Waikato Herald
  • Waikato Herald home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Lifestyle
  • Lotto results

Locations

  • Hamilton
  • Coromandel & Hauraki
  • Matamata & Piako
  • Cambridge
  • Te Awamutu
  • Tokoroa & South Waikato
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Weather

  • Thames
  • Hamilton
  • Tokoroa
  • Taumarunui
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Waikato News / Lifestyle

Taste of the good life on Waiheke

By Colleen Thorpe
Hamilton News·
7 Nov, 2012 05:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Just over 20 years ago Nick and Robyn Jones were sitting in their Epsom home living a very different life. Robyn was at university and Nick was an accountant. They decided to change direction ... and now are living the dream on Waiheke Island.

Robyn talks to Colleen Thorpe about the now-famous Mudbrick Vineyard and Restaurant they own and a book that is part-cookbook, part-homage to the beauty and appeal of life on Waiheke Island

You're living the kiwi dream, Robyn ... what is your biggest challenge?

Relationships. They must be nurtured constantly to keep them alive and functioning properly. This applies to my personal relationships, my children, my staff and my customers - its all about the people.

And what makes your heart smile?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Love. Loving what you do, loving who you are with, loving who you are. Love is the answer to everything I have realised! My loves are writing, walking and communicating with people.

Where did the name "Mudbrick" come from?

It came from our gardener, Mark Robinson, who, when we were deliberating about what to call our venture, he suggested the simple word Mudbrick, as that is what the building was made out of, and it grounded it to the land and spot where it sat.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Describe your business and passion in just 50 words.

Our business is about providing enjoyment to other people. It's a destination to come to and relax, talk, taste and enjoy.

Our vision was to create a beautiful environment that people could come to, enjoy sitting there, with the best New Zealand cuisine on offer, sourced from as close by as possible, and of the finest quality.

Similarly with the wines, the challenge was to make the finest we could make, and now we enjoy the fruits of our labours, and share them with others.

What are the three most important lessons you and Nick have learned from this venture?

People are everything.

You must sow before you can reap and you must show restraint.

Authenticity and honesty pay off every single time.

What came first... the wine or the food?

We planted the grapes first, so had the thought of the vineyard first, then we decided to open a restaurant. The first vintage and the opening of the restaurant was in the same year.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

What's your favourite wine?

Syrah and botrytised reislings. At the risk of humiliating taunts at wine tastings from other more distinguished palettes, I head for the stickies!

And your favourite food?

Duck, I never tire of it. It has such a unique, independent flavour.

What is your first memory of food?

Porridge, brown sugar and cream. And so began my love of fat and carbohydrates mixed together.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Have you a guilty pleasure?

Crackling from the pork roast is a big guilty favourite. My willpower is not that strong, and its just too easy to wander down to Monica in desserts and ask to try this week's chocolate truffle flavour. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.

What three New Zealand foods are at the top of your list?

Lamb. Like duck, it has a unique flavour - so many meats can resemble beef - but lamb is distinct, rich and gorgeous.

Flounder. A deliciously delicate fish.

Baked kumara, butter, salt and sour cream. Fast food!

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Tell us three things about yourself people may not know or may be surprised to learn.

I battle with fear. I want to do lots of things, but fear prevents me from doing them, sometimes for a long time.

Everytime I overcome my fear, it pays off - you would think I would have learnt my lesson by now!

I don't watch TV, instead preferring to read, write or Google all the things I'd like to be doing or researching,

I'm very spiritual - I love guided meditation, but above all I love to laugh with friends and be free.

A Life at Mudbrick

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

by Robyn Jones, Random House, $55

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Lifestyle

Lifestyle

Watch: The latest highlights from Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

Waikato Herald

NZ actress accuses Australian policeman of using CCTV to spy on her

Lifestyle

Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest's finals around the motu


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

Watch: The latest highlights from Smokefreerockquest and Showquest
Lifestyle

Watch: The latest highlights from Smokefreerockquest and Showquest

Regional finals from Auckland, Canterbury, Far North, Northland, Nelson and Wairarapa.

14 Jul 10:25 PM
NZ actress accuses Australian policeman of using CCTV to spy on her
Waikato Herald

NZ actress accuses Australian policeman of using CCTV to spy on her

06 Jul 12:48 AM
Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest's finals around the motu
Lifestyle

Watch: Smokefreerockquest and Showquest's finals around the motu

03 Jul 06:00 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Waikato Herald e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Waikato Herald
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP