Wanaka Podcast

 James Hay is an accidental brewer. James’ taste for beer developed from drinking wine in France to drinking cider at university, to drinking beer because he realised it could taste good. Like many of us, he came to Wanaka to chase snow. Working as a builder funded the start-up and the support from the boss helped him to start the beer business as well as learn about the balance of business and lifestyle. The business went from strength to strength. James uses local ingredients to create a local flavour. His brewing ethos lies in tweaking small aspects of the process to improve the flavour. He believes in tweaking things to keep things fresh and tasty. The beer has a strong design and a core following of fans in Wanaka and beyond. If you haven’t tried their cider, tasted their kombucha, or sampled the beer, pop into B.social to test the product. Learn about where the name comes from and how this business evolved in Wanaka. Enjoy this show brought to you by the team at Southern Lakes Motors.

Along with her husband Matt, Kirsty owns and runs the Pembroke Patisserie. Duncan and Kirsty chat about her journey to Wanaka and building one of Wanaka’s tastiest businesses. Her passion stems from her Mum’s cooking and her life growing up on a sheep and beef farm. One of her first jobs was in the kitchen, peeling potatoes, and hospitality has been a constant ever since. As a young woman she went on a student exchange to France and this instilled a love of good food and different flavours, and stretched her palate. She formalised her interests with an International Diploma in Hotel Management in Adelaide and later gained a bachelor’s degree in European Studies, focusing on French and Spanish, and went on to tackle her Master’s. She and Matt also worked their way through iconic kitchens in NZ, learning new tricks of the trade. Kirsty talks about her challenges, celebrations and drivers in setting up the Patisserie. Tune in for this fun and interesting chat with Kirsty and brought you by Southern Lakes Motors.

Bob discovered white water kayaking at high school and the sport sparked a love of travel and paddling that has stayed with him for life. Big Hands Bob or Big Water Bob; no matter what you call him, Bob had big plans from a young age. He built a reputation pioneering kayak missions descending remote and difficult stretches of water and he has also worked as a guide for trekking, mountain biking, sea-kayaking and canyoning companies internationally and in New Zealand over the past three decades. Bob tackled the Coast to Coast as a teenager, and then at 44 years old he took on the One Day event, earning second overall and taking out the veterans first place. He has mastered waka ama, Rogain, adventure racing and has notched up impressive results in GodZone, Red Bull Defiance and more. In Bob’s business Best Foot Forward he coaches and support others in their adventure sports. He is the man to talk to if you want to learn about paddling white water and adventure sports and events. He talks about the transition from competition to coaching and all that entails. Listen in to this inspiring and fun chat brought to you by Southern Lakes Motors.

Evelyn Vallillee owns and runs the Dripping Bowl and Velo Café at Bike Glendhu. Her business ethos is all about whole food, local food, wholesome organics and good ingredients. Her food is adventurous and less conventional; focused on sustenance, free-range, flavourful, nutritional wholefood, and sneaking in the health benefits. Her food is approachable, healthy and delicious. Evelyn grew up in Canada, but calls Aotearoa home. Her parents met in culinary school. She followed in their footsteps by also going to culinary school, and paid her dues in hospitality as she worked her way up the ranks of the game. She talks about her pathway through iconic Wanaka businesses to owning her own gig. She talks of bacon butties and raw treats, freshness and flavours. Evelyn is a master at bundling fun food with health food. She blends comfort and connection in her cuisine; she says you eat with your eyes first. Your taste buds will light up with this chat. Tune in to this episode with Duncan and Evelyn kindly supported by Southern Lakes Motors.

Duncan Good hosts his very first Wanaka Podcast episode interviewing Hamish Pepper. Hamish is a sailor who has represented NZ at the Star World Champs, four summer Olympics and the America’s Cup, just to name a few. He is competitive, strategic and ambitious. He is a tactician by nature and he brings this to business as well. Following a holiday, Hamish and his family found themselves enamoured of the lifestyle and environment of Wanaka, so they packed up camp and moved the clan to the Southern Lakes. Then, to keep things interesting, Hamish started looking to purchase a business in the region. They found and purchased RAD Car Hire in Queenstown. He says the business keeps him entertained and motivated. They have come through COVID well, as Kiwis supported their car hire business. His sailing career has the anchors out at present, as events are cancelled. In the meantime, Hamish is hiding from the seawater in Central Lakes and from time to time you will find him down at the Wanaka Yacht club teaching the next generation of sailors. We hope you enjoy this chat brought to you by Southern Lakes Motors and the Wanaka Podcast.

Jess catches up with Alecia Hodgson from Silver Sixpence Skin Clinic. Alecia is passionate about skin health and skin care. She has carved out a business focused on beauty treatments as well as skin health. Alecia’s love of travel has been influential in her career decisions: work at ski resorts and on super yachts has shaped her delivery today in her clinic. Her passion for business, skin and progression fuelled her drive to get underway. She funded the start-up phase of her business by working in earthworks; the mines in Australia and local company Maungatua Contracting here in Wanaka. For Alecia, continual upskilling and training are important to keep things interesting and innovative in her business. Alecia offers an insight into the camaraderie and support amongst the beauty community in Wanaka and her goals to keep things small and high quality. Alecia has built an incredible business with loyal staff and customers. Listen in to hear where the name Silver Sixpence comes from and how Alecia went from a salon on wheels (a beauty bus) to a stunning clinic in the precinct in central Wanaka.

Jess sits down with Duncan Spear from Puzzling World. Duncan runs this iconic Wanaka business with his wife Heidi. He tells the story of Puzzling World and how the business was created in 1973 by his in-laws, Stuart and Jan Landsborough. The business is a Wanaka ‘must-do’. It’s fun for both adults and kids and it has enjoyed new domestic tourists over the past year. The business philosophy is about fun, being something unique, and pushing the boundaries. Duncan and Heidi are focused on making work fun for their staff and providing an opportunity for them to develop. Balance is Duncan’s measure of success and constantly moving forward is vital. Duncan claims to be impatient; he entered the world 10 weeks premature and has been keen to get after it ever since. Duncan is driven, enthusiastic and excited about running this amazing Wanaka business. Enjoy this chat with Duncan about his life in Wanaka.