleverly blends contemporary design with the natural charm of wicker.
Soft, floor-length drapes mix with plantation shutters to personalise rooms and add intimacy come nightfall. After dinner, there’s nothing like snuggling around the fire in the family setting. This focal point is yet
another nod to aged tradition, while polished concrete is a practical finish on the floating hearth.
Outdoor flow embraces scenery, gardens for the birds and animals. Fresh food and herbs to harvest, magical corners and friendly sheep that maintain the pasture behind and below. With four tank-fed water troughs, horses will also thrive here. Wandering up a gentle track on the conical hill, amid olive trees, views are elevated to embrace a 270-degree panorama of Western Bay’s coastline – breathtaking by day and glittering at night. To further complement this country lifestyle, a 130sqm shed offers brilliant workshop storage, with room for a gym and that ultimate barn bar.
After three years here with her partner and young children, adventure calls. While this home has been a haven in one of Tauranga’s secret places, Chelsea is excited, if not a little sad to be leaving her kitchen.
“It has been an utter dream. That beautiful solid oak island bench has been my home for the past few years. It’s like an old friend now. I’ll miss it a lot.”
177C Crawford Road, Te Puna