This is my table at home in Pahi, on the Kaipara Harbour. I purchased it in 2019 from Città when I built this house. The small French vintage table I had in Auckland would have been all out of proportion, although I do miss its character and wobbly legs.

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Because I have a galley kitchen, the table gets used for everything, like popping my market-fresh veges on it every Saturday before they get used, working, and hosting friends and whānau. I even hosted a coffee farmer from Papua New Guinea here once – he said it felt like home. Because I have an eclectic chair collection, I like to rotate around the table when I work; each chair has a different view of the native bush or the harbour. It’s always good up here, even when the south-westerly is driving the rain in horizontally.

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The vegetables are from local grower Denny Clayton. He’s a top bloke and we’ve become mates; that’s the beauty of living in the country. Denny and his partner Karen used to grow in the red volcanic soils of Maungakaramea, but moved south to Matakohe in 2020, across the harbour from me. He’s taken a paddock with clay and kikuyu and, by growing organically and biodynamically, has rebuilt the soil. As an organic advocate, I’m right into that. You can find him at the Paparoa Market every Saturday morning. It’s a true farmers’ market and a great way to connect with the community.

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My goal was to be able to be based here full-time, and I achieved it this year when I sold my business, Kōkako Organic Coffee. So the table gets used a lot more these days, and will do until my next adventure unfolds.

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