This September marks a remarkable milestone for one of Kumeū’s most iconic family businesses. Markovina Vineyard Estate is celebrating 60 years in business, a journey that began in 1966 when Croatian immigrant Ivan Markovina Sr. and his family made North West Auckland their home and planted the foundations of what would become a local institution. …
In the span of a year, Malhar lost his job and both his parents, walked away from two decades in food service, and came out the other side with a financial advising career he hadn’t planned for. And finally, the freedom to put real time into the food tours through India he’d already been quietly…
By David Altena, The Better SMB Ltd When we talk about high performance, people often assume we’re talking about our financial results, business growth or national productivity. The reality is a bit different. Most business owners don’t get out of bed in the morning thinking about national productivity. They think about creating a better future…
How Recreate NZ Won New Zealand’s Only Centennial Stihl Chainsaw A once-in-a-century prize. A unanimous vote. A group of young people from a lemon orchard in rural Kumeū. When Stihl International celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026, the company wanted to mark the milestone with something extraordinary. The result was the release of the highly coveted…
Most people around here have a Parakai memory: the mineral smell hitting you at the gate, the walk to the pools in a towel, the drive home with wet hair and that heavy, well-cooked feeling. Kaipātiki Hot Springs is betting you never really grow out of that. It’s also betting you’re ready for a more…
Long before it became known as Riverhead, the settlement at the head of the Waitematā Harbour was called Pitoitoi, named after the native pipit bird that inhabited the open grasslands and coastal margins of the district. For centuries, the area formed part of an important Māori landscape connected to the waterways of the Upper Waitematā. …
Three generations of the Bayly family have shaped this land by hand, and after everything, David and Geraldine can’t think of a single thing they’d do differently. The family story starts in 1953, when David’s grandfather bought two hundred acres of scrub, about as unpromising a start as land gets. His father, Don, turned it…
On a recent wander through Kaukapakapa, we decided, almost on a whim, to pull in at a local watering hole, Shed 16. What we found was far more than just a place to eat. This beautifully restored country pub welcomed us with hearty food, good drinks, and the sort of warm, genuine service that makes…
Ritchie Hoko has spent nearly 30 years in the trade. Five of them painting the northwest. He’s still got the overalls to prove it. By 9am on a Tuesday, Ritchie Hoko has already set up scaffolding in Kumeu, patched stucco damage in West Auckland left behind by a guttering crew, and mentally flagged a third…
Mark Adcock has spent more than thirty years in the promotional merchandise industry, creating memorable moments that help businesses leave a lasting impression. Asked what it’s like to be both a business owner and a community sponsor, Mark’s answer is simple. “I close my eyes and imagine I’m opening a package. Whatever’s inside isn’t what…