In April Nathan Headed to New Zealand for a 2 week tour of the Coffee companies in the North and South Islands. It was a time for visiting existing customers and new prospects, along with the scenic wonder that New Zealand has to offer.
 
Nathan’s trip started in Auckland, reconnecting with our existing customers in Coffee Lab, Altezano, Chiasso Coffee Roasters and Toasted Espresso. It wasn’t long before Nathan was highly caffeinated, just as well the tight schedule required me to head down south, not before checking with a few of the other notable locals in NZ’s proudly touted specialty coffee industry - Kokako, The coffee warehouse and Café Ben to note a few.
 
A surprising observation cited by Nathan was that although New Zealand’s Coffee Industry had come along way (and probably able to offer some pointers in some respects to us competitive Aussies), was that much of the specialty focus appear to overshadow any real developments in chocolate and tea (or at least what he had observed in the time he had). A great opportunity for Somage, but a sign that much education and some street level café involvement would be required to make a sizeable impact on the NZ market.
Nath’s travels took him south to Hamilton (thanks Aunty Col for the lodging!), where Rocket Coffee and Laroma were the notable places to visit. After leaving his phone behind and a creative bit of sleuth work to rescue it back, Nathan continued moving south to Wellington. There was some beautiful scenery during this part of the trip with Mt Ruapehu, standing brilliant against an otherwise desolate landscape. Down in wintery Welly (surely he’d find a decent chocolate there!), he visited People’s coffee, Café Laffare and Coffee Supreme. The roasters here were really well established, but again, the kiwis didn’t quite get the whole tea and chocolate thing.

So it was of to the south island by ferry to Picton, again some stunning coastal scenery which inspired him to head to Nelson and tour the Abel Tasman National Park. This was a great chance to work off some of the extra pounds gained from the wonderful hospitality he had experienced from extended family along the way. In Nelson, Nathan called into Pomeroys, where finally he ran into some passionate tea lovers, the Pommeroys store boasting a wide selection of tea and tisane varietals and a welcoming staff to match.

It wasn’t long before he was on the road again, soon stumbling on the wine lovers bliss known as Belnheim, in the heart of New Zealand’s Malborough Wine Region. It was a magnicent site to acres and acres of grapes as far as the eye could see in all directions. After a short stop at CPR Coffee, Nathan saved a traveling soul by offering a lift to a foreign back packer headed to Kai Kora on the North Eastern Coast of the South Island. With no time for whale watching, Nathan continued on to Christchurch. It was refreshing to arrive at the burgeoning populous, with European architecture, and some open minded Kiwis interested to see what us Aussie folk had to offer in the advance of chocolate and tea. Nathan was really quite chuffed by the hospitality shown from the folks at Vivace, Lyttleton coffee co and C4 coffee who made him feel welcome.

Nathan reflected on what was a really enjoyable road trip which pretty much covered most of the North Island and the top of the South. “I think New Zealand’s got huge potential, the people are passionate and creative, the scenery beautiful and the weather conducive to café life. I hope to get back there again some time soon”. 

Special thanks to all those who supported Nathan on his trip – Geoff and Wendy Bramble, Colleen Ross, Clive Aitken and anyone else we may have missed.