Our People

An encounter with a 1930 Rolls-Royce 20/25 turned out to be fate
Over the years, John Bristed has owned many cars, but his siren call was the fearless little lady on a Rolls-Royce bonnet.

This man's letterpress collection is anything but hard-pressed
A passion for print and printing presses is filling an Auckland man’s life as well as his three sheds and double garage.

Inside this Clevedon family's growing veggie-box business
A family vegetable business on a South Auckland block has created an award-winning way of selling their produce.

Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou CEO George Reedy on goals, challenges, and how non-Māori can help
George Reedy, chief executive of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, aims to ensure the road to wellbeing, wisdom, and wealth for his whānaunga is clearly marked for the next 100 years or more.

Catching crayfish and pāua to order in South Wairarapa
This couple hit the water, rain or shine, in a new venture bringing fresh kaimoana to plates while respecting the ocean’s resources.

Sniff, sip and swirl: Meet the South Island's first master of wine
This Blenheim lawyer-turned-master of wine has always been lured by the grape, from hand-labeling bottles as a child to organizing wine tastings in her first student flat.

A Wellington mum transforms her front lawn into a productive veggie garden
Sarah Hopkinson’s personal and professional passions come together in a sandy section she’s transformed into a productive garden.

Why Lynda Hallinan can't give up on fussy ferns
Lynda indulges her fever for ferns with a tabletop collection of covetable species.

The South Canterbury dynasty behind a potato empire
One man’s penchant for potatoes has led to a thriving multigenerational family-run paddock-to-packet potato-chip business.

Inspiring Fashion
Many would baulk at the idea of opening a new shop with little to no notice. But for Suzanne Talbot, her experience and knowledge of the local retail sector in Timaru saw her dive in headfirst, opening the doors of her second clothing store, Inspired on Stafford, within a month of the opportunity presenting itself.

A Wildly Natural Venture
Raglan’s famed black sand coastlines loom large in Daneen Morgan’s sea salt flavoured memories of childhood. Her hometown in the Waikato is a surfing mecca and she recalls long summer days spent in the water. This is where she learned to swim and first strapped on a pair of water skis. Her father made aluminium fishing boats and pleasure craft for a living and family life with her two younger sisters revolved around the ocean.

How this artist landed on sculpted and wearable art
First chemistry, then food, followed by painting and now sculpted and wearable art — for several decades, this artistic soul has been fully occupied creating what inspires her.

Recloaking Gisborne with eco-sourced trees
A group of (mostly) women are regenerating Gisborne’s flora — one eco-sourced seed at a time.

Hinerangi Raumati-Tu’ua on the value of elders, cultural values and Māori in leadership roles
Successful organizations rely on clear cultural values, vision, authenticity, and creative thinking, says this professional director.

How a bush hut inspired this couple's new lease on life
A backcountry hut along the Forgotten World Highway is a befitting backdrop for this city-eschewing couple.

This spiced-up classic is heating up the drinks scene
Fresh apples and creativity are at the core of this reinvention of a spicy classic.

A Queenstown couple's outdoor approach to teaching pre-schoolers
A Queenstown couple take on the task of nurturing Aotearoa’s most valuable and important resource.

Watch Willy Coenradi manoeuvre an 1880 Columbian printing press
Step back in time and watch a 19th-century printing press in action.

Bringing back the macramé movement in a big way
The art of decorative knotting is making a comeback, says Jade Parkinson.

A bonsai collector learns resilience from meticulously pruned trees
A bonsai collector shares the lesson of caring for artfully pruned trees.

A passion for destroying moth plant has spread far and wide
A crusade against the noxious vine has grown from one to a thousand-strong team.

A globe-trotting couple make Waiheke their forever home
Two global citizens who dropped anchor in Waiheke Island continue to grab opportunities as soon as they come along in a home that melds identity and imagination.

A Nelson couple's mascarpone wins over taste buds
An Italian couple recreates favourite cheeses from home.

How tragedy inspired an aircraft tracking solution
A tragic search-and-rescue mission prompted these innovators to rethink aircraft safety.

How Vicki Virtue stumbled into a career of cliffhangers
Detective novels were such fun to read, this travel writer wondered if they would be as much fun to create. She found out.

Your Very Good Health
The founder of Pegasus Bay Winery and retired neurologist, Ivan Donaldson, shares his thoughts on Canterbury wine, medical progress, and staying happy and healthy.

Liquid Gold
For many years Jan Whyte had a dream; she wanted to grow olives. Despite finding her role as a family doctor in New Zealand very fulfilling, her dream persisted. Her sister Esther Paddon shares an insight into the journey Jan and her husband Niall Holland embarked on to make this dream a reality.

Meet the couple behind this dairy-free coconut kefir
A Raglan couple developed an alternative idea over six years — and now they’ve fermented it.

A former triathlete finds solace in ocean swimming
A devastating diagnosis forced an ambitious athlete to give up the sports she loved. Determined to keep exercising, she took the plunge into ocean swimming.

Lake Hawea's dreamy stone glasshouse
So she said: ‘I’d really like a stone glasshouse.’ And he said: ‘Sure, I know exactly what you mean. I’ll build it.’ And he did.

How Rio Cox creates objects at 1:12 their real-life size
A steady hand helps this Lower Hutt woman create tiny scenes, people and things.

Transforming a 14ha block into a cute-as-a-button retreat
A block in Raglan that started with very few prospects is now one of the most wish-listed places to stay on Airbnb.

Sustainable principles rule at this award-winning pāua company
Tora Bay on the South Wairarapa coast is home to a new venture and top-notch kaimoana.